Are Hormonal Imbalances Causing Your Acne, Dry Skin, or Wrinkles?
Two hormones that affect your skin are estrogen and androgen hormones, such as testosterone. Estrogen is comonly thought to be an exclusively female hormone, but men produce estrogen as well. The same holds true for testosterone production in women. When these hormones are working in harmony with one another, healthy, vibrant, youthful looking skin is the result. But when these hormones becomes unbalanced, your skin can pay the price with acne flare ups, dry patches, and wrinkles and fine lines.
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What Causes Acne? Hormones.
While there are environmental factors that can lead to pimples and breakouts, acne, especially adult acne, is a comon skin condition that is heavily influenced by hormone levels, specifically androgen hormones, such as testosterone. While testosterone causes acne breakouts, estrogen prevents breakouts and can get rid of acne. Clear skin results when these two hormones are in balance with one another.
Characteristically a “masculine” hormone, testosterone enlarges the sebaceous glands, stimulating an overproduction of the skin’s oil known as sebum. This excess sebum can clog pores, leading to acne breakouts.
Watch: Reducing Pore Size to Control Oil
Elevated testosterone, or testosterone that is left unchecked when a counter-balancing hormone such as estrogen decreases, can cause acne in both men and women. In fact, this type of hormonal acne is more prevalent in women. Approximately half of all women, will experience adult acne that is stimulated by androgen hormones, compared to 25% percent of men who experience adult acne.
Adult acne in women is especially prevalent during their early 30’s. When a woman reaches her 30’s her estrogen levels decline, giving androgen hormones more influence over her body. Androgen stimulated breakouts in women usually affect specific areas of the body. Acne that accumulates around the mouth and jawline is a good indicator that the breakout is hormonal.
The one advantage of having hormonal acne, at least for women with adult acne, are the available treatment options that can aid the body in restoring and consistently maintaining a balance in hormones.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO GET RID OF ACNE
What Causes Dry Skin? Hormones.
Hormonal imbalances are a major cause of dry skin. The thyroid hormone plays a major role in the functionality of our skin, regulating the moisture levels in the dermis. Too much of this hormone can lead to bloated, puffy skin, while too little of the thyroid hormone can cause dry, scaly, itchy skin, which can turn into eczema. Thyroid functionality declines with age, but many women can experience hypothyroidism during and after pregnancy.
Estrogen is another hormone that provides moisture and hydration to the skin, by stimulating the production of hyaluronic acid. When estrogen levels decline in women entering their 30’s, hyaluronic acid production is affected, and skin loses its moisture.
4 Secrets to Keep Skin Hydrated in the Winter
What Causes Wrinkles? Hormones.
Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the body’s production of collagen and elastin. These proteins are responsible for healthy, youthful skin. Collagen and elastin naturally break down with time, and when hormones such as Estrogen decline, the body cannot replace the damaged collagen and elastin like it once could.
When men and women experience decreased levels of elastin and collagen, skin loses its flexibility, plumpness, and firmness, causing wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, loose skin, and other signs of aging.
