How can I tell if Acne is Hormonal or Bacterial?

Distinguishing between hormonal and bacterial acne is crucial for effective treatment. This week, we delve into the causes and characteristics of each with Barbara Paldus, founder of Codex Labs.

Learn about the triggers, from hormonal fluctuations to bacterial overgrowth, and discover management strategies that include diet, lifestyle changes, and the Shaant collection developed by Codex Labs, the management system for oily and acne prone skin. Including supplements to target the underlying causes of acne, offering a holistic approach to clearer skin, find out how to tailor your skincare routine for optimal results with Shaant's formulations.

What are the key differences between hormonal acne and bacterial acne?

Acne develops when sebum and dead skin cells plug hair follicles. Bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes) can trigger inflammation resulting in more severe acne.

Hormonal acne is influenced by hormonal imbalances in your body. Hormonal acne is most common during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause and is caused by excess androgens of stress hormones increasing sebum production and thereby increasing the possibility of C. acnes colonization.

Bacterial acne is caused by an overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes on the skin in environments where there is excess sebum. It typically presents as whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules which can appear anywhere on the face, back, or chest.

How can you identify hormonal acne and the triggers of it?

Hormonal acne typically appears on the jaw, chin, neck, and upper back as pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Hormonal acne appears in puberty during hormonal shifts, monthly during the menstrual cycle, during the early and late stages or pregnancy, and at the onset of menopause. Hormonal acne can also be triggered by elevated cortisol levels from stress.

How can we manage acne that is induced by bacteria?

Bacterial acne typically presents as whiteheads, blackheads, and pustules which can appear anywhere on the face, back, or chest. Unlike hormonal acne, bacterial acne may be more responsive to topical treatments targeting the underlying bacterial growth.

How might diet and lifestyle influence hormonal and bacterial acne?

A diet high in sugar, processed foods, and/or fats will induce gut inflammation that then manifests in general inflammation. This general inflammation can then induce over-production of sebum in hair follicles or cell death at the exit of hair follicles, resulting in a plugged, sebum-filled pore which is the ideal environment for the rapid multiplication of C. acnes bacteria and the formulation of pimples.

Can you tell us about the formulations in the Shaant collection and how it targets acne?

The Codex Labs Shaant ClearSkin Probiotic has a patent pending formulation that has been recently clinical evaluated and shown to reduce bacterial acne lesions by 58% over 8 weeks of use. Why is it so effective? It has a blend of the three following bacterial genera known to reduce gut inflammation.

Probiotic blend: A blend of three key probiotics to supplement the gut microbiome
Lactobacillus: anti-inflammatory properties for gut lining
Bifidobacterium: protects against pathogens and supports immunity (gut homeostasis)
Bacillus: anti-inflammatory and blood lipid lowering activity
Guggul (Ayurveda): contains guggulsterones that help reduce blood lipid levels and lower blood sugar levels
Green tea leaf extract (EGCG): anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

The Codex Labs Shaant Skin Destress Supplement has a patent pending formulation that has been recently clinical evaluated and shown to reduce hormonal acne lesions by 61% over 8 weeks of use. Why is it so effective? It has a blend of four ayurvedic plants and four dietary supplements that target hormonal imbalance and inflammation.

Tulsi/Holy Basil (Ayurveda): adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory herb that calms
Turmeric (Ayurveda): anti-inflammatory herb with skin-clearing benefits
Milk Thistle (Ayurveda): anti-inflammatory herb with liver-supporting properties
Barberry (Ayurveda): anti-inflammatory herb with sebum-reducing benefits
L-Theanine: amino acid that helps calm the mind and reduce cortisol levels
MSM: anti-inflammatory dietary supplement
Myo-Inositol/Folic Acid: dietary supplements that support hormonal balance

How can we integrate the Shaant range into a skincare routine to get the best benefits?

The supplements are a 90-day treatment for acne: ClearSkin Probiotic for bacterial acne and De-Stress Powder for hormonal acne. They should be complemented with our Shaant Pore Purifying Face Scrub or Shaant Hydrating Body Scrub to clear excess sebum and help treat comedones (blackheads/whiteheads) and with our Spot Hero Blemish Gel to resolve inflammatory lesions (pimples).

In general, the Shaant Refining Toner is a great additional to this routine because it helps keeps pores clean and closed. For those with adult acne who are worried about scarring, our Balancing Oil Control Cream with 1% bakuchiol (a plant-based retinol) is an ideal addon, to be used every other or every three days. Once the acne is cleared, the face scrub can be replaced with the Balancing Foaming Cleanser to keep excess oiliness at bay but be gentle on the skin barrier. The cleanser can also be used to remove make-up.

Address oiliness and clogged pores and discover the Codex Labs Shaant collection today, formulated with the ShaantComplex™ that is scientifically proven to reduce sebum production, redness and shrink pores.

How can I tell if Acne is Hormonal or Bacterial?

By Bianca Soberano

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