3 natural hacks to treat hormonal acne, according to the internet

For those suffering from hormonal acne, the quest for clear skin can be an arduous one, to say the very least. Unlike the superficial zits we had in our teen years, hormonal acne arrives as a result of changing hormone levels and, according to Cleveland Clinic, affects about 50 percent of women in their 20s and 25 percent of women in their 40s.

Depending on who you talk to, the solution to treating acne flare-ups will look different. Your doctor may suggest oral contraceptives to balance out your hormones, your dermatologist may offer up a topical medicine like benzoyl peroxide, and your naturopath may tout the benefits of witch hazel and apple cider vinegar.

And while there are certainly benefits to each, there’s also a handful of lesser-known treatments that people on the internet swear by to stop zits in their tracks.

To supplement your skincare routine, here are three acne-fighting holistic hacks worth checking out.

If you’ve dug around Reddit, YouTube, or TikTok for holistic acne remedies, you may have encountered spearmint tea. According to an article in the Journal of Medicinal Food, spearmint tea contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.

Another study found that spearmint tea contains anti-androgen properties. Androgens are male hormones (found in both sexes) that can cause an overproduction of sebum if found in excess. Skin with excess sebum can appear oily and sebum combined with dead skin cells can result in blackheads and pimples.

While its calming effects on acne are largely anecdotal, people across the internet swear by spearmint tea as a natural skin-clearly solution. And while there are little to no downsides to drinking the tea, Healthline suggests limiting your intake to two to three cups a day.

It’s a tale as old as time: want to clear up your skin? Try cutting out dairy. However, is there any truth to this?

While there is some evidence to suggest that cow’s milk may irritate acne, no studies have found that milk products (i.e. yogurt and cheese) lead to more breakouts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

However, most evidence-based studies agree that consuming cow’s milk may increase your odds of developing acne. Why? Blame artificial hormones.

According to a study by the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, dairy cows treated with artificial hormones may impact your own body’s hormones, potentially triggering acne.

Ultimately, every person’s skin (and digestive system, at that) is different, so changing your diet isn’t always a one-size-fits-all approach. However, there are countless articles lauding the benefits of cutting out dairy, something to keep in mind if you’re looking to treat and manage your acne holistically.

While zinc may be best known as an overall immune booster, it’s also one of the most widely studied forms of acne treatments. Studies have suggested that oral zinc supplements are effective for inflammatory and bacterial forms of acne.

For those less keen on oral supplements, topical zinc may help clear acne-causing bacteria and reduce oil production.