For all your hormones do for you, theyre still shrouded in mystery you cant see them.
Several hormones of note: thyroid, insulin,cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Hormones play a key role in skin health.
Tyler Hollmig, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.
Hormone levels largely go unnoticed unless theres something off.
Estrogen helps to stimulate the right amount of oil production to keep it supple, smooth, and plump.
But as estrogen decreases, skin is drier and itchier.
In fact, regular visits to your dermatologist can be critical for your hormonal health.
Many endocrine and other internal disorders are diagnosed by dermatologists, says Dr. Hollmig.
Still, Hollmig adds, scientists dont fully understand how certain hormones contribute to common skin conditions.
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But most often, these arent healthcare professionals, and their claims are largely unfounded.
If your skin is ghosting you to treatment, your doctor may request lab testing.
(Because men make more testosterone, they tend to get worse acne, she says.)
Pregnancy-Related Hormonal Changes Are Linked With Melasma
During pregnancy, skin changes vary widely among women.
One notable skin change is melasma, a condition characterized by dark discolorations on your face.
Pregnancy is a state of high estrogen, making skin more sensitive to the sun, says Minkin.
To reduce your risk of developing melasma, she encourages patients to seek shade and always apply a broad-spectrumsunscreen.
Perimenopause and Menopause Can Alter Skin Structure
And lets not forget about perimenopause and menopause.
Skin may also feel itchy and uncomfortable at this time.
Sometimes this is compounded BHT, which is a mix of hormones that is custom-made at a pharmacy.
The combination of dryness and loss of collagen leads to more prominent wrinkles.
Researchhas suggested that women on HT and BHT have younger-looking skin with fewer wrinkles and sagging.
Local vaginal estrogen therapies will only address vaginal symptoms and wont impact your general skin health.
Meaning: Systemic estrogen therapy will provide a double benefit for skin and other menopause symptoms.
Consider it a bonus, says Minkin.
This is good, clean living, says Hollmig.
We also see flares of psoriasis, eczema, and other autoimmune conditions with stress, she says.
When cortisol levels rise, the body uses up a lot of magnesium, says Cook-Bolden.
Yet more studies are needed to better understand the relationship between cortisol and magnesium.
But theyre also the habits you hear about every day.
Theres no secret skin reset there.
She was previously an assistant editor atPreventionwhere she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
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