Are Hormones Messing with Your Skin?

How you look and feel is tied to hormonal activity. Hormones play a critical role in daily functioning for both males and females, including skin. They fluctuate during a person's lifetime. Some of those fluctuations can cause skin changes that could mean underlying health issues, such as insulin resistance. Good skincare habits become even more important as you get older. Having an understanding of how hormones affect your skin as you age can help treat and control your individual skin conditions and issues should they arise.

The Role of Hormones and Skin

The endocrine system produces and regulates hormones, which declines with age. Hormones are controlled by the brain, so there is difficulty in controlling them. External skin aging pertains to outside factors such as sun exposure, smoking, diet, pollution, and other lifestyle factors that age skin while internal skin aging is led by your body's biological clock. Factors such as increased inflammatory signals, decreased lipid production, and decreased hormone levels all affect internal skin aging. There are 4 hormones that have the most profound effect on skin and health as you age. They are estrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol. There are many other hormones that play a role in skin health, but these are the 4 major contributors for most people's skin types.

It's important to realize that when you have a hormonal skin problem, there is only so much you can do. Patience is important. Focus your efforts on controlling symptoms, rather than getting rid of your problem altogether, which can be unrealistic. If you take any medications or even herbal supplements that contain hormones, make sure you do this under medical supervision. Hormones can affect many parts of your body other than just your skin. Even small fluctuations in hormone levels can create major skin and body imbalances with negative consequences.

I've talked with many women that do hormone replacement therapy (HRT) who tell me that it does affect their skin when they use certain ingredients in skincare products such as retinoids or partaking in microneedling, for example. Some women break out while others skin tends to become drier and easily irritated during HRT and then there are some women whose skin does improve in structure and appearance with HRT. In my experience, people who do get HRT do have to get more acclimated to active ingredients in skincare products over time rather than use many products and/or treatments all at the same time.

Male Hormones and Skin

Male hormones are called androgens. Testosterone is the chief male hormone. It's produced in both males and females, even though testosterone is predominant in males. When boys hit puberty, they start to produce large amounts of testosterone. It increases oil production by stimulating the sebaceous gland attached to every follicle in skin. Skin becomes oilier during puberty because of greater testosterone levels. Testosterone also stimulates the development of sperm and facial and body hair. Coarser hair, thicker, and oilier skin are all due to testosterone. Baldness is attributed to increased androgen levels. Testosterone production in men starts to decline after age 30, and it continues to decline steadily and gradually into old age.

The number one effect of higher oil production is acne. Acne is a common result of any testosterone-related change in the body. Men experience hormonal skin problems such as acne primarily during puberty and andropause (a.k.a. male menopause). A large increase in testosterone production starts around 10 years of age for boys and continues throughout their teen years and early 20s. More testosterone produces more oil which causes a greater chance of acne. Andropause in males is all about lower testosterone levels, starting around the mid 40s and early 50s, which can cause loss of muscle strength and a lowered libido. With lower testosterone levels, oil production decreases, which can cause drier skin in males.

Female Hormones and Skin

The hormones that primarily affect female skin are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Contrary to popular belief, estrogen is not purely a female hormone. It is primarily made in the ovaries and predominant in females, but it is also found in males and made in different tissues outside of the ovaries. Estrogen helps keep your skin and hair youthful. When it comes to your skin, estrogen affects thickness, wrinkle formation, and moisture. Here are different ways hormones affect female skin.

Puberty: An increase in testosterone affects females during puberty just as it does for males. An increase in oil production leads to acne and break outs, especially when combined with inconsistent skincare habits.

Menstrual Cycle: Hormone levels fluctuate before, during, and after menstruation. Hormonal acne can occur during the week leading up to menstruation. Estrogen levels are low at this time, which allows for an increase in testosterone and oil production. Break outs usually occur along the jaw line and chin. Break outs consistently appearing in these areas are usually hormonal rather than some other trigger such as poor hygiene or a skin product that clogged your pores.

