Hormonal Acne Caused by Androgen & Testosterone Imbalances

Author: Jessica Gremley

One of the more common triggers of hormonal acne (in teens and adult females) is an imbalance of the androgen hormones. Testosterone is an androgen and the more commonly known hormone.

Yes, that is correct, women and men both have the male hormone testosterone. More and more women these days have androgen levels that are too high, and this triggers acne, oily skin and even dark facial hair on women.

Let’s look at some of the common causes of increased androgens and some solutions:

Lo-Dose Birth Control Pills, IUD’s & Devices

“Lo-dose” pills, IUD’s and devices are all low in estrogen and, therefore, tend to increase the bodies androgen levels as the estrogen drops. Think of a teeter-totter…as one goes down the other goes up.

From our experience, those with the potential for higher androgenic symptoms, as well as those who are genetically prone to acne, should avoid lo-dose birth control pills. These lo-dose pills and devices are more likely to trigger acne due to the skin being more sensitive to androgens. As an acne sufferer, it is critical to speak with your doctor about selecting a form of birth control that is higher in estrogen and lower in androgen potency.

SOLUTION: To reduce acne, taking out your IUD or coming off the lo-dose birth control pill and switching to an acne-safe pill has shown to reduce hormonal acne.. As always, consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medication.

Here at the Natural Acne Clinic, we are not proponents of using birth control pills or devices to “balance” hormone levels or to clear acne because we can get one clear with the use of birth control. With that said, it is ok to be on certain types of birth control to prevent pregnancy and keep your skin clear.

Should you want to remain on birth control while on our Online Acne Program, there are specific types of pills that are acceptable and will not make acne worse.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Following years of experience and training, we understand some women are genetically predisposed to having higher than average androgen levels and have PCOS. Remember that acne is a genetic skin condition, not a hormone condition, so not all women with elevated androgens will get acne.

PCOS is a condition in which women have an imbalance of female sex hormones. It is linked to low levels of estrogen and progesterone and high androgen levels. It is not entirely understood why or how the changes in hormone levels occur. This hormonal imbalance causes the woman’s ovaries to not release eggs. Instead, they form tiny cysts.

Symptoms of PCOS include:

• Lack of a period or an irregular period
• Acne
• Body hair growing on the chest, naval, face or around the nipples
• Thinning of the hair on the head
• Dark skin markings around the neck, armpits, groin or breasts
• Decreased breast size

The increase in the male androgen hormone is responsible for causing these male-characteristic symptoms.

Research has shown  that Saw Palmetto, Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements and diet modifications can help relieve the symptoms of PCOS. While the birth control pill and Spironolactone might be the most popular way to control PCOS, it is by no means the only option.

Stress

Have you heard of a little thing called fight or flight? When you are over-worked and stressed without taking time to relax, the body will go into a constant state of fight or flight which is controlled by the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands store androgens (aka testosterone).

Therefore, too much stress and go-go-go, and not enough relaxation of the mind and body will cause androgen levels to increase and trigger acne. This is especially so for women, as females process stress through the adrenal glands, but men process stress through the testes.

While it may be hard to just “stop stressing,” it is easy to support your body with herbs so that these androgen surges do not spike your testosterone levels and trigger a breakout.

We provide an Adrenal Support Formula that does not contain any acne triggering ingredients (like other supplements for stress do) and helps reduce stress and acne related breakouts.

Diet

Any food that is not found in nature, i.e. soy-based products, meat not raised hormone-free or without antibiotics, cow’s milk, high fructose corn syrup, GMO foods, packaged food, fast food, soda and gluten have an adverse effect on our body because they do not provide the nutrients our body needs to be in balance. Soy, meat, whey protein powder and dairy products can even alter our hormones because they contain hormones.

Overall, the link between androgens and other acne triggers is quite strong. But there is nothing our Clear Skin Coaches couldn’t solve!