From Acne to Menopause: How Hormones Affect Your Skin

hormones blog sk:n clinics pcos
By Grace Kinirons 14th March 2024 Category: Advice
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Medically approved by Dr Aiza Jamil

It is widely known that hormones can have a major impact on our skin. However, did you know that hormones can play a role in our skin health throughout our lifetime? Fluctuating hormone levels can result in distinct skin concerns during periods in a woman’s lifetime such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Knowing what skin changes to expect will help you prepare for and treat them if necessary. First, let’s address the specific hormones that have the potential to affect the health of our skin.

The culprits (hormones)

  • Estrogen helps to stimulate collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production which helps the skin to stay plump and firm.
  • Progesterone stimulates the production of sebum or the oil glands in the skin, too much can lead to a build-up of oil and breakouts. It can cause the skin to swell, and compress the look of pores.
  • Androgens (e.g.) Testosterone, which typically presents during menstruation, work similarly to progesterone by activating the sebaceous glands to produce oil.  While typically produced at a higher level in males, increased production of androgens stimulates the sebaceous glands (oil-producing) that can develop into acne

What Hormones Cause Acne?

Hormones: Androgens

Condition: puberty, PCOS-related acne

Treatments at sk:n: Chemical peels!

Salicylic acid is a key ingredient in treatments and skincare when treating acne. It is a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) which means it helps reduce inflammation, bacteria and the productions of sebum. Be mindful that it is not safe if you have an aspirin allergy. sk:n clinics offer various peels you could try such as Enerpeel Salicylic, Pyruvic, Jessner, an Epionce peel, or a Medik8 Clarity Peel.

What products can I use?

Similarly with skincare products, you should use products with key ingredients such as salicylic or glycolic acid, and retinol (vitamin A). It is advised not to use retinol whilst you are pregnant or trying to conceive. If you are an acne-sufferer, you need to be careful with strong Vitamin C products as they can aggravate skin! Obagi Nu-Derm System is also amazing for acne clients to help clear their skin.

acne hormone blog sk:n clinics

How Menstruation Hormones Can Affect Your Skin

Hormones: Androgens, progesterone and oestrogen

Condition: Monthly cycles can cause acne and breakouts

Treatments at sk:n: Skin treatments including chemical peels and Hydrafacial!

Hydrafacial should be avoided in moderate to severe acne, however it is great for congested skin.

What products can I use?

Hydrating products that drench your skin in moisture! Also make sure to use an appropriate retinol in your routine,  and an exfoliating cleanser to slough away dead skin cells and reveal a fresh glow.

how menstruation can affect the skin sk:n clinics blog

How PCOS Hormones Can Affect Your Skin

Hormones: Androgens

Condition: PCOS affects how a woman’s ovaries work, so females with higher levels of androgens may develop excess hair growth and can result in acne. Other symptoms are typically cxcess hair growth.

Treatments at sk:n: Acne treatments and laser hair removal.

Excess hair is a common complaint, however this can be easily treated with laser hair removal. We have an expert medical team of dermatologists who can help you with hormone or medication-related skin problems, such as acne or hyperpigmentation. Laser hair removal is great for those experiencing hirsutism (excess hair growth), especially on the face. You would need 8-12 treatments, and then follow with top-up sessions to keep the hair growth at bay due to this hormonal imbalance.

What products can I use? 

We would create a bespoke routine upon consultation.

hormones blog sk:n clinics pcos

How Peri-menopause and Menopause Hormones Can Affect Your Skin

Hormones: Oestrogen, androgens

Condition: Loss of oestrogen plays a role in the skin’s restorative process, which may result in dryness, thinning skin and a loss of elasticity and plumpness. Your androgen levels rise which may result in breakouts, acne and blocked pores.

Treatments at sk:n: Injectables and advanced skin treatments.

Anti-ageing injectables including HArmonyCa® or Profhilo would be perfect for those noticing the first signs of ageing combines with dry, dull skin. HArmonyCa® with lidocaine is a revolutionary new hybrid biostimulator and an advanced injectable treatment that not only restores facial volume loss by providing an immediate lifting effect but also simultaneously stimulates collagen production within your skin long after you have had treatment.

Profhilo® not only hydrates the skin, but counteracts skin ageing and laxity. Also referred to as an injectable moisturiser, it adds intense hydration and smooths skin for glowing, natural-looking results.

Microneedling can also help with skin tightening, encouraging a wound-healing response that renews the skin cells. As your skin repairs, the production of collagen and elastin is triggered to give an almost immediate plumping effect.

What products can I use?

We would recommend a medical-grade retinol product, and a bespoke combination of products to achieve plump, glowy skin.

how menopause can affect your sk:n skin clinics hormones blog

How HRT Therapy Hormones Can Affect Your Skin

Hormones: Oestrogen, androgens

Condition: While HRT is a common treatment for menopausal symptoms that aims to settle the hormones and balance the loss of oestrogen, it can lead to skin ageing and trigger breakouts.

Treatments at sk:n: Skin Assessment and Analysis

We would recommend visiting one of our lovely clinics and getting your skin assessed, before having a more in-depth consultation about your skin condition and goals so that our experts can help build a bespoke treatment plan of products and treatments to suit your skin.

What products can I use? Build a really good skincare regime! Adding peptides will support with skin ageing, and retinol is a great addition to increase cell turnover, exfoliate dead skin cells and boost collagen production. Our experts can help build your perfect routine.

sk:n clinics hormones blog how HTR therapy affects your skin

How Hirsuitism Hormones Can Affect Your Skin

Hormones: Androgens

Condition: Increase in these hormone levels can result in excess hair, the most common cause is PCOS.

Treatments at sk:n: Laser hair removal!

Laser hair removal is the most effective method of hair removal available, permanently reducing hair growth by up to 90%, with some of our clients seeing even better results. Unlike other methods such as waxing, depilatory creams and shaving, laser hair removal gives long lasting results, without the ingrown hairs and irritation associated.

sk:n clinics hormones blog how hirsutism can affect your skin

How Pregnancy Hormones Can Affect Your Skin

Treatments at sk:n: Limited

Unfortunately for safety reasons we are hugely limited on what we offer due to a lack of clinic studies.

What products can I use?  Gentle products!

Make sure to use non-active ingredients on the skin and gentle products. Post-natal hormones can take a few months to stabilise, and even longer if you are breastfeeding. If you are not breastfeeding, then you can have most treatments after 6 weeks.

hormones sk:n clinics blog pregnancy

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