Everyone has hormones in their body that help regulate a variety of functions. Estrogen, the primary hormone in women, helps regulate metabolism and reproduction. When estrogen levels increase or decrease, the effects spread throughout the body. An imbalance occurs when there is too much or too little hormone secretion. The reason for imbalance differs in each patient. Most women notice hormonal changes around menopause.
Signs of Imbalance Changes in hormone levels happen in both men and women. While men and women experience a few similar symptoms, women experience a few additional ones. Common signs for women include: ● Hair loss ● Irregular periods ● Dry skin ● Sudden acne ● Insomnia ● Hot flashes and night sweats ● Fatigue ● Muscle and joint weakness These are a few common warning signs of hormonal imbalance in women.
Hormonal Imbalance and Your Skin Your skin, the largest organ in your body, secretes oils through your pores. This helps keep your skin moist and healthy. Estrogen helps produce natural collagen which maintains thick hair and strong nails. Here are some ways imbalance affects your skin.
Dryness When estrogen levels decrease, the production of sebum oil also decreases. Your sebaceous glands in the skin secrete sebum oil. These glands help regulate your body temperature and protect your skin from harmful substances. If the glands don’t secrete enough sebum oil, you end up with dry skin.
Acne During your menstrual cycle, your skin secretes extra sebum oil which can cause minor acne. Over the years, you may have noticed that it quickly goes away after your cycle. Estrogen is a primary hormone that regulates your menstrual cycles. If the levels are imbalanced, you may experience frequent acne issues.
Skin Tags If you notice small skin growths on your body, these are called skin tags. They can appear when estrogen levels drop. Since estrogen regulates collagen levels, lower levels mean less elasticity in your skin.