How Hormones Affect Your Skin:

The hormones in our body are biochemical messengers that affect your metabolism, mental focus, memory, cognition, sleep, and libido (sex drive). But, this is not all hormones do in your body. They also play a role in your cardiovascular health, blood sugar regulation, and bone density. Even the smallest imbalance in your hormonal system can cause symptoms related to these bodily functions. Additionally, hormones affect your skin. Skin issues such as acne, dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles can all occur when your body fails to produce certain hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

How a Decline in Estrogen Hormone Affects Your Skin

As we age, our estrogen levels decline. Our skin becomes dry and less elastic. Women over 40, especially, start to see a difference in their skin. Drying, sagging, and dullness is usually the result of a decline in estrogen levels. On the flip side, too much estrogen can actually produce different types of skin issues. Hyperpigmentation of the skin, aka “Melasma” is the pronouncement of grayish, dark stains on the skin. If your estrogens aren’t properly metabolized, it may even increase your risk for certain types of cancer. Maintaining a proper hormonal balance is key to not only aging well, but aging as healthy as possible. Even the foods we eat and environmental toxins we are exposed to can increase our estrogen levels. Bisphenol A (BPA) — common chemicals found in household plastics can mimic estrogen in our body, producing the same results. For this reason, hormonal balance also depends on proper detoxification in our body. Glutathione, the “master antioxidant” is a very important detoxifying supplement to keep your body detoxed.

How Testosterone Hormone Affects Your Skin

Another hormone that affects your skin is testosterone. We usually think of testosterone as the hormone that gives men vigor, but testosterone also plays a big role in women’s hormonal system. Testosterone also affects your skin health. It stimulates your oil-producing glands, which keep your skin moisturized. Too much testosterone, sometimes means too much oil, which can lead to acne and other skin blemishes. The hormonal system, when balanced, usually regulates itself. Estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone work together to keep your body balanced. During times of hormonal changes in the body (puberty and menopause, for instance), your hormones can be thrown out of whack, causing breakouts and other skin issues.

How Cortisol Affects Your Skin

Cortisol is your body’s stress hormone. Your adrenal glands release it when you are faced with physical or mental stress. However, surges of this hormone may also increase oil production in the skin. This excess oil can trigger acne breakouts. Excess cortisol is a big disruptor in your hormonal system. It increases inflammation (which can amp up and skin condition), and it also leads to sugar cravings. Excess sugar is not only bad for your waistline, but also your skin! Ever notice a breakout during times of excess stress? This is because there is too much cortisol in your body. The excess inflammation it produces also feeds other skin issues, such as rosacea, eczema, and more.

How Your Thyroid Hormones Affect Your Skin

An over or underactive thyroid can also affect your skin health. When your thyroid is overactive, it can cause red, sweaty, flushed skin. The opposite is the case with an underactive thyroid. Dry, flaky, cold skin is indicative that your thyroid may be slow. This is why a thyroid test is always performed in comjunction with estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone hormone testing.

Balancing Your Hormones Naturally

There are many things you can do to support your body’s natural hormone balance. Managing stress, eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising are all ways to optimize your hormones. However, as we age, our bodies naturally stop producing as much of these hormones as we need. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy supplements these deficits with natural hormones that mimic the hormones we produce in our bodies.

Call to schedule a consult with Florida’s Leading Expert in Bioidentical Hormone Therapy, Dr. Matteo Rosselli at RevitalIV: 561-406-2202