How Hormonal Changes Can Affect the Skin
Hormonal changes can impact one’s skin throughout different life stages. These can cause acne breakouts, skin irritation or inflammation.
Whether during puberty, pregnancy or menopause, hormonal changes can wreak havoc with one’s skin. Effects can include the appearance of spots, pimples, whiteheads or blackheads, skin hyperpigmentation, sensitivity or changes in the moisture, sebum and PH values of the skin. Results can include acne breakouts, patchy or discoloured skin, excess sebum production causing oily skin, or a reduction in moisture retention causing dryness, tightness or roughness.
Below is an overview of what causes these hormonal changes, how they affect the skin, and how you can tackle hormonal-related skin issues with ChitoCare products. They all contain natural marine chitosan, a biocompatible, film-forming biopolymer that supports the skin’s natural repair process, reduces symptoms associated with skin conditions and protects the skin from external aggressors.
Teenage Years
During puberty, the activity of hormones known as androgens ramps up. This can lead to an increased production of an oily substance called sebum. Normal amounts of sebum help keep skin moisturised. However, an excess production of sebum can result in pores clogging with oil, dirt and bacteria, which leads to acne breakouts. These can manifest in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or spots that not only affect one’s skin, but they can also negatively impact one’s self-esteem.
To protect skin, help clear up spots and ensure better skin healing, apply ChitoCare medical Wound Healing Gel to the affected areas. It protects against infections, helps reduce bleeding, scarring and pain and has a soothing cooling effect. It reduces the symptoms associated with spots and pimples, such as itching and redness, promoting the skin's natural repair process.
Acne that is especially serious can often cause the skin to breach, essentially creating an open wound that can leave a scar. To reduce the appearance of post-acne scars and support scar tissue healing in an orderly manner, apply ChitoCare medical Scar Healing Gel. It protects against infections, stimulates cell proliferation in old and new scars, and promotes correct tissue organisation with proper collagen alignment for better skin flexibility and a better aesthetic appearance.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related skin changes are another common effect of hormonal fluctuations. During pregnancy, these are driven by rising levels of reproductive hormones called androgens—progesterone, in particular—especially during the first and second trimester. Such hormonal changes offer pregnant women that radiant glow, however they can also increase sebum production, resulting in oily skin, acne breakouts or increased pigmentation.
Excess sebum production can make skin oily, shiny, pale or with visibly enlarged pores, and can lead to clogged pores that cause bacterial collection and breakouts. Hyperpigmentation is when excess melanin production causes areas of the skin to become darker or patchy, with spots that are red, pink, grey, black or brown. Other ways breakouts can manifest across the face, chest or neck include nodular acne (red bumps that run deep, causing inflammation and pain), whiteheads, blackheads, pustules or cysts.
Hormonal acne during pregnancy is a natural condition that typically resolves once hormone levels normalise. To tackle oily skin during pregnancy, use ChitoCare beauty Body Scrub to exfoliate and brighten the skin. Containing film-forming chitosan, antioxidant caffeine and natural micro-granules from walnut shells and bamboo stem powder, it gently cleanses the skin while enhancing smoothness.
To alleviate the symptoms of hyperpigmentation, apply ChitoCare medical Wound Healing Gel to problem areas, to reduce inflammation, soreness, redness and pain. To soften dry, flaky or tight skin, lather up with ChitoCare beauty Body Lotion, featuring moisturising oils from coconut and sunflower seeds, soothing aloe vera leaf juice powder, and antioxidant marine chitosan.
Menopause
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and occurs roughly 12 months after a woman’s last period. It is a natural part of aging and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, though about 7% of women go through premature menopause, experiencing it at 40 to 45 years of age. It is characterised by a fluctuation in hormonal levels, such as estrogen and progesterone, and almost all women (8 in 10) will have additional symptoms, such as acne breakouts, that can have a significant impact on their lives and self-esteem.
Research suggests that at least 25% of women in their 40s experience breakouts, with around 15% continuing to face these issues into their 50s. Even women who had clear skin during their teenage years may notice oily skin, blackheads, and pimples during this transition. Hormonal fluctuations, especially in estrogen and progesterone, play a key role. These fluctuations can lead to an increase in androgens like testosterone, which boost sebum production and often result in skin problems or a change in skin type.
Add ChitoCare medical Healing Spray to your skincare first-aid kit to soothe the symptoms associated with skin conditions like hormonal acne breakouts. It offers a cooling effect and promotes the skin's natural repair process, working effectively on pimples, acne symptoms, skin rashes, dry or cracked skin, and other effects of skin inflammation such as itching, soreness and redness.
