How Hormonal Imbalances Affect Skin Health and Why Testing is Key!
Why Testing (at the Right Time) Is Key to Clearer Skin
If you’ve been dealing with acne, eczema, rosacea or perioral dermatitis — and nothing seems to work — your hormones might be playing a bigger role than you think.
Hormones influence nearly every system in the body, including your skin. And when they’re out of balance, your skin is often one of the first places it shows up.
At Kollective Wellness, hormonal assessment is a core part of root-cause healing — not just for PMS or period issues, but for persistent, unexplained skin flares. Understanding how each hormone impacts your skin (and how to test them accurately) can help you move from guessing to clarity.
How Hormones Affect Your Skin — and Why It’s So Individual
Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate everything from oil production and inflammation to skin cell turnover and barrier function. When even one hormone shifts out of balance, it can ripple through the rest of your system — including your skin.
Let’s look at how some of the most common hormone imbalances can show up on the surface.
Oestrogen: When Too Much Becomes a Problem
Oestrogen is often thought of as the “glow” hormone. It helps maintain skin hydration, elasticity and thickness. But when oestrogen levels are too high — especially relative to progesterone — the effects aren’t always positive.
This is common in women with oestrogen dominance or those coming off hormonal contraceptives.
High oestrogen can drive oil production, worsen pigmentation like melasma, and trigger breakouts leading up to your period.
Common signs of oestrogen imbalance:
Cyclical acne (especially before menstruation)
Oily skin
Hormonal pigmentation or melasma
Breast tenderness and mood swings
Water retention or bloating
Progesterone: The Soothing, Anti-Inflammatory Hormone
Progesterone helps regulate the menstrual cycle, calm the nervous system and reduce inflammation. It also supports skin barrier function.
When progesterone is too low — especially in the luteal phase (post-ovulation) — the skin can become more reactive. Conditions like acne, eczema and rosacea may flare just before your period.
Signs of low progesterone:
Premenstrual acne or skin flares
PMS, anxiety or mood changes
Short cycles or spotting
Poor sleep or heightened sensitivity
Testosterone: A Major Acne Driver
Testosterone stimulates oil glands in the skin. When levels are too high, it can lead to excess sebum production, clogged pores and cystic acne — particularly on the jawline or chin.
This pattern is often seen in women with PCOS or insulin resistance, but it can also occur post-pill or during times of high stress.
Signs of elevated testosterone:
Persistent jawline acne
Oily skin and blackheads
Thinning hair on the scalp
Increased facial or body hair
Insulin: The Blood Sugar–Skin Connection
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. When it’s chronically elevated — due to skipped meals, sugar crashes or insulin resistance — it can trigger inflammation and excess oil production.
High insulin also encourages the body to produce more androgens (like testosterone), worsening acne and congestion.
Signs of insulin imbalance:
Adult-onset acne
Skin darkening around the neck or underarms
Sugar cravings and energy dips
Difficulty losing weight
Thyroid Hormones: The Skin-Slowing Effect
Thyroid hormones control metabolism, temperature regulation and cellular renewal — including skin and hair turnover.
When thyroid function is low (hypothyroidism), skin can become dry, dull and slow to heal. With high thyroid (hyperthyroidism), skin may thin, and hair may shed.
Signs of thyroid imbalance:
Dry, flaky skin
Hair thinning or loss
Brittle nails
Constipation or fatigue
Irregular periods
Why Accurate Hormone Testing Is Essential
Too often, women are prescribed treatments or supplements without any hormone testing. Or they’re told “everything looks fine” because their results fall within wide reference ranges — even though their symptoms say otherwise.
Accurate hormone testing allows us to:
Identify the specific imbalance behind your symptoms
Tailor your treatment plan with precision
Track progress over time and prevent recurrence
But just as important as what we test is when we test.
The Best Time to Test Your Hormones (and Why It Matters)
Hormones fluctuate throughout your cycle. To get meaningful results, it’s essential to test at the right time:
Days 2–3 of your cycle (early follicular phase)
Best for baseline levels of oestrogen, testosterone and LH/FSHDay 21 (luteal phase, 7 days post ovulation - Day 14)
Best for progesterone and assessing the balance between oestrogen and progesterone
Testing outside of these windows can lead to confusing or inaccurate results. In clinic, I always help clients identify the right time based on their unique cycle length and symptoms.
Why Optimal Ranges Matter (Not Just “Normal” Ones)
Even if your results fall within the lab’s reference range, they might still be outside the range that supports optimal health.
For example, many labs consider progesterone “normal” above 16 nmol/L — but for true hormonal balance in the luteal phase, we’re often looking for 30 nmol/L or higher.
Here’s a general guide to the optimal ranges I look for in skin-focused hormonal testing:
Oestrogen (Day 2–3): 120–160 pmol/L
Progesterone (Day 21): 30+ nmol/L
Testosterone (Day 2–3): 0.8–1.2 nmol/L
Insulin (fasting): 4–5 µU/mL
TSH (fasting): 1.0–2.0 mU/L
Of course, these are general benchmarks. Every body is different — which is why context and symptom correlation matter just as much as the numbers themselves.
Ready to Understand What Your Hormones Are Really Telling You?
If your skin feels unpredictable and your cycles don’t feel “quite right,” hormone testing could be the missing link.
At Kollective Wellness, I offer:
The Blood Test Cheat Sheet — a comprehensive guide to optimal hormone and blood test ranges to help you understand your own results
Tailored treatment plans that support your body from the inside out
You don’t need to live at the mercy of your cycle — or your skin.
With the right testing and support, your hormones can become one of your greatest healing allies.
