Ever wondered why your skin changes when your body goes through a new phase, such as puberty, pregnancy or menopause? That’s because hormones have a huge impact on your skin. They influence cellular turnover, collagen production and so much more!

Because hormones affect your skin so extensively, sudden drops or peaks in your hormone levels can enhance or deplete your skin health. These changes can come from your body’s natural life cycle as well as hormone deficiencies due to diet, illness, medication and other factors.

While you may not be able to control your hormones, you can control your skin care! Once you know how different hormones affect your skin, you can harness the power of professional skin care to minimize skin concerns and maintain your natural beauty.

REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES THAT IMPACT YOUR SKIN

When it comes to knowing how hormones impact your skin, there are three key reproductive hormones you need to know about: testosterone, estrogen and progesterone.

TESTOSTERONE

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. Although men and women have testosterone, men have 10 – 20 times more of it than women do. This explains so many of the differences between men’s and women’s skin.

For example, men’s skin is typically 20 – 25 percent thicker than women’s because testosterone adds more cell layers to the epidermis. Testosterone also stimulates collagen, elastin and sebum production, making men’s skin firmer, tighter and oilier.

Some researchers claim this hormone weakens the skin barrier and makes it more susceptible to redness and under-eye puffiness. Others suggest it slows wound healing.

Experts at the American Academy of Dermatology Association believe thicker skin and a slower wound-healing process explain why men are more likely to develop skin cancer.  

What Happens When Testosterone Levels Increase

Testosterone levels increase when children go through puberty and when women start their period. Exercise can also spike testosterone levels, especially weight lifting and strength training.

Because testosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands, sudden spikes in testosterone levels cause the skin to produce more oil—a recipe for acne. This is why more than 85 percent of teenagers, and some women during their period, deal with this skin condition.

What to Do

Control and prevent breakouts using professional skin care products. Do NOT pick or pop your breakouts as this will only irritate your skin and can leave permanent scars.

Look for products with highly effective acne-fighting ingredients, such as benzoyl peptide and salicylic acid. These powerhouses will clean your pores, kill bacteria under the skin and shed dead skin cells and excess oil to keep your skin clear and radiant.

GlyMed Products with Benzoyl Peroxide:

• Clear Exfoliant Cleanser with Benzoyl Peroxide 
• Clear Skin Cleanser with Benzoyl Peroxide
• Blemish Control No. 5 with Benzoyl Peroxide  
• Blemish Control No. 10 with Benzoyl Peroxide 

GlyMed Products with Salicylic Acid:

• Purifying Cleanser with Salicylic Acid 
• Serious Action Masque
• Astringent No. 2 with Salicylic Acid
• Astringent No. 5 with Salicylic Acid 
• Astringent No. 10 with Salicylic Acid 

What Happens When Testosterone Levels Drop

Men’s testosterone levels decrease slowly as they age. For women, testosterone levels drop after their period and during menopause.

Sleep problems can also lower testosterone, according to VeryWell Health. As you sleep, your body replenishes testosterone levels. However, the longer it takes you to reach the deepest level of sleep, called REM, the longer it takes testosterone levels to rebalance.

When testosterone levels decrease, the skin produces less collagen, elastin and sebum, becoming dry, pale, saggy and wrinkly.

What to Do

Revive your skin with collagen-stimulating products such as Essential Serum with Amino Acids. It’s clinically proven to kickstart collagen in the skin, making it an excellent wrinkle fighter.

Keep your skin smooth and hydrated with a high-quality moisturizer. Vitamin E Cream will increase your skin hydration by 25 percent using healing botanicals and oils to lock in moisture. Atraxi Peptide will help you fight the aging and drying effects of low testosterone at the same time with a royal peptide blend.

ESTROGEN

Estrogen is the main female sex hormone, which means women have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies than men do.

Like testosterone, estrogen boosts collagen as well as elastin and hyaluronic acid production, keeping the skin nice and plump. It also protects the skin from UV radiation and helps the skin heal faster by reducing inflammation and encouraging new skin tissue to form.

What Happens When Estrogen Levels Increase

Estrogen increases when girls go through puberty and peaks each menstrual cycle, right before ovulation. Estrogen levels also rise during pregnancy.

Whenever estrogen levels increase, so does the amount of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in the skin. According to Cleveland Clinic, hyaluronic acid helps the skin stretch and flex and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Meanwhile, collagen and elastin tighten and firm the skin. Is it any wonder why so many women have the best-looking skin while pregnant?

