Getting to the Bottom of Hormonal Acne

Acne does not discriminate based on nationality, age or gender. It is something that can be suffered, regardless of racial background, heredity or skin type. There are many myths associated with acne, which are often based on one small truth. One of those acne related areas that becomes a little gray is hormonal acne. Yes, hormonal acne is real—yet hormones are not the singular “cause” of acne.

Breaking Down Hormonal Acne

What does it mean to have hormonal acne? Most associate a shift in hormone production with adolescence, and without a doubt, puberty is a common time to develop and suffer from acne. However, it’s not the only time hormones can lead to acne.

Hormonal acne is also quite prevalent in women during menstruation cycles, as well as during pregnancy. Many women will struggle with acne through their pregnancy, and shortly thereafter, they will enjoy the most radiant, acne-free skin of their lifetime. Clearly hormones have a lot to do with such drastic extremes.

Other individuals may experience hormonal imbalances at different times in life, even during adulthood, and these issues may also result in the development of acne.

What Causes Hormonal Acne?

Considering the examples mentioned you can make a simple deduction: The increase in hormone levels can lead to acne. It’s really that simple. During adolescence, the body increases levels of testosterone, and as a result there can be increased production of sebum, which is naturally produced skin oil. The elevated level of hormones in the blood is all it takes to transfer a physiologic message to the sebaceous gland to produce more sebum. The more sebum produced, the easier it is for acne to develop.

Hormonal Acne and the Other Causes of Acne

While hormones play a key role in the production of an acne causing component, it isn’t just the sebum that causes acne. While sebum remains in the pores, follicles and can push to the surface of the skin, when it exists in excess, it will only cause oily skin. Potential acne is born of adding two additional acne-causing components to the sebum: Dead skin cells and bacteria. This is one of the reasons acne is so prominent in teens. The skin is growing rapidly, shedding at an accelerated pace, and sebum production is at a higher level. Because bacteria exist on the surface of all skin, times of elevated hormone production make for a perfect hormonal acne storm. It is a probability rather than a possibility.

Dealing With Hormonal Acne

For many people dealing with a hormonal imbalance, there is an obvious reason why. For others, struggling to understand why they may be experiencing bouts with adult acne, a visit with a dermatologist may help to discover the root of the problem.

Beyond prescription medications, a consistent skin care regimen will also work wonders in treating hormonal acne, as well as preventing all types of acne from developing. One only need keep in mind the “causes” of acne to rid the face of dead skin cells, and rinse the face clean of bacteria and excess sebum. A benzoyl peroxide acne cream can be a highly effective treatment.