The Acne-Causing Hormone You Need to Know About

Have you spent hours searching the internet trying to figure out what is causing your acne? Have you tried all the skincare that Instagram has to offer but still nothing has worked?

I have been there too, feeling like I’d tried everything to get rid of the painful pimples and cysts with nothing ever actually working. 

Luckily, in my many hours of research and study, I have learned the specific root causes of acne, and how in many cases it all comes down to one particular hormone …

So, what hormone can cause acne - and why?

Testosterone! (Yes, women have it too).

When there is too much testosterone in the body, it can increase sebum (oil) production, which then begins to clog the pores, subsequently trapping overpopulated bacteria and furthering the cycle of painful and inflamed acne. 

Now, sebum is definitely not the bad guy here. We need all those natural oils that our skin produces in order to keep it protected, moisturised and to help clean dead skin cells from our pores. Sebum is amazing at ensuring the skin maintains a healthy pH, and the proper barrier from our environment. 

It’s just when an increase in testosterone causes excessive sebum production that we can have a problem.

Why do women need testosterone?

You’ve probably always associated testosterone with the male reproductive hormones, but women also need a very specific amount for many essential biological functions

• balancing mood
• increasing libido
• boosting energy levels 
• promoting growth of strong bones 
• growing a luscious, healthy hair

Essentially, it’s all about balance. 

Our bodies are very intelligent and specific organisms, requiring the perfect amounts of each hormone to function properly. So when we are dealing with symptoms like acne, it is an extremely LOUD sign that something within the body is very much out of balance. 

If you’re experiencing acne and wondering if testosterone could be the reason, check out Balance Your Hormones, where you can learn to identify the exact root cause of your symptoms (acne, PCOS, painful periods, fatigue, anxiety and more!) and reverse the symptoms for good!

Mads x