There may be a morning when you wake up with dry skin compared to the usual. Or there may be an acne breakout. There are times when your skin changes in tone, texture and type for a reason not visible. There are also times when you find strands of hairs on your bed. You may think the reason is poor diet or not using enough skincare and haircare products, but the reason may go much deeper. The reason may have something to do with the hormone imbalance effects in your body. In this blog, we will understand how hormonal affects your skin and hair.
What are Hormones?
Hormones are chemical compounds produced by the endocrine gland which acts as messengers. Hormones are important to the body as they execute a wide range of functions including growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response. Hormones interact with specific receptors on target cells, leading to changes in gene expression, enzyme activity, and other cellular processes.
What is Hormonal Imbalance?
Hormonal imbalance in women occur when there is too much or too little of hormone in the body. Hormonal imbalance in women can occur due to multiple reason such as age, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in Women
Common hormonal imbalance symptoms for skin and hair in women include
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Acne
- Vaginal Dryness
- Hair thinning
What Hormones Affect Skin and Hair in Females
Estrogen – it helps to stimulate collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production which is essential for the skin to stay plump and firm. Estrogen levels in women decreases as they get older causing skin to become thinner, drier, and less elastic (1).
Progesterone – it helps to stimulate the production of sebum or the oil glands in the skin. Progesterone imbalance can lead to oily skin and hair.
Testosterone – it acts similar to progesterone by activating the sebaceous glands to produce oil. This leads to acne, oily skin and hair (2).
Cortisol – commonly known as a stress hormone, high cortisol levels can lead to inflammation, exacerbating skin conditions like acne and eczema. It can also lead to hair loss.
Growth Hormone – growth hormones help in collagen production which is beneficial for the development of skin and hair. Collagen levels decline due to age leading to hair fall and skin becoming thinner and less elastic (3).
Thyroid Hormone – thyroid is responsible for skin and hair health. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism can cause dry hair and brittle hair along with dull skin.
Effects of Hormonal Imbalance on the Skin
Hormonal imbalance an have different effects on women’s skin at different stages of their life such as pregnancy, menstruation and menopause.
Menstrual Cycle
During menstruation hormone levels can change leading to changes in the skin. Estrogen levels are at their peak during the first half of the cycle, which can result in clearer skin and a more even skin tone. But during the second half of the cycle progesterone levels increase leading to oilier skin, acne breakouts, and sensitive skin.
Pregnancy
Hormone levels in women’s body especially estrogen and progesterone increases significantly during the pregnancy. This can lead to various skin problems like darkening of the skin, stretch marks, acne and increased sensitivity.
Menopause
Women experience menopause at different stages of their life. During menopause estrogen levels decrease in the body leading to skin changes like dryness, thinning skin, wrinkles, and age spots.
Effects of Hormonal Imbalance on Hair
Just like skin even hair gets affected by hormonal changes during different stages of a women’s life such as pregnancy, menopause and PCOS
Pregnancy
The excess supply of estradiol and progesterone in pregnancy is particularly nurturing to hair, expanding the growth phase and preventing shedding. But post pregnancy when the body try to balance hormonal levels women can suffer hair loss.
Menopause
During menopause estradiol and progesterone fall which cause hair thinning and hair loss. Unlike pregnancy, hair loss due to menopause is irreversible. Decreased levels of estrogen in menopause also causes hair loss.
PCOS
PCOS is an endocrine disorder common in women. During PCOS women lose scalp hair, while simultaneously growing hair in places where men usually get it and where women certainly don’t want it – face, chest and back (4).
Hormonal Imbalance Treatment
Lifestyle Changes
Here are some natural remedies for hormonal imbalance in female
Diet: A balanced diet with whole foods, lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help regulate hormones.
Exercise: Regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight and balance hormones.
Stress management: Reducing stress through relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can be beneficial.
Medications
Birth control pills: Hormonal contraceptives can help regulate the menstrual cycle and manage conditions like PCOS.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Used during menopause to alleviate symptoms and hormonal imbalances.
Thyroid medications: If a thyroid disorder is the cause, medication may be prescribed to regulate thyroid hormone levels.
Management of Specific Conditions
For PCOS: Treatment may include lifestyle changes, birth control pills, anti-androgen medications, or medications to induce ovulation.
For menopause: HRT can alleviate symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.
For thyroid disorders: Medications like levothyroxine may be prescribed.
Nutritional and Dietary Supplements
Some supplements, like vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and certain herbs, may support hormonal balance when taken as part of a balanced diet.
Surgery
In cases of certain conditions, such as uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts, surgery may be necessary to correct hormonal imbalances.
Conclusion
Hormonal imbalance is a hidden culprit that causes skin and hair problems. Many women are not aware about the effect of hormonal imbalance on their skin and hair. It is important to maintain a healthy skin and hair routine consistently to avoid effects of hormones on your skin and hair.
There are multiple supplements that you can use daily to counter the effects of hormonal imbalance. Amino acid supplements for hair and glutathione supplements for skin are the perfect to add to skin routine. Hair and skin health is a reflection of women’s beauty and femininity so, protecting them against hormonal imbalance should be paramount for women.
FAQs 1. How does hormone imbalance affect skin? Hormonal imbalance can cause dry skin, acne, lose skin and other skin problems.
2. Can hormonal imbalance affect hair? Yes, hormonal imbalance can lead to hair loss, dry scalp and brittle hairs.
3. How do you fix hormonal skin? You can fix hormonal damage to skin by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a healthy diet, managing your stress levels and consuming skin and hair supplements.
4. Which hormone causes bad skin? Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, cortisol and testosterone cause bad skin.
