Your hormones are responsible for everything in your body – from growth, mood, and behavior, to digestion and fertility and even the quality of your skin. So, it is understandable why your skin changes during hormone fluctuations.
This is especially true for estrogen. Estrogen is associated with increased collagen production, skin hydration, skin thickness, wound healing, and improved function of your skin barrier. If you’ve ever experienced a hormonal breakout, while on your period or during pregnancy, you know how tough it can be to find something that actually works.
Here are a few of our tips to naturally maintain healthy skin during hormone fluctuations:
1. Stay hydrated
Every cell in your body requires water to do its job, be it circulation, detox, or energy production. Your skin is very sensitive to any fluctuations in hydration, especially throughout the latter half of our menstrual cycle, before, and during bleeding. Dehydrated skin can also appear duller, more wrinkled, and is more prone to acne.
2. Avoid refined sugars
Because sugar is linked to estrogen, a diet full of excessive sugar (which includes all refined carbohydrates – not just the sweet stuff) can lead to a significant hormonal imbalance. Diets high in refined sugar and carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels and trigger a series of hormonal changes that can actually promote acne. If you are on acne meds, you might like our dryness due to meds set.
3. Get in your Omega-3s
EPA and DHA are both essential fatty acids that help support the healthy cell membranes of your skin. Incorporating more omega-3s in your diet or through an added supplement can help promote clear, supple, resilient skin health – especially through hormonal fluctuations during your cycle.
4. Consider going dairy-free
As you likely know, dairy consumption impacts acne and other skin conditions. In particular, the hormonal components of dairy influence acne-prone skin. So, if you struggle with acne, it could be worth removing dairy from your diet, even on a trial basis.
5. Get adequate sleep
It’s not called “beauty sleep” for nothing! Sleep helps reset and regulate your levels of cortisol, also known as your stress hormone. When cortisol is too high, it can lead to inflammation and a worsening complexion. We designed our relaxing lavender body treatment with your beauty sleep in mind!
6. Move your body
Ever wonder why your skin seems to glow after a good workout? It’s not just in your head: exercise aids in circulation and helps detoxify your skin cells. Not to mention, moving your body is great to enhance your quality of life and help regulate any hormonal imbalances. Just remember to stay hydrated!
7. Swap out toxic products
Many skincare and topical products contain ingredients that are known endocrine disruptors. In other words, these products could actually be altering your natural hormonal balance and irritating your skin. Be sure to investigate the ingredients for everything that you put on your skin. Any skincare or femcare product by Damiva is a great place to start. Take a look at our fabulous 100% Natural™ skincare and femcare products.