How to Treat Acne Caused by Testosterone Therapy

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Andy Peloquin

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Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is the prescribed treatment for men with low testosterone levels. It has become a widespread treatment--as many as 11 million men were undergoing TRT in 2013, a number that has grown significantly since.


However, as with any treatment, there are a few adverse side effects of TRT. Thankfully, most are fairly minor. One of the most common is one you probably thought you wouldn't have to deal with once you passed your teenaged years. That's right, I'm talking about acne!

Testosterone and Acne: The Link

How does testosterone replacement therapy lead to the formation of zits? It may seem like a bit of a stretch, but it all comes down to one simple hormone: dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.

DHT is a hormone that is produced by your body from testosterone. It's actually five times more potent than testosterone, and it plays a vital role in your sexual development and health. When young men are going through puberty, their bodies produce a lot of DHT in order to encourage the growth of their reproductive organs.

But did you know that DHT also causes your body to produce more skin oils? This increase in skin oils causes the skin to become more oily, which means more oil may get into your pores. When the oil mixes with dead skin cells, the result is that thick white sebum that spurts out of your pimples every time you pop them. Oily skin is one of the primary causes of acne.

So, is it any surprise that TRT increases your risk of acne? TRT is basically flooding your body with testosterone, which is then converted to DHT. The potent hormone increases the production of skin oil, which in turn increases your risk of developing pimples. The P. acne bacteria already lives on your skin, speeding up the rate at which your skin cells die off. Mix the dead skin cells with the increase in skin oil, and you have a TRT-fueled recipe for acne.

If you've been on TRT for a few weeks and are noticing more pimples breaking out on your face, back, and chest (yes, the zits aren't confined to your face), it's a sign your body is turning the testosterone into DHT. While this is a good thing for your overall health, it may affect your appearance. Thankfully, there's plenty you can do to deal with the problem!

How to Deal With TRT-related Acne

Want to get rid of pimples or prevent your TRT treatment from causing an outbreak? Here are a few things you can try:

- Use Accutane -- Accutane, or isotretinoin, is one of the most potent prescription treatments to cure acne. It's usually used to treat cystic acne, which is a much more serious form of acne that is likely to cause scarring. The treatment is effective in up to 85% of cases. Taking 40 mg of Accutane every day for a week can do wonders for your acne. However, be aware that the medication does come with side effects, and it may lower testosterone levels. Consult your physician before mixing TRT and Accutane.

- Use Sporanox -- Sporanox, or itrconazole, is another useful medication to try as a means of curing your acne. It is an anti-fungal drug that may be able to kill off the P. acne bacteria that is increasing your skin cell turnover rate, thereby increasing your risk of clogged pores. Once again, check with your doctor before mixing TRT and Sporanox.

- Try Vitamin B5 -- Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is needed by your body in order to produce CoEnzyme A (CoA). This enzyme helps to oxidize (burn) fatty acids, particularly in your skin. If you don't have enough of this CoA, your body won't be able to eliminate the fatty acids produced by an increase in DHT, so the skin oil will increase and lead to acne. By taking Vitamin B5, you give your body what it needs to keep the fatty acid production under control.

- Try anti-acne soap -- There are a number of anti-acne soaps available at every pharmacy and supermarket in the country. These soaps are often made with Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic acid, two highly effective anti-acne treatments. Ideally, you should shower after a heavy workout, and use the soap to wash your face and any body parts where there is an acne breakout. Topix Benzoyl Peroxide is a body wash worth trying.

- Try zinc -- Zinc is one of the most important minerals for a healthy body. It plays a vital role in many important internal functions, not the least of which is your body's immunity to disease. But how can it help to protect against acne? Zinc ensures that your bloodstream carries sufficient Vitamin A to your skin, and it helps to regulate the cellular apoptosis (death) of your skin cells. By ensuring that your skin cells die at a healthy rate, zinc essentially prevents the buildup of dead skin cells that soaks up skin oil to clog your pores.

- Get out -- Your body NEEDS sunlight in order to produce Vitamin D, one of the vitamins that play a role in fatty acid oxidation. However, be warned: too much sunlight can dry out your skin, causing it to produce even more oil. No more than 30 minutes of sunlight per day is needed to encourage healthy Vitamin D production.

If your acne is the result of the TRT, you may want to consider reducing the dose of testosterone. This can reduce the amount of DHT produced in your body, preventing acne. However, this is something you should discuss with your doctor. You can also discuss other useful treatments for dealing with TRT-related acne.

Compounded acne formulations from Empower Pharmacy:Dermatology | Empower Pharmacy


Top 6 FDA-Approved Acne Treatments You Should Try - ExcelMale

Acne and Testosterone


 

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Fireproof

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Great post - very informational. I have noticed acne breakouts when my T-levels are high. I'll be talking to my doc about it.
 
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is the prescribed treatment for men with low testosterone levels. It has become a widespread treatment--as many as 11 million men were undergoing TRT in 2013, a number that has grown significantly since.

However, as with any treatment, there are a few adverse side effects of TRT. Some of them can be serious (such as a higher risk of heart attack or stroke), but thankfully most are fairly minor. One of the most common is one you probably thought you wouldn't have to deal with once you passed your teenaged years. That's right, I'm talking about acne!

