Uncover the impact of hormones on your skin, and how to restore balance without a negative effect on your endocrine system and skin.

When we think of hormonally imbalanced skin, our minds immediately go back to the acne-ridden days of adolescence (unless you were one of the fortunate ones to escape teenage acne). However, hormonal imbalances can influence our skin beyond acne flare-ups. 

Let’s delve into the multifaceted aspects of hormonally imbalanced skin, exploring how it manifests, and most importantly, what you can do about it without making it worse, or compromising your hormonal health. 

What is Hormonally Imbalanced Skin?

Your skin is a reflection of everything that is going on internally. When your hormones are out of balance, these effects manifest visibly on your skin. This is quite common. A recent survey found that of 2000 American women between the ages of 30 to 60, 47% have experienced symptoms of hormonal imbalance (Dr. Anna Cabeca.).

Hormones, especially in women, undergo significant fluctuations throughout life—from puberty and adulthood to pregnancy and menopause. These stages often come with radical changes in our skin ranging from acne and excessive oiliness, dryness and/or dehydration, and heightened sensitivity. 

While everything in our bodies is interconnected, it’s primarily estrogen and testosterone that have a major impact on our skin.

Estrogen is essential for collagen and elastin, skin hydration, and improved barrier function.

When there’s an imbalance, it affects the skin’s thickness, wrinkle formation, moisture levels, and collagen production. It plays a crucial role in conditions like melasma, and adult acne (AKA hormonal acne).

Androgen, the primary male hormone (including testosterone), stimulates the production of sebum which can lead to acne and oily skin.

Sings of Hormonally Imbalanced Skin

Adult Acne

Contrary to common belief, acne isn’t exclusive to adolescence. 

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 85% of people between the ages of 12 to 24 experience some form of acne with up to 15% of women over 25 still grappling with it. In fact, a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School study finds about half of women in their 20s, one-third of women in their 30s, and one-quarter of women in their 40s will be bothered by breakouts. So, if you’re over 25, 35, or even 45 and still seeing breakouts (or seeing them for the first time ever), know that it is quite common and you’re not alone. 

In women, hormonal acne often surfaces during the menstrual cycle affecting the lower area of the face. However, other signs of hormonal acne are breakouts on the chest, back, and shoulders. 

Excessive Oiliness or Dryness

Low estrogen levels lead to skin dryness affecting skin moisture and thickness. On the other hand, elevated androgen levels result in excessive skin oiliness, which can contribute to acne. 

Skin Sensitivity (and Reactivity)

Reduced estrogen levels can heighten sensitivity. Because our estrogen levels drop as we age, our skin becomes more sensitive. This is why a product or ingredient that might have worked for you in your 20s, suddenly irritates you in your 40s. 

We must establish the difference between skin sensitivity and reactivity. Skin sensitivity means that you may feel ingredients more intensely, you may blush easily or you may have a hard time finding products that work for you because they cause irritation. Skin reactivity, on the other hand, is an intense physical reaction (think hives, blistering, welts) to a trigger. Both may be a sign of hormonal imbalances and skin sensitivity left untreated can lead to skin reactivity. 

Uneven Skin tone

Melasma, AKA pregnancy mask, is a hormone-related condition caused by elevated estrogen levels. This type of skin pigmentation can result from birth control, pregnancy, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and is exacerbated by UV radiation. 

Premature Aging

Our endocrine system (the group of glands and cells in our body that make and release hormones) plays a pivotal role in the aging process. As we age, this system that regulates hormones undergoes a natural decline. 

Low estrogen levels, such as those occurring in menopause result in skin thinning, decreased collagen and elastin production, and loss of moisture. This looks like wrinkles, dryer and more sensitive skin, loss of firmness, and sagging skin.

The Root Causes of Hormonal Imbalance

This can be attributed to both internal and external factors. 

