# Acne and skin through your cycle

> Why spots love the week before your period.

Category: Body literacy · 4 min read · Written by the Splash team · Sources checked October 2026
URL: https://splash.care/learn/body-literacy/acne-skin

## Quick answer

- Hormone shifts before periods can trigger breakouts, though not for everyone.
- Gentle cleansing and non-comedogenic products help. Do not scrub or pick.
- See a GP for severe, painful or scarring acne, or if it is getting you down.

If your chin breaks out like clockwork before your period, it is not your imagination. The NHS lists [hormone](https://splash.care/learn/cycle-basics/hormones-explained) changes, including those around periods, as a cause of acne, and spotty skin is a common [PMS](https://splash.care/learn/glossary/pms) symptom.

**44%** of 400 women with acne said their spots flared before their period, in a 2001 survey. It is common, but not everyone gets it.

## Why it happens

Acne happens when hair follicles get blocked with oil and dead skin cells, and bacteria can then grow. Hormones such as [Androgens](https://splash.care/learn/glossary/androgens) encourage skin to make more oil (sebum). The exact reason some people flare before their period is still not fully understood, but shifting hormone levels in the days before a period are thought to play a part.

- **Period:** Pre-period spots usually start to calm down.
- **Follicular:** Many people find their skin is clearest now.
- **Ovulation:** Skin can look glowy; oil may start to pick up.
- **Luteal:** Oilier skin and breakouts are more likely, especially on the chin and jaw.

## Kind-to-skin habits

- Wash twice a day with a gentle cleanser, and take make-up off before bed.
- Choose skincare and make-up labelled "non-comedogenic" (it will not clog pores).
- Do not pick or squeeze spots, as this can scar. Do not scrub, as this can irritate and make acne worse.
- Ask a pharmacist about salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
- Wear loose, breathable clothing if acne is on your body.

Treatments often take several weeks to show a difference, so give each one a fair go. If it is not working, a pharmacist or GP can change the plan. For acne that flares with your period, a GP can sometimes offer treatments that manage hormone levels, such as the combined pill, or other prescription options.

> **Splash says:** log your skin alongside your cycle. If a pattern shows up, you can start gentle care a few days before it usually hits.

**Myth:** Acne is caused by dirty skin.

**Fact:** The NHS says acne comes from blocked hair follicles, hormones and bacteria. Scrubbing hard can make it worse.

### When to see a doctor

See a GP if self-care is not working, you have lots of spots, or they are deep, painful or leaving scars; if skin looks hot, swollen and red like an infection; or if acne is affecting your mental health. The NHS says acne with irregular periods and extra hair growth can be linked to PMOS (formerly PCOS), which is worth checking.

## Sources

1. [NHS: Acne](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/)
2. [Stoll et al. (2001) The effect of the menstrual cycle on acne, J Am Acad Dermatol](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11712049/)
3. [NHS: PMS (premenstrual syndrome)](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-menstrual-syndrome/)
4. [NHS: Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS)](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos/)

This is general information, not medical advice. Splash can’t diagnose. If you’re worried, talk to a GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US).