Why Do Women Get Spots on the Chin and Jawline Around Our Periods?

It seems to be common knowledge that the chin and jawline is the place where women get ‘hormonal’ acne – namely around our periods. But why is that? Isn’t all acne due to hormones?

Yes – all acne vulgaris is driven by hypersensitivity of the sebaceous (oil) glands in the facial skin to androgens. This hypersensitivity means that the oil glands grow bigger and secrete more oil in response to increased androgens in the body (like during puberty) and this sets of a cascade of events which leads to pimples.

But why is it that the chin and jawline are so affected in women??

Dr WAD Griffiths wrote a very interesting paper in 1999 (CED 24, 42-47) in which he hypothesised about this very topic. He describes a ‘triangle of hormone sensitivity’ on the chin. At this anatomical area, the mental artery provides a really rich blood supply to the overlying skin and using a thermogram he showed that this coincides with ‘hot spots’ for blood flow. This increased blood flow means that there is an ‘overabundant and continuous supply of androgens to the area.’ He does state that there might be an increased density of androgen receptors at this area as well.

I always like to know the ‘why’ and I found this to be a compelling explanation for why we get spots on our chin/jawline around our period.

What’s the best way to manage it? Control the hormone fluctuations. Dr Griffiths also suggests, very wisely, ‘topical oestrogen creams’ but also that ‘low dose isotretinoin has proved most valuable in my experience.’