Estrogen-dominant women have few acne breakouts during puberty.They continue, throughout most of their child rearing years, with relatively clear skin, unless something occurs that alters the hormonal balance. However, androgen (a male sex hormone) dominant women can suffer from full-blown acne during puberty, may suffer with excess facial and body hair, and be more prone to oily skin which may be the cause of breakouts and skin issues.
Many teenagers struggle with acne due to their changing hormones.To achieve the best possible results for young skin the face needs to be kept clean, hands need to be washed frequently and kept away from the face. Oil-free cosmetics like foundation, blush and moisturizing products that do not cause blocked pores should be used.
Mild glycolic (alpha hydroxy acid derived from sugarcane increases desquamation to refine, lighten and brighten the skins surface) and salicylic acid (a natural anti-bacterial derived from wintergreen exfoliates superficial skin cell layers to accelerate the removal of hyperpigmented brown and red skin discoloration) products should be used. Clarifying cleansers and toners containing these acids should be used in the morning, at bedtime and after heavy exercise. Most sun damage that presents itself during the later stages in life is actually due to sun exposure during the teenage years so an SPF15 or higher sunscreen should be applied daily to help avoid acne breakouts and hyperpigmentation. Even oily-skin types need to use a moisturizer with SPF in the morning and a light anti-bacterial moisturizer in the evening after cleansing to protect from surface dehydration.
The best approximate age to start a professional skin health regime is 13 or 14 years old. By this age, young adults know the importance of hygiene. By devoting a few extra minutes each day to a complete skin care routine, teens can gently ease through these erratic hormonal years with confidence.
Stuck in the Middle: The Mid-Life Skin Care
During early to mid-adulthood, a women’s body is producing skin-enhancing estrogen. If a woman’s estrogen levels are balanced, her oil production will be less and her skin elasticity will be enhanced. But around the age of 40, a woman’s estrogen levels begin to decline.
Like estrogen, anti–aging hormones, such as DHEA or human growth hormone (HGH), are at a peak during your early adulthood but begin to fall as aging progresses.
The natural aging process can cause a woman’s hormone levels to decrease but a woman’s lifestyle can also play a big role in hormonal imbalance. In this middle portion of a woman’s life she may be stressed, be receiving external forms of estrogen, be taking birth control or even be struggling with the middle age bulge, which can all affect your hormonal levels, and in turn affect the skin.
The androgen hormone testosterone is produced in a women’s adrenal gland and androgen- dominant females may have enlarged oil glands that produce excessive sebum, or oil. While androgen- dominant females may suffer from acne due to excessive oil during puberty or the teen years, factors during this stage of a women’s life, such as birth control pills and stress, can stimulate the androgens and can even cause hair growth on the face. However, these women can begin to notice a reduction in oil production as they progress in age.
As we age, there is a deceleration of cell renewal in the dermis contributed to by hormone levels in the blood stream.
The Last Stage: Menopause
Skin Care and the Hormonal Balance
Menopause brings on many symptoms in a women’s body internally, but the main place we visibly see the results of the changes is the skin.The body’s essential hormones are lacking,or missing altogether, during this stage in life and it is important to take extra care of the skin, the body’s largest organ, at this time.
During menopause, a stage in a woman’s life when the ovaries begin to produce less estrogen, skin may begin to suffer from dryness, loss of elasticity and previous abuses of the skin (smoking, lifestyle, sun damage) begin to expose themselves.
Not only will the body start producing less estrogen, it will slow down on the production of collagen and elastin as well.The women,who were estrogen-dominant in their teenage and early adulthood years,usually become more androgen-influenced.These women who escaped their early years without acne breakouts may start breaking out during this phase in life. Rosacea can also come about for these women at this stage. Without estrogen, the skin ages quickly, this is why women see rapid changes in their skin as they enter menopause.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) is sometimes prescribed by a doctor to battle some symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes; however, there are side effects which present themselves in the skin including rosacea, cherry angiomas or appearance of blood vessels. But, ERT can also help by adding moisture to the skin, reducing skin wrinkling and protecting against skin conditions characterized by this age group and menopause. Women who receive hormonal therapy could see greater skin thickness than women who go untreated, and atrophy of the skin cells may be prevented by using an ERT. Estrogen Replacement Therapy is not recommended to everyone and does have some negative side effects so it is important to consult your doctor before using this Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Post-menopausal skin care can guard against the typical skin symptoms of this stage. A women’s daily regime should include the use of a non-oily, low foaming cleanser to protect the skin from drying. After cleansing, a non-alcoholic toner should be applied to balance the pH level of the skin followed by sun protection, retinol and or peptide serum and moisturizer. An exfoliator and mask for weekly skin conditioning maintenance is also recommended.
Cosmeceutical Ingredients Effective in the Treatment of Aging Skin
GLYCOLIC ACID POLYMER – Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugarcane that increases desquamation to refine the skins surface.
L-ASCORBIC ACID – The most effective aqueous topical vitamin C to prevent premature aging.
LACTIC ACID – An alternative to glycolic acid derived from sour milk increases cellular desquamation for sensitive and aging skin.
L-RETINOL – A pro-drug that can be converted to retinoic acid by the skin to promote the normalization of epithelial desquamation reducing cellular cohesion.
MATRIXYL 3000 TM PALMITOYL OLIGOPEPTIDE, PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7 – Derived from fatty acids synthesis collagen and fibronectan reducing wrinkle density and volume.
BLACK CURRANT SEED OIL – Essential fatty acid anti-oxidants with skin hydrating benefits.
stimulate fibroblast activity (the only way to make collagen, elastin, GAG’s needed to rebuild/repair the skin), and provide antioxidants to help neutralize the 24-hr a day attack on our cells from free radicals.
To try: Renew AHA + Vitamin C Exfoliating CleanserVitamin C This well-known vitamin is essential to collagen production, protects your skin from UV damage and helps scars heal. Eat: Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly citrus fruit such as lemons, oranges and grapefruit, kiwi, cabbage and parsley.
Vitamin A Vitamin A is the most important vitamin for healthy, radiant skin and also protects against UV damage. Eat: Liver, eggs, butter, and brightly-coloured fruit and vegetables such as mangos, melons, peppers, and carrots.
Vitamin E Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant with a great ability to repair sun damage. It traps aging free radicals and acts in harmony with Vitamin A and Vitamin C to protect cell membranes, which are the main target of free radicals. Eat: Nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds, whole grains, cereals and vegetable/plant oils.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Vitamin B3 is crucial in your body's ability to produce energy, metabolize fats, and repair DNA. Eat: Fish such as swordfish, salmon, and tuna, beets and green vegetables such as brussels sprouts, spinach and broccoli.
