3 women at different ages and hormonal stages

Hormones and Antioxidants: Discover the formula for healthy, radiant skin through life’s changes!

Your skin is not just a protective layer, it is a dynamic organ that actually reflects an intricate interplay of various internal factors. Among these, hormones and your antioxidants production play a pivotal role in maintaining skin health, regulating and repairing a multitude of cellular functions. Did you know that antioxidant production is dictated in part by your DNA? And, your antioxidant response during hormonal fluctuations can help your skin fight oxidative stress and free radicals to retain that healthy glow!

An adequate antioxidant response is needed to: 

  • Protect skin cells from the oxidative stress caused by hormonal skin disruption and inflammation
  • Help maintain a balanced immune system response if bacteria is introduced to the skin microbiome 
  • Wound recovery from skin damaging blemishes and discolorations
  • Help balance or minimize hormonal surges
  • Fight environmental factors like UV exposure and pollution that produce free radicals and worsen hormonal skin symptoms
  • Repair cellular damage caused by environmental and hormonal stressesff

 

Young woman with dull broken out skin

Puberty and acne

During puberty, more testosterone makes the oil glands work harder, leading to pimples and acne. The larger and more active glands contribute to the development of acne-related problems like pimples and blackheads.

Taking care of your skin

  1. Gently cleanse away excess oil without drying out your skin.
  2. Treat with Salicylic Acid, a multifunctional beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) exfoliant; unclogs pores, anti-irritant, and anti-inflammatory. Ingredients with antiseptic, clarifying qualities like Witch Hazel can also help open up pores and balance oil production.
  3. Moisturize. Oily skin and clogged pores, still needs a moisturizer to help keep oil production from kicking into high-gear, and prevent OVER-DRYING from acne treatments. Opt for oil-free, low-comedogenic moisturizers

Try this simple routine for hormonal skin due to puberty

pregnant belly

Fluctuations due to menstrual cycle and pregnancy

MENSTRUAL CYCLE: Hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can influence your complexion. Just before menstruation, there is a rise in progesterone levels, leading to increased oil production and potential breakouts. Additionally, hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can exacerbate conditions like rosacea and eczema.

PREGNANCY: Pregnancy introduces a significant hormonal shift, which impacts the skin. Melasma, characterized by dark patches on the face can occur due to elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones can stimulate the overproduction of melanin, resulting in skin discoloration. The rise in progesterone can also cause your skin to become more oily and more sensitive than before.

Taking care of your skin gently and effectively

Use skincare with ingredients that are gentle and safe for pregnancy. This means avoiding retinols, AHAs and salicylic acid.

Try this simple routine for skin during pregnancy

60 year old Hispanic woman with glowing skin

Peri-Menopause, menopause and collagen loss:

As women enter their 40s estrogen levels and progesterone levels start to fluctuate. And, in the later 40s and early 50s it is common for estrogen to decline. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining collagen, the protein responsible for skin elasticity.

Reduced estrogen can lead to collagen loss, and signs of aging. Collagen loss also contributes to an increased susceptibility to oxidative damage compounding the problem. Adequate antioxidant production can help slow collagen decline by protecting it from free radical damage.

Topical Ingredients for your skin during menopause

  1. Antioxidant Collagen Stimulation. Retinols can stimulate your skin to make collagen. More collagen can lead to firmer, more vibrant looking skin. Bakuchiol, a natural, milder retinol is a great option for menopausal skin.
  2. Antioxidant Collagen Protection. Vitamin C serum in the morning. This antioxidant protects the collagen in your skin against UV damage,

  3. Products with Peptides. Peptides are a short chain of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins. They help promote collagen and elastin in the skin, improving firmness.

Try this simple routine for skin during menopause.

woman applying treatment to acne

Stress Hormones and Inflammation:

The stress hormone cortisol, released in response to stressful situations, can impact the skin’s condition. Elevated cortisol levels can exacerbate existing skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne. Chronic stress can lead to increased inflammation, compromising the skin’s barrier function and making it more susceptible to infections.

Care for hormonally stressed skin

  1. When your skin is stressed, it’s best to scale back your skincare and stick to the basics. Eliminate any products containing little or no fragrances, colors, or dyes.
  2. Exfoliate gently. Your skin barrier is fragile.
  3. Introduce any new skincare slowly, as to not further inflame your skin.
  4. Probiotics can help to to balance and strengthen a stressed skin barrier
  5. Turn skincare time into relaxation time and be good to YU! Self care helps to reduce stress, which in turn helps with healthy skin.

Try this simple routine for times of stress.

The influence of hormones on skin health is a complex and multifaceted relationship. Hormonal fluctuations at various life stages can lead to skin conditions from acne to melasma and collagen loss. Understanding these connections can empower you to make informed choices regarding skincare and seek appropriate medical interventions when necessary. Achieving and maintaining healthy skin involves external care and an awareness of internal factors, particularly the delicate dance of hormones within the body.

Your DNA can tell if your skin is at risk for low antioxidant production that helps your body cope with hormone fluctuations.