Birth Control Pills: Birth control pills are sometimes prescribed to reduce severe menstrual symptoms and to control bad acne in females. They contain estrogen and progesterone in different proportions. Through the elevation of estrogen and progesterone levels, they help reduce the oil-stimulating effects of testosterone. However, birth control pills can also change the balance of hormones in the body, which can potentially cause skin hyperpigmentation.

Pregnancy: There are many skin changes associated with pregnancy. Many women see skin and hair improvements during pregnancy. I'm sure you've heard all about the pregnancy glow. However, one of the biggest complaints is also hyperpigmentation or melasma. It tends to appear during or after pregnancy, mostly in certain skin types or ethnicities predisposed to it. Melasma is a challenging condition to treat, but there are many effective skincare products that can be used to treat it.

Perimenopause: Perimenopause typically begins in the mid 40s but can start as early as the mid 30s. There is a decline in estrogen and progesterone production. Skin changes during perimenopause can include drier than normal skin (all over or in some areas), oilier skin, break outs, larger pores, increased skin pigmentation, loss of firmness due to lower collagen and hyaluronic acid production, and skin that appears more dull.

Menopause: This is the time when reproduction comes to an end for females. The average age of menopause is around 55. When estrogen and progesterone levels are lower, the effects of testosterone are magnified. It's not that there is more testosterone, it's that the existing testosterone is unopposed by estrogen and progesterone and therefore exerts a stronger force in skin. So, pores can become larger and more prone to break outs. This is why you may see break outs at the same time there are areas of drier skin. The break outs are fewer in number, but they tend to be deeper and more inflamed, and therefore take longer to heal. All the normal signs of aging such as wrinkles, sagging skin, and dullness are happening at the same time too.

Other Causes of Imbalanced Hormones

A poor diet, especially one high in sugars, processed foods, and carbohydrates, can throw off the balance between estrogen and testosterone, exacerbating skin problems. These foods can cause the body to produce too much insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Insulin levels spike after you eat sugars, and sustained levels from consistently eating sugary foods can lead to insulin resistance, often a precursor to diabetes. Insulin resistance can also be a key factor in polycystic ovary syndrome, where the body produces abnormally high levels of androgens. The insulin throws the ovarian hormones off balance by over-stimulating the production of testosterone, which can lead to excess hair growth, oily skin, and acne. It can also cause irregular or absent periods, hair loss, infertility, and ovarian cysts.

Getting Hormones Under Control

A well-balanced, healthy diet is very important for hormone balance, your skin, body, and overall health. Altering your diet can help prevent insulin resistance, and therefore can stave off polycystic ovary syndrome. Avoid sugary foods like white breads, crackers, pasta, and rice, and replace them with whole grain substitutes. Low-fat proteins such as fish, poultry, or plant-based options such as tofu or legumes are a better protein choice over red meat or cured meats and cold cuts. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially those high in fiber and low in sugar. Being overweight and avoiding exercise can affect hormone levels, which can in turn impact skin and overall health. But, don't go overboard…underweight men, women, and those who over-exercise are also at risk.

Hormonal fluctuations are a part of life for all of us. They are even normal during certain periods of life for both males and females. There are many medications that affect hormone function. The good news is that we have advanced skincare products, treatments, and medicines that can help with hormone fluctuations and their consequences. Research in the areas of longevity and genetics are looking up. At least there are some great options to help you out.

When it comes to skin, it's important to understand when hormones are at work so you can take appropriate measures to counteract those effects, if possible. You may decide topical skincare products are all you need for your acne, melasma, fine lines, and wrinkles or you may need additional stronger options such as in-office chemical peels or laser treatments. You may even need to visit your dermatologist or skin specialist regularly to treat more severe acne, melasma, or severe hormonal fluctuations. Understanding the power of hormones and how they affect your skin will allow you and your dermatologist or skin specialist to better treat your skin conditions through the use of effective treatments and skincare products at any age.

Sources:

https://www.aad.org

https://www.dermalinstitute.com