Why Breakouts Appear During Hormonal Imbalance
Breakouts happen when hormones get out of balance, making your skin produce too much oil that clogs pores and leads to pimples.[1][2] This type of acne often shows up as painful cysts on the jawline, chin, or cheeks, and it can strike at any age, not just during teenage years.[1][3]
Hormones like androgens, which include testosterone, tell the sebaceous glands in your skin to make more sebum, the oily substance that keeps skin moist.[1][2] When androgen levels rise or estrogen drops, these glands go into overdrive, pumping out extra oil.[1][4] The oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, trapping everything inside pores and causing swelling and spots.[1][2]
Common times for this imbalance include monthly periods, when hormone shifts cause flare-ups right before or during your cycle.[1][2] Pregnancy brings big hormone changes that overactivate oil glands for some women.[2][3] After giving birth, levels drop suddenly, leading to more breakouts.[1] Menopause is another trigger, as falling estrogen lets androgens take over, making skin oilier despite feeling drier overall.[4][5]
Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, raise androgen levels, causing stubborn acne.[1][2] Stress plays a role too, by releasing cortisol that boosts oil and inflammation.[1][6] Even switching birth control or taking certain medications can tip the balance.[2][6]
Bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes grows in the clogged pores, sparking an immune response that makes pimples red and sore.[1] Fast skin cell growth inside follicles traps more oil and debris, worsening the problem.[1]
Women face this more often than men because of cycle-related changes, affecting up to 15 percent of adult women.[2] Men can get it from testosterone shifts, but it’s rarer.[3]
Sources
https://www.medicaldaily.com/hormonal-acne-adults-acne-causes-skin-hormones-explained-474128
https://www.draliabadi.com/blog/hormonal-acne/
https://www.drbatras.com/hormonal-acne-what-causes-it-and-how-to-treat-it
https://www.newriverdermatology.com/blog/how-to-manage-hormonal-acne-during-menopause
https://www.draliabadi.com/menopause/perimenopause-and-acne/
https://www.westchestercosmeticdermatology.com/blog/adult-acne-why-it-happens-and-how-to-treat-it/
https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/factsheets/diet-and-acne/
