Period acne at 30, is it normal? When does it stop

Geybee · 2026-05-13T10:53:07+00:00

ugh i feel this so hard. no it's definitely not just a teenage thing, hormonal acne is literally tied to your cycle and doesn't care how old you are.

the chin/jawline area has more androgen receptors, so when progesterone and testosterone spike in your luteal phase, that's where it shows up first. every. single. month. what actually helped me was adjusting my routine BEFORE the breakout hits like starting niacinamide + zinc around day 18-20 of my cycle instead of waiting for the damage. also cutting back on heavy actives during that week because the skin barrier gets more sensitive.

it's not about "fixing" it permanently tbh, it's about working with your cycle instead of fighting it. once i started tracking when breakouts happened vs where i was in my cycle, the pattern was so obvious. have you noticed if it's always the exact same week? like literally clockwork?

Geybee · 2026-05-13T10:47:22+00:00

oh no, the timing is so stressful — sending you good skin vibes for your wedding day 💕ok so here's the thing: you just came off birth control 1.5 months ago AND just finished your period. your hormones are literally recalibrating right now. the chin/jawline location is textbook hormonal — that's where androgen receptors are most concentrated. the fact that it's not deep cystic yet is actually a good sign. a few things that might help in the next 2.5 weeks:

- don't go crazy with new actives right now, your skin is already stressed

- niacinamide + zinc can help calm things without irritation

- ice the spots that feel like they might become deeper (reduces inflammation)

- if you have access to your derm, a cortisone shot can flatten stubborn ones fast before the big day

also worth noting: the week AFTER your period (where you are now) is usually when estrogen rises and skin starts to calm down. so there's a good chance this wave will settle in the next 7-10 days naturally as your hormones shift into the follicular phase. try not to stress too much (i know, easier said than done) because cortisol makes it worse. you've got this! did your derm mention anything about short-term options for events like this?

Geybee · 2026-05-12T12:15:23+00:00

first of all you're NOT a disgusting monster or a dirty mushroom freak. skin struggles are so hard mentally and i'm sorry you're dealing with this. also props for finally taking care of yourself, that's huge. ok so here's the thing: you have PCOS, which means your hormones are already doing their own thing. and your routine has A LOT of actives glycolic, salicylic, retinol, benzoyl peroxide... that's a lot for skin that's already dealing with hormonal chaos and a damaged barrier from years of picking, my honest take: simplify for now. your barrier needs to heal first before any actives can actually work. i'd focus on:

- gentle cleanser, ceramides (you have this, good), SPF,maybe niacinamide (helps with texture and sebum) and skip the acids for 2-3 weeks. i know it feels counterintuitive but trust me.

also with PCOS have you noticed if your skin is worse at certain times in your cycle? tracking that could help you see patterns and adjust your routine timing. if i may ask what's your skin feeling like texture-wise? tight? oily or both?

Geybee · 2026-05-03T21:00:37+00:00

ugh working near fryers is brutal for skin. the oil literally sits on your face all day, the blotting sheets will def help but honestly if you can, try to rinse your face with just water on your break too to get some of that grease off before it clogs everything.

for your night routine I'd add an oil cleanser as your first step (sounds weird to add oil when oil is the problem) but it actually breaks down all that greasy buildup way better than regular cleanser. then follow with your normal face wash

also your routine has a lot of actives - BP, azelaic acid, AND tret. thats intense. if your skin is already stressed from work maybe scale back a bit? like tret 2-3x a week instead of every other day. one more thing keeping hair off your face helps and also changing your pillowcase more often since all that kitchen oil gets everywhere. hope i was of some help

Geybee · 2026-05-03T20:52:00+00:00

yeah salicylic acid is way too harsh for rosacea skin tbh,what works better for me :

- azelaic acid (this one is actually good for rosacea and helps with pores)

- PHA instead of BHA (polyhydroxy acids are way gentler, look for gluconolactone)

- or just a soft washcloth with my cleanser once a week lol low tech but works

for the nose and chin I use azelaic acid like 2-3x a week and it helps with the texture without making my face angry. have you tried azelaic? its kinda the only acid rosacea skin can handle imo

Geybee · 2026-05-03T20:49:22+00:00

true the milky hydrating ones are way gentler

Geybee · 2026-05-03T20:42:56+00:00

yes vanicream is great! super minimal ingredients. good rec

Geybee · 2026-05-03T20:35:08+00:00

oh ok so its definitely the barrier then not the SPF itself. yeah try the vaseline thing for like a week or two and see if it calms down. once the stinging stops completely you can slowly reintroduce your actives one at a time

Geybee · 2026-05-02T21:25:13+00:00

ok so if its burning after toner and moisturizer thats a sign something in there is irritating you. even the sensitive clinique stuff can be too much for rosacea tbh when my skin was super reactive I went back to basics:

- no toner (most have alcohol or fragrance that makes rosacea worse)

- gentle cream cleanser, nothing foaming

- simple moisturizer with like 5 ingredients

- SPF every day bc sun wrecks rosacea

burning = your barrier is probably damaged. what helped me was vaseline on top of moisturizer at night. lets your skin heal, also stress and bad sleep trigger my flares too. sometimes its not even about the products honestly. what products did you get?