Testosterone and Acne: The Link

How does testosterone replacement therapy lead to the formation of zits? It may seem like a bit of a stretch, but it all comes down to one simple hormone: dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.

DHT is a hormone that is produced by your body from testosterone. It's actually five times more potent than testosterone, and it plays a vital role in your sexual development and health. When young men are going through puberty, their bodies produce a lot of DHT in order to encourage the growth of their reproductive organs.

But did you know that DHT also causes your body to produce more skin oils? This increase in skin oils causes the skin to become more oily, which means more oil may get into your pores. When the oil mixes with dead skin cells, the result is that thick white sebum that spurts out of your pimples every time you pop them. Oily skin is one of the primary causes of acne.

So, is it any surprise that TRT increases your risk of acne? TRT is basically flooding your body with testosterone, which is then converted to DHT. The potent hormone increases the production of skin oil, which in turn increases your risk of developing pimples. The P. acne bacteria already lives on your skin, speeding up the rate at which your skin cells die off. Mix the dead skin cells with the increase in skin oil, and you have a TRT-fueled recipe for acne.

If you've been on TRT for a few weeks and are noticing more pimples breaking out on your face, back, and chest (yes, the zits aren't confined to your face), it's a sign your body is turning the testosterone into DHT. While this is a good thing for your overall health, it may affect your appearance. Thankfully, there's plenty you can do to deal with the problem!

How to Deal With TRT-related Acne

Want to get rid of pimples or prevent your TRT treatment from causing an outbreak? Here are a few things you can try:

- Use Accutane -- Accutane, or isotretinoin, is one of the most potent prescription treatments to cure acne. It's usually used to treat cystic acne, which is a much more serious form of acne that is likely to cause scarring. The treatment is effective in up to 85% of cases. Taking 40 mg of Accutane every day for a week can do wonders for your acne. However, be aware that the medication does come with side effects, and it may lower testosterone levels. Consult your physician before mixing TRT and Accutane.

- Use Sporanox -- Sporanox, or itrconazole, is another useful medication to try as a means of curing your acne. It is an anti-fungal drug that may be able to kill off the P. acne bacteria that is increasing your skin cell turnover rate, thereby increasing your risk of clogged pores. Once again, check with your doctor before mixing TRT and Sporanox.

- Try Vitamin B5 -- Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is needed by your body in order to produce CoEnzyme A (CoA). This enzyme helps to oxidize (burn) fatty acids, particularly in your skin. If you don't have enough of this CoA, your body won't be able to eliminate the fatty acids produced by an increase in DHT, so the skin oil will increase and lead to acne. By taking Vitamin B5, you give your body what it needs to keep the fatty acid production under control.

- Try anti-acne soap -- There are a number of anti-acne soaps available at every pharmacy and supermarket in the country. These soaps are often made with Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic acid, two highly effective anti-acne treatments. Ideally, you should shower after a heavy workout, and use the soap to wash your face and any body parts where there is an acne breakout. Topix Benzoyl Peroxide is a body wash worth trying.

- Try zinc -- Zinc is one of the most important minerals for a healthy body. It plays a vital role in many important internal functions, not the least of which is your body's immunity to disease. But how can it help to protect against acne? Zinc ensures that your bloodstream carries sufficient Vitamin A to your skin, and it helps to regulate the cellular apoptosis (death) of your skin cells. By ensuring that your skin cells die at a healthy rate, zinc essentially prevents the buildup of dead skin cells that soaks up skin oil to clog your pores.

- Get out -- Your body NEEDS sunlight in order to produce Vitamin D, one of the vitamins that play a role in fatty acid oxidation. However, be warned: too much sunlight can dry out your skin, causing it to produce even more oil. No more than 30 minutes of sunlight per day is needed to encourage healthy Vitamin D production.

If your acne is the result of the TRT, you may want to consider reducing the dose of testosterone. This can reduce the amount of DHT produced in your body, preventing acne. However, this is something you should discuss with your doctor. You can also discuss other useful treatments for dealing with the TRT-related acne.

Do you have a recommended daily amount of Zinc? Will the amount of zinc in a typical ZMA protocol be enough?
 

Nelson Vergel

Founder, ExcelMale.com
The bacterium that lends its name to the condition Propionibacterium acnes, is just one of the factors that stimulate this acne-causing inflammation.

Hereditary and genetic factors, hormones, emotional stress and even diet can also bring on the zits. For instance, foods with a high glycemic load such as white grains (bread, rice, pasta) and sweets have been linked to acne, as they can increase oil production and skin cell turnover. This ultimately causes a backup in the pores and follicles on our skin creating a nice environment for the inflammation-inducing P. acnes to flourish.

Treating the inflammation can help prevent acne from developing, and the potent anti-inflammatory effects of antibiotics can help to treat acne, much more than their ability to kill bacteria. For instance, the tetracycline class of antibiotics, such as doxycycline and minocycline, can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules.

They also inhibit overactive demolition enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases. Normally, these enzymes help keep our skin healthy, breaking down old and dying structures to allow new ones to be built up. But when they're overactive, these enzymes can damage the hair and oil gland unit as well as surrounding supporting structures in the skin.

