How Hormones Affect Your Skin (And When Aesthetic Treatments Can Help)
Discover expert skin science insights from our award-winning holistic aesthetic clinic in Altrincham. Written by Dr Caroline Warden an NHS GP, cosmetic dermatology specialist and leading aesthetic doctor in Hale, South Manchester
Hands up if as a woman you have noticed that time of the month dramatically affects your skin?
Hormones are one of the most powerful and least understood influences on the skin. They affect everything from oil production and sensitivity to collagen, ageing, pigmentation and healing. For many women, hormonal changes across their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s can dramatically shift how their skin looks, feels and behaves.
As a doctor-led aesthetic clinic in Hale, I see first-hand how hormonal fluctuations can trigger new skin concerns, worsen existing ones, and sometimes cause changes that feel sudden or unexpected.
This blog post will help you understand how hormones influence your skin, why certain stages of life come with noticeable changes, and how aesthetic treatments can support you through each phase safely and naturally.
Why Hormones Play Such a Big Role in Skin Health
Hormones act as chemical messengers. Even a small change in their levels can influence:
oil (sebum) production
collagen loss and firmness
hydration and barrier function
pigmentation
inflammation
wound healing
facial volume and fat distribution
The key hormones affecting the skin include oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol (stress hormone), insulin and thyroid hormones.
When these fluctuate, whether through menstrual cycles, pregnancy, contraception changes, perimenopause or menopause, the skin often reflects it.
1. Your 20s and 30s: Hormonal Peaks, Acne Fluctuations & Early Ageing
In your 20s and early 30s, hormone levels are usually at their highest. This means collagen is plentiful, healing is fast and skin is typically more resilient.
But many women still experience:
✔ Adult hormonal acne
Often caused by fluctuations in testosterone and progesterone, leading to oilier skin and breakouts around the jawline and chin.
✔ Period-related sensitivity or flare-ups
Inflammation often rises the week before a period.
✔ Early signs of ageing
Collagen begins to decline from age 25, even if it isn’t visible yet.
Aesthetic treatments that help at this age:
Microneedling with exosomes: boosts collagen before volume loss begins.
Medical-grade skincare: vitamin C, retinol (if tolerated), barrier-strengthening products.
Anti-wrinkle injections: small doses to prevent deep lines forming.
Chemical peels: to maintain even tone and control congestion.
Treatments are subtle and preventative, not corrective.
2. Pregnancy & Postpartum: Dramatic Hormonal Swings
Pregnancy brings some of the most dramatic hormonal changes you will ever experience.
You may notice:
✔ Pigmentation changes (melasma)
Oestrogen and progesterone stimulate pigment production.
✔ Increased redness or broken blood vessels
Due to increased blood volume and vascular activity.
✔ Clearer or more glowing skin
Some experience boosts in collagen and hydration.
✔ Postpartum acne or severe dryness
As hormones stabilise after birth, the skin can swing between extremes.
Treatments during pregnancy:
Most injectables and chemical-based treatments should be avoided.
Focus on gentle, medical-grade skincare and clinic-guided routines.
Postpartum treatments:
Once no longer breastfeeding many women benefit from:
Skin boosters to rehydrate tired skin
Microneedling for postpartum pigmentation
Chemical peels for dullness and texture
Low-dose anti-wrinkle treatments for stress and sleep-related lines
Always clinically assessed on an individual basis.
3. Coming Off or Going On Hormonal Contraception
Starting or stopping contraception can significantly change the skin.
Common effects include:
acne flare-ups
increased oiliness
dry or sensitive skin
melasma worsening
breakouts along the jawline
new pigmentation patches
These changes can last 3–6 months while hormones stabilise.
Treatments that help:
Obagi chemical peels for pigment and congestion
Microneedling with exosomes for balancing inflammation
Barrier repair skincare for sensitivity
Targeted acne protocols using medical-grade products
This is a time to avoid overly aggressive treatments and prioritise skin recovery.
4. Perimenopause (Typically 37–50): The Most Challenging Stage for Skin
Perimenopause is when most women see the biggest changes.
Oestrogen begins to decline gradually then rapidly, affecting every layer of the skin.
Typical symptoms include:
Loss of firmness and elasticity
Because oestrogen boosts collagen and elastin, declining levels cause noticeable sagging.
Dryness and thinning skin
The skin barrier weakens and hydration drops significantly.
Breakouts (yes, again!)
Hormonal swings can trigger adult acne — even in women who never had it before.
Increased sensitivity and redness
Inflammation becomes more common.
Rapid ageing signs
Lines, texture changes, dullness and crepiness often accelerate during this time.
