Hormones and Irritation-Prone Skin
Hormones are the building blocks of your body. They affect your emotions, metabolism, sleep, and your skin. There’s a lot to grasp when it comes to hormones and skin, and it’s important to know how they affect your body’s largest organism, especially if it’s irritation-prone. Let’s dig into the science behind hormones and skin, and discuss ways to care for your skin when your hormones are greatly impacting it.
How Hormones Affect Your Skin
There are multiple major hormones that affect your body. These hormones affect your behaviors and bodily systems, and when it comes to skin, three major ones are at play: testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
- Progesterone: This hormone is partially responsible for the production of sebum. Too much progesterone can lead to excess oil.
- Testosterone: Testosterone works similarly to progesterone, aiding in the production of sebum.
- Estrogen: Estrogen aids in the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin, which are all vital to your skin’s health and overall appearance.
It seems like hormones have a mostly positive impact on your skin, right? Collagen, hyaluronic acid, elastin, and fair amount of oil are all great for the organ. The problem comes when your hormones fluctuate, which happens naturally, especially as you menstruate. Let’s discuss that further.
Hormones, Skin, and Your Cycle
As noted, hormones fluctuate as you cycle. Different hormones are more prominent at different stages in your cycle, and the different amounts can affect your skin if you aren’t taking proper care.
- Week 1: During the first week of your cycle, hormone levels of all kinds are generally low, leaving your skin without that necessary natural oil, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin. With sensitive skin, this can mean even more dryness and irritation.
- Week 2: When week two hits, so do higher levels of estrogen, meaning more of those natural skincare ingredients.
- Week 3: During week three, estrogen levels peak, then they drop, allowing progesterone to take over. This means lots more oil production, potentially in excess. The change in oil production can cause breakouts, and trying to combat those breakouts can further irritate your sensitive skin.
- Week 4: Right before your cycle begins again, you have high amounts of testosterone, and are usually prone to breakouts. Like during week 3, this can lead to further irritation when trying to abate breakouts.
Skin Care Based on Hormones
Due to the changes in your hormones, it’s important to stay on top of your skincare routine, and you may need to adapt your routine slightly to meet the needs of your skin’s changes. Use more exfoliant in weeks 3 and 4 to keep your skin clear and healthy, and be extra cognizant of your moisturizer routine in weeks 1 and 2 to combat dryness.
Be sure to use our Moisture Restore Lotion throughout your entire cycle. This moisturizer is gentle on skin, won’t clog pores, and won’t cause excess sebum. It’s perfect to use no matter the time of the month, and it’ll leave you with glowing skin that feels at good as it looks.
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