To paint a bit of a picture for you before delving deeper, the skin is covered in hair follicles – this is where our hair comes out of onto our skin. Within these hair follicles (underneath our skin) is where our sebaceous glands sit, and where the oil on our skin comes from. This travels out of the hair follicle onto our skin. These sebaceous glands and hair follicles play a key factor in the causes of acne.

One of the primary drivers of acne are hormones, namely androgens, aka ‘the male hormones’. This is because androgens play a big part in increasing the size of the sebaceous glands (oil glands within the skin) and stimulate the production of sebum (skin’s oil). There are some medical conditions, such as, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance that cause heightened levels of androgens within the body.

Aside from androgens, there are other hormones that can also increase the production of sebum, increasing the chances of acne. These include cortisol, insulin, prolactin, adrenaline and thyroid hormones.

Like our androgens, cortisol and insulin can also increase the production of sebum. Cortisol is the hormone associated with stress, and is part of the reason why stress can cause breakouts. It is important to be aware that things like caffeine can increase cortisol levels also, particularly when drinking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. 

When we consume high GI foods, such as sugars, potatoes, white bread and many other processed types of food, this causes our blood sugar levels to rise fast, which causes more insulin to be released in our body. This then goes on to cause our sebaceous glands to produce more oil. When we have more oil being produced it allows the sebum to build up in our hair follicles, becoming entrapped with dead skin cells, forming the basis of a breakout. This can be as simple as a blackhead or can eventuate into a deeper, inflamed pimple. This scenario of spiked insulin is just one way that our diet can have such a huge impact on acne.

So from what we have learnt here about hormones and acne, what changes can we make?

1. Work on lowering stress levels – this could be through meditation, clearing out time in your day for fun, cutting back on commitments, learning to prioritise – are all the things in your to do list really important?
2. Prioritise sleep – get enough sleep so that you don’t rely on coffee (or multiple coffees) to get through the day. Getting enough sleep can also help you to make better choices with what you use to fuel your body.
3. Be aware of the foods you are consuming – if you are eating something high GI can you switch it or pair it with something lower GI to balance out the meal and reduce the spike of insulin? E.g. switch white bread for wholemeal or add some protein in with your carbs. Here is a website with some great food examples for lowering the GI of your meals: https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/insulin-resistance-diet#diet-tips

The body is an amazing place, and so much is constantly occurring within us each and everyday without us even realising. By gaining a deeper understanding of how some of these things work, we can work with our bodies to support a healthy skin, which makes us feel more confident!

If you want to dive deeper into your skin concerns and create a personalised plan, book yourself in for an Advanced Skin Consultation or New Client Facial here: https://www.fresha.com/book-now/skin-health-central-yu2d9bve/services?lid=733682&eid=1937918&oiid=sv%3A12470398&pId=689385

Please contact us directly if you would like to have your consultation online and we can organise this for you!