Having spent hours desperately researching the possible causes and solutions to get those unwanted breakouts under control, you’d have most certainly come across lots of information surrounding hormones and how they can directly affect your acne.
But with so much information available online it’s hard to know what to believe and what to ignore. That is why I’ve taken the time to write a short blog post on how hormones can negatively impact your skin and what you can do to maintain a healthy balance of them throughout your body.
We know that the main triggers of acne are an overproduction of oil, dead skin cell build up, inflammation, p. Acne bacteria, hormonal imbalances and the consistent use of comedogenic skincare products. Out of all these triggers usually hormonal imbalances are the most difficult to correct. But how can we support our hormones and work with them to help improve our overall skin health?
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers which have a direct impact on the cells in the body. It’s believed that we have on average over 50 different hormones circulating around our body at any given time, working round the clock carrying out their own unique roles, which are responsible for hundreds of everyday functions ranging from our skin’s appearance to sleep patterns, digestion, monthly menstrual cycle and the regulation of our emotions.
By learning to balance our hormones we can easily take control of our skin’s health and prevent those monthly acne breakouts.
Here are the most important hormones that play an important role in your overall health:
- Testosterone: is the male hormone which increases sebum production and hair growth.
- Cortisol: is the hormone responsible for stress and energy and in addition to regulating our blood pressure and metabolism.
- Estrogen: is the female sex hormone
- Insulin: controls our blood sugar levels.
With so many hormones needed every day for our bodies to function to full capacity, it’s easy to disrupt their functions. Over exposure to environmental pollution, poor diet and living a stressful lifestyle can all lead to hormonal imbalances. Which is why we’ve listed below some of our top tips to keep your hormones under control.
Top tips to keep your hormones under control
1.) Ditch your prescription products.
Traditionally products prescribed by your Dermatologist or Medical Practitioner such as Accutane, Birth Control Pills and other acne clearing antibiotics have been prescribed as primary solutions for treating acne. While it’s important to seek the advice of a medical professional before undergoing any changes to your current skincare routine, you have to keep in mind that there are many negative side-effects associated with these medications.
Some of the most popular negative side-effects documented by patients over the years: depression, indigestion, blood clots, irregular periods, intolerance to antibiotics and the reoccurrence of acne after the drugs are stopped.
Here at Envision Acne & Skin Care Center we believe that in order to successfully clear up your acne we have to address the root cause of the problem instead of just covering up the symptoms. Which is why we provide a detailed client consultation, a personalized acne free skin program and specially formulated acne clearing products which have been designed to be gentle yet effective.
2.) Invest in a customized acne program with an acne specialist.
Getting your acne under control will not happen overnight. It will take time and compliance on your end. Every individual has different type of acne and introducing new products to your skincare routine could take between 4-12 weeks before you will see visible improvement. This is why we like to make sure that you’re fully committed to sticking to our personalized skincare program before we take you on as a new client. We want you to see the results you deserve but we can’t promise that it will happen overnight. While prescribed medications may work slightly faster than holistic skin care methods, our advanced technologies and products work in harmony with your body’s natural skin care renewal process, without disrupting your hormone cycle.
Calming and hydrating skin care products such as those from our PoreInfusion range, have been developed to reduce and control acne breakouts, while encouraging the skin to heal and renew quickly. Infused with a combination of natural and cosmeceutical ingredients, these products will not disturb your acid mantle. Instead it will work in harmony with your skin while gently reducing pores, destroying unwanted bacteria, minimizing scarring, resurfacing and brightening your complexion.
3.) Limit your exposure to external hormone disrupters.
The excessive intake of inflammation triggering foods, the overgrowth of candida in the body, environmental pollutants, chemical toxins, pesticides, cleaning products, the over-use of medications and the daily use of generic over the counter products have become part of modern day life. However all of the above can lead to adrenal fatigue, skin sensitivity, weight gain and acne. Moderation is key, so wherever possible aim for organic, eco friendly products and skincare serums and creams which have been designed to target acne while being kind to the environment and less harmful to your body.
4.) Balance key hormones.
Cortisol is the hormone which allows our bodies to respond to stress. The biggest culprits responsible for the increase of cortisol are chronic inflammation, excessive sugar consumption and increased stress levels especially in those individuals who have a tendency to be prone to anxiety. Elevated levels of cortisol can lead to sugar imbalances, weight gain, internal inflammation, depression and acne. Herbs, superfoods, regular exercise and professional facials using LED light will all help to maintain cortisol regulation.
Testosterone is another hormone that can potentially lead to flare ups if not managed effectively. This is a male hormone which is directly responsible for certain types of acne. It can increase sebum levels, which can cause blocked pores and directly impact your mood. While females need a small amount of this hormone to enhance a competitive streak and to maintain muscle and bone mass, too much can lead to excessive facial hair growth and a muscular physique. There are a number of medical factors which can cause increased levels of testosterone however they can be controlled by reducing sugar intake, limiting dairy and fat consumption, reducing carbohydrates and substituting whey protein for vegetable based protein.
5.) Follow an acne safe diet.
Modern day diet is being centered around fast foods, sugary treats, milk based shakes and smoothies which are known to cause inflammation. It’s no wonder that digestive health problems such as leaky gut syndrome, acne and IBS are on the increase. A balanced diet of healthy fats, reduced dairy consumption (as milk can stimulate insulin and oil production), nutrient rich vegetables and proteins will support the effective production of hormones.
If you’d like to find out how to naturally treat your acne while keeping your hormones in balance book a consultation with us today and we’d be delighted to discuss your options.
Do you need expert skin care advice from a licensed aesthetician/acne specialist? Schedule your appointment for a consultation today to get personalized advice on products and treatments that are right for you.
© 2012-2017 Nikolett Ivanyi, Envision Acne Center; For more information go to www.envisionacnecenter.com
Please note that all blog posts and content created by Envision Acne and Skincare Center are not intended to be used as medical advice or as a substitute for it and are designed for your information and educational awareness only. We always recommend that you consult with a medical practitioner regarding any health or skincare issues you have, as they may wish to carry out a full health assessment before recommending you to a licensed aesthetician and acne professional.
