How Hormonal Imbalance Leads to Acne?

Hormonal Imbalance: Acne, a term we all are very conversant in and face this issue a minimum of once in our life. We are unaware of the very fact that acne can occur thanks to multiple reasons and at any point in life.

Hormonal Acne or Adult Acne is extremely commonly faced by women than men. once we mention hormonal acne it is often a result of multiple causes and hence multiple sorts of adult acne.

Some of these are:

Late-onset acne ( Women over 25years of age)

Therapy- Resistant Acne

Stress-induced acne

Premenstrual onset


Along with adult acne, hormonal imbalances can cause more visible side effects on the skin and body. Like facial hair growth, hyperinsulinemia resulting in obesity, skin tags, and keratosis nigricans. Hormonal acne has characteristic distribution within the lower third of the face, predominantly on the chin and jawline area.

Hormonal Acne are often new in adulthood and is termed as new-onset, whereas it is often present in adolescence and continued in adulthood also being the persistent acne. In certain cases, it is often recurrent which vanished after adolescence on the other hand reappeared in adulthood. because the term suggests hormonal acne are majorly associated with hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. It can flare up during these times and sometimes can remain persistent then too.

An increase in androgen levels trigger the increased production of sebum and hence cause inflammation and propagation of acne bacteria. PCOD is one condition that has always been associated with acne and excessive hair growth this is often because during PCOD androgen levels in body increases resulting in the formation of cystic acne along side other symptoms like irregular menstrual cycles, difficulty in conceiving, facial hair, obesity, etc. It is advisable to consult your dermatologist if you’re facing any such symptoms and obtain proper investigations done which incorporates your hormonal test along side an ultrasound to see the number of hormones and begin medications accordingly.

How Are Hormones Triggering Acne?

Testosterone may be a hormone produced during puberty which makes skin look greasy and results in increased production of sebum. Sebum is the oily substance that lubricates the skin and hair follicles. When the number of androgen increases, it results in the propagation of acne and inflammation.

Exceptions Can Still Exist!

Though in most of the cases the hormonal changes are the clear culprits of acne, there are cases like acne occurring thanks to end-organ hypersensitivity. In cases like these one doesn’t experience any hormonal imbalance or other symptoms of an equivalent except acne. On the opposite hand, there are cases where patients experience high levels of androgen and still haven’t any signs of acne in the least. Some people have adult acne with dry skin too. During the premenopausal time a fall in estrogen level gives rise to increased levels of androgen and hence leads to acne flare-up. Also, daily stress levels when rise can cause an acne flare-up. Stress level is additionally liable for causing a change in hormonal levels, like cortisol and androgen and hence triggering excessive sebum production leading to comedogenic.

Lifestyle and diet have a serious role play in improving this condition naturally. As hormones are associated with insulin levels keeping them in check also can help improve things. Insulin is that the one liable for the maturation of sebaceous glands. Though the link between diet and acne is small controversial, it is often understood by the glycemic index of the food which is said to insulin levels and hence acne. Thus high glycemic index food in diet can instigate insulin production thus causing hormonal imbalance leading to acne.


Except for diet and lifestyle treatment, there also are treatment options that will help reduce hormonal acne and their effects. After consulting your dermatologist you’ll choose topical medications and oral medications to scale back the cystic acne. Hormonal Therapy has also seen to be helpful in acne condition along side antibiotics, retinoids, azelaic acid, and peroxide if crazy the right guidance of a dermatologist.

Acne can’t be fixed quickly it needs time and patience to be treated properly. a mean of three months is that the time required for visible improvement. Along with these treatments, proper precautions should be taken in terms of selecting the proper makeup and right lifestyle to avoid any flare-ups and get in touch with your dermatologist if there are any signs of acne at any point for proper medical guidance.

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