How A Hormone Imbalance Affects Your Skin

Hormones are vital as they help control numerous bodily functions, including growth, repair and reproduction. When hormones become imbalanced, which happens when your body starts producing more or less than necessary, you may notice yourself feeling “off” or see certain changes in your body and skin. Belle About Town spoke to hormone experts at TRT UK to get to the bottom of how hormones that affect your skin, how to determine whether your skin issues are hormonal or not, and suggestions for science-backed ways on tackling hormonal based skin ailments.

How can a hormone imbalance affect your skin?

All over your face and body are sebaceous glands which secrete sebum, an essential oil that keeps your skin healthy. These glands have receptors that respond to your hormones.

Which hormones affect your skin?

There are three key hormones which affect skin. Firstly there’s oestrogen which helps stimulate collagen and keep your skin hydrated, progesterone which stimulates the production of sebum and finally testosterone which works similarly to progesterone by activating sebum.

Oestrogen is typically known as a “female” hormone and testosterone is known as a “male” hormone; however this is a common misconception. While the levels do differ depending on your gender, everyone should have both oestrogen and testosterone levels in their bodies, and everyone should have all three hormones working in harmony.

How do imbalanced levels of progesterone affect your skin?

An excess of progesterone and particularly testosterone can cause your skin to produce too much sebum which can clog your pores resulting in hormonal acne, pimples, blackheads and cysts.

Too little progesterone is also guilty of causing hormonal acne too, as this increases your body’s insulin levels which amplifies testosterone production, again causing an excess of oil production.

How do imbalanced levels of testosterone affect your skin?

As mentioned above, exceedingly high levels of testosterone cause an excess of sebum production, resulting in oily and acne-prone skin.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, too little testosterone can dry out skin. Not only that but those with skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, can see their symptoms worsen, as shown in a 2015 study which proved that men with higher levels of testosterone were less likely to have psoriasis than those with lower levels.

How do imbalanced levels of oestrogen affect your skin?

Although oestrogen promotes collagen production, an excess of the hormone can actually do the opposite and accelerate the breakdown of collagen, resulting in premature signs of ageing such as wrinkles and sagging skin. Excess oestrogen can also lead to overproduction of melanin, causing dark spots and an uneven skin tone.

It’s a difficult balance to get optimum oestrogen levels, as too little oestrogen can also result in premature ageing and sagging skin, which is caused by your body not producing enough collagen. Skin will also feel dry and less hydrated too and more susceptible to cuts and scratches.

How to determine whether your skin issues are hormonal

Hormonal skin issues can be tricky to identify, however there are tell-tale signs to look out for, specifically regarding the acne’s placement on your face. Hormonal acne tends to appear across the chin, jawline and cheeks but also the forehead, so if you notice flare ups in these areas then this could be a sign.

Hormonal acne often reappears in the same spot, which is caused by oil production patterns, so if you’ve noticed breakouts in the same area then this could be a sign of hormonal imbalance.

Ways to tackle hormonal acne

If you believe you have a hormone imbalance, then you should consult a doctor or a licensed medical professional to test your hormone levels. A medical professional will also be able to prescribe medicated creams or refer you to a dermatologist. This is key as everyone’s skin is different, so what may work for your friend or even close family member may not necessarily work for you.

As a first step, it is recommended to try topical retinoids to treat mild to moderate acne, as these help to remove dead skin cells faster. Be sure to start off slow with lower treatments and consult a dermatologist or professional before trying anything higher.

There are also some lifestyle changes you can make that can help in either balancing your hormone levels or prevent excess oil production. Firstly, your hormones can fluctuate based on your stress level. Although it can be difficult to maintain your stress levels, there are ways that are proven to help alleviate stress, such as practising meditation or mindfulness, low impact exercises such as yoga or ensuring you spend enough time outdoors.

You should also avoid oil-based products on your hair and skin, as these will only exacerbate over-production of sebum.