Ever been to a Skin doctor and heard him/ her saying you have an HORMONAL IMBALANCE while you were in your teens ?
I am sure that must have left you wondering what is that STUFF ?
What has my Skin and hair Problem to do with the Hormones ?
Normally when a doctor quotes a person to have hormonal imbalance people always consider either it’s a some kinda of menstrual issue in females or libido constraints in males , which is certainly not true .
Let’s find out how Hormonal Imbalance and your Skin are Interlinked …..
ROLE OF HORMONES
Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced in organs such as ovaries , adrenal gland , thyroid gland .
The hormonal changes are now these days being closely examined to reveal just how important they are to skin health especially in women
Which hormones play an important role in maintaining a healthy skin ?
1] Estrogen - plays an important role in skin thickness , skin ageing and maintaining skin’s moisture also making hair grow long and healthy [ in essence estrogen help our skin and hair remain youthful ]
2] Testosterone – plays an important role in balancing the sebum secretion of the skin and providing all male attributes to our skin such as coarse and thick hair .
3] Thyroid Hormone – plays an Important role in maintaining the thermostat [ temperature of the skin ]
you’re hormones don’t just control how you feel – they can impact the health of your skin as well
How do hormones impact our skin health ?
Hormones play a key role in skin health .
we know this because certain hormonal disorders manifest themselves in the skin and hair .
Hormone levels largely go unnoticed unless there is something off for instance
‘’one of the most amazing things about dermatology is that the skin can serve as a window into the health of the body “
Many endocrine and other internal disorders are diagnosed by dermatologist says dr hollmig .
our body responds to signals by our hormones and skin being the largest organ of our body , our skin can be a great representator of some hormonal imbalance going inside our body
let’s highlight a few now
Which skin problems are associated with hormomonal imbalance ?
LET’S TALK ABOUT SKIN CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HORMONAL IMBALANCES
1] ACNE
Studies suggest that prevalence of acne in people with hormonal imbalance is about 48 percent and severe pustular acne seen in young females mostly.
2. FACIAL HIRSUTISM
The prevalence of hirsutism aka unwanted male pattern hair growth on a women’s face most often noticeable around the mouth and chin caused by excess of male hormones called Androgens
3] ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS
A skin condition characterized by dark, velvety patches usually found in body folds such as neck, armpits, groin, naval, forehead and other body creases
4] STRIAE DISTANSAE AKA STRETCH MARKS
Indented, red streaks usually appearing on skin from rapid weight changes due to hormonal changes.
5] ACROCHORDONS AKA SKIN TAGS
Small benign tumor that forms in the areas where the skin forms creases or rubs together such as the neck, armpit, groin, eyelids etc.
6] KERATOSIS PILARIS AKA CHICKEN SKIN
A benign condition in which the skin appears like tiny, tan, red or bumps that occur on the upper arms, legs, buttocks or cheeks this usually occurs due to impaired ratio of estrogen to progestrone.
7] POST- INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION
Those dark marks or discoloured spots left behind after a pimple heals, can be even more aggravating and distressing then pimples themselves.
8] MELASMA AKA CHLOASMA
A tan or dark facial skin discoloration, irregular patchy skin most commonly found on upper cheeks, nose upper lip and forearm.
9] PALE, THIN AND WRINKLED SKIN
The paleness is due to the abnormal dermal content of mucopolysaccarides and water due to inadequate circulating of thyroid hormone.