5 Skin Concerns That Could Be Linked To Hormonal Changes

Written by Cassandra Pereira20th Feb 2018
Doesn’t it bother you when you notice your skin changing as you grow older? Your body constantly goes through changes, and so do your hormones. With age, changes in certain hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, affect your skin as well. Your body works with the hormones to keep a balance, but if even one hormone is off balance, you begin developing skin issues such as dryness, acne, fine lines, wrinkles and rosacea. So, if you’re facing a couple of consistent skin problems, read on to know if they’re being caused by your hormones.
Skin%20Concerns%20that%20Could%20Be%20Linked%20to%20Hormonal%20Changes

Acne

Hormonal fluctuations, menstrual or cyclical (or both) in women cause increased oil production in the pores, which leads to acne. The two main hormones at play are estrogen and progesterone which fluctuate widely throughout the menstrual cycle. Excess hormones in your body, like testosterone, stimulate the oil glands, and the skin gets rid of it with cystic breakouts.

So, how do you know that your acne is caused by hormones? Here are a couple of cues:

  • It flares up at the same time each month, especially before or during the menstrual cycle.
  • It appears in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).
  • It breaks out in the same place every time, especially the lower part of your face (beneath your cheekbones, chin and around your jaw line).
  • It may be deep, cystic and sensitive or painful to touch and may leave scars when popped.

Dark eye circles

Chronic dark circles which refuse to go away are an indicator of adrenal fatigue. As your stress levels increase, your body produces more of cortisol, the stress hormone, which helps you to cope with it. This makes it hard for you to get good sleep at night, and even if you do fall asleep, your sleep is restless and of low quality. You may not feel tired, but if you have dark circles, it means that you are experiencing adrenal fatigue.

Dry skin

Dry skin is also a result of a hormonal imbalance caused due to declining levels of reproductive hormones, like estrogen, that normally stimulate oil glands. As hormone levels fall, so does oil production, causing the skin to become dry, rough, itchy, or flaky. It is also a sign of deficiencies in essential fatty acids and other nutrients which otherwise replenish your skin cells. Dry skin is also a sign of thyroid, as the thyroid hormones stimulate the oil glands. When your thyroid hormones are imbalanced, the blood circulation to the skin is reduced, which leads to dryness.

Skin tags

Skin tags are little growths of skin found in the neck and eyelid areas. They are related to glucose and insulin hormone imbalances. When hormones start to change, estrogen levels drop and the skin loses its elasticity. This can lead to overlapping layers of skin. As a result, the skin tends to rub against itself which results in the formation of skin tags. They’re a sign of metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, diabetes and PCOS.

Yellow or pale skin

This is a sign of a thyroid or diabetes, and most often shows up on your lower legs. This occurs when there are changes in the blood vessels, which cause the skin to become raised, yellow, and waxy in appearance. It can also signal liver failure, and may also be complimented by the whitening of the eyes. Skin colour changes are also a sign of stress and anxiety.

Cassandra Pereira

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