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Remember your teenage years, when hormones first came on the scene? While we normally associate ‘raging hormones’ with teen angst and hormonal acne, the truth is that hormones are always working behind the scenes, affecting our skin and how our bodies function throughout our life.
Hormones influence everything from growth and development, reproduction and sexual characteristics, to appetite, metabolism, mood, and even sleep. And unlike your teenage self, hormones are excellent communicators!
The endocrine system is made up of glands in the body that release and regulate hormones that work like chemical messengers throughout the body. Some of the major hormones that affect the skin are released by glands such as the ovaries, testes, adrenals and thyroid.
Hormonal fluctuations that put extra stress on the skin can happen at any time (insert any stressful life event!). But specific stages of life can be particularly acne-causing- namely puberty, and for women, perimenopause and menopause.
This is it, when cystic acne can become the bane of your existence, and most of us try a revolving door of purifying cleansers to treat acne-prone skin.
Androgen hormones, which are primarily produced by the testes and ovaries as well as the adrenal glands, start to stimulate the sebaceous glands of the skin. The more active, the more oily, and the higher the likelihood of clogged pores. The most prominent androgen, testosterone, promotes thicker sebum, which can make skin especially oily and perpetuate hormonal acne. Testosterone levels in both male and females have also been linked with coarser, thicker skin.
Peri is Greek for ‘around’ or ‘near’, referring to the transitional period before you officially enter menopause. This extended period can vary from just a few months to more than 3, 4 or even 10 years! (that wasn’t a happy exclamation point!).
Estrogen levels, which regularly rise and fall during peak reproduction years, start to vary and become unpredictable as you approach menopause. Menstrual cycles may become irregular, while sleep, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness can all be symptoms of perimenopause. Hormonal adult acne can also indicate the onset of menopause, as female hormone estrogen levels begin to drop.
This officially begins one year after your last period and can cause significant changes to your skin. While there are environmental stressors at work here as well, such as sun exposure and smoking, intrinsically, menopause causes the skin to quickly lose collagen. Studies show that women lose about 30% of skin collagen in the first 5 years of menopause.
The decline in estrogen during menopause has been linked to a number of skin issues:
Aside from fluctuating hormones, your skin is affected by many factors- nutrition exercise and lifestyle can all work in tandem to help brighten and invigorate your skin.
Steps to support your skin and add to your arsenal of acne treatment during puberty, perimenopause and menopause include:
The best acne-fighting routine that helps balance oil levels and calms your skin. Often, a simple skincare routine, without using too many harsh exfoliants or chemicals is best.
Avoid over-stripping your skin of natural oils, which could cause your skin to over-compensate by producing even more sebum. Regular, effective and antioxidant-rich skincare can help with hormonal acne as well as combating free radicals that accelerate the aging process.
Timeless’ Senior Product Knowledge Advisor and Esthetician, Shelly Leggins, encourages an adaptable approach to your skin’s changing needs during the various stages of hormonal acne.
Try this skin care routine:
DISCLAIMER: The information on our blogs has been compiled from published sources and the experience of the Timeless Skin Care team. The blogs are not intended to diagnose or treat a medical condition or to address every skin type or condition. While reasonable effort is made to publish reliable and up to date information, Timeless Skin Care cannot predict how a skin care regimen will affect every individual user. Timeless does not guarantee any specific outcomes or the accuracy of all information presented and accepts no liability in respect of any omission or error. If you are uncertain about possible sensitivity when using Timeless Skin Care products, please do a patch test before use. If you have any skin concerns, please talk to your physician or consult a dermatologist.
