Your skin changes in response to hormones, like estrogen and testosterone. If you have oily-type skin, you may notice an increase in facial oil before and during your period. Acne outbreaks during the premenstrual and menstrual period are common.
The two hormones that need to work harmoniously together when it comes to clear skin are androgens and estrogen hormones. Androgens (Testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, and Dihydrotestosterone) stimulate sebaceous gland growth and increase sebum production.
With age, changes in certain hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, affect your skin as well. Your body works with the hormones to keep a balance, but if even one hormone is off balance, you begin developing skin issues such as dryness, acne, fine lines, wrinkles and rosacea.
“In general, if there's a hormonal cause of a dermatologic problem, getting things back in balance is the way to go,” says Hollmig. “As dermatologists, we are able to use medications that help normalize hormone levels to improve skin health,” he adds.
Estrogen is an essential component of skin function, health and wellness. It has been shown to improve skin elasticity, hydration and thickness.
Oral medications
Usually the first choice for treating acne is a tetracycline (minocycline, doxycycline) or a macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin). A macrolide might be an option for people who can't take tetracyclines, including pregnant women and children under 8 years old.
When you're stressed your body produces more cortisol — a stress hormone. High levels of cortisol can cause inflammation and occasionally cause inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis. If you don't get enough sleep your body produces more cortisol — leading to inflammation.
Decreased estrogen levels can cause the skin to become itchy, sensitive, or irritated. Women may also notice that they are more sensitive to itchy fabrics, soaps, or beauty products. Scratching at itchy skin can cause hives and rashes.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of a hormone imbalance. Excess progesterone can make you sleepy. And if your thyroid -- the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck -- makes too little thyroid hormone, it can sap your energy. A simple blood test called a thyroid panel can tell you if your levels are too low.
Magnesium. Magnesium is one of the most essential minerals to help balance hormones. While you can take a supplement, and even spray your skin with magnesium spray, there's no better way of getting the magnesium you need than from the foods you eat.
How Long Does It Take to Balance Hormones? As you can imagine, this varies. However, research shows that by taking a holistic, well-rounded approach, you can balance your hormones in less than four months. In fact, you can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals and pesticides in your body, in one week.
A study of elderly males and females has confirmed that administration of topical estrogen increases keratinocyte proliferation and epidermal thickness after only two weeks. In estrogen deficient women skin thickness is reduced by 1.13% and collagen content by 2% per postmenopausal year.
Estrogen appears to aid in the prevention of skin aging in several ways. This reproductive hormone prevents a decrease in skin collagen in postmenopausal women; topical and systemic estrogen therapy can increase the skin collagen content and therefore maintain skin thickness.
Endocrinologists specialize in glands and the hormones they produce which affect important processes that control metabolism, blood pressure, cholesterol, hunger, thirst, body temperature and more.
A combination of diet and exercise may help symptoms. A person can perform exercises that burn fat, such as running, walking, and other aerobic activity. Reducing the calories a person consumes can also help. A person can learn more about how to reduce belly fat here.
Getting enough sleep, exercising, listening to music, meditating, and spending time in the sun can all boost dopamine levels. Overall, a balanced diet and lifestyle can go a long way in increasing your body's natural production of dopamine and helping your brain function at its best.