---
title: Do women get more acne before their period? | Niyora
description: Yes, most women (63%) had a 25% increase in acne lesions before their period. But this was a small study without a comparison group, so we should be cautious
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/quantitative-documentation-of-a-premenstrual-flare-of-facial-acne-in-adult-women-2004/
---

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- Do women get more acne before their period?

Survey study, 2004

# Do women get more acne before their period?

Yes, most women (63%) had a 25% increase in acne lesions before their period. But this was a small study without a comparison group, so we should be cautious about how much this applies to all women.

 Early or limited evidence

Adult women aged 18-44 with normal periods, no acne treatment

## What they did

They recruited women aged 18-44 with normal periods who were not being treated for acne. They counted acne lesions on their faces during two complete menstrual cycles, measuring both the first half and the second half before the period.

## What they found

Most (63%) of the women showed a 25% increase in inflammatory acne lesions during the late luteal (premenstrual) phase.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual acne flares are real and can be measured. This was the first study to measure them with numbers. The limitation is that this was a small study without a control group, and only included women with untreated acne, so results may not apply to everyone.

63%

women with increase in acne before period

25%

average increase in acne lesions

2

full menstrual cycles monitored

## About the study

Original title Quantitative documentation of a premenstrual flare of facial acne in adult women Authors Lucky AW Journal Archives of dermatology Year 2004 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1001/archderm.140.4.423](https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.140.4.423)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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