Acne, hormones, and you

You might be surprised to know that acne is not caused by eating chocolate or working over the deep fryer at the local fast food hangout. Instead, your hormones are to blame for that pimple on your chin or forehead.

Hormonal acne starts long before the visible pimple appears, with a set of hormones known as androgens. Testosterone, DHEA-S and other hormones belong to the same family. You might think that these hormones are only male hormones, but women do have levels of androgens in their bloodstream (albeit about a tenth of the level of men.)

What happens in the formation of the pimple is this: First, testosterone stimulates the oil glands in the skin (known as the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum.) Then, if the pore becomes clogged with dirt, bacteria become trapped inside and produce irritants which lead to infection. Next, your immune system comes in and responds to the irritation. Unfortunately, as it fights the infection, the immune response causes redness, tenderness, swelling, seepage, all of which can lead to scarring.

Hormones and acne outbreaks in women can be relatively easy to predict for some women. Many notice that their acne worsens during the week prior to the menstrual period. It is suspected that the culprit is a rise in testosterone at the midpoint of a woman’s cycle. Cleansing the face twice per day and using non-comedogenic beauty products is a must for those who experience acne on a regular basis.

In men, hormones and acne outbreaks are a little trickier to diagnose. To determine whether excessive hormone production is to blame for acne, a simple blood test can be done for testosterone and other adrenal hormones. Again, proper cleansing is a must to keep the pores free of dirt. Athletes should take extra care to wash the skin after a workout, since the pores expand when the body is heated up, allowing dirt and bacteria an easier path inside.

Hormones and acne problems are very common; approximately 30 million healthcare office visits are related to hormonal acne every year. On top of that figure, millions of people purchase over-the-counter remedies and never seek the advice of a medical professional for their acne.

It is obvious that acne is a big problem. But underlying the problem of acne are the hormones that cause it. One should be aware that hormone imbalances can lead to more than just acne, and acne may be a symptom of another problem. Menstrual disorders, excessive hair growth, and even fertility problems are associated with hormone issues. Therefore, since hormones and acne go hand in hand, you may want to ask your healthcare provider if something else could be going on in your body beyond simply having pimples.