Hormone fluctuations are well known for having the power to turn you from a well-adjusted adult into a raging teenager in a matter of minutes “ now it turns out that these hormonal fluctuations can wreak havoc on your skin, too. We take a look at the hormonal imbalances that may be behind your skin problems.
Psoriasis
This scaly skin issue is a chronic autoimmune condition and can be a nightmare to treat. Some research has found that sufferers typically have high levels of leptin, an inflammatory hormone that’s also related to heart disease and obesity. This may lead to psoriasis treatments which combine traditional medication with weight loss aids or dietary changes.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation (or sun spots) can become noticeably darker under pressure. A variety of hormonal changes can trigger higher melanin or skin pigment production “ including menopause, a new birth control pill, or pregnancy (which is where the term pregnancy mask comes from). If you do suffer from hyperpigmentation that you suspect is caused by hormones, it’s still crucial that you protect your skin from the sun with SPF to keep the issue under control.
Dry skin
When your thyroid gland gets out of whack, it causes a whole host of health problems, and your skin is no exception. If your body has less thyroxin (produced by the thyroid gland), your circulation will become sluggish, meaning that fewer nutrients will get to your skin. For the same reasons, low levels of thyroxin have also been linked to eczema.
And during menopause, your estrogen levels drop, which can also cause your skin to become dull and dry. If you’re experiencing other unpleasant symptoms of the change, you could consider estrogen therapy.
Acne
There are a few different hormones that could be behind your breakouts. First is thyroxin “ in this case, if your thyroids are producing too much of the hormone, it may make you sweatier than usual and clog your pores in the process. Cortisol is another culprit “ it’s kicked into higher gear under stress, and in turn raises the levels of androgens (male hormones, like testosterone) in your body, which increase sebum production. In this case, going on the birth control pill could help (take a look at our recent post on acne prescriptions for more info).
Note: If you’re experiencing any of these skin problems on a regular basis and haven’t been able to treat them with topical solutions, it may be helpful to visit a dermatologist or endocrinologist (hormone specialist). They should be able to pinpoint the issue and help balance out your hormones if necessary.
