Female Hormones Effects on Skin

• The skin epidermis, or upper layer of the skin, is where most skin care issues take place
• Since our skin is the organ that protects us the most, certainly our first line of defense against the outside world, it’s very important that we take care of it, such as with natural skin care options
• A hormonal imbalance can also have a negative impact on our skin

Human life changes with time and so does female body. With these changes in life, we can see the female’s body change and develop through infancy to adulthood. Every change has an effect on the mind and body. The skin is also vulnerable to such changes in life.

A woman’s life cycle has different stages; beginning with infancy when the skin is as soft as a bed of feathers. This infant skin is normally without adverse blemish or scar, but may include a birthmark on the skin as a result of genetics. With age and further developments the texture of female skin changes and during adolescence one may get unsightly pimples or acne during pregnancy that could result in scarring on the face. This happens mostly due to the hormonal changes in the body. With the development of the female body there are several changes taking place. These changes are a result of the female body producing hormones. Hormones are basically the chemical messengers generated within the organs like adrenal glands, ovaries, thyroid glands etc, and this affects the other tissues and skin.

After adolescence and a girl has experienced the onset of menstruation, the body is prepared for pregnancy. Pregnancy affects skin too, but the changes are usually temporary and may not last long once the pregnancy is over. During pregnancy the levels of the hormone estrogen are much higher and can result in the appearance and change in skin. A change in the texture of the skin is quite common during pregnancy and is usually accompanied by rashes and uneven skin pigmentation. These cannot be called a skin disorder in the true sense of the term, but are very much a part of the process of pregnancy.

The drastic changes occur due to higher levels of blood hormones and MSH or melanocyte-stimulating hormones . Melanocytes are cells lying within the skin and the concentration of these hormones effect the degrees of skin pigmentation. Hyper pigmentation or skin darkening is a very common symptom in pregnancy. Common indications of hyper pigmentation are: Melasma, brown patches occurring mostly on the forehead and cheekbones on the face,darkening of the nipples on the breasts, Linea Nigra which is a dark line appearing on the abdomen and running down from the belly button into the pubis region, darkening of moles that already exist on the body and acne appearing, or if already existing, becoming more pronounced. Certain abnormal skin conditions can also be noted in pregnant women like rashes (dermatomes). These are skin rashes that can last as long as the whole period of pregnancy. If these persist, a visit to the doctor is advisable. Also during pregnancy the breasts and the lower abdomen regions become enlarged and this can cause “striae gravidarum” or stretch marks. The tissues experience a stretching and appear as marks on the skin. The stretch marks can be slight or acute and may be lessened by creams specifically targeted to help reduce stretch marks when applied at the beginning and throughout the pregnancy. Most skin hyper pigmentation will disappear however, stretch marks are unlikely to disappear by themselves.

Hormones have been responsible for different processes occurring in the female body and one such natural process of life is menopause. Menopause is a normal course of life and an average woman may start menopause normally between 45 to 50 years of age. With menopause the levels of estrogen decline resulting in hot flashes, age spots, wrinkles and aging skin. Estrogen receptors are largely found in the genital regions, lower limbs and face. Certain skin conditions related to Menopause can change the appearance of the skin where estrogen receptors are plentiful. It is not uncommon for this skin to appear darker.

However it needs to be said that the skin is also affected by overall health conditions and that can include our digestive disorders, poor eating habits, any severe complications like heart diseases, kidney problems, and many other disorders. In addition a woman’s state of mental health can also affect the skin. With the many stages and phases of change a women goes through, the skin is the most visibly affected. It is of extreme importance to try to eat a wholesome and balanced diet and not expose your skin to harsh climates or environments without proper care.

You need to take care of your whole body in order to stay fit and healthy. Nurturing the skin is very essential and this should be done as a routine from day one.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.