Hormonal changes have been labeled as the leading cause of acne. Research indicates that those who have oily skin due to excess of androgen and testosterone hormones are more likely to suffer from acne. This led to the conclusion that right balance of androgen and estrogen hormones were necessary to retain the good health of the skin and prevent acne.
The relation between acne and hormones implies hormones play a role in acne. Generally hormones are very active in the age group of 19-24, thus affecting young adults and teenagers. The people in this age group usually experience lesions on the lower face, near the chin and the jaw line. Sometimes lesions can also affect the chest and back, though it is rare and usually the face is the only affected area.
The other reason to connect the acne and hormones is that acne first makes its appearance when the body starts secreting androgen hormones. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to become bigger and secret sebum. The sebum starts off by attaching itself to the hair follicle and gradually moving up the hair shaft till it makes its appearance on the skin surface. This gives the skin oily and sticky sensation. When it goes up the hair shaft, sebum attracts and mixes with bacteria, responsible for blocking the hair follicle. These blocked follicles are conducive to breeding of more bacteria that finally ends in an infection, which goes on to become acne.
Hormones are responsible for managing all our body functions. Sleeping, growth, alteration in voice and hair color, making the bones longer etc. and every other change in our bodies are carried out by hormones. Hence it makes sense to say that any imbalance in hormones can cause problems like acne. A body with nearly a proper balance of hormones will not have to face any problems.
In teens, the hormonal changes occur when the puberty sets in and can be responsible for acne. During these years, high amounts of androgens are produced and they are directly responsible for acne. For adult women, the acne and hormones connection coincide with the menstrual cycle that can bring on an acne attack.