When you think of hormone changes you often think about the time when you were a teen and going through puberty. However, as we age and go through different stages of life, our hormones continue to change affecting the way we look and feel. As we get older, from pregnancy to perimenopause and menopause, our hormones continue to influence the function of many processes in our bodies, including metabolism, sexual function, mood and can impact the health of our skin too. Dermatologists have indicated that your skin can tell a lot about the health of your body, as many hormonal conditions can manifest themselves through your skin and hair.
There are three main hormones that can have a significant effect on the look and feel of your skin.
- Estrogen helps to stimulate collagen and elastin that helps in keeping the skin plump and firm and also influences oil production. As we age, our estrogen levels begin to decrease and our skin can lose its suppleness causing wrinkles. Oil production also lessons causing dry itchy skin.
- Progesterone helps to stimulate the oil production of our sebaceous glands. With hormone changes, too much progesterone can cause oily skin leading to blocked pores and increased acne.
- Testosterone is similar to progesterone and too much of it can also cause your oil glands to over-stimulate causing an increase in acne.
Knowing what skin changes you can expect as you age can be helpful to prepare you for treating any skin woes that may come along. Here’s a basic overview of how your hormone changes at different life stages and how you can help your skin.
Your Period: Your skin can change depending on where you’re at in your cycle. At the beginning of your cycle (Days 1-6), your levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are low which can cause dry dull skin and make lines and wrinkles more apparent. Cleansing and moisturizing are important during this stage.
During the Follicular phase (Days 7-11), Estrogen begins to rise stimulating cell turnover. Testosterone begins to rise also and the natural oils in your skin increase. This is a good time to exfoliate to remove too much oil from clogging your pores and old skin cells making way for glowing new ones
Estrogen is at its highest during Ovulation (Days 12-16). They say this is the time your skin can be most radiant!! Your skin can feel oilier though and acne can arise. Oil-free skincare products can be helpful at this time. But enjoy your radiant glow
During the Luteal phase (Days 17-28) estrogen and testosterone begin to decrease and progesterone is high and causing a lot more oil being produced. Breakouts can be at their highest during this time so applying a face mask can be very helpful to help deep clean your skin.
After your period ends, estrogen begins to rise again, and your skin feels healthier. Despite all these hormone changes, switching up your skincare routine slightly can help keep your skin healthy.
Pregnancy: Besides pregnancy induced acne from high levels of estrogen and progesterone, one of the most common skin changes found in pregnancy is the development of melasma. This skin condition is characterized by brown patches often found on the cheeks, upper lips, nose or forehead. While this skin condition is said to cause no harm to your baby, it can be frustrating for you. The good news is that they can lighten and go away after birth. During this stage, it’s important to wear sunscreen often and sun protective clothing. The brown patches on your skin can be treated with a darkspot remover cream. Look for one made with natural ingredients.
Peri-menopause & Menopause: Peri-menopause is the time your body is preparing itself to naturally transition to the stage of menopause which marks the end of your reproductive years. It is said that once you haven’t had a period for 12 months, you’ve entered menopause. During these times estrogen levels decrease, causing all over dryness. Collagen production decreases leading to a thinning of your skin causing fine lines and wrinkles and also bruising more easily. Age spots also tend to develop due to the lack of estrogen protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Luckily there are many skincare products available to help with bruising, dark spots, dryness and wrinkles helping you to make your skin more supple, moisturized and glowing. Look for anti-aging creams and serums to help you treat your aging skin and brighten your overall appearance.
The bottom line: No matter if you’re a teenager or over 50 years, it’s normal to have good and bad skin days! By understanding how your hormones are affecting you, you can adjust your skincare routines and look for natural products that will be helpful to treat any potential skin issues you may be experiencing.
* This article is for information purposes only, please seek medical advice for any issues you may be having and to get more information on conditions and treatments.
Written by, Alyssa Rolnick, Co-Founder of Zax’s Original Products, Registered Dietitian and Mother of a very busy household.