So, what is hormonal acne? According to several skin doctors, changes in one hormonal level are one of the reasons as to why we have acnes on our faces. The more testosterone (hormone) we have, the more acnes are formed on our skin. That is because this hormone has the ability to make oil glands more active. As a result, our faces are oilier than it has ever been.
Sebaceous Glands and Testosterone
Testosterone is considered as an androgen hormone. It is produced by the testes, ovaries and adrenal glands. Thus, it is wrong to say that men alone have this kind of hormone in their bodies.
5a reductase (an enzyme) and testosterone produce di-hydrotestosterone. Di-hydrotestosterone triggers sebaceous glands which leads our bodies to have more sebum and our skin to have more oil. Pores easily get clogged when there is too much oil on our face. Once they get clogged, you can expect acnes to form on your skin in just a few hours.
Testosterone and Acnes in Teens
Puberty is the stage where in a person tends to produce more androgens than the normal level. This is the reason why most teenagers can’t help but have acnes while they are growing up. Testosterone may be found in everybody but men certainly have a larger amount of them in their bodies. Thus, it is normal for guys to have more severe acne cases compared to women.
The Effect of Hormones on Adult Acne
Testosterone will always be there in our bodies even as we grow old. Thus, this hormone can still have a huge impact on adult acne especially in women who have more testosterone in their bodies than estrogen.
Certain birth control methods, menopause, perimenopause, conceiving a child, monthly periods and ovulation are the factors which can cause a woman to have more testosterone in her system. These events reduce her estrogen levels. Thus, she can expect acnes to appear on her face while she is experiencing one of these moments in her life.
On the other hand, acne can also occur because of a condition in women called polycystic ovary disease. This illness causes their bodies to produce more testosterone than what is necessary. Steroids can make you more prone to acnes as well.
Q & A
Is hormonal imbalance the only cause for adult acne? Can I treat my hormonal imbalance naturally?
Below is the response from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Hormonal imbalance is just one of the factors that can cause you to have acnes. Thus, you shouldn’t concentrate in providing remedy to that problem alone.
In fact, most adults who have acnes possess no abnormality in their hormonal levels. If you are experiencing more complications aside from your acnes, then you might have polycystic ovary syndrome (that is if you are a woman)
Can you treat your hormonal imbalance naturally? Yes, you can. However, you have to know that natural remedies are not that effective and again, there are other acne causing factors that you would have to consider.
Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration can only do so much for the general public. Other unsafe and efficient supplements can still be made available in the market.
Thus, look for other more effective methods that can treat all of your acnes. Talk to your skin doctor for you to acquire treatments that wouldn’t create further damage to your skin. As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, be patient with your acnes. They can’t disappear overnight even if you want them to.
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