Hormones vs. Skin

One of the most influential factors to the condition of the skin is fluctuating hormones.  I see it every day in my practice and researchers have shown that hormonal changes have the greatest impact on the health of the skin, especially as we age.  The hormones that fluctuate and influence the skin are estrogen, thyroxin and testosterone.  East of these hormones can effect both the skin and the hair.

With the exception of cortisol, hormone secretion declines as we age.  Cortisol is responsible for stress regulation and it increases in an effort to cope with real life stressors and it also increases with age.  This may sound good, but increased cortisol level lead to the breakdown of muscle tissue and collagen.
 
So, what can we do? 

Hormones Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been used to combat the effects of menopause for decades.  HRT is capable of promoting fuller-looking skin by minimizing the loss of subcutaneous fat, hydration and increasing the skin’s own natural moisturizing factors.  Also, combining professional treatments and effective home care will make instant improvements, but will need to be continued in order to maintain such improvements. 

There are multiple factors that influence hormonal changes, but the 6 most prominent and frequent are:

Stress:  When your hormones are negatively impacted due to stress there is an impact on your immune system and cellular growth which may cause acne. 

Pregnancy:  Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can trigger discoloration in the skin often referred to as “mask of pregnancy”, skin sensitivity, and increased risk of acne (esp. during the first trimester).

Menopause:  Because of the drop in Estrogen during menopause your skin may become drier, more fragile, and there is a decline in cell renewal as well as collagen and elastin production.

Menstrual Cycle:  Your monthly cycle triggers fluctuations in estrogen and testosterone levels which may promote acne breakouts.

Oral Contraceptives:  The pill causes effects similar to pregnancy and higher doses of estrogen are often used for the treatment of acne.

Illness and Disease:  Diseases such as Thyroid Disease and Pituitary Gland Disease may present manifestations such as excessive hair loss or growth and thickening of the skin to name a few.

I am happy that as a professional esthetician, I have the ability to improve the way my clients look and feel about themselves.  It is such an honor that my clients place their trust in their appearance in my hands.  I will continue to rely on education and knowledge to deliver the results they deserve.

To your skin health,