Why You Get Hormonal Acne After 30 (and What to Do About It)

Still Breaking Out After 30? It’s Not “Teenage” Acne Anymore.

You expected your skin to glow in your 30s, not break out like a teenager. But here you are—monthly chin pimples, painful jawline cysts, and lingering post-acne marks. If this sounds familiar, you’re likely dealing with hormonal acne—and it has nothing to do with dirty skin or poor hygiene.

In South Africa, adult hormonal acne is on the rise, especially among women in their 30s and 40s. Stress, gut health, hormone disruptors, and imbalances like PCOS or estrogen dominance can all fuel these breakouts.

🔬 What Causes Hormonal Acne After 30?

Hormonal acne typically appears:

• Along the jawline, chin, and neck
• Before or during your period
• As deep, painful pimples or cysts
• Alongside oily skin, hair thinning, or irregular cycles

Let’s break down the biggest hormonal acne triggers:

🧪 1. Androgen Excess (High Testosterone or DHEA)

Excess androgens overstimulate sebaceous glands, causing oil overproduction and clogged pores.

📌 Common in:

• PCOS
• Chronic stress (raises DHEA)
• Post-birth control rebound

🧠 Dr Olz Tip: We use DIM, Zinc, Saw Palmetto, and EstroFactors to reduce androgen excess naturally.

💢 2. Estrogen Dominance

Too much estrogen (or too little progesterone) can worsen skin inflammation and oiliness, especially mid-cycle.

Symptoms may include:

• Bloating
• PMS
• Heavy periods
• Mood swings

→ Use natural detoxifiers like:

• Calcium-D-Glucarate
• I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol)
• Milk Thistle & Sulforaphane
• EstroFactors by Metagenics

💊 3. Post-Pill Acne

Coming off hormonal birth control? Your body’s hormones can rebound, causing acne flare-ups that may last months.

🌿 4. Poor Liver Detox & Gut Imbalance

Your liver and gut help process hormones. If they’re sluggish, estrogen and toxins recirculate—triggering acne.

Boost detox with:

• Liver support: Milk thistle, broccoli sprouts (sulforaphane), dandelion
• Gut repair: Probiotics, glutamine, fibre
• Lignans: Plant compounds that support estrogen balance

✅ Ask Dr Olz’s Hormonal Acne Treatment Protocol

🔹 Step 1: Test Your Hormones

→ Blood or DUTCH hormone testing
→ Look at testosterone, DHEA, progesterone, estrogen, insulin, vitamin D

🔹 Step 2: Balance Hormones Naturally

→ Targeted treatment using:

• DIM & Calcium-D-Glucarate
• EstroFactors (Metagenics)
• Zinc + Omega-3s
• Liver & gut support protocols

🔹 Step 3: Lifestyle Adjustments

• Sleep 7–9 hours nightly
• Reduce dairy (linked to acne in sensitive individuals)
• Avoid sugar and high-glycemic foods
• Add strength training + stress relief

🔹 Step 4: Support Skin From Within

• Hydration: 2L+ water daily
• Collagen + vitamin C for repair
• Consider natural topical treatments (tea tree oil, salicylic acid, niacinamide)

🌿 Ask Dr Olz Functional Supplement Picks for Hormonal Acne:

🛒 Shop online in South Africa:

• EstroFactors
• DIM + Calcium-D-Glucarate combo
• Zinc Glycinate
• Probiotic 10+ strains
• Liver detox support

💬 Final Word from Dr Olz

Hormonal acne after 30 is a sign your body is trying to communicate. The solution isn’t another cream—it’s restoring internal balance. At Ask Dr Olz, we address acne from the root: hormones, liver, gut, and lifestyle.

🔎 Book a virtual hormone consultation or submit your blood test for expert analysis.

🎯 Take the Ask Dr Olz quiz: “Which Hormone Is Causing Your Acne?”