Androgens & Acne
If you’re struggling with oily skin and acne, you can pretty much guarantee that you also have higher than normal levels of androgens (a group of sex hormones). Excess androgens go together with acne and the only real way to clear blemishes is to reduce androgens within the body.
Dihydrotestosterone or DHT is the main androgen/hormone responsible for causing acne. DHT is produced when there’s too much free testosterone floating around our blood, often caused by stress, PCOS or insulin resistance. An enzyme in our body called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into DHT and when DHT levels get too high, it causes excess oil production, acne breakouts, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, PMS, and irregular periods (among other symptoms).
In most cases, excess androgens are the number one thing causing your acne. The hard bit is working out WHY you’re suffering from excess hormones and WHAT you can do to reduce androgens and clear acne! In women, androgenic hormones are produced in the adrenal glands or the ovaries. Androgen excess can often be categorised into three different segments, and sometimes you could suffer from all three at one time:
Ovarian androgen excess – often caused by PCOS and/or insulin resistance
Adrenal androgen excess – often caused by excess stress or a genetic condition
Androgen sensitivity – often caused by inflammation and/or use of the contraceptive pill
Here are a few ways to help reduce the excess androgens causing your acne…
Reduce androgens by quitting sugar - Consuming high levels of sugars and carbs leads to high insulin levels which trigger the ovaries to produce excess androgens.
Reduce androgens by exercising more – lowering body fat in conjunction with moderate-intensity exercise causes a reduction in androgens, testosterone, and free testosterone. This shows that if you struggle with weight (especially around the belly area) alongside acne, then reducing your body weight and increasing muscle mass can go a long way to helping you reduce androgens naturally.
Zinc for acne - Zinc is vital for wound healing, inflammation control, metabolism of testosterone and vitamin A function, so it plays a vital role in hormone management and acne. Zinc also improves ovarian function and increases progesterone production. Progesterone is a natural androgen blocker, and many women find increasing their progesterone levels alone works wonders for clearing their acne.
Reduce androgens with sea buckthorn - Sea buckthorn has been shown in studies to have a significant reduction in androgen activity and oil production in the skin. It’s a rich source of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that help in reducing inflammation, tissue regeneration and the elimination of free radicals. Our DMK EFA ultra supplements contain this powerhouse ingredient and are an absolute must for our client’s trying to work on their acne.
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Blog Post Credit to our Advanced Skin Therapist - Emily D