Can hormones cause red bumps and cheek irritation?

Question

Hello doctor,

My skin has been flaring again. Red bumps, irritation, and burning on my cheeks. I stopped using the exfoliant you told me to pause, but it is still pretty inflamed. I am sticking to the gentle cleanser and moisturizer, but honestly, my confidence is taking a hit.

Some mornings, I do not even want to leave the house. I know it is “just skin,” but it really affects how I feel about myself. Could hormones be part of this? I have noticed it gets worse around my cycle. Also, I saw online about new topical gels with less irritation. Are they worth trying?

I am willing to be patient, but I just do not want to make things worse again. It has been a journey learning to be gentle with my skin and myself.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

This sounds like rosacea. I would be very sure it is rosacea only after seeing the skin rash. Kindly share images if comfortable.

If at all it is rosacea, I would like you to know that it is an inflammatory condition that is chronic and has flare-ups and triggers. These flare-ups happen after stress, sun exposure, alcohol consumption, and hormonal disturbance, as well as eating spicy foods. The exact reason why this occurs is not known to us, and therefore, it has no cure.

Treatment is generally aimed at avoiding flare-ups by avoiding triggers effectively and using a sun protection cream over the face, neck, and other sun-exposed areas, with topical or oral antibiotics only required in later stages, which present with nodules and cystic acne.

Diet, exercise, sleep schedule, and effective stress management do play a very important role in this condition. Having a balanced lifestyle will help reduce flare-ups.

Use a sunscreen in gel formulation for your skin with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 50 plus.
Reapply every three to four hours.
Apply sunscreen even when indoors.
Use gentle skin care products, and avoid multiple cosmetic uses on the face.

Some laser treatments are available for rosacea to help with pigmentation and redness. These treatments are effective but sometimes do not work well with some people.

Your dermatologist will be the best person to advise you on lasers. Mostly, do not feel burdened by these rashes. These do not define you and your personality at all. You are more than this.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.