8 replies to this topic

[missmissy]

Hi everyone...Just wondering is extremely oily skin hormonal and due to an excess of androgens? I had a hormone test done and everything came back normal. So just wondering why this is happening. Also, if you have oily skin do any of you stress a lot...me personally I'm a stress case and a worry wort...Do any of you have this problem too?

[bryan]

I suspect there's at least _some_ degree to which extremely oily skin is "hormonal" and "due to an excess of androgens", but I also think some of it has to do with the genetic response of your sebaceous glands to the androgens you have. It's sort of like asking the same question of guys who are going bald: is it because they have far more androgens than other guys who have all their hair, or is it because their hair follicles are more sensitive to a relatively normal level of testosterone? I think studies have shown that on average, balding men do have a bit higher level of androgens than hairy men, but overall, it's the very complicated genetic follicular response to those androgens which is the main determinant of their fate. I think the same is probably also true of a person's response to androgens by his/her sebaceous glands.

Edited by bryan, 12 September 2011 - 10:18 AM.

[missmissy]

Hi Bryan..Thanks for your post. I have develped extremely oily skin at the age of 30 (January of 2011). What I don't understand is if my sebaceous glands were sensitive to androgens, wouldn't it have always been this way? Wouldn't I have had extremely oily skin as a teen and after. Why do the sebaceous glands become sensitive at the age of 30?

That leads me to believe it's an external source that is causing the sensitivity and it can be fixed...for example stress or something else. Any thoughts?

Oh and also I am only oily on my face and back...why doesn't the sensitivity to androgens effect the rest of the body's sebaceous glands?

[chunkylard]

One thing I noticed is after I cut out soy, my skin became MUCH less oily.

[vapor1]

WHen I actually try to follow a low GI diet, my skin hardly gets oily at all. Of course, I love sugar, so it's hard for me to do this all the time.

[bryan]

Hi Bryan..Thanks for your post. I have develped extremely oily skin at the age of 30 (January of 2011). What I don't understand is if my sebaceous glands were sensitive to androgens, wouldn't it have always been this way? Wouldn't I have had extremely oily skin as a teen and after. Why do the sebaceous glands become sensitive at the age of 30?

I have no idea why you're suddenly getting oily at the age of 30. I don't recall ever seeing anything about such an event in medical journal articles or studies or case studies, either. Has anything else unusual happened to you recently? Any other new medical condition? Any different drugs or medications that you're taking right now?

That leads me to believe it's an external source that is causing the sensitivity and it can be fixed...for example stress or something else. Any thoughts?

I'm not sure...

Oh and also I am only oily on my face and back...why doesn't the sensitivity to androgens effect the rest of the body's sebaceous glands?

I imagine that it probably _is_ affecting the sebaceous glands in the rest of your body, but those have FAR FAR less activity in general than those in areas like your face, neck, and back. Those other areas are probably simply not yet noticeable.

[missmissy]

Thanks Bryan....I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow and an ND on Saturday. I will post what I've learned this weekend. The ND I am seeing is part of clear medicine clinic in Toronto Canada. She is the author of a best selling book called the Hormone Diet. Dr. Natasha Turner. Fingers crossed I can bring back some useful information that can help all of us : ))

[helpchicken]

i recently got oily skin but i am pretty sure it was because of using dan's regimen, which is really unfortunate for me. i don't even know how his regimen could have given me oily skin, and i gave up looking for how it happened and how to reverse it. but its been about 6 months now since using his regimen and im still oily; don't think stress has made it better or worse, not sure though. gl with ur derm

[missmissy]

So I tried saw palmetto for one month and it worked with controlling my oily skin. But I got very depressed while using it...not sure if this is a common side-effect. I know it reduces testosterone so maybe thats why. On to find the next cure : ))))