Adult acne and hormonal imbalances

Hello everyone!

Although acne usually begins in puberty, it is not restricted to any particular age group.  Adults in their twenties, thirties, forties even fifties can develop acne.  

Acne after puberty affects women more often than men.  Even women who managed to avoid breakouts as teenagers can be affected by hormonal acne later in life.  In women, up to 60% of acne breakouts are hormone-related. 

Hormonal acne can be identified by the location of the blemishes.  Acne located beneath the cheekbones and along the jawline is often more likely to be related to hormonal issues than acne across the forehead or the bridge of the nose.

Hormonal imbalances can be caused by:

• Emotional stress 
• Physical stress
• Hormones in animal products
• Xenoestrogens 
• Phytoestrogens
• Contraceptive pills
• Bad Diet/Poor Nutrition
• Genetic predisposition

Tips: 

Watch what you eat!  Recent studies suggest that high-glycemic foods such as refined grains and processed sugars may, in fact, trigger acne breakouts.  Low glycemic foods such as whole grains, lean meat, and fish may keep acne at bay because they stabilise blood sugar and prevent insulin spikes.  

You can decrease the effect of hormonal acne by getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, eating lots of vegetables and exercising to reduce stress.

If you think you might have hormonal acne, the best thing to do is to discuss it with your healthcare provider.

Do you suffer from adult acne?  If you have more tips on how to deal with adult/hormonal acne, leave a comment below! 

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