What you will learn about period acne in the summer from this blog:
- Hormonal shifts right before your period drop estrogen and progesterone while testosterone rises, which boosts oil production and triggers breakouts.
- Heat, sweat, humidity, and thick sunscreens make period acne in the summer worse because they clog pores and feed acne-causing bacteria.
- A gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser used twice daily is the foundation for managing period acne in the summer, because it removes sweat and excess oil without stripping or irritating your skin.
- Mild chemical exfoliants like glycolic and lactic acid, along with nose strips for blackheads, help keep pores clear.
- Lightweight, oil-free moisturizers and broad-spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen are non-negotiable, even for acne-prone skin.
- Pimple patches with salicylic acid heal active breakouts faster, while drinking water, exercising, and eating a low-GI diet support clearer skin from within.
Summers and periods are not a great combination for your skin. Why? Because the heat, sweat, and hormonal changes exacerbate acne. So, your regular skincare routine may not cut it for period acne in the summer.
Research shows that over 40% of people see their acne get worse during the summer months. That’s why you need to rethink your skincare as soon as the temperature rises. So, let’s understand the science behind it all and help you build a skincare routine for period acne!
Blog continues after the ad.
Why Does Period Acne Get Worse in Summer Heat?
The short answer is hormones. The causes of acne during periods come down to a hormonal shift that happens right before your cycle starts.
Hormones like estrogen and progesterone keep your skin balanced by managing your oil (sebum) production. But around your period, these hormone levels drop. At the same time, there’s an increase in oil-boosting hormones like testosterone (yes, women have it too!).
This hormonal switch-up causes your oil glands to produce more sebum, which clogs your pores and traps dirt and bacteria, leading to breakouts. This is essentially what acne during menstrual cycle looks like for most people.
Plus, the stress of dealing with the other menstrual symptoms like cramps, bloating and fatigue (or what you call PMS) can make acne worse. For more detailed information on period acne, you can check out our blog here.
When a tender, throbbing pimple shows up the night before your period, you don’t want to wait it out for a week. Slapping on a Nua Pimple Patch before bed lets the salicylic acid get to work while you sleep, so you wake up with a much calmer spot.
Why Do Is There An Increase In Period Acne In The Summer?
While it is normal to experience more breakouts during your periods, it is also normal for them to get worse in the summer. Hormonal acne in hot weather tends to flare for a few specific reasons, and understanding why period acne in the summer hits harder helps you treat it better. Here’s why:
1. Clogged Pores
The excess sweat during the summer can mix with your dead skin cells, clogging your pores and ultimately leading to acne. This is one of the biggest reasons oily skin in summer acne
feels relentless. This is why experts advise people with acne-prone skin to wear loose-fitting clothes in the summer and stay out of the sun as much as possible.
2. Product Buildup
While you’re doing the right thing by applying (and reapplying!) sunscreen in the summer, sometimes, it can build up on your skin and make breakouts worse. This is especially true if your sunscreen is too thick.
Now, we are not saying you shouldn’t be using sunscreen. We just want you to look for the right one. Pick lightweight sunscreens that won’t clog your pores.
3. Acne-Causing Bacteria
The humidity and sweating in summer create a perfect breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria, leading to breakouts, redness and inflammation. That’s exactly how heat affects acne, and it’s also why dermatologists advise people to keep blotting their skin with a clean towel when it’s hot out.
If your nose feels like a magnet for blackheads every time the humidity climbs, a quick fix can save you from squeezing (which only makes things worse). Nua’s Nose Strips with matcha, witch hazel, and aloe vera lift out the gunk in ten minutes without leaving your skin red and stinging afterwards.
Does Sweating Worsen Period Acne?
Yes, sweating can make period acne worse, but not in the way most people think. Sweat itself isn’t the villain, what happens after you sweat is.
When sweat sits on your skin, it mixes with sebum, dead skin cells, sunscreen, and bacteria already on the surface. This combination clogs your pores and triggers fresh breakouts, especially on the areas where you sweat the most, like your forehead, jawline, and back. Add in fluctuating period hormones, and your skin is already producing extra oil to begin with, so the clogging happens faster.
The fix isn’t to stop sweating, because exercise actually helps your skin. The fix is to not let sweat linger. Blot your face with a clean towel during the day, rinse off as soon as you can after a workout, and change out of damp clothes quickly. Avoid wiping your face with the same gym towel you’ve been using for an hour, because that’s just moving bacteria around.
The Best Skincare Routine for Period Acne In The Summer
Here’s a step-by-step summer skincare for acne-prone skin routine that actually works for period acne in the summer, when your hormones and the heat are both working against you.
Step 1: Gentle Cleansing
The goal is to gently remove dirt, sweat, and excess oil from your skin’s surface without irritating or drying it out. But since most of these impurities aren’t water-soluble, you need to wash your face twice daily with a non-soap cleanser.
