What helps with acne during menopause?

For many women, it feels strange when pimples suddenly reappear in later life. Perhaps your skin had been calm for years, and now you notice small inflammations on your chin or jawline again.

During menopause, more changes occur in the skin than we often realize. Hormones begin to fluctuate, which can affect sebum production, skin sensitivity, and hydration.

As a result, pimples can reappear, even when your skin simultaneously feels drier.

In this blog, we'll calmly look at what can help when acne develops during menopause and how you can gently support your skin.

In the first blog of this series, we already discussed why women around the age of 45 might experience pimples again (Read more: Why do you get pimples again around 45?). After that, we looked at how to recognize menopausal acne (Read more: How to recognize menopausal acne?) and what happens in the skin when dry skin and pimples occur simultaneously.

Now, we will look at what your skin often needs when hormonal pimples appear during menopause.

Acne during menopause often requires a different approach

Acne in adult women often works differently than acne during puberty.

In teenagers, the focus is usually on an overproduction of sebum and clogged pores. During menopause, hormonal fluctuations play a larger role. (Read more: How to recognize your menopause acne).

Research shows that hormonal changes, such as a relative increase in androgens, can stimulate sebum production and thus cause pimples [1][7].

Therefore, acne during menopause often requires a different approach than classic teenage acne.

Mild skincare as a base

During perimenopause, many women notice that their skin becomes more sensitive. The skin can feel drier and react more quickly to strong products.

This is because the skin barrier can become more vulnerable when estrogen declines [9][17].

A gentle routine can help keep the skin calmer.

That means, for example,

• using a mild facial cleanser

• hydrating the skin

• choosing products that support the skin barrier

• avoiding aggressive scrubs

When the skin remains well hydrated (Read more: What helps with acne during menopause?), it can often recover better and is less likely to react with inflammation.

Ingredients often used for acne

There are various ingredients commonly used in dermatology for acne.

Examples include

• salicylic acid

• benzoyl peroxide

• retinoids

• azelaic acid

These ingredients can help to unclog pores, reduce inflammation, or support skin renewal [3][5].

For adult acne, it is often important to use these ingredients cautiously so that the skin does not become too dry.

The influence of diet on acne

In addition to skincare, diet (Read more: diet and acne) can also influence acne.

Research suggests that a diet with a high glycemic index can stimulate the production of certain hormones involved in acne, such as insulin and IGF-1 [13][15][16].

Some studies show that a diet with a lower glycemic index can improve acne in certain people.

This does not mean that diet is the only cause of acne, but it can play a role in some people.

Stress and hormonal balance

Stress can also affect the skin.

When stress hormones rise, it can enhance inflammatory processes in the body and also influence sebum production.

As a result, pimples can sometimes appear faster or persist longer.

Moments of rest, sufficient sleep, and general health can therefore indirectly contribute to a calmer skin appearance.

When professional help can be useful

Sometimes pimples keep coming back despite good care.

In that case, it can be useful to seek advice from an acne skin specialist. They can look at possible hormonal factors and suggest a treatment that better suits your skin.

In short

Acne during menopause is more common than many people think.

Hormonal changes can cause sebaceous glands to become more active while the skin simultaneously becomes more sensitive or drier.

What can often help is

• mild skincare

• ingredients that reduce inflammation

• attention to diet and lifestyle

• professional advice when acne keeps recurring

When you understand what is happening in your skin, it often becomes easier to support your skin better.

Frequently asked questions about acne during menopause

Is acne during menopause normal?

Yes. Many women develop acne again during perimenopause or menopause. Hormonal fluctuations can affect sebum production and thus cause pimples [1][7].

Where do hormonal pimples usually appear?

Hormonal pimples often appear on the chin, jawline, and around the mouth. These are areas that respond more sensitively to hormonal changes [2][4].

Can dry skin also get acne?

Yes. Skin can be both dry and blemished. During hormonal changes, the skin barrier can weaken while sebaceous glands remain active [9][17].

Does diet help with acne?

Some studies show that a low glycemic index diet can improve acne in certain people. This may be related to the influence of diet on hormones such as insulin and IGF-1 [13][15][16].

When is it good to seek help for acne?

When pimples keep recurring or cause scarring, professional advice can be helpful. A dermatologist can help determine a treatment that better suits your skin.

Author: Sofie Dewitte

Sources

1. Harper JC, et al. Emerging Issues in Adult Female Acne. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2024.

2. Rocha M, Bagatin E. Adult female acne: Clinical characteristics and factors related to disease severity. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2018.

3. Del Rosso JQ, Kim G. Adult female acne: A guide to clinical practice. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.

4. Preneau S, Dreno B. Female acne – a different subtype of teenager acne? Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

5. Pappas A. Acne pathogenesis: from comedogenesis to inflammation. Clinics in Dermatology.

6. Thiboutot D, et al. Acne: hormonal concepts and therapy. Clinics in Dermatology, 2004.

7. Lucky AW, et al. Hormonal treatment of acne in women. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology / Endocrine Reviews.

8. Newson L. Acne, perimenopause and menopause. Newson Health Menopause Society, 2025.

9. Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K. Relationships of diet and acne. Dermato-Endocrinology, 2013.

10. Kim J, et al. A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2007.

11. Kwon HH, et al. Low glycemic index diet decreases IGF-1 and androgen levels in acne patients. Journal of Nutrition, 2012.

12. Dr Louise Newson. Clinical explanations on perimenopause, hormones and skin changes.