Ever felt the wrath of hormones on your skin? You are certainly not alone! Our body and skin are governed by hormones. Whether it is a period breakout, pigmentation during pregnancy or dry skin with the onset of menopause, hormones can trigger different skin reactions at different stages in your life. Want to know more? We look at how hormones can affect the skin as they rise and dip, and how you can be better equipped at managing them at every stage.

The Teens

Teenage years are rife with acne and breakouts thanks to a surge in hormones. During puberty, our estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels start to rise. This spike in hormones leads to excess sebum production and acne, breakouts and consequently, scars.

Doctors recommend sticking to a balanced diet, instead of the high-fat, greasy, soda-based routine that most teens follow. Greasy food leads to the production of oil on the skin, resulting in inflammation and pimples. This is a good time to invest in some clean skincare – a non-comedogenic face cleanser, and moisturiser can help immensely. Those with recurrent acne should also try cleansers with Salicylic Acid that helps in reducing acne by exfoliating the skin and keeping pores clear.

Pregnancy

Enjoying your pregnancy glow? While many women enjoy a pregnancy halo, many also complain of an increase in pigmentation and dark spots. This is down to the increase in estrogen, progesterone and other hormonal levels that stimulate pigment-producing cells. The good news is that this darkening of skin usually lasts only through the course of your pregnancy. However, you may also start to notice dark patches on your face because of hormone-related pigmentation.

The easiest way to counter this is to stay out of the sun, as much as possible and wear a sun protection cream that gives adequate coverage. You should also use sun-protective clothing, scarves and hats when outside to lower the chances of pigmentation.

Menopause

As hormone levels begin to decline, you will notice dryness, lesser oil production, and an overall loss in suppleness. Menopause triggers a loss in the firmness of the skin and collagen levels start to fall. You’ll also notice your skin is thinner and wrinkles and fine lines become more obvious.

What can you do? Other than maintaining a healthy lifestyle with plenty of good nutrition and exercise thrown in, you should also change the skincare you use.

Now that your skin needs more hydraSkin Care > Face > Moisturizers & Treatments

tion, make sure to compensate with an efficient hydrating product. Also, consider adding game-changing ingredients like Vitamin C and Retinol to the mix.

To help with hot flashes or inflammation look for anti-inflammatory ingredients like Chamomile and peptides. Antioxidants such as Green Tea extract too can help to protect the skin from further oxidative damage.

Regardless of how hormones are affecting your skin, you can manage them by following a healthy lifestyle as well as investing in skincare that works. However, if you feel that your skin condition is worsening or cannot be managed at home alone, consider meeting a dermatologist who can design a skin or medical plan for you.