18.07.2021 – 08:41
How hormones affect the appearance of your skin and what you can do to help it
In recent years, hormones and the countless ways in which they affect our bodies have been the focus of research and innovation. Some of the things that affect our hormones are mood and health, such as stress levels, intestinal health and sexual urges. But other than that, something that can also be affected is the skin.
In fact, hormonal fluctuations throughout the month cause daily changes, according to certified dermatologist Hadley King. “The average menstrual cycle is 28 days and each of these days is hormonally different. Estrogen is the predominant hormone in the first half of the cycle and progesterone is the predominant hormone in the second half. Then both levels of estrogen. As well as progesterone fall to lower levels of the premenstrual cycle when bleeding approaches. “Meanwhile, as he explains, the male hormone testosterone remains at a fairly constant level throughout the cycle. This means relatively:
See below how hormonal fluctuations affect the skin throughout the menstrual cycle, according to King:
The first phase of the cycle is known as the follicular phase, in which low hormone levels make the skin drier than anywhere else in the cycle. For proper care of your skin during this period, it will be good to use moisturizing cleansers and rich moisturizers.
As you leave the follicular phase and begin ovulation, increased progesterone stimulates increased sebum production. This production of slowly growing sebum can give you a healthy glow, but that does not mean there are no disadvantages, as the oil in the middle of the cycle is the one that ultimately causes acne in your period. During your ovulation week, it would be good to prefer a foam-based cleanser and a gel-based moisturizer.
– Luteal phase begins after ovulation and remains until menstrual bleeding begins. Here, increased progesterone stimulates increased sebum production and a higher testosterone level also causes more sebum production, resulting in oily skin, clogged pores and inflammatory acne. During this period, use the same cleanser and moisturizer you used during the ovulation phase. Additional use of topical treatments like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide and Aczone can help minimize acne, according to King.
– During the menstrual phase, the skin begins to dry out and when moisture levels decrease, less collagen is produced which makes the skin thinner. Use a cleanser with hydroxy acids to better remove oil from the skin.
