Acne breakouts often occur during times of increased hormonal activity – puberty, ovulation/menstruation and menopause. Often, acne disappears or lessens when these periods are over. However, this is not always the case, as people who suffer from adult acne will testify. Hormonal activity can occur at other times in our lives, which will bring on acne in some people. Why does hormone imbalance cause acne?

Hormones And Acne

Acne is set off by a group of hormones called androgens, which are usually known as male hormones even though they are present in both men and women. Testosterone is part of that group and is the most important when it comes to acne. Testosterone can have a powerful effect on the body even though it is present in the blood stream in minute amounts. If there is too much in the bloodstream it sets off the production of oil from the sebaceous glands, which produces oily skin.

This leads to the pores clogging up with oil allowing bacteria to form, which causes irritation. The body’s immune system kicks in to heal the irritation which causes redness and swelling.

What Can We Do To Control Hormone Imbalance?

Increased hormone activity can occur when we eat some foods or when we are exposed to stressful situations. High refined carbohydrates are the main foods that affect acne – sugary drinks, white sugar and white flour. Some acne sufferers have noticed their acne is aggravated when they have eaten this food. This happens because this type of food breaks down quickly to form sugar. There is a sudden surge of sugar, which the body has to control. It does this by producing insulin, which is a hormone that sets off the acne-producing process by stimulating the sebaceous glands. Stressful situations can also increase hormone activity, which can cause acne flare-ups. People may be going through a relationship problem, experiencing stress at work or preparing for a job interview. Stress stimulates the adrenal glands, which produces hormones, starting the acne-forming process. While we cannot avoid stressful situations, as they are part of life, we can control them. It is a matter of finding what works to relieve the stress. Most people have a way of relaxing – some like to exercise, some relax with a book, while others might listen to music. While hormone imbalance is inevitable from time to time we can exercise some control by watching our diet and taking time out to relax, particularly when we feel we are getting stressed.

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