How do hormones affect acne?
skin health is a reflection of inner health
Many of my patients who see me for holistic acne treatment are usually concerned about hormones.
They are usually concerned that hormone imbalance could be contributing to their acne, since they commonly see that their acne worsens during specific times of the month. They also want to find out what hormones are affecting their acne.
I always tell my patients that when we address their acne holistically, that means looking at their skin health as a reflection of inner health.
And, there is a lot of science indicating that inner imbalances play a role in acne. And, yup, one of them is hormones!
So, let’s chat about how several hormones affect acne in this blog post!
Disclaimer: This post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any medical conditions or disease; and is meant for educational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new OR schedule your appointment with me.
How hormone imbalance causes acne
Yup, hormone imbalances can reflect as skin issues.
When looking at acne, science tells us that androgen hormones are the main culprit.
Androgen hormones are basically male sex hormones, and some examples are testosterone, di-hydrotestosterone (DHT), and DHEA.
These androgen hormones are also made in different parts of the body. From what science tells us, DHEA is made in the adrenal glands, testosterone is made in the ovaries and testicles, and DHT can be made in the skin, liver, and prostate.
How androgens cause acne
So, how do these androgens cause acne? Well, science tells us that androgens kick off the cascade that causes acne. When looking at why acne happens at the skin level, there are 4 elements that are needed:
Excess oil production
Excess cellular debris
Bacteria
Bacteria-caused inflammation
Androgens drive acne by causing excess oil production and excess cellular debris, which lead to clogged pores. And, if there is bacteria in the pore, that can lead to inflammation, and therefore, the development of inflamed acne.
But, there also seems to be other hormones that play a role in acne on the skin level.
Other hormones that cause acne
Science also tells us that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) tells the skin to produce more oil. And, corticotropin-releasing hormone is a hormone made by the brain that is released during states of stress.
So, this may explain why some people experience acne when they are stressed!
Getting to root causes of acne-causing hormone imbalance
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I aim to identify and treat underlying root issues. And, when it comes to acne, I want to understand why someone has acne-causing hormone imbalance, and I want to treat it with science-based integrative options.
When patients see me for their initial intake, I want to see them for up to 90 minutes so that I can rule-in and rule-out potential root causes of acne. And, I can recommend labs to complete to better-understand what is causing their acne for targeted acne-treatment.
Here are some of the underlying Root issues of acne & acne-causing hormone imbalance:
Diet/nutrition
Science shows that excessive consumption of specific proteins and carbohydrates could trigger acne-causing hormone imbalance. When treating my patients with acne, I assert the importance of diet and nutrition, and how it is the foundation of health and wellness. I always provide my patients hormone-supporting dietary recommendations to address overall health for healthier skin.
Supplements
There is literature saying that certain types of protein powders, B-vitamins, and minerals could trigger acne in some individuals. In my clinical experience, I have seen that swapping out some supplements have been helpful for some of my patients.
Medications
It is widely known that some prescribed medications can trigger acne-causing hormone imbalance or just trigger acne in general in some individuals.
Stress & adrenal response
As noted earlier, adrenal hormones and stress hormones can trigger acne. There are many dietary and herbal options that I can recommend to my patients to support optimal adrenal response and healthy stress response.
Ovarian conditions
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex metabolic-hormone disruption where people have high levels of testosterone and DHEA, leading to acne and other symptoms of high androgens, such as head hair loss and facial hair growth. And, there are several tests, imaging procedures, and other work-up options to identify PCOS.
Gut health & Gut bacteria
Science shows that both IBS and gut bacteria imbalance are linked to acne. In people who experience IBS symptoms and acne, I recommend gut bacteria testing. And, I usually see that people with acne have gut bacteria imbalance! After treating that gut bacteria imbalance, I have seen many of my patients start to achieve healthier and clearer skin AND start to experience positive gut changes.So, get testing first before starting any gut bacteria protocol.
Nutrient insufficiencies
Science shows that people with acne are more likely to experience vitamin D deficiency and zinc deficiency. And, researchers have found that when these vitamin D and zinc were repleted in people with those deficiencies, it lead to positive skin changes. And, there are labs that I can recommend to my patients to see if this is a contributing root issues to understand which supplements and dosages are safe for them.
WHAT IF YOU WANT TO START MANAGING acne & hormones HOLISTICALLY?
The answer is simple: Work with a licensed naturopathic provider. As mentioned earlier, licensed naturopathic providers are experts in holistic and integrative medicine.
As integrative medicine experts, we are trained in both natural and conventional options. So, you will be able to capture a vast array of treatment options to help you achieve your skin goals when you work with a licensed naturoapthic doctor.
If you want to see me, I see patients in-person and virtually. The only caveat is that since I am only licensed in the state of California, I can only see patients who are physically in the state of California (especially for telehealth patients).
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