Do you sometimes feel like your skincare just isn’t “working” the way it used to?

You’re not imagining it. From unexpected breakouts to sudden dryness and sensitivity, many of the changes you see in your skin are hormonally driven. Your skin does not just react to what you put on it – it responds to what’s happening within your body.

“Your skin is a hormonally responsive organ,” says aesthetic and menopause expert Dr Ivona Paravic. “It has receptors for key hormones like oestrogen, testosterone, progesterone and cortisol, which means changes inside the body directly affect how the skin behaves.”

Understanding these shifts is the difference between spending a fortune on products that “don’t work” and finding solutions that work in sync with what’s really driving changes in your skin.


It’s Not Your Skincare Products. It’s You

Hormones act like internal messengers, influencing everything from oil production to collagen levels.

Oestrogen is the star player in keeping skin firm, hydrated and resilient. It supports collagen production, improves skin thickness and helps maintain that healthy, plump appearance. As levels decline, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, skin often becomes thinner, drier and more prone to fine lines.

Struggling with adult acne? Androgens, including testosterone, stimulate oil production. Higher activity can lead to oilier skin, more visible pores, congestion and breakouts.

Progesterone also stimulates the sebaceous glands, affecting the skin throughout the menstrual cycle. As levels rise before a period, many people notice oilier, more reactive or sensitive skin, along with hormonal breakouts, particularly around the jawline and lower face. “Progesterone also has a mild anti-oestrogen effect in the skin, so when it dominates, you may experience skin that feels slightly less plump and glowy, as well as more visible pores and uneven texture,” says Dr Ivona.


Then there’s cortisol, the stress hormone. “When cortisol stays elevated, it weakens the skin barrier, increases inflammation and slows healing,” she adds. “That’s when you start seeing flare-ups and skin that doesn’t recover as quickly from treatments or injury.”

Hormones also play a role in pigmentation. Conditions like melasma are closely linked to hormonal changes and are often worsened by sun exposure.

A More Holistic Approach To Skin

As a specialist in advanced aesthetics and holistic perimenopause and menopausal care, Dr Ivona focuses on the connection between hormonal health and skin ageing. “I don’t just look at the skin in isolation,” she says. “I look at the whole picture, including hormones. That’s how you get significant, long lasting results.”

Her understanding of hormonal influence means her approach is far more targeted and effective. She looks at where each patient is hormonally, whether that’s monthly cycle changes, perimenopause or menopause, and builds personalised treatment plans around that. “There’s no guesswork here,” she explains. “I perform menopause blood testing that gives clinical insight into my patients’ hormonal balance and metabolic health.”

Instead of chasing quick fixes or trend-led “TikTok” treatments, Dr Ivona encourages her patients to focus on restoring skin quality through regenerative treatments, advanced injectable techniques and evidence-based skin therapies. Her approach works with the body rather than against it.

“Hormonal shifts are one of the biggest drivers of skin change,” she says. “Once you understand that, everything becomes clearer. You stop guessing, start treating the cause, and finally see results that last.”