Research shows that, for acne-prone skin, you should look for a cleanser that is:
- Non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores)
- Non-acnegenic
- Non-irritating
- Non-allergenic
Avoid using harsh products to clean your skin and products that contain alcohol, sulfates or fragrances, especially if you have acne. To learn more about the right products for acne-prone skin, check out this blog.
Step 2: Mild Exfoliation
Gently exfoliating your skin helps remove dead cells and unclog pores, leading to fewer breakouts in the future. And for acne-prone skin, mild chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid and lactic acid work best!
For blackheads and whiteheads on the nose, exfoliate using nose strips. If you’re worried about skin irritation, go for something soothing like Nua’s Nose Strips. They’re enriched with matcha, witch hazel, and aloe vera to clean things up while maintaining your skin barrier.
Step 3: Light-Weight Moisturizer
Moisturizing makes skin oily and causes acne. This is 100% not true. Multiple studies prove that moisturizing is important, even if you have acne-prone skin. Dry skin makes your body produce more oil, which causes more acne.
Make sure to use a moisturizer that isn’t heavy. Experts advise thinking super lightweight and oil-free. The keyword here is “non-comedogenic.” As long as a product says that, you’re good to go!
On the days when your skin feels hot, tight, and just plain over it (often the worst part of managing hormonal acne in summer), a calming step makes a real difference. Nua’s Silk Sheet Mask is a 15-minute reset that pumps hydration back into stressed-out skin without anything heavy or pore-clogging, so you can layer it over your moisturizer routine on PMS evenings without worrying about fresh breakouts.
Step 4: Pimple Patches
Squeezing, popping or picking at your pimples is a big NO-NO. It will delay the natural healing process, resulting in infection, scarring and guess what? More pimples!
We suggest using pimple patches. They are made of hydrocolloids that gently pull out excess oil, pus, and fluid from your pimples, helping them heal faster. Try Nua’s Pimple Patch, which has salicylic acid, a hero ingredient for acne-prone skin that calms down breakouts.
Step 5: Sun Protection
One golden rule everyone should live by is applying sunscreen every single day, especially when it’s summer. But for acne-prone skin, your sunscreen should follow some rules. It should be broad-spectrum, oil-free and non-comedogenic with SPF 50+.
And remember, simply buying the sunscreen and using it once is not enough. Researchers say you have to generously re-apply it every two hours, particularly when outdoors.
Can You Treat Period Acne Without Loading Up on Products?
Yes, you can absolutely calm period acne down with lifestyle changes alone, especially if your breakouts are mild. Knowing how to treat period acne naturally is useful because period acne is a result of hormonal fluctuations inside the body, so you can’t prevent it completely. But you can reduce it by making some lifestyle changes.
1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
There’s no study (yet!) that says drinking more water will clear your acne. But here’s what we do know – drinking at least 2 litres of water daily increases skin hydration and reduces dryness, which can help prevent acne. It also supports your immune system and may help balance hormones that mess with your skin. So sipping enough water? Totally worth it!
2. Stay active
Turns out, regular exercise might just be another way to manage acne. A study found that people who exercised more had better skin hydration and barrier function. Why? Because exercise improves skin structure and moisturizing function.
You can walk, jog, swim, play a sport or do aerobics – whatever suits you, just as long as you stay active!
Find out more useful tips on how to keep your skin glowing throughout the summer here.
3. Let’s talk food!
There’s no doubt that diet plays a very big role in skin health. High-glycemic foods (like white bread, sweets, potatoes and soda) and dairy can worsen acne. Therefore, your goal should be eating a low-GI diet with omega-3s, and probiotics. This includes:
- whole grains
- legumes
- fruits and nuts
- green leafy vegetables
- tomatoes
- blueberries
- beans, peas, and lentils
- fatty fish
Even with the cleanest diet and the best routine, a stubborn spot will sometimes still pop up around your period. When it does, skip the mirror-staring and the urge to squeeze. Nua’s Pimple Patch works overnight, so by morning the redness has settled and you can get on with your day.
Here’s the Bottom Tan-Line! (Lol)
Unlike other hormonal symptoms that go away once your periods end, acne tends to stay for much longer. This becomes truer during summer when sweat and humidity clog your pores, paving the way for more breakouts. However, the right skincare routine for period acne can do wonders in keeping period acne in the summer in check while preventing scarring and infections. So, the next time temperatures rise, make sure you have your summertime routine in place to enjoy the season without the annoying breakouts.
Have your own summer skin tips for period acne in the summer? Share them in the comments! We’d love to learn from you.
Disclaimer:
The content of this article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared is of a general nature and may not be appropriate for all individuals or specific circumstances. Readers should not disregard, delay, or substitute professional medical advice based on the information contained herein.
If you experience any symptoms, notice anything unusual, or have concerns relating to your health or overall wellbeing, you should consult a qualified healthcare professional. While every effort is made to ensure the information shared is accurate and up-to-date, Nua makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information provided and disclaims all liability arising from reliance on this content to the fullest extent permitted by law.