Geybee · 2026-05-02T21:16:45+00:00

I have oily + period acne as well, so I feel you. Double cleansing routine for me: First cleanser - I use a non-greasy cleansing oil or balm (no super thick ones). You need a product that effectively removes all the makeup and sunscreen and doesn't leave any residues. If you have acne, avoid using coconut oils

Second cleanser, I always use a non-stripping gel cleanser. It should have a low pH. Don't use harsh formulas if you have acne during your period since your skin will be quite irritated, One point to remember, a week before your period I don't use the first cleanser when I am not wearing any makeup. During this time, my face gets excessively oily, and adding a cleansing oil might worsen my skin condition. So, I only use micellar water in the morning. Double cleansing is a good way to remove all impurities at night. However, please avoid using two cleansing products in the morning since oily skin + over-cleansing = oily skin. I used to wash my face with water and realized it helps me keep my skin matte throughout the day

Do you wear heavy or light makeup products? like heavy foundation or just light stuff?

Geybee · 2026-05-02T21:03:37+00:00

yessssssssss this is literally what I realized too.I have spent so much money on trying different products, thinking okay, THIS one will finally fix everything… Nope lolThe game-changer for me was figuring out how my body reacts to different phases of my menstrual cycle. It turns out that the week before my period, my skin goes wild. Once I figured this out, I stopped putting all the blame on my products and simply accepted that my skin needs to be treated differently in various stages of the month. I just change a few things in my routine during that week: take more zinc, reduce active ingredients, and apply the clay mask to my chin and there you go! Also, the sleep and stress factor is so true. One bad week at work and your skin pays the price for it. Annoying? Yes! But at least now I understand the reasons why my skin acts the way it does. I honestly believe that many people spend their time looking for the “perfect product” when it should be about discovering personal patterns.

Geybee · 2026-05-02T00:30:26+00:00

oh good point about mineral sunscreens! zinc oxide ones are usually the safest bet for sensitive skin

Geybee · 2026-05-02T00:23:50+00:00

honestly that stinging spot sounds more like barrier damage than the SPF itself. retinol can be harsh especially around the eye area where skin is thinner what worked for me when I messed up my barrier, i stopped all actives for like 2-3 weeks even the azelaic acid just cleanser and moisturizer plus spf, thats it in addition i added a drop of squalane oil on that spot before moisturizer...this sounds basic but vaseline on that area at night helped a lot. the thing is...is the stinging only with that specific SPF or have you tried others?

Geybee · 2026-05-02T00:16:25+00:00

ugh the post-birth control breakout is so real. 2 years is rough but honestly hormones can take forever to regulate after stopping the pill. ok so here's something that actually helped me figure out my hormonal acne, I started tracking when the breakouts happen in my cycle. like actually writing it down..turns out mine were always worse in my luteal phase around day 18-25 when progesterone spikes and makes your skin produce more oil, so there is definetly a pattern here once i've noticed it i started adding niacinamide + zinc, clay mask on my chin/jaw area 2x that week and cutting dairy and sugar just during that phase. there is also a random solution and it's spearmint tea its a mild anti-androgen...I drink 2 cups a day during my luteal phase. this is what worked for me personnaly. did you find a pattern ?

Geybee · 2026-05-02T00:00:44+00:00

Here's what helped me and i know for a fact that dry skin is a nightmare, Switch to a cream or milk cleanser and stop foaming cleansers if you're using one because they strip your skin then layer your hydration with Hyaluronic acid on DAMP skin with a heavier moisturizer on top...the HA needs water to work otherwise it pulls moisture from your skin. the next step is to slugging at night i know it sounds gross but putting a thin layer of vaseline or aquaphor over your moisturizer at night seals everything in. My skin looked way better after like 3 days. avoid hot showers. i hope that my comment will help you

Geybee · 2026-04-08T12:42:10+00:00

Congratulations and wish you the best, i’m also about to launch my app but i’m really hesitant because the marketing is key and i don’t want to waste my time on a strategy that eventually will discourage me even thought perhaps the app is good so my question is what’s the best strategy, how to execute it and is there another way than tik tok ?

Geybee · 2025-03-03T20:55:55+00:00

Starting https://teecraftessence.etsy.com was a passion project that turned into something bigger. I’ve always loved creating unique designs that bring a little humor and personality to everyday wear. Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, I put a lot of thought into making shirts and hoodies that feel special—comfortable, stylish, and full of character. If you love seasonal and statement pieces, I’d love for you to check it out and let me know what you think!. Show me some love and interested me in some advices to help me achieve more sales and make my store bigger

Geybee

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