If your skin is changing and your hair is just not behaving around that time of the month, it’s not your imagination. The hormonal changes women experience before, during and after our menstrual cycle can change our outer appearance.
"Hormones do play a huge role in the health of our skin, hair and nails" confirm Chicago-based physicians Dr. Chantale Stephens-Archer and Dr. Gameli Dekayie-Amenu, better known as the BestiesMD. "In addition, our bodies are quite sensitive to the fluctuations in hormones that occur naturally around our cycles."
The BestiesMD explain that one additional consequence of heavier or longer cycles is anemia from increased blood loss. Anemia can result in unfavorable changes to the health of our skin, hair and nails.
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Here are five common effects that you may be facing and what you can do about them:
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1. Your hair and skin are oilier than normal.
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Hormonal fluctuations make your skin and skin oilier than normal. Leading up to your period, your body produces more testosterone, that creates an oil called sebum. If you have dry hair and skin, that extra oil may not be a bad thing, but for many women, the extra oil can cause acne and weigh hair down.
Tip: Set aside time to wash your hair more frequently, if needed, and switch to an oil-free moisturizer.
2. Your skin is dried out.
While some women’s skin becomes oilier, many experience the opposite. As estrogen levels drop, estrogen causes water loss in the skin, leaving it dry, dull, and easily irritated.
Tip: Add in extra moisturizers to your daily routine and give your skin a little extra TLC when washing your face.
READ: 5 Tips To Care For Black Skin With Acne
3. Your pores are larger.
Increased sebum also makes your pores larger.
Tip: Wash your pillows more often and avoid any thick cosmetic products that can clog your pores further. Natural remedies for minimizing the appearance of open pores include apple cider vinegar as an astringent and toner, egg whites as a mask, and baking soda as an exfoliant.
4. Your scalp is sensitive.
When your cycle starts, you produce more prostaglandin — a hormone that increases pain sensitivity — and your skin can be more sensitive to everything. Unfortunately, your scalp is not exempt and some of your normal haircare routines can become exceptionally painful.
Tip: Even if you don’t skip your hair appointment, avoid services like relaxers or color that involve chemicals and lessen the heat to save your scalp some pain.
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5. You’re shedding more.
When your period first starts, estrogen levels are at their lowest. As they dip, you may lose more hair than what’s normal for you. This shedding is more common after pregnancy or during menopause, but does occur in some women whose estrogen levels ate too low.
Tip: Opt out of new styles that pull your hair tightly like braiding, but be sure to contact a doctor if shedding is excessive.
