Your skin is bound to change in response to change in your hormones, particularly testosterone and estrogen. If you have oily skin, then your facial oil may increase even more during and before your periods. It is also common to see acne outbreaks during this period. However, these conditions also change with age as you pass through varied phases, including climate, ailments, and sickness. Changes on facial skin starts around puberty and continue throughout your life, even after the menopause.
Hormones and Oily Skin
Skin changes often happen due to the small glands known as sebaceous glands. These glands secrete sebum, an oily substance. When you reach puberty, these glands grow in size and start secreting more sebum than before, and continue doing that until around 35 years of age. Sex hormones have influence on your sebaceous glands, particularly the androgens which increase sebum production in both sexes during puberty. When androgens bind to the sebaceous gland receptors, they produce more sebum and lead to skin oiliness. That is why many teenagers complain of acne.
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If you are a woman with oily skin, then your sebum production may increase just before and during your menstruation and it decreases during the 2nd week of your menstrual cycle. However, several other factors like season changes, sun exposure, skin care products, and genetics may affect your skin oil.
Hormones and Dry Skin
Having dry skin is quite common, especially during dry climates and cold seasons. Genetics may also influence dry skin and can become even more prevalent as you age. That is why you must have noticed that your psoriasis, dermatitis and other issues tend to worsen when your menstrual cycle is about to start.
Menstrual Cycle and Acne Prone Skin
When androgen levels go high, your skin glands produce excess sebum. It combines with the dead skin cells in your pores and cause blockage. As a result, excess sebum is trapped inside your pores and lead to acne. These pores filled with sebum are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria, leading to worsened inflammatory acne. There are direct relations between your acne and your menstrual cycle. Hormones breakout 10 days prior to your periods and continue until your bleeding subsides.
Women, and also men with PCOS, can have acne due to high androgen levels. They may also experience female pattern hair loss and excessive hair growth during to these hormones. When you are on hormonal contraceptive, you may notice reduction in your acne breakouts. These pills contain synthetic estrogen that suppress ovulation and prevent production of androgens.
Menstrual Cycle and Sweaty Skin
Your sweat also changes throughout your menstrual cycle. During the second half of the cycle, your body’s basal temperature increases and leads to increased sweating as compared to the first half of the cycle. This change can be noticed not only on your face, but in your whole body.
All in all, hormonal variations may have effect on your skin condition and you may see major differences in your skin elasticity, moisture level, healing ability and acne breakouts. Once you notice these changes, you may take effective steps to manage them and stay in control throughout the month.
