Your hormones control many bodily functions, even more than you may realize. When balanced, they keep your skin healthy, energy high, and mood up.
However, even one hormone out of balance can throw your body out of whack. You may experience unexpected weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, and skin problems.
Whether you’re struggling with chronic acne, eczema, or dull or inflamed skin, resetting your hormones could transform your skin.
At ARA Integrative and Functional Medicine in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, Dr. Rina Kapoor, a board-certified internal and integrative medicine specialist, treats hormonal imbalances to improve her patients’ skin and overall well-being.
In this blog, she highlights three common skin conditions you can significantly improve by resetting your hormones.
Many people struggle with acne well into their 20s, 30s, and even 40s. It’s common for women to experience hormonal acne due to estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone fluctuations.
Hormonal acne can cause deep, cystic blemishes on your cheeks, jawline, and chin. These breakouts often are tied to your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Balancing your hormones can help clear up your acne by addressing its root cause. ARA Integrative and Functional Medicine focuses on doing this naturally by improving your diet, managing stress, and recommending specific supplements to support your hormonal health.
Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by red, itchy, and flaky patches. An allergy or dysfunctional immune system typically causes eczema, but hormones can intensify flare-ups.
Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, can worsen eczema. When you experience chronic stress, your body releases more cortisol, suppressing your immune system, increasing inflammation, and making your skin more sensitive.
Additionally, imbalances in sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, can trigger eczema outbreaks. You may notice a pattern of flare-ups during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause.
Resetting your hormones helps regulate your body’s stress response and reduce inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.
Excess melanin production can cause dark patches or spots on your skin, a condition known as hyperpigmentation. Sun exposure and skin injuries are common triggers, but hormones can contribute to hyperpigmentation.
For instance, melasma, common in pregnancy, results from hormonal swings. Pregnant women see elevated estrogen and progesterone levels, which can stimulate the cells responsible for melanin production and cause brown or gray-brown patches, particularly on the face.
Hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy can also trigger hyperpigmentation. Balancing your hormones can help reduce hyperpigmentation and achieve an even skin tone.
At ARA Integrative and Functional Medicine, we understand skin problems often indicate a hormonal imbalance. Dr. Kapoor diagnoses and treats these imbalances with holistic and integrative methods, creating personalized plans that support your skin and overall health.
If you’re struggling with persistent skin conditions like acne, eczema, or hyperpigmentation, the root cause could be hormonal. Balancing your hormones can lead to clearer skin, reduced inflammation, and a more even skin tone.
Request your appointment online or call our Philadelphia-area office at 610-358-3300 today.
