MTF - Acne

[Jasper93]

Hi guys,

I've been on HRT for almost two months and have seen amazing development in many regards, but at the same time, my acne (though much milder than it used to be) is still a pain in the butt.  Moreover, I have to go through a fair amount of trouble to shave areas of my face that produce coarser facial hair -- such as between my nose and lip -- and as a result, it takes like freaking forever for some of my acne/acne scars to finally go away.

That said, does anyone have any idea why my acne may still be as crazy as it still is -- even after two months of HRT?  I'm trying to convince myself that it's just my body adapting to the shifting of hormones levels, but I'm also a little paranoid that my androgen levels are too high.  I'd like to ask my doc, but I don't see him until December, and I don't exactly have blood tests to go off of because my doc (though amazing) ordered like every blood test under the sun for me except for the one that measures hormones.

Thanks,

Jasper

[Apples Mk.II]

Before transitioning in my late twenties, I would get the occasional zit in my face from time to time (considering I had high T, it went fairly well, although my issue was with enlarged pores). It took me at least three months before considering that HRT was acting at full power, so take it easy for now.

Right now, I haven't gotten acne for more than a year, although sadly my arm acne scars still remain. I will need to have them treated when I can afford it...

[TSJasmine]

I had terrible, TERRIBLE acne when I first started HRT. I'm not sure if the hormones or the reduced stress from finally starting hormones had helped my acne but now, 15 months into HRT, on the high end of a normal dose of estrogen, my skin is amazingly clear. I hardly get a pimple ever. & honestly, acne runs in the family & both of my sisters have it (one's 30 & another 23). Sooo, just give the estrogen time. My clear skin came after about... 6 months or so? Maybe a little longer, give or take. I know that my skin was definitely not this clear 2 months after estrogen but I recall it beginning to clear up. Plus, my doctor even told me that estrogen does wonders for skin & it's proven that women with higher levels of E tend to have clearer skin 🙂 That doesn't mean rush in & ask your doctor to bump you up to the highest dose asap though haha

[Newgirl Dani]

I have had an experience that may have a future bearing on your situation.  For many years I have been on medications for Rosacea.  Sadly for me I have had to suffer from all three subtypes, 1, 2, and 3.  The medication finally settled upon was Oracea, a very expensive drug, and only relieved my situation by about 50-70%.  Imagine my suprise and total elation when at about the 2 1/2 month mark of my hrt (Estradiol Valerate & Spiro) I noticed a marked lessening of my condition.  I took a huge chance and stopped taking all Rosacea meds and now at about 4 1/2 months it is almost completely disappeared!!!!!!!!!!!!  If you 'only' have acne, I'm not sure if this helps, but as Subtype 2 exactly mimics acne (a dermatologist can tell), well maybe.  I know I searched for an end to my acne for years before finding out that it was Rosacea.  Dani

[Jasper93]

Hi everyone,

This is all very reassuring! I'm glad to hear that the cessation of acne isn't always an immediate thing, and that rather, it might take a few months for it to truly clear up.  Both of my parents still have pretty bad acne, so I'm sure some of it is genetic.  And since starting HRT two months ago, my skin definitely looks more acne-free and a heck of a lot smoother.  I'm very excited to reach the six-month mark or so.

Also, Dani, I have very slight (almost unnoticeable) rosacea -- it's on my nose, and honestly it doesn't make perfect sense to me why I have it since I'm not at all light-complected.  Since starting HRT, the only spot on my body that is always oily is, of course, my nose lol.  Hopefully estrogen will even help with that.  If not, I hope to god there's surgery to correct it.  I don't intend to look like my poor mother with her shiny, ball-shaped nose. 🙁

[Newgirl Dani]

Hi everyone,

This is all very reassuring! I'm glad to hear that the cessation of acne isn't always an immediate thing, and that rather, it might take a few months for it to truly clear up.  Both of my parents still have pretty bad acne, so I'm sure some of it is genetic.  And since starting HRT two months ago, my skin definitely looks more acne-free and a heck of a lot smoother.  I'm very excited to reach the six-month mark or so.

Also, Dani, I have very slight (almost unnoticeable) rosacea -- it's on my nose, and honestly it doesn't make perfect since to me why I have it since I'm not at all light-complected.  Since starting HRT, the only spot on my body that is always oily is, of course, my nose lol.  Hopefully estrogen will even help with that.  If not, I hope to god there's surgery to correct it.  I don't intend to look like my poor mother with her shiny, ball-shaped nose.

Hey Jasper, two things, on the light/dark skin color well I'm native and even with my dark skin my rosacea was very bad.  They are now making the genetic connection in a more complete way just recently.  The genetic markers for me didn't 'turn on' until my late 40's and to make matters worse my skin is extremely oily as well, so the perfect storm so to speak.  The nice thing is that hrt has helped very very well in the oily skin dept too.  Fatty food used to be my biggest roseacea trigger.  In the last month I have put estrogen as being the principle reason for non-oily skin, and lack of symptoms of roseacea to the test several times by having pretty darn large portions of pizza (used to be a killer) without any problems.  Hooraay for E 
Second, about the surgery thing well yep, doable, check roseacea.org.   Dani