Aesthetic treatments ideal for perimenopause:
Skin boosters and polynucleotides for hydration and elasticity
Profhilo for glow and firmness
Microneedling with exosomes to stimulate collagen at a cellular level
Anti-wrinkle injections for dynamic lines
Dermal fillers strategically used for volume restoration, not change
Medical grade skincare with barrier repair and collagen support
Most women do extremely well with a combination approach tailored to their exact hormonal stage.
5. Menopause & Beyond: Structural Changes You Can See and Feel
Once oestrogen levels drop significantly, the skin experiences more predictable but often dramatic changes:
✔ Loss of up to 30% of collagen in the first five years of menopause
This causes deepening folds, hollowness, and laxity.
✔ Reduced fat pads
The face can look more tired or drawn.
✔ Bone resorption
The structural support of the face changes — particularly the cheeks and jawline.
✔ More dryness and sensitivity
Barrier function continues to decline.
The most effective treatments for menopausal skin:
Dermal fillers (placed anatomically to restore structure, not change shape)
Skin boosters and polynucleotides for hydration and healing
Profhilo for elasticity
Microneedling with exosomes for intensive collagen signalling
Chemical peels for improved texture and brightness
Medical grade skincare focusing on repair, moisture and collagen
This is where a doctor-led approach is essential, as treatments must be tailored to changing bone and fat distribution.
Case Study: “Helen”, Age 48 – Perimenopause and Sudden Skin Changes
(Name changed for privacy.)
Helen came to my clinic in Hale feeling frustrated by sudden changes she couldn’t explain. She described her skin as “dull, tired and ageing overnight”.
Symptoms:
new fine lines around the mouth
sagging around the jawline
increased redness and sensitivity
dryness, despite moisturising
lack of glow
general loss of firmness
Assessment:
Helen was in the late stages of perimenopause. Oestrogen decline was affecting her:
collagen
barrier function
hydration
elasticity
inflammation levels
Treatment plan:
Profhilo for hydration and elasticity
Microneedling with exosomes for collagen stimulation
Polynucleotides around the mouth and eyes
Introduced medical-grade skincare: vitamin C, retinoid, barrier support
Low-dose anti-wrinkle (botox) injections to soften movement without freezing
Results after 12 weeks:
softer, firmer skin
restored luminosity
reduced redness and sensitivity
tighter jawline appearance
dramatic improvement in texture
This is the power of understanding hormonal skin.
When Aesthetic Treatments Can (And Can’t) Help
Aesthetic treatments can significantly improve how your skin responds to hormonal changes — but they must be:
carefully timed
tailored to your phase of life
performed by a medical professional
combined with high-quality skincare
Treatments are most effective when you are also supporting:
sleep
nutrition
stress management
gentle, consistent skincare routines
Hormones are powerful, but with a personalised plan, you can absolutely maintain healthy, glowing skin at any age.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can hormone-related skin issues be treated?
Yes but the treatment must match your hormonal stage. Perimenopause, contraception changes and postpartum skin all require different approaches.
2. Does perimenopause always cause skin ageing?
Most women experience some changes, but treatments like Profhilo, microneedling, exosomes and polynucleotides dramatically reduce the visible effects.
3. Can skincare alone fix hormonal skin issues?
Skincare helps — especially medical-grade products — but deeper concerns (collagen loss, sagging, pigmentation) benefit from aesthetic treatments.
4. Are injectables safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Most injectables should be avoided. Always seek personalised medical advice.
5. Why does my skin feel so sensitive in my 40s?
Oestrogen decline weakens the skin barrier, making the skin more reactive. Treatment focuses on rebuilding strength and hydration.
6. When should I start preventative treatments?
Many women begin in their late 20s or early 30s, but the best time is when concerns begin to bother you or when early ageing becomes noticeable.
Want a personalised skin plan?
Book now for a consultation!
Dr Caroline Warden is an experienced NHS GP and aesthetic doctor. She has been a medical doctor for over 18 years. Her main Skin and Aesthetic Clinic is located in Hale, Cheshire but she also runs clinic in Disley, Stockport.
Whether you're new to aesthetic treatments or ready to refine your routine, her bespoke skin assessments are the best place to start. She’ll design a tailored plan based on your skin goals, lifestyle, and timeline.
Book your consultation at the clinic in Hale, Cheshire and experience aesthetic medicine.
You’ll be guided through your medical history, goals, and expectations so you can make an informed choice.
Our main Hale clinic is local To:
Alderley Edge, Altrincham, Bowdon, Bramhall, Hale Barns, Knutsford, Manchester, Mobberley, Sale, Timperley, Urmston, Wilmslow, Handforth, Poynton, Cheadle, Didsbury, Warrington
Our satellite Disley clinic on Thursday nights at Scott, Skin & Co, is local to:
New Mills, High Lane, Marple, Mellor, Whaley Bridge, Hayfield, Stockport
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