How Do Hormones Impact Acne?

Acne is something that happens to all of us, and we’ve all felt the sting of self-consciousness because of it. It can be particularly frustrating when our best efforts don’t minimize breakouts at all. Fluctuating hormones may be the culprit. This isn’t surprising to Dr. Zenovia Gabriel at ZENA Medical, who has pioneered the research on the links between hormones and acne (along with other skin concerns) throughout her career and even conducts clinical trials with patients in her office.

How Do Hormones Impact Acne?

Dr. Zena has made it her mission to understand all the ways in which hormones impact the health of the skin when she noted skin issues occurring during major hormonal events. These can include puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. She’s spent years developing treatment protocols to combat hormone-related skin issues, the biggest being acne. But what exactly is acne?

The body produces an oil called sebum to keep the skin from drying out. Hormonal imbalances, particularly in estrogen and testosterone, can send sebum production into overdrive, clogging pores to create acne. Breakouts occur when many pores in the same area are clogged.

There are a few causes of acne, of which hormones are the most common. Testosterone levels rise during puberty—for male development in boys and muscle and bone strength in girls—which increases sebum production, leading to acne. Imbalanced estrogen levels can also contribute to acne formation, which is why acne can occur around menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

How Can I Treat My Acne?

Dr. Zena has designed a four-pronged approach to acne treatment, beginning with the use of topical skincare products.

Step One

Dr. Zena’s Clear Complexion Collection or prescription serums, all infused with her skin-balancing REG-ulate360 Complex™ acne-fighting ingredients may be recommended for you.