Help, my skin is freaking out! My journey with hormonal acne during perimenopause.

If someone had told me that I’d be dealing with acne in my 40s, I would’ve laughed. After years of battling breakouts as a teenager, then again in my 20s, I figured I’d seen the last of it. My skin had finally settled, and I was enjoying the kind of clear complexion I’d always wanted.

Then perimenopause happened.

Out of nowhere, my skin started acting up again - painful, inflamed breakouts along my jawline, chin, and even my neck. It felt like I was back in high school, except now I was dealing with hormone shifts that I didn’t fully understand. What was going on with my body? Why was my skin doing this?

I had been on the mini pill for 25 years - yes, 25 years - and I recently decided to stop taking it. I figured my body would just adjust, but I didn’t expect my skin to react the way it did. It was like it had gone into overdrive, pumping out oil like there was no tomorrow. I couldn’t believe I was dealing with acne again, at this stage in my life.

The confusion

At first, I didn’t connect it to perimenopause. I knew my hormones were changing, but I never thought that would lead to breakouts. It wasn’t just a few pimples here and there - this was hormonal acne, the kind that doesn’t go away no matter what you try. Every morning I’d wake up and look in the mirror, frustrated by the painful bumps along my jawline and chin - it made me really sad.

And then the questions started - why was this happening now? I wasn’t considering HRT, but without the mini pill, my body seemed to be in complete disarray. I didn’t realise how much my hormones had been regulated by it, and stopping it felt like pulling the rug out from under me. My skin was screaming for help, and honestly, I didn’t know what to do.

Feeling helpless

I felt like a teenager again in the worst possible way. Trying to cover it up with makeup only seemed to make it worse. I tried all the skincare products I could think of, but nothing seemed to make a difference. The breakouts kept coming, and I felt helpless.

The worst part was how it made me feel about myself. It’s hard enough going through the emotional and physical changes of perimenopause, but throwing acne into the mix? It felt unfair. It was as if my body was betraying me when I needed it to just cooperate.

Finding my balance (eventually)

I wish I could say there was some magical solution that cleared my skin overnight, but the truth is, it's a slow process of trial and error. I started focusing more on managing my stress levels - taking walks, practicing mindfulness, and making time for myself, something I hadn’t really done before. It helped, not really with my skin, but with everything else. Perimenopause is tough enough without piling on stress.

I’ve always had a good diet. I rarely eat processed foods, and salmon, avocados, and plenty of veggies are regulars in my meals. So, I didn’t expect my diet to be a major issue with my skin. But I still tried cutting back even more on sugar and made a conscious effort to drink more water, just in case it would help. While these changes made a small difference, they haven’t been a complete fix. My skin is still unpredictable, reminding me that sometimes, even when we’re doing everything ‘right,’ our bodies have their own plans.

Coming to terms with it

The biggest shift, though, wasn’t in my skincare routine or adding to my diet - it was in how I felt about it all. I had to come to terms with the fact that my body is changing, and sometimes, that includes acne. It’s part of the journey, and while it’s frustrating, I’ve learned to give myself grace.

I still have breakouts, but I no longer let it define how I feel about myself. Perimenopause is full of surprises, and while acne wasn’t one I was expecting, it’s one I’m learning to live with and manage in my own way.

If you’re dealing with the same thing, just know you’re not alone. It’s a frustrating and sometimes lonely process, but we’re all figuring it out together.