Hormones are a major cause of acne. Not only teenagers can be affected, it is also common in adults. Hormones are responsible for the development of the sebaceous glands. Acne is not developed until the sebaceous glands mature. Because this happens at puberty, many teenagers develop acne at that time. At puberty, the body produces an excess of male hormones (androgens) that stimulate the production of sebum in the sebaceous glands. The overproduction of sebum (seborrhoea) is one of the symptoms that can lead to acne.
Difference between men and women
Testosterone levels rise in both men and women at puberty. Testosterone can cause acne, which is why acne is so common at puberty in girls and boys. After adulthood, some more differences arise between men and women regarding acne. This is because hormones in men stabilise over the years, while hormones in women continue to fluctuate. Women are especially prone to acne in the 20-40 age group and during menopause.
Acne and the menstrual cycle
Many women get pimples around their periods. This is because the female menstrual cycle causes hormone levels to rise and fall. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. During this cycle, each day is different in terms of hormones. During the first half of the cycle, the pituitary gland secretes two hormones, namely Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinising Hormone. These hormones control the ovaries and their hormone production. At that time, oestrogen is dominant over progesterone. During the second half of the cycle, oestrogen levels drop. Progesterone levels rise, making this hormone dominant. This stimulates sebum secretion and this causes acne to increase.
Acne and the menopause
During menopause, women can experience all kinds of skin problems due to hormone fluctuations. Acne can be one of them. During menopause, the female body undergoes major changes. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone are produced less and less. In addition, skin cells lose their ability to retain moisture and the skin takes longer to renew itself. As a result, the skin becomes thinner, making it more sensitive and thus more prone to blemishes.
Acne in men
Often, blemishes in men are caused by folliculitis (an inflammation of a hair follicle with bacteria) that can be caused by shaving. But other factors also play a role, such as the secretion of fatty substances all over the face, by the sebaceous glands that are more numerous and active in men. Male hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands in the skin. The sebaceous glands are often overactive, causing acne.
How can Sebacia treatments help?
Sebacia treatments are aimed at treating the cause of acne. During the treatment, Sebacia gold microparticles are massaged into the skin using a massager. Immediately afterwards, a laser treatment is performed. This causes the gold particles to heat up, reducing the production of the sebaceous glands and thus tackling excess sebum production.
