Hidden Influencers: How Hormones Can Impact Your Skin

Ever felt like Wonder Woman one moment and like you don't even remember your own name the next? It all comes down to those hidden influencers, hormones. Not only are hormones responsible for skin health, but they are also in charge of our mood, metabolism, sexual health, sleep, and even heart health. In fact, according to Northwell Health, 70% of women under 50 will experience hormone imbalance during their lifetime.

Meet The Influencers

From a skin health perspective, there are three key hormones that can impact our skin, with another (often overlooked) three that can negatively impact mood, stress, and sleep, which when combined, has a knock-on effect on our skin's glow and overall health.

• Oestrogen: helps maintain skin hydration, elasticity, and thickness. It stimulates the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which are crucial for skin structure and moisture retention. As oestrogen levels decline during menopause, skin can become drier and more prone to wrinkles.
  
  
• Testosterone: plays a role in regulating sebum production, which can affect the skin's oil levels. Excessive testosterone can lead to increased sebum production and contribute to the development of acne and an increase in facial hair.
  
  
• Progesterone: plays a vital role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, It can affect the skin by stimulating sebum production, potentially leading to acne breakouts. Progesterone levels also fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, which can contribute to skin sensitivity, inflammation, and changes in skin texture.
  
  
• Cortisol: a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. During periods of chronic stress, cortisol levels can increase, which may affect the skin negatively. Elevated cortisol levels can lead to increased sebum production, inflammation, and impaired wound healing. These effects can contribute to acne flare-ups and other skin conditions.
  
  
• Melatonin: is the sleep hormone and one of the body's most potent antioxidants. It repairs skin cell damage from external factors such as air pollution and sun exposure as well as stimulates hair follicles.
  
  
• Thyroid hormones: including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), regulate metabolism and impact various bodily functions, including skin health. Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism) can result in dry, rough, and thickened skin, while high levels (hyperthyroidism) can lead to increased sweating and skin thinning.

Skin Changes & Your Cycle

Our skin bears the brunt of consistent hormonal changes throughout our menstrual cycle. With four key phases, our skin changes and skincare can be tailored to prevent breakouts, reduce inflammation, and maintain our glow.

Menstruation (Days 1-6) Hydrate, Soothe and Nourish: During this time, we experience low oestrogen and progesterone, with a rise in prostaglandins hormones which can leave our skin feeling dry, dull, more sensitive and inflamed.

Follicular Phase (Days 6-12) Maintain and Stimulate: Oestrogen levels begin to increase, leading to a boost in our collagen production. Skin becomes thicker, with improved elasticity offering us that natural glow.

Ovulation (Days 13-16) Prevention: With the continuing increase of oestrogen levels and testosterone, this leads to higher levels of the luteinising hormone. Be sure to exfoliate during this phase prevent oil build up by keeping pores clean and free from congestion.

Luteal Phase (Days 17-28) Soothe Inflammation and Control Oil: Progesterone is at its peak during the luteal phase, causing skin to swell and pores to tighten. With an imbalance of testosterone production, this can lead to increased oil production. With tightened pores, excess oil can become trapped leading to the infamous hormonal breakouts.

Skin Changes & Perimenopause

Perimenopause typically begins in a woman's 40s, but it can start in the late 30s for some individuals. During this time, women experience an increase in hormonal fluctuations as the reproductive system starts to slow down. On top of changes impacting mood, sleep and physical appearance, these hormonal changes continue to change our skin – dry, thin, flaking skin prevails and the oestrogen decline contributes to the loss of collagen and elastin also. While some hormonal changes reduce production of vital proteins, it can also cause an overproduction of sebum, causing clogged pores and inflammation. These changes can also cause an uneven distribution of melanin  which can leave the skin with age spots or hyperpigmentation.

Skin changes & Menopause

Women experience significant hormonal changes during menopause, as their reproductive system transition from fertility to a non-reproductive phase. The primary hormonal changes that occur during menopause involve the decline in oestrogen and progesterone levels, impacting skin health in various ways. Women's skin during menopause can become dry, itchy with an increase in sensitivity due to the skin's ability to retain moisture. A decline in collagen and elastin can also cause the skin to become thinner, causing the development of wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. Women may notice a loss of firmness and elasticity due to the loss of vital proteins. A change in melanin also contributes to the appearance of age spots or dark patches on the skin, known as hyperpigmentation.

So what can we do with all of this information? From creams and serums, to leading technologies carried out in salon or at home, plus the drastic measure of surgery, people suffering from hormonal fluctuations are willing to try anything and we know that radio frequency is clinically-proven to help, so eliminate the guesswork and check out the TriPollar STOP!

Recent clinical trials in China showed that with the introduction and regular use of radio frequency, significant reductions to the common signs of ageing were seen. The results found that compared with the anti-aging cosmetic-treated facial side, the experimental side showed statistically significant improvements in wrinkles, skin radiance, colour and thickness. Since joining the Chinese market in 2014, The TriPollar STOP has been ranked #1 for at home anti-ageing devices and is third in the Home Use Beauty device category so get yours today – you won’t regret it.