What to Do

Enjoy your glowing skin!

What Happens When Estrogen Levels Drop

Women’s estrogen levels rapidly decline during perimenopause and menopause and with it all that age-defying collagen. In fact, women’s skin loses 30 percent of its collagen in the first five years of menopause, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. As the skin loses collagen, it becomes thinner, loser and wrinkly.

Collagen and elastin loss also makes women’s skin more sensitive to UV radiation. This increases women’s chances of developing skin cancer or sun damage—which causes age spots.

Lower estrogen levels weaken the skin barrier so the skin has a harder time holding onto moisture. Without this essential nutrient, the skin becomes dry, cracked and flaky.

What to Do

The good news is you know when your body is going through menopause, which means you can start right away to use anti-aging skin care to combat the negative side effects. As your skin begins to lose estrogen, compensate with collagen-stimulating products.

Chemical exfoliants and peels are excellent for reducing signs of aging. Just be aware that as your skin becomes more sensitive, you will want to switch to gentler products to prevent skin damage. Age Defying Masque is a great alternative to chemical peels as it’s proven in-clinic to produce five percent less photosensitivity.

To prevent sun damage and skin cancer, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30+ high SPF. Apply 20 minutes before going outside and reapplying every two hours you are exposed to the sun. For extra skin care benefits, use an anti-aging SPF like Hydrating Protection Gel with SPF 30 .

For age spots, use Pigment Brightening Serum to lighten your skin.

Soothe dry skin with an age-defying moisturizer packed with ceramides, such as Barrier Repair Cream with Amino Acids. Ceramides are lipid molecules that hold skin cells firmly together so they retain the moisture they need to stay healthy.

PROGESTERONE

Progesterone is another female sex hormone. According to Dr. Keira Barr, a board-certified dermatologist and menopause specialist, it contributes to elasticity, pigmentation and the increased circulation and sebum production women experience during the second half of their menstrual cycle. It also causes the skin to swell and minimizes the appearance of pores, according to Axia Women’s Health. In short, progesterone gives women’s skin a firm, plump, youthful appearance.

What Happens When Progesterone Levels Rise

During pregnancy, increased progesterone levels trigger melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH), which stimulate melanin in the skin. This is why some women have darker moles and nipples while pregnant. It also explains where melasma gets its nickname—the mask of pregnancy. According to the National Library of Medicine, 50 – 70 of pregnant women develop this facial hyperpigmentation.

Since progesterone increases sebum production, women can also experience pregnancy-induced acne.  

What to Do

Melasma does not harm you or your baby—thankfully. However, it's always a good idea to control hyperpigmentation to keep it from getting worse.

Diamond Bright Skin Illuminator is the perfect serum for pregnant or nursing mothers with melasma. It is pregnancy-safe, reduces pigmentation and hydrates your skin to give you a lighter and brighter complexion. Use it with pregnancy-safe sunscreen like Photo-Age Protection Cream 15 to prevent UV-induced pigmentation.

If you get pregnancy-induced acne, be sure to treat it with skin care that’s safe for you and your baby, such as sulfur-based products like Mattifying Sulfur Masque. The sulfur works like benzoyl peroxide to kill bacteria and loosen impaction within the pores.

It is not recommended that you use retinol, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid while pregnant as they may cause negative side effects.

What Happens When Progesterone Levels Are Low

As with estrogen, progesterone levels decrease as women age, leading to elasticity loss and other signs of aging. However, chronic stress can also lead to progesterone imbalance or deficiency, according to BodyLogicMD. Your body needs progesterone to create cortisol—the stress hormone—which means as cortisol increases, progesterone decreases.

As progesterone levels decrease, the skin becomes dry, dull, thin, wrinkly and more sensitive.

What to Do

Combat the aging effects of low progesterone with these powerful facial masques: Anti-Aging Exfoliant Masque and Rejuvenating Peptide Masque. While you wait 5 – 10 minutes for these masques to work their magic, take the time to lie down and relax. This can help you manage your stress levels so cortisol doesn’t rob you of the progesterone you have.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR SKIN HEALTH

Hormone changes are a part of life, but they don’t have to compromise your skin health. You can maintain a glowing, youthful complexion by taking proper care of your skin using high-quality professional skin care.

GlyMed Plus uses only the most effective pharmaceutical-grade ingredients so you can feel confident in the results you’ll get. Whether hormone changes are giving you acne breakouts, hyperpigmentation or visible signs of aging, our products can help.

Ready to enjoy optimal skin health? Shop now!