Calmer skin all month: hormonal acne treatment in Massapequa
Deep, tender breakouts along your jaw and chin that seem to arrive on schedule every month, and that no spot treatment ever really touches. At Skin Space in Massapequa, we help clients across Long Island manage hormonal acne with a structured in-spa program and calming treatments, working alongside your dermatologist when deeper care is needed.
Also known as cystic acne, jawline acne, chin breakouts, adult hormonal acne and nodular acne.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jimenez, Medical Director. Last reviewed September 2026.
This concern starts with an in-person assessment. Deep, painful cysts and nodules often need prescription treatment from a dermatologist, and squeezing or extracting them can cause scarring. We check what you're dealing with before recommending anything.
What hormonal and cystic acne is
Acne that starts deeper and lasts longer.
Hormonal acne is linked to shifts in hormones, especially androgens, that ramp up oil production and inflammation. It tends to appear along the jawline, chin and lower face, and often flares in a predictable pattern around your menstrual cycle. It's common in adult women, but it can affect anyone.
Cystic acne forms when inflammation develops deep under the skin rather than at the surface. These breakouts are painful, slow to heal and the most likely to leave scars. In-spa treatment can help calm skin and keep pores clear, but cystic acne usually needs medical treatment as well, so working with a dermatologist is often part of the plan.
Hormonal breakouts
Tender red bumps along the jaw and chin that follow a monthly pattern.
Nodules
Hard, painful lumps deep under the skin that don't come to a head.
Cysts
Soft, deep, pus-filled lumps that are painful and likely to scar.
For breakouts with blackheads, whiteheads and surface spots, see active and adult acne. If deep breakouts have left marks or dents, see dark marks after acne and acne scars.
What causes it
Hormones set the stage; other triggers add to it.
Hormonal acne starts with hormones that increase oil production and inflammation, and several factors can make flares worse.
- Your menstrual cycle, with flares often in the week before a period.
- Hormonal changes from starting or stopping birth control, pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause.
- Hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can cause persistent jawline acne.
- Stress, which raises cortisol and can trigger breakouts.
- Some medications and supplements, including certain hormone treatments and testosterone.
- Picking or squeezing, which pushes inflammation deeper and makes cysts last longer.
Hormonal acne support at Skin Space
In-spa treatments help calm inflammation and keep pores clear, and work best alongside any medical treatment your dermatologist recommends.
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Face Reality Acne Bootcamp
A structured acne program with regular in-spa visits and a home routine adjusted to your skin, designed to clear congestion and reduce the breakouts that feed hormonal flares.
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Acne IPL
A light-based treatment that targets acne bacteria and inflammation, helping calm red, angry breakouts and the redness they leave behind.
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LED Light Therapy
Blue and red light used to target acne bacteria and calm inflammation, with no heat and no downtime. It's gentle enough to use during a flare.
Also used alongside these
- Signature Facial for AcneA deep-cleansing facial for surface congestion. Deep cysts are never extracted.
- BioRePeelA gentle peel that helps regulate oily skin and fade marks between flares.
What to expect at Skin Space
Hormonal acne care starts with a careful look.
Assessment
We look at where and how often you break out, ask about your cycle, birth control, medications and stress, and check whether you have cysts or nodules.
Referral if needed
If you have deep cysts, scarring or signs of a hormonal condition, we'll recommend seeing a dermatologist or your doctor alongside in-spa care.
Your plan
Your provider builds a routine and treatment schedule that keeps pores clear and calms inflammation without irritating your skin.
Track and adjust
We check in every few weeks, track flares against your cycle, and adjust products and treatments as your skin responds.
Managing hormonal acne at home
Consistency matters more than intensity.
- Don't squeeze or pick deep bumps. Cysts can't be extracted at home, and trying makes scarring much more likely.
- Track your flares. Noting when breakouts appear in your cycle helps your provider and doctor plan treatment.
- Stick with a simple routine of gentle cleanser, the active products your provider recommends, moisturizer and sunscreen.
- Use a warm compress on a tender bump for a few minutes to ease discomfort, instead of picking.
- Manage stress and sleep where you can, since both affect hormone-related flares.
- Be patient. Hormonal acne takes two to three months of consistent care to show steady improvement.
When to see a dermatologist
Cystic and hormonal acne often need medical treatment.
See a dermatologist or your doctor if you have:
- Deep, painful cysts or nodules, especially if they're leaving scars
- Acne alongside irregular periods, thinning scalp hair or new hair growth on the face or body, which can be signs of PCOS
- Sudden severe acne in adulthood
- Acne that started with a new medication, hormone treatment or supplement
- Breakouts that haven't improved after three months of consistent care
- Acne that's affecting how you feel day to day
Dermatologists can prescribe treatments such as hormonal or oral medications and can inject very painful cysts. Prescription treatment and in-spa care often work well together, and the Skin Space team is glad to coordinate with your dermatologist.
Common questions
How do I know if my acne is hormonal?
Hormonal acne usually appears along the jaw, chin and lower face, and often flares around your period. Your provider can look at the pattern with you, and a doctor can check for an underlying hormonal condition.
Can a facial get rid of cystic acne?
Not on its own. Facials and in-spa treatments help with surface congestion and inflammation, but deep cysts usually need medical treatment too. We never extract cysts, since that can cause scarring.
Can I get spa treatments while on acne medication?
Often, yes, but tell us about every medication first. Some prescriptions make skin more sensitive, and certain treatments need to wait until you've finished them.
Will birth control help my hormonal acne?
Some types of birth control can help, but that's a decision to make with your doctor. Starting or stopping birth control can also cause temporary flares.
Why do I get breakouts on my chin before my period?
Hormone levels shift in the days before your period, which can increase oil production and inflammation, especially along the chin and jaw.
Where can I get hormonal acne treatment near Massapequa?
Skin Space is a med spa in Massapequa, NY, serving clients from across Long Island. Every plan starts with an in-person assessment, and we work alongside your dermatologist.
Reviewed by Dr. Jimenez
Medical Director at Skin Space in Massapequa, NY. This page was reviewed for medical accuracy in September 2026.