Internal Factors

  • Puberty — The sudden surge of estrogen during puberty leads to acne and increased skin oiliness.
  • Menstrual Cycle — Our estrogen levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle which explains why we break out before menstruation.
  • Pregnancy and Postpartum — Estrogens increase over the course of pregnancy and then decrease during postpartum.
  • Menopause — We see a huge decline in estrogen levels
  • Other Conditions like PCOS, Infertility, Endometriosis

External Factors

  • Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals in Self-Care Products — Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) mimic, block, or interfere with your body’s hormones.
    Many daily self-care products contain chemicals like phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and sulfates which disrupt the endocrine system contributing to long-term hormonal issues. A study by the EWG shows that the average woman applies about 168 different chemicals every day. Unfortunately, there are not enough safety standards in place to regulate toxic chemicals in self-care products.
  • Diet — There are many types of foods that can affect our endocrine system like processed sugar, factory-farmed meat, soy, alcohol, etc. Not to mention the presence of pesticides and GMOs in foods…
  • Medication — Some medications like birth control, Accutane, and Spironolactone contain endocrine-disruptive compounds that can exacerbate hormonal imbalances. The irony here is that many of these are used to treat the skin-related signs of hormonal imbalance.
  • Toxic Load of Forever Chemicals — Accumulating exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals from various sources, even in small amounts, can lead to a toxic load build-up, and dangerously impact hormonal balance over time. 

While we can’t go against nature and stop the aging process, we can control the external factors that affect our hormonal health and consequently our skin. Long-term exposure to toxic chemicals can have negative effects on hormones like premature puberty and menopause, decreased fertility levels, and in the worst cases, cancers. 

So, how can we restore skin balance without further affecting our hormones and making the problem worse?

Restoring balance, the natural way

While restoring hormonal balance may require specialist consultation based on severity and life stage, addressing your skin without adding to your toxic load is possible. Here are some tips:

  • Personalized Skincare: Understand your core skin concerns and address them with minimal products tailored to your specific needs. (See our blog on skincare microdosing for more details)
  • Choose Non-Toxic Skincare: Opt for non-toxic skincare products free from endocrine-disrupting ingredients like parabens, phthalates, fragrances, UV filters, and sulfates to avoid contributing to hormonal imbalance. 
  • Dietary and Lifestyle Changes: A balanced diet, organic food choices, water intake, more sleep, and stress reduction can significantly benefit your skin and hormonal health. 

Acknowledging that many skin concerns stem from hormonal imbalances is the first step toward finding effective solutions. Understanding the causes and implementing natural remedies can empower you to regain control over your skin and overall well-being. It’s crucial to make informed choices when it comes to skincare, diet, and lifestyle to achieve sustainable skin health while preserving your hormonal equilibrium. 

At Results by Nature, our integrative skincare specifically targets hormonally imbalanced skin while respecting your skin and hormonal health, addressing issues at the root for sustainable results.  

Sources:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.-a). Endocrine disruptors. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm 

7 hormone disrupting foods to avoid. Biowarrior Nutrition Shop. (n.d.). https://www.biowarriornutrition.com/blogs/blog-page/7-hormone-disrupting-foods 

Skin conditions by the numbers. American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/media/stats-numbers 

Gledhill, N. (2021, December 2). I’m fed up with my Melasma hormonal pigmentation. how can I treat it? Victorian Cosmetic Institute. https://www.thevictoriancosmeticinstitute.com.au/2017/02/hormonal-pigmentation/#:~:text=Melasma%20is%20a%20form%20of,hormone%20replacement%20therapy%20(HRT) 

Eve, L., Fervers, B., Romancer, M. L., & Etienne-Selloum, N. (2020). Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Risk of Breast Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21239139

Dr. Anna Cabeca. (2021, March 19). Hormones & Health: What many women don’t know. https://drannacabeca.com/blogs/keto-alkaline-diet/hormones-health-what-many-women-don-t-know 

Exposures Add Up – Survey Results. EWG report || skin deep. (n.d.). https://web.archive.org/web/20040809233605/http:/www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep/report/exposure_survey.phpÂ