How to manage my hormonal acne, dark spots, and dull skin?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a female, age 27. I am suffering from hormonal acne on my temple, cheeks, and jawline, closed comedones, dull, damaged skin barrier with hyperpigmentation all over my face and neck, post-acne hyperpigmentation, and open pores. I have combination sensitive skin. It gets very oily sometimes, and it is also very dry. I also feel dizzy sometimes when I stand up. My hands and eyes look pale.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I understand how distressing it can be to deal with hormonal acne, hyperpigmentation, and skin sensitivity, especially when it affects your confidence and daily life. From what you have described, your skin is combination and sensitive, prone to closed comedones, nodulocystic acne around ovulation and before periods, open pores, and post-acne hyperpigmentation, along with dullness and barrier damage.

I also note your symptoms of dizziness and paleness, which may need further evaluation for anemia or other causes, so I would recommend checking your complete blood count and iron levels with your doctor.

Hormonal acne can be managed, and with the right treatment and skincare, you will see a visible improvement in both your acne and pigmentation.

For daily care:

Use a simple, refreshing face wash.
Follow with a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer or a barrier-repair emollient moisturizer for sensitive skin.
Sunscreen is very important, so apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher every morning, even indoors, to prevent worsening of pigmentation.

For acne management:

Start Adapalene with Benzoyl Peroxide on alternate nights.
Apply a pea-size amount on the entire face under a layer of gentle moisturizer to protect your skin barrier.
This will help improve texture, closed comedones, and some hyperpigmentation.
Once the active acne improves, you can incorporate Kojic acid cream to help with post-acne hyperpigmentation.

Avoid harsh scrubs, over-washing, or picking at your skin. Keep your hands clean and maintain a balanced diet and good hydration. Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, it is important to introduce products slowly and monitor tolerance.

Be patient with the treatment, as it usually takes six to eight weeks to see noticeable improvement, and consistent use of sunscreen and moisturizers is key for recovery.

I want to reassure you that with proper care, gentle treatment, and patience, your skin can improve significantly over time. You are not alone in this, and your skin concerns are very valid. Please feel free to follow up regularly so we can adjust your treatment based on response.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.