Your hormones go out of whack
When hormone levels fluctuate – because of puberty, menopause, medications or other uncontrollable circumstances – they often aect the appearance of skin. Just look at what happens when oestrogen dips, leaving a higher proportion of testosterone. Skin can get oilier, and greasiness creates a surface shine that accentuates pores and makes your skin look less glowy. And melasma, a hormonal form of hyperpigmentation, leaves you with dark patches that don’t fade with topical brighteners because the pigment takes hold in both the uppermost and deeper layers of skin, says clinical professor of dermatology Dr Arielle Kauvar.
THE SOLUTION
Blotting sheets and clay masks get excess oil o your skin. But if that’s not enough, your dermatologist can prescribe medication to treat the hormonal cause of oiliness. For stubborn melasma, ask your dermatologist about prescribing creams or obliterating the pigment with laser treatment.