Menopausal Acne: Why It Happens and How to Treat It

Skin can feel different during menopause. It can suddenly become more reactive, more sensitive, or prone to breakouts you haven’t experienced in years. If you’re noticing this shift, you’re not alone.

You may be wondering, why am I suddenly getting acne in my 50s? In short, hormonal fluctuations during menopause can trigger increased oil production and inflammation, even if you’ve never experienced acne before.

AKA, menopausal acne is often the result of hormonal changes that affect how your skin produces oil and responds to inflammation.

Here, we’ll guide you through why it happens, what your skin might be telling you, and how to care for it as it continues to evolve.

Why Am I Getting Acne During Menopause?

Hormonal changes during menopause and the years leading up to it can have a noticeable impact on your skin. Our clinic manager and skin expert, Kimberley Medd explains...

“Acne during menopause is often the result of shifting hormones. As oestrogen levels fall, androgens (the male hormones present in all of us) can have a greater influence, increasing oil production and disrupting your skin’s natural balance. Combined with slower cell turnover and increased sensitivity, this can make breakouts more likely, even if acne hasn’t been a concern for years."

At the same time, your skin may become:

• More sensitive
• Slower to renew itself
• Less resilient to external stressors

If your skin feels unfamiliar right now, it’s not something you’ve done wrong. It’s simply responding to change.

What Does Menopausal Acne Look Like?

Menopausal acne often presents a little differently to what you may have experienced earlier in life.

It can feel deeper, more inflamed, and slower to resolve.

You might notice:

• Breakouts around the jawline, chin and lower cheeks
• Tender, hormonal spots that sit beneath the surface
• Skin that feels both congested and dry at the same time
• Increased sensitivity alongside blemishes

This combination can make it harder to know how best to treat your skin, especially when previous routines no longer feel quite right.

Perimenopause, Hormones and Your Skin

For many, these changes begin during perimenopause (years before menopause itself).

This is when hormone levels begin to fluctuate, sometimes quite unpredictably, and your skin can be one of the first places you notice it.

You may find:

• Breakouts appearing more regularly
• Increased sensitivity or dryness
• Skin that feels harder to balance

At this stage, it can be helpful to look at your routine more holistically. Alongside topical skincare, some choose to introduce internal support, such as menopause supplements, to help bring the body back into balance over time.

Brands like Valerie take a thoughtful approach here. Their Evening Essential Perimenopause Shots combine a blend of vitamins, minerals and botanicals, including magnesium, zinc, ashwagandha and chamomile, designed to support hormone regulation.

How to Treat Menopause Acne

Menopausal acne can be a little more complex, as our hormones change, it can sit alongside dryness, sensitivity and a weakened skin barrier, which means overly aggressive treatments can leave your skin feeling more unsettled rather than clearer.

Instead, the focus shifts to understanding what your skin is lacking, as much as what it’s producing.

That might mean:

• Supporting oil regulation, without disrupting hydration
• Calming ongoing inflammation
• Rebuilding barrier strength, so your skin can function more consistently

What we often see is that when this balance is restored, skin doesn’t just look clearer, it begins to feel more predictable again, which is often the bigger shift. Here is a starting point recommended by our expert...

1. Support Oil Balance Without Stripping

It can be tempting to over-cleanse or over-exfoliate when breakouts appear, but this often leads to further imbalance.

Instead, consider:

• Gentle exfoliants such as salicylic acid or PHAs
• Cleansers that remove excess oil without disrupting your barrier

This helps to keep pores clear, without triggering additional sensitivity.

2. Strengthen the Skin Barrier

As skin matures, barrier health becomes even more important.

Look for:

• Ceramides to support repair
• Niacinamide to balance and strengthen
• Hydrating ingredients that maintain comfort

A stronger barrier allows your skin to better regulate itself and heal breakouts.

3. Calm Inflammation

Inflammation often sits at the centre of menopausal acne.

Ingredients that can help include:

• Niacinamide
• Azelaic acid
• Soothing botanical extracts

These work to reduce visible redness and help skin feel more settled.

4. Consider Internal Support

For some, supporting skin from within can make a difference.

Menopause supplements may help address underlying hormonal shifts, offering a more rounded approach alongside topical treatments. While they aren’t a standalone solution, they can complement your routine in a way that feels more holistic.

5. Keep Your Routine Adaptable

Perhaps most importantly, allow your routine to evolve. What works now may not be what your skin needs in six months, and that’s entirely normal.

Giving yourself space to adjust is often where the most meaningful progress happens.

Best Skincare Products for Menopause Acne in the UK

To help guide you, our expert has created a considered edit of products that support skin experiencing hormonal changes and breakouts as a starting point.

Eucerin Dermopure Clinical Purifying Cleanser 200ml

Non-comedogenic, Eucerin DermoPurifyer Cleansing Gel 200ml is a face wash suited to blemish-prone skin and contains 6% Ampho-Tensides that gently, yet effectively removes excess sebum while removing dirt and make-up.

$20.00

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It's important to remember, there is no single solution when it comes to menopausal acne and no one approach that works for everyone.

For some, that might mean fewer breakouts. For others, it may simply be skin that feels more comfortable, more balanced and easier to live with.

If your skin has started to feel unfamiliar, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate it on your own either. You can contact us  or book a virtual consultation for personalised advice from our Skin Experts.