I can really identify with your problem. It’s amazing what a few little hormones can do to a perfectly clear face!
The good news is you are one step ahead by identifying what is
causing the breakouts and wanting to do something proactively to
prevent them. The easiest pimples to get rid of are the ones
that never make it to the surface.
There are a few different things you can do to prevent these
monthly breakouts, so you may have to experiment a few times to
see what works best for you. Your treatment options are benzoyl
peroxide, AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid), BHAs (salicylic
acid), and plant botanicals like tea tree oil or lavender.
Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial that basically kills the
bacteria that causes a pimple. It can be very effective but can
also be rather drying to the skin. If you have never used it
before, start with a low strength like 2.5% and work your way up
to 5% or 10% if you feel your skin can handle it. Benzoyl
peroxide products are typically in a gel or cream form and can
be found in drugstore brands like Clearasil and Oxy, or
specialty brands like Sage or Peter Thomas Roth
(sold on Drugstore.com, dots2.com, and
Beauty Habit).
AHAs and BHAs work to exfoliate dead skin cells so they don’t
clog your pores and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Used
together with benzoyl peroxide, they can dramatically decrease
breakouts quickly. Personally I like BHAs better because they
penetrate pores, getting inside to clean out dead cells from
within; AHAs exfoliate the top layer of skin instead, so it’s
more helpful in preventing surface build-up.
Botanicals like tea tree oil are a nice alternative if you want
something non-chemical, but be aware that the antibacterial
properties can be a bit strong for sensitive skin, even if a
“natural” product seems gentler. Start slowly with something
like this to see how your skin reacts.
The best way to try to prevent those monthly breakouts is to use
one of these treatments every day for about a week before you
would normally breakout. Apply a thin layer to the area that
usually gets affected, and spot treat with a little extra
product on any blemishes that start to appear. Do this every
month and you should be able to reduce or maybe even eliminate
your monthly hormonal acne. Good luck!
