Hormones And Your Skin

At around 11 years old, females see the onset of puberty, which is accompanied by a host of physical and psychological changes that appear in conjunction with a rise in hormone levels. The skin thickens and at the same time, the sebaceous glands go into overdrive, producing large quantities of sebum. Pores get clogged and the skin becomes oily. This is characterised by the appearance of blackheads, inflamed cysts and spots. The face and the back are particularly affected.

Beauty regime: deeply cleanse your skin morning and night... and don't forget to moisturise afterwards!

At the end of adolescence, our hormones settle down, with fluctuations occurring at different stages of the menstrual cycle. When ovulating or just before our period, there may be a thickening of the epidermis and an eruption of pimples on the T-zone; the chin in particular. Hormonal acne can also appear if you're using a form of contraception that's not suited to you. Your GP will be able to advise you.

Beauty regime: cleanse your skin both morning and night. Choose treatments according to your needs: brightening, mattifying, anti-wrinkle, anti-blemish and so forth. It's at this time that you should start using an eye contour treatment, too.

During pregnancy, in addition to oestrogen and progesterone, the body produces large quantities of the HCG hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin). This hormone boosts the production of the first two. In general, one of two things occurs: the skin either gets a radiant, healthy glow or it becomes further prone to imperfections and enlarged pores.

Beauty regime: it's a time when we need comforting, so opt for micellar water as your cleanser, a light moisturiser or milk in the morning that easily penetrates the skin and, at night, a balm that's packed with hydrating active ingredients.

As middle age approaches, the ovaries produce less and less oestrogen. With regards to the skin, this causes a loss of tissue elasticity due to the deterioration of collagen and elastin fibres. The face loses volume, the skin thins, wrinkles appear and signs of ageing become increasingly visible. Oestrogen plays a role in the skin's hydration and pigmentation, which is why the menopause causes dry skin and the appearance of dark liver spots.

Beauty regime: this is the time to combat wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin by applying anti-ageing treatments and keeping the skin fully moisturised with rich, nourishing products.