Low Testerone Acne?

Our body is influenced by many factors.

The body adapts to the environment and the changing conditions inside and out through rigid maintenance of homeostasis.

To maintain this balance of function, our body operates intricate networks of cause and effect triggered by hormones, and testosterone is directly responsible for many types of acne.

Hormones are chemical messengers which influence bodily functions.

There are many hormones operating in our body, with different roles in maintaining homeostasis. Most of them are essential in keeping us healthy, but some trigger physical changes that can be problematic as we age.

During adolescence, a surge of male and female reproductive hormones trigger these changes.

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Testosterone has been said to cause acne production.

It is present both in the male and female body, but women usually have low testosterone levels. The connection of this two has been a problem for girls and boys, but boys experience the worst effects of the hormone. If it causes acne, and testosterone is a male hormone, then why do women get pimples? Although men make 40 to 60 times more testosterone than women do, ovaries do produce it. The female body produces other androgens, too, and these can also exacerbate the skin condition.

Sebum helps to carry dead skin cells from the follicles to the skin's surface. When there is too much sebum, the follicles can get clogged, and pimples form. High levels of testosterone can cause overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous gland. When the sebaceous gland, commonly known as the sweat gland, goes into overdrive, the trapped sebum accumulates and clogs the pores.

Adolescence and acne go hand in hand, and that's partially because hormones run rampant in teens. But pimples also come and go at other key points in life: before the menstrual cycle in women and during pregnancy. This is because the hormone balance in women changes drastically at these times.

Acne does not only occur during puberty. Stress can also trigger an imbalance of hormones which may cause testosterone levels to surge, even during adult years. Some men use artificial testosterone for body building and there are athletes who also use it to boost their performance. As a result, embarrassing breakouts like adult acne occurs. Testosterone is largely responsible for the condition in men and women alike.

Some acne medications work by inhibiting androgens. One drug is cyproterone acetate (427-51-0, sold as Androcur and Cyprostat), which prevents testosterone activity by blocking the cellular sensors for the hormone.

It is typically used to treat hypersexuality, prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, but again, it can also improve this condition.

It's possible to improve your skin by manipulating your body's testosterone levels. One way to do this is to avoid dairy products. Many dairy products are made from the milk of pregnant cows, which contains hormones that the human body converts to the equivalent of testosterone.