How Hormones Affect Your Skin

The effects of extrinsic (external) aging are generally well known and garner a lot of attention. We’re all told to wear our SPF year-round, covet skin care containing antioxidants to fend off damaging free radicals in air pollution, and are even cautious of the effects of a defective fluorescent light on skin health. Diet and exercise are also common tips for boosting your anti-aging beauty regimen, but what about other intrinsic (internal) aging factors?

Did you know that your endocrine system, as a producer and regulator of hormones, is inextricably linked to how fast your skin will age? Here’s how it’s all linked and why you’ll need to consider alternative anti-aging tactics to fend off the effects of hormones on skin health.

What Is Intrinsic Skin Aging?

Intrinsic skin aging refers to aging factors that occur within the body, which is usually linked to your biological clock. There are a few components that make up intrinsic aging, but hormones play a major role. As the source and regulator of hormones, your endocrine system is responsible for helping to keep skin looking plump and firm. Over time, the endocrine system naturally weakens and hormone levels drop. However, the balance between hormone levels and skin health is much more complex and the results that show up in your complexion will depend on what hormones are rising or declining. An increase in acne breakouts, skin dehydration, fine lines and wrinkles, and a flushing in skin tone are all a natural part of intrinsic skin aging.

Testosterone and Skin Health

Higher levels of testosterone are the reason men’s skin often resists fine lines and decreased elasticity until much later in life (though it’s no match for UV damage). As with most hormones, testosterone levels will eventually decline with age. When testosterone levels are healthy, the hormone contributes to natural skin moisture via increased oil production and supports optimal collagen production levels for strong, smooth skin. As testosterone levels fall, skin loses elasticity and starts to form thicker folds and deeper wrinkles.

Estrogen and Skin Health

Estrogen levels play a major role in female skin health. While estrogen is present in men, average levels tend to be much higher in women. Converted from androgens using key enzymes, estrogen actually refers to three hormones: estradiol, which are the most abundant over a lifetime; estriols, which are more common during pregnancy; and estrones, which are most common during menopause. Together, estrogens impact skin thickness, smoothness, and hydration. Estrogens help maintain the structure and moisture content of skin, supporting hyaluronic acid levels and collagen production for a plumper, more radiant appearance. However, as estrogen levels rise or fall, skin health may also fall out of balance. A decline in estrogen can lead to an increase in inflammation, triggering skin conditions like rosacea. As collagen production declines, skin thins, elasticity dwindles, and wrinkles form. The delivery of healthy blood vessels to the skin, which support healing and skin cell renewal, also declines alongside lower estrogen levels, leading to paler, thinner skin. In comparison, higher levels of estrogen can increase the risk of pigmentation, particularly to areas more commonly exposed to sunlight. Wholly hormone-related, this form of hyperpigmentation is called melasma and often occurs during pregnancy.

Androgens and Skin Health

Androgens are a type of male hormone, but women have it too. Higher levels of androgen can cause overstimulation of the oil glands, leading to excess sebum. As skin cells are ready to shed, they become stickier, leading to a buildup in hair follicles that leads to pimples and inflammation. In women, there is a fine balance between estrogens and androgens. Because that balance generally becomes skewed with age and the onset of menopause, women tend to experience greater rates of adult acne. A temporary imbalance during menstruation is also common.

Thyroid Hormones and Skin Health

Thyroid hormones refer to triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄), both of which rely on a specific balance for optimal skin health. If too many of these hormones are present in the endocrine system, skin can appear flushed and feel sweaty and warm. If too few are present, hydration of the lipid barrier plummets and skin becomes dry and coarse, emphasizing fine lines and increasing the appearance of deep-set wrinkles.

How to Manage the Effects of Hormones on Skin Health

While the only way to halt or even potentially reverse the effects of fluctuating hormone levels on skin is hormone therapy, there are ways to kickstart skin’s natural healing cycles and boost skin health without altering hormone levels.

For those experiencing late-onset acne, a dermatologist may recommend a topical retinoid. If using a topical, only apply as much as directed—using more isn’t going to achieve better results or a clearer complexion faster. In fact, applying too much could dry out skin, causing further clogging of pores and even more breakouts. Alternatively, you may be an ideal candidate for Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) acne treatments. These treatments utilize IPL with a red light and blue light to deliver energy and heat deep below the skin’s surface. The two lights work together to stimulate skin’s natural healing cycle while soothing redness and inflammation and destroying further acne-causing bacteria in the process. The result is a one-two punch to current and future breakouts, resulting in clearer, healthier-looking skin.

For a collagen boost or to tighten skin, anti-aging skin care products containing vitamins A or C or retinoids may help to erase pigmentation and brighten skin while prompting natural skin cell renewal. Skin tightening treatments utilizing radio frequency (RF) energy, particularly with a device like Venus Legacy™ that features VariPulse™ technology to deliver energy deeper below the skin’s surface, may better target and boost skin’s natural collagen and elastin production cycles. The result is smoother, firmer skin with the restoration of skin elasticity and an overall stronger structure via increased collagen production.

Finally, exfoliating, when performed correctly, is key to boosting skin cell renewal while preventing any potential buildup of excess sebum and dead skin. Aim to exfoliate two to three times per week and follow up with an appropriate moisturizer to boost lipid barrier health and restore skin hydration. To further reduce the appearance of pigmentation or target acne scars, however, standard exfoliants won’t cut it. Instead, consider customized RF skin resurfacing treatments to target and restore skin tone and texture. By creating tiny micro-dermal wounds on the skin’s surface that stimulate skin’s natural healing cycle via RF energy, these treatments help to reset and restore smoother, younger-looking skin. 

Interested in trying a customized acne, wrinkle reduction, or skin resurfacing treatment plan to improve the look of your skin? Use the search field below to contact a certified treatment provider near you today to learn how you can get started.