Hormonal Acne in Your 30s and 40s: Why It Happens and What Actually Works

Hormonal acne is triggered by fluctuations in androgens — specifically testosterone — which stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. In women, these fluctuations happen around the menstrual cycle, during perimenopause, with PCOS, after stopping birth control, and during periods of high stress (which elevates cortisol, which in turn affects androgen levels).