Testosterone is a sex hormone that is responsible for a man's voice and muscles. Women also produce small amounts of testosterone in the adrenal glands and ovaries.
Testosterone helps regulate sex drive and bone density. Although testosterone is essential for good health, fluctuations in this hormone can contribute to acne outbreaks.
How does testosterone cause acne?
Acne is often considered a problem that only affects teenagers. However, many adults deal with acne throughout their lives.
Fluctuations in hormone levels such as testosterone can cause acne. People with acne may produce more testosterone than people without acne.
The sebaceous glands under the skin produce an oily substance known as sebum. Your face contains the highest concentration of these glands.
Many of your sebaceous glands are concentrated around your hair follicles. Sometimes these follicles can become blocked by sebum, dead skin cells, and other debris.
When this blockage becomes inflamed, you get increased bumps, which are commonly referred to as pimples.
Changes in your body's secretion of sebum are thought to be one of the factors that can lead to acne.
Testosterone stimulates sebum production. Overproduction of testosterone can lead to excessive sebum production, which in turn can increase the risk of inflamed sebaceous glands.
Many people experience frequent acne breakouts during puberty, when testosterone levels begin to rise. However, hormonal acne can persist throughout adult life.
Here is a list of the different types of acne you may get:
- Whiteheads . They may be whitish or skin-colored.
- Acne . They are often dark in color.
- Pustules are soft bumps filled with pus.
- Cysts and nodules are deep lumps under the skin that are tender to the touch.
- Papules are tender, pink or red bumps.
Can testosterone cause acne in women?
Even though women don't produce as much testosterone as men, testosterone can still play a role in acne flare-ups.
Researchers studied hormone levels in 207 women aged 18 to 45 with acne. They found that 72 percent of women with acne had excess androgen hormones, including testosterone.
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance
The following symptoms indicate testosterone deficiency in men:
- The functions of the reproductive system are impaired. Reduced libido, prostate adenoma and other genitourinary diseases were diagnosed.
- Bone fragility increases and osteoporosis develops.
- Obesity appears, characterized by the appearance of extra pounds in the abdominal area.
- The work of the heart is disrupted, blood pressure rises, and blood circulation worsens.
- Nervousness, high fatigue, general weakness, low endurance.
- Low concentration.
- Pale and sagging skin, increased hair loss, alopecia.
- High cholesterol levels, development of diabetes mellitus.
- General deterioration in health, appearance of muscle pain.
What can cause testosterone levels to fluctuate?
Testosterone levels naturally fluctuate throughout life. Levels of this hormone tend to increase during puberty in both boys and girls. Testosterone production begins to decline after age 30.
It has been suggested that women's testosterone levels may increase during ovulation.
However, the study suggests that changes in testosterone levels during a woman's cycle are relatively low compared to daily fluctuations. Acne outbreaks are more likely during your menstrual period due to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome can lead to increased testosterone levels in women.
- In rare cases, testicular tumors can cause elevated testosterone levels in men.
- Taking anabolic steroids or corticosteroids can also cause testosterone levels to increase.
About the causes of hormonal imbalance
In young men, the causes of hormonal disorders are associated with the following factors:
- The functioning of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, testicles or other glands responsible for the production of hormones is disrupted. Failures can be caused by congenital pathologies or acquired anomalies.
- The gonads stopped producing hormones normally due to bruises, tumor processes, and exposure to infectious pathogens.
- Toxic effects of aggressive liquids, household chemicals and cosmetics.
- Antisocial lifestyle, alcohol or drug addiction, heavy smoking.
In older men, the main causes of androgen deficiency lie in the fact that the function of the gonads decreases, as a result of which less testosterone is produced. At the same time, the amount of estrogens (female hormones) increases and obesity develops. A vicious circle is formed when a decrease in androgens leads to obesity, which increases the synthesis of leptin (the hormone of adipose tissue), which further inhibits the synthesis of testosterone.
Note! Drinking large amounts of beer often leads to hormonal imbalances.
Regardless of age, disruption of hormone production may be associated with the following factors:
- poor physical activity;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- kidney pathologies;
- elevated cholesterol and glucose levels;
- poor nutrition;
- obesity;
- frequent stress, insomnia, chronic fatigue;
- overheating of the testicles (including with cryptorchidism).
Are there ways to balance testosterone levels?
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help maintain balanced testosterone levels. Some habits that can help keep your testosterone at healthy levels include the following:
- avoid corticosteroids and anabolic steroids;
- get enough sleep (at least 7-9 hours a day);
- exercise regularly;
- limiting refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice and pastries;
- reducing and managing stress in healthy ways.
