It's not breaking news that our hormones can have a significant impact on our skin, but how do they affect it?
Sebum production (the oil in our skin) plays a pivotal role in the quality of our skin - how it looks and feels - and this is controlled by our hormones.
Stripping it right back, if our bodies produce too much testosterone then this is likely to result in blemishes on our skin. High doses of oestrogen can suppress the production of sebum which, in turn, can result in dryer skin where wrinkles can start to appear. Oestrogen is also key to the production of collagen (that miracle element that keeps our skin looking and feeling young and fresh).
So the takeaway from that little crash course in hormones is that our testosterone and oestrogen, amongst other hormones such as progesterone, need to be in balance for our skin to remain at its optimum health and appearance.
Taking this a step further, let's dive deeper and see how we can manage this...
Breakouts
Elevated levels of testosterone and progesterone can disrupt oil levels in your skin. Increased oil levels combined with dead skin cells and dirt which can become trapped in pores, leads to blemishes. Typically this happens in the second half of our menstrual cycle after ovulation. Products that can help you manage these breakout are:
This power house of products helps to cleanse and exfoliate your skin - ensuring there's no dirt and dead skin cells - this will dramatically reduce the lifespan of your blemishes. I am always on hand to advise on the best skincare for your individual needs if you would like professional, personalised advice.
Testosterone fluctuates during puberty, pregnancy and can sometimes be a side effect of certain medications. This is also an effect that stress can have on your body.
Discolouration
As women our bodies do take us through some huge life changes - two of the biggies being pregnancy and the menopause. One of changes we might see in our skin throughout these life changes is discolouration - developing patches of discoloured skin across our face. Common areas where this can appear are upper lip, cheeks and neck. The hormone we can thank for this is often oestrogen. UV rays from the sun can make these patches more prominent and exacerbate this - so broad spectrum sunscreen will always be your best friend in reducing the prominence of your discolouration. The AlumierMD Intellibright Complex is also able to directly target discolouration. The Prep & Enhance set features both of these products alongside Vitamin C serum and retinol formula which are both key in targeting discolouration.
My IPL and Illumifacial treatments are also fantastic at helping to reduce the prominence of sun damage and discolouration on the skin.
Dry Skin
Imbalance of all hormones, but particularly oestrogen - often occurring during peri-menopause and menopause can have an effect on sebum levels - leading to dryness. As mentioned at the beginning of this blog, oestrogen also supports the production of collagen - dry skin + reduced production of collagen often leads to accelerated ageing of the skin - increasing lines and wrinkles and an overall loss of elasticity. To combat this try products such as the Ultimate Boost Serum - it includes low molecular weight Hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump the skin with ceramides and niacin amide for deep moisturising and hydration.
If you're experiencing peri-menopause or menopause then I am always on-hand to discuss a tailored skin plan to help you manage the effects of this event on your skin.
There are several things to consider if you feel hormones are having a negative impact on your skin, such as:
Synthetic hormones such as the pill and HRT
Active lifestyle and workouts such as weight training
Stress and cortisol
Nutrition - eat the rainbow for increased vitamin and nutrient intake
If you'd like to discuss your specific skin concerns, please book a skin consultation and I can build a skin plan tailored to your skin needs to help improve the health and appearance of your skin.