What are the hormones involved in Acne?

There are many hormones involved in the development of acne and some of the key hormones to be
discussed are androgens, insulin, insulin like growth factor-1 and growth hormone.

Androgens are a major player in the development of acne as they stimulate sebum production
which can then lead to overproduction of sebum, one of the main factors contributing towards acne. Therefore, excessive amounts of androgens can lead to acne.

Other hormones involved in Acne

Insulin and Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are hormones that also contribute towards acne. Like Androgen, an increase in sebum production. IGF-1 plays a key role in the development of acne as it can increase androgen synthesis, stimulate the proliferation of sebum producing cells and fat synthesis in the sebaceous glands to eventually increase sebum production.
Growth hormone is another hormone that plays a part in acne as it produces insulin, contributing to the development of acne.

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How does the menstrual cycle affect hormonal acne?

Hormonal acne is closely related to the menstrual cycle and many women experience a worsening of their acne just before the onset of their period. This is supported by a study which showed that 63% of women had a premenstrual worsening of their acne condition. During the menstrual cycle, if no fertilization takes place, there will be a sudden loss of estrogen and progesterone – the female sex hormones. This sudden decrease in female sex hormone levels causes the lining of the uterus to no longer be maintained and it breaks down to cause menstrual bleeding.
Hence, the levels of estrogen and progesterone are the lowest just before the onset of menses and it is at this point when androgen levels in the woman are relatively higher than the female sex
hormone levels. It is important to note that androgens are always present in females but at a lower level than in males. Therefore, this relatively high level of androgens and low level of estrogen will stimulate sebum production and hence may lead to hormonal acne before menses.

Would being pregnant be a reason for hormonal acne?

Pregnancy is another time when women may experience hormonal acne due to fluctuations in hormone levels. Higher levels of androgens are present during pregnancy and this causes an increase in sebum production, leading to acne which can strike pregnant mothers in any trimester. Therefore, this explains why more than 50% of pregnant women battle with acne issues during pregnancy especially those who are already acne-prone. If you suffer from acne during your
pregnancy, it is of utmost importance to first consult your dermatologist before starting any treatments or medications as some acne medications may affect your pregnancy.

Is going through menopause a reason for hormonal acne?

Acne is a common complaint of many women going through menopause and it tends to strike the chin, jaw and mouth area but can also present on the chest and back. During menopause, there are sudden changes in hormone levels and the levels of the female sex hormone – estrogen decreases while the androgen levels in the body remain constant. Therefore, this causes the level of androgens to be relatively higher in the body, leading to overproduction of sebum and hence the recurrence of acne during menopause.

Can pre-existing medical conditions affect hormonal acne?

There are certain medical conditions that can cause excessively high levels of androgens which do not correspond to the normal hormonal fluctuations in women. One such condition is polycystic ovary syndrome which accounts for more than 90% of excessively high androgen levels in women. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the levels of androgens and insulin in the body are elevated and both hormones play a role in contributing towards acne as explained earlier. Therefore, patients with polycystic ovary syndrome tend to have severe acne that extends beyond puberty and does not respond to conventional treatments. Furthermore, the hormonal changes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome may result in symptoms such as irregular menses, excessive male pattern hair growth as well as weight gain. Therefore, if you suffer from acne that is associated with the above symptoms, it is important that you consult your dermatologist for advice and follow up investigations.

Conclusion

Hormonal acne in women is extremely common due to the fluctuations in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause as well as underlying medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. If you are currently battling with severe hormonal acne, it is important to seek professional help from a doctor as there are many treatment plans available to help correct the hormonal changes and reduce the severity of your acne. Your dermatologist can advise on the appropriate treatment plan catered to your acne condition and may also refer you to do further investigations to assess your hormone levels.