4 herbs for premenstrual acne

While premenstrual acne is common, it doesn't need to be accepted as inevitable. There are natural solutions that can help! Herbal remedies that can help premenstrual acne include Calendula, Dandelion, Echinacea and Agnus castus. They have different modes of action, so can be taken together if needed to address different underlying causes of acne.

Calendula

Calendula is an amazing herb for the skin! It can be helpful for all types of acne, regardless of when it pops up for you. It is one of my all-time favourite herbs and has a myriad of uses! Calendula's bright orange blossoms have been used to soothe the skin for centuries, if not longer. You might be familiar with Calendula cream. It is commonly used for dry skin, nappy rash and sunburn. But it is also great taken internally as a tea or tincture.

Calendula's antimicrobial action is one of the ways it targets acne. (2) It is also well-known as a herb that helps to move and cleanse the lymphatic system, promoting lymphatic circulation and drainage. It is also high in anti-inflammatory compounds called flavonoids and retinoids, so reducing inflammation is another way it can help the skin.

Calendula also has an affinity with the menstrual system. It is what herbalists call an emmenagogue, which means it increases blood flow to the pelvic region and helps to bring on a period. If you tend to get clots in your menstrual blood, or if you are prone to cramps, as well as premenstrual acne, then definitely give Calendula a try. It is also indicated if you often get swollen lymph glands.

For treating premenstrual acne, I recommend taking Calendula internally, as a tincture or tea, as well as applying it topically. Some people find that when they first start taking Calendula the skin can get a bit worse at first before the spots clear up. That is because it is helping to clear impurities from within, bringing them to the surface so they can be cleared from the body. So, power through for a few weeks, and make sure you don't start taking it before a big photoshoot or family wedding, just in case!

Dandelion

Dandelion is another herb that can help acne, whether it is hormonal in origin or not. It is an amazing herb for those organs of detoxification, the liver and kidneys! Acne can occur because the liver is in need of some support, and in this case Dandelion can really help. The liver metabolises and excretes our food and any toxins, alcohol or medications that we ingest.

The liver also needs to process our hormones, which is why it can also be really helpful for premenstrual acne. If our liver is overworked in general, it sometimes needs to use the skin, which is our largest organ of detoxification, to help it offload toxins. This can then result in spots or acne.

Dandelion has the added benefit of helping with premenstrual swelling and bloating. Most of us are familiar with the feeling of digestive bloating, but the swelling is a bit more subtle. If you get red lines or indentations on your ankles when you take your socks off in the evening, this is an indication of swelling, also called oedema. For some women, this only happens in the days before their period; so, if that sounds familiar, try Dandelion tincture. In this case, I would definitely recommend a whole plant extract, which contains Dandelion leaf for kidney support and Dandelion root for liver support.

Echinacea

Echinacea is best known for supporting the immune system and treating colds and flu; but Echinacea is also an amazing skin remedy used by herbalists to treat a variety of inflammatory skin conditions. It can be really helpful for hormonal acne in teenagers as well as premenstrual acne.

One of the ways Echinacea can help acne is via its action on the lymphatic system, which helps improve the elimination of toxins from the body. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

It can be used internally as well as topically. The tincture can be diluted in water and applied directly to the skin for this anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. You may want to try using Echinacea cream as your moisturiser if you are prone to acne, as well as taking the tincture or tablets internally, which will give you the added side benefit of reducing your susceptibility to catching a cold!

Agnus castus

Agnus castus is particularly great for hormonal acne, because it helps to rebalance the underlying hormone imbalance that may contribute to your acne if it is showing up before or during your period. This is a great herb to try if you also get lots of other PMS symptoms, including mood swings, anger and irritability, bloating, breast tenderness and painful periods.

There was a study conducted way back in 1968 (3) which found that Agnus castus helped ease acne in both men and women with acne that has been unresponsive to previous treatment.

There is some controversy, however, in the herbal world about using the herb for premenstrual acne. Hormonal acne often pops up before the period, in our luteal phase when we have higher levels of progesterone compared to oestrogen, and Agnus castus seems to increase our levels of progesterone and LH.

In practice, many herbalists still find this herb to be helpful, even though the mode of action isn't quite understood. Like so many topics related to both herbal medicine and women's health, more research is needed! My main takeaway for you is that if you have premenstrual acne as part of a bigger PMS picture, including symptoms like mood swings, anger and irritability, bloating, breast tenderness and painful periods, then Agnus castus is worth a try.

Can our food choices affect acne?

Dietary factors are also important for treating the underlying causes of acne. A diet rich in processed food and high in refined sugar can exacerbate symptoms; so, like for most health issues, it can help to focus on a diet rich in whole foods and fresh produce!

Sugary foods, processed food, caffeine and alcohol can have a profound impact on our blood sugar levels. Secreting large amounts of insulin can correspond to raised levels of sebum oil, which can have many unhappy repercussions for our skin. In the UK and Ireland, we also have a knack of consuming just a little bit too much dairy, which can sometimes exacerbate an outbreak.

When it comes to your diet, there are foods that can help to support acne-prone skin, so focus on adding more of these. Leafy green vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts and seeds are all rich in nourishing nutrients like zinc, vitamin A and vitamin E, which can help acne-prone skin. It may also be worth investing in a good probiotic, and a product like Molkosan Fruit, as supporting your gut environment may help to improve your skin. If you want any further information about the types of foods you should be avoiding or focusing on, I highly recommend checking out our Diet & Acne pages.

Additional topical support

Silicol Skin is a great natural remedy that can be used topically, whether your acne is hormonal or not. It's a topical colloidal silica gel for problem skin, including: acne, spots, blackheads and excess oil. It binds & reduces bacteria that can contribute to acne, and it clears excess oil.

It's easy to use - simply wet the skin and apply a thin layer to the affected area. Allow to dry for 10-15 minutes or until the gel turns white on the skin. When dry, gently rinse off with water. This can be used alongside dietary changes and herbal remedies.

As always if you have any questions, please let me know. Here is to happier skin and happier periods!