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Hi
I am just looking for some advice on whether my current acne might be hormonal?
I have never had any serious problems with skin, only ever a few pimples/bumps on my forehead. Now I am 26 (female) and recently, my skin has broken out terribly, and I am finding it very hard to cope with. The pimples on my forehead have worsened, and I also have spots on the right side of my face/cheek.
In the past 6 months I have gone on and off birth control twice (two different brands) which I presume my have altered my hormones. I came off the BCP last month, and it has been about 2 weeks now since I stopped the pill. I am not going to go back on it in an attempt to try and live natural. Do you think my skin will eventually settle down? If so, how many weeks/months might it take?
Another point to make is that I do a lot of intensive/endurance running (about 20 miles a week) and I am not sure whether this could be contributing to the situation. I don't want to stop running but I will if its effecting my skin this badly.
Finally, my marriage has also been going through major problems (although I am getting back on track now). As such, I wonder if this acne is stress related.
Would you call it acne? or something else? I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced these forehead bumps and whether it might be folicitus?
Thanks for any help or advice you can give me 
Rachael.
It very well could be your hormones, but typically hormonal acne is concentrated to the chin and jawline regions. However, your skin could be producing more oil (sebum) than normal. Birth control pills work by "regulating" your hormones. I use quotes around regulating because they are actually not really regulating your true hormones, they are pumping in artificial hormones to mask your own. I went off birth control back in September and my skin "purged" small zits like the ones your dealing with... after a few months of trial and error, I am back to using BP 2.5% and these small zits and clogged pores are 99% gone. Now, I am dealing with the cystic acne, 1-2 lesions every two weeks. It's been terrible and really debilitating on my self esteem, and not only that but they are painful. I would recommend starting Chaste Tree Berry (aka Vitex)... it takes anywhere from 3-6 months to build up in your system, but its a wonderful herb that helps regulate your natural hormone levels. Also adding a liver support supplement like the one mentioned in my signature would be a good option for this type of acne your dealing with. In conjunction with living a healthy lifestyle; more plants, less meat (meat contains hormones which can affect your own hormonal production)... Also, try the regimen's 2.5% BP... that is what I've been using for these smaller/congested zits! <3