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Methods for treating hormonal acne
Here are some treatment options:
- Topical treatments such as retinoids, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide may help improve acne if it is mild. They may not be effective for severe acne.
- Oral contraceptives (for women) containing ethinyl estradiol may help minimize the appearance of acne caused by hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.
- Antiandrogen medications such as spironolactone (aldactone) can stabilize testosterone levels and reduce sebum production.
What else can cause acne?
Testosterone fluctuations are not the only cause of acne. The following factors may also be contributing factors:
- Genetics. If one or both of your parents had acne, you'll likely be prone to it too.
- Excess bacteria. A certain bacteria that lives on your skin, called Propionibacterium acnes, plays a role in causing acne.
- Cosmetics. Some types of makeup can clog or irritate the pores on your face.
- Medications. Some medications, such as corticosteroids, iodides, bromides, and oral steroids, can cause acne.
- A diet high in refined carbohydrates. Eating large amounts of refined carbohydrates with a high glycemic index, such as white bread and sugary cereals, can contribute to acne. However, the connection between acne and diet is still being researched.
What symptoms indicate hypoandrogenism?
Weight gain alone cannot be considered a sign of androgen deficiency. At 30 years of age, metabolism is in any case no longer the same as it was at 20 years old. But the lack of testosterone affects the localization of fat deposits. Therefore, you can discern a lack of androgens by looking at the outline of your figure and listening to your own feelings:
- Fat is located on the stomach, the figure loses its clear contours.
- Gradually, fat deposits develop according to the female type: on the hips, back of the arms, and inner thighs.
- Proportionally, the shoulders look narrower than the hips.
A man’s health begins to develop according to the female principle. He experiences the same sensations as women during menopause, namely:
- Vegetative-vascular problems: bright pink complexion, “hot flashes”, neck, cheeks, chest become covered with red spots, heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, difficulty breathing, headache.
- Psychological disorders: loss of concentration of memory and attention, sleep problems, increased fatigue, onset of depression. It happens that under the influence of SAD, men resort to suicide attempts against the background of relative well-being in life.
- Reproductive system disorders: erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, increased urination.
- Somatic disorders: decreased bone density, decreased muscle mass, enlarged mammary glands, skin atrophy, loss of secondary hair.
- Endocrine disorders: it is against the background of androgen deficiency that prediabetes or type 2 diabetes develops.
Men, out of pride, do not admit to health problems. Often, representatives of the stronger half of humanity are literally dragged by wives or other relatives to be examined by a urologist or endocrinologist. But androgen deficiency syndrome is deadly!
Excess cholesterol, formed due to decreased testosterone production, settles on the vessels of the heart and brain. The death of a young man aged 30-35 after a heart attack comes as a shock to his relatives. Metabolic syndrome and early decrease in androgen hormones are often hereditary, so it can be predicted and treated. Indeed, unlike the generation of the 50s and 60s, modern young people are more informed and have access to various diagnostic methods.
Ways to reduce acne
It is difficult to treat hormonal acne without stabilizing your hormone levels. However, adopting the following healthy habits can help reduce acne caused by other factors:
- Wash your face twice a day with a mild cleanser.
- Use warm water. Don't scrub your skin too hard.
- When shaving your face, shave downward to avoid ingrown hairs.
- Try not to touch your face or scratch pimples. This exposes your pores to more bacteria, which can make your acne worse.
- Smoking. Research has shown that smoking can increase the risk of acne.
- If you wear cosmetics, use non-comedogenic, water-based cosmetics. It won't clog your pores.
- Completely remove all makeup before going to bed.
Important! If you suspect a hormonal imbalance may be causing your acne, the best way to know for sure is to discuss the problem with your doctor.
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The role of testosterone in a woman's body
Many people believe that testosterone is produced only in the male body. In fact, this is not at all the case and the hormone is found in a certain amount normally in the body of women, performing a number of functions. Why is it needed and what is the role of testosterone in a woman’s body?
Among the main functions and hormones in the female body are:
- Helps maintain normal muscle development
- helps strengthen bone tissue
- helps strengthen teeth
- supports sexual activity and is aimed at reproduction
- takes part in the development of hair follicles, controls the growth of body hair
- controls the functioning of the nervous system
- regulates the production of adipose tissue and maintains its level in the body
- participates in the metabolic process
- regulates water-salt metabolism
- prevents the development of diseases of the circulatory system
- Helps the body resist stress.
