Acne is, without a doubt, among the most common skin conditions in the world. In fact, it’s the eighth-most prevalent skin disease in the world, affecting almost 10% of the world’s total population.
Don’t be fooled by its reputation as a skin condition for adolescents and teenagers – many people suffer acne breakouts will into their adulthood. This condition is called adult-onset acne. While the aforementioned condition is more common in women, adult-onset acne can affect men just as much.
For instance, a 2019 study examining the link between male sex hormones and acne with 300 test participants – 40% male – research indicates that testosterone concentrations were one of the determinants of acne severity.
Another study on trans men receiving testosterone replacement therapy recorded higher sebum and acne prevalence correlating with their testosterone levels. The 2019 study determined that testosterone replacement therapy does indeed increase the likelihood of subjects developing acne.
Acne isn’t caused by a singular root cause. Rather, several factors can trigger acne flare-ups, one of which is sebum.
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The Lowdown on Sebum: What Is It?
Sebum is a natural skin oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the body. It’s one of the factors that explain the relationship between acne and testosterone.
People develop acne when the hair follicles in the skin are blocked.
Hair follicles contain sebaceous glands, which produce oil called sebum – an oily substance that helps keep your skin healthy and protected from bacteria.
How Does Sebum Cause Acne?
Over time, excess sebum buildup, including dead skin cells may accumulate within the hair follicles, causing blockages within. When hair follicles are blocked, they may develop into blackheads, whiteheads, or a type of acne called cystic acne, when they become inflamed and infected.
How Does Testosterone Interact With Acne?
One thing is for sure: testosterone does NOT cause acne in a direct manner. However, recent studies indicate that androgens like testosterone DO play a role in promoting the body’s sebum production, which means that men are more likely to develop acne when their testosterone levels are high.
Testosterone levels undergo a drastic spike during adolescence and puberty, which may explain the reason why acne is prevalent among teenagers and young adults. It’s perfectly normal, however, for acne to continue well into middle age and beyond for some individuals.
How is Acne Controlled and Managed?
The thing is, if testosterone is boosting your sebum production and making you more prone to acne flare-ups, there’s very little you can do to actually control and stop it.
Fortunately, there are more than a few ways to control and treat acne. From topical creams and gels that kill infection-causing bacteria and prevent hair follicle blockages, to making lifestyle changes that reduce your reliance on supplements and medicines that may interfere with your testosterone levels.
Here are some tips to control and manage your acne:
Prioritize your skin care by using a non-abrasive skin cleanser. You can also manage acne by resisting the urge to pop your pimples and reduce the severity of your breakouts. Doing so will also help you decrease the likelihood of manifesting painful acne. You may want to refer to the American Academy of Dermatology’s list of tips for managing acne to get your skin health in good order.
Moreover, topical creams like tretinoin serve as an acne treatment that helps clear out old skin cells that cause blockages in the hair follicles and reduce the severity of your acne breakouts. Tretinoin requires a prescription, which means that you will need to consult a healthcare professional before you start using it.
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Do you have severe acne? Ask a dermatologist about isotretinoin, a prescription acne treatment formerly marketed by pharmaceutical giant Roche as Accutane®. It’s extremely effective against acne, but it’s linked to several side effects. If you have persistent, severe acne that isn’t responding to more conventional treatment, isotretinoin might be worth exploring. Consult your healthcare provider to determine if isotretinoin is suitable for you.
When it comes to red, painful, and inflammatory acne that may develop when bacteria grows inside blocked hair follicles, ask a doctor about antibiotic treatment.
When it comes to body acne, ask a provider about prescription body acne treatment or a topical acne treatment body wash. These body washes may include scientifically-proven acne-treatment ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, a substance used in some topical creams like Panoxyl®, which may help to treat several types of acne.
Moreover, you may want to refrain from or entirely avoid certain drugs and anabolic steroids that boost your testosterone levels. Drugs like anabolic steroids, testosterone injections, and testosterone boosters may increase your T levels beyond the high spectrum of normal levels (that is, beyond 1000 ng/dL), which may in turn cause you to develop acne.
In case you’ve been prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), or take any medicines that may lead to an increase in testosterone levels, and you notice a substantial increase in acne beyond the usual, ask your healthcare provider about adjusting your dosages. You may also ask about potential acne treatments like the ones we have suggested above.
The Final Word on Testosterone and Acne
In this article, we’ve determined that testosterone boosts sebum production, which, consequently, could increase your likelihood of developing blockages in your hair follicles – and therefore trigger acne flare-ups.
That said, if you’re susceptible to acne breakouts and you suspect hormonal factors behind the cause, consult your healthcare provider or a dermatologist. They will help you determine the best medication and approach to treating your acne, as well as confirm whether hormonal factors ARE in fact behind your acne breakouts.