When that happens, these enzymes contribute to the formation of the big, angry, red, cystic acne lesion, and they can also contribute to the creation of pitted scars.

This is why antibiotics are used to treat acne, but also rosacea, razor bumps and scarring hair loss, to name a few other dermatological conditions.


Acne Treatment: Antibiotics Don't Need to Kill Bacteria to Clear Up Your Skin
 

Nutpuncher

New Member
COMPOUNDED FORMULATIONS FOR ACNE

Resorcinol 2% and Zinc Oxide 24% PasteBenzoyl Peroxide 10% CreamBenzoyl Peroxide 10% GelResorcinol 2% and Sulfur 5% Topical GelZinc Sulfide Compound LotionTetracycline Hydrochloride 2.2-mg/mL Topical SolutionCimetidine 10-mg/g, Niacinamide 40-mg/g and Spironolactone 40-mg/g Acne GelBenzoyl Peroxide 10%, Alcohol-freeSalicylic Acid 2% and Precipitated Sulfur 5% in Methylcellulose Suspension, PreservedResorcinol 1% and Salicylic Acid 3% Topical Alcohol GelNiacinamide 4% Topical Acne GelRetinol (Vitamin A) 0.4% in Nourivan™Antioxidant Cream Base [Fagron]Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Acne Scrub, PreservedTea Tree Oil [Melaleuca] 1% Aqueous Acne GelDapsone 50-mg/g Topical Gel, PreservedTretinoin (All-trans-A-Retinoic Acid) 0.1% in Nourivan™Antioxidant [Fagron]Tazarotene 0.1% in VersaPro™ Cream Base [Medisca]Tazarotene 0.05% in Fitalite™Natural Gel Cream Base [Fagron]Coenzyme Q-10 [Quercetin, Ubidecarenone] 0.5% and Retinoic Acid (Vitamin A) 0.5% in AuxiPro™ Plasticized Ointment [Freedom]Tea Tree Oil [Melaleuca] 1% Gel, PreservedMagnesium Sulfate 25% Topical PasteAluminum Sulfate 5-mg/g, Ferrous Sulfate 3-mg/g and Zinc Sulfate 3-mg/g Astringent Gel, Human, VeterinaryAluminum Sulfate 5-mg/g, Benzocaine 20-mg/mL, Menthol 3-mg.mL and Zinc Sulfate 3-mg/g Astringent Gel, Human, VeterinaryMagnesium Sulfate 2-mg/mL, Potassium Iodide 2-mg/mL, Sodium Sulfate 2-mg/mL, Menthol and Thymol Astringent Gel, Human, VeterinaryAluminum Sulfate, Benzocaine, Camphor, Ferrous Sulfate, Menthol, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate Topical Anesthetic Gel, VeterinaryArgan Oil 8% and Tea Tree Oil 5% in Derma-N™ CreamAzelaic Acid 15% in Vanicream™Benzoyl Peroxide 5% and Clindamycin 1% Topical Gel, PreservedMeclocycline Sulfosalicylate 1% CreamPyridoxine Hydrochloride 100-mg/mL Sterile Injection, Preservative-freeEstriol 3-mg/mL Sterile Solution for IontophoresisNicotinamide 4% Topical Gel, PreservedErythromycin 2% Alcohol GelRetinoic Acid 0.025% in Vanicream™Aloe Vera 5%, Salicylic Acid 0.5% and Witch Hazel Topical Gel, PreservedAzelaic Acid 20% in Carbomer GelSpironolactone 10-mg/mL Lotion

Click the formula to view further information

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Thank you Nelson!!!

Isn't the root cause of acne while on TRT simply your body isn't used to the increased hormones? Would your body naturally get used to the increased hormones after couple years and then that be the new normal?

Do you know who bodybuilders have such good skin when they are using astronomical amounts of AAS?
 

Nelson Vergel

Founder, ExcelMale.com
FDA Approves First Retinoid Drug for Over-The-Counter (OTC) Use to Treat Acne - Drug Information Update


07/08/2016
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Differin Gel 0.1% (adapalene), a once-daily topical gel for the over-the-counter (OTC) treatment of acne. Differin Gel 0.1% is approved for use in people 12 years of age and older.

Differin Gel 0.1% is the first in a class of drugs known as retinoids to be made available OTC for the treatment of acne, and contains the first new active ingredient for acne treatment for OTC use since the 1980s. Differin Gel 0.1% was originally approved in 1996 as a prescription product for the treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.

Women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding should ask a doctor before use. While topical retinoid products are often prescribed as first-line therapies for acne of all levels of severity, either alone or in combination with other treatments, Differin Gel 0.1% is the first retinoid acne treatment to be made available OTC. While there have been no adequate and well-controlled studies of Differin Gel 0.1% in pregnant women, there is no specific evidence that Differin Gel 0.1%, when used topically as directed, causes birth defects in humans. Some other retinoid drugs have been shown to cause birth defects.

Consumers should follow the Drug Facts label and consult with their health care providers if their symptoms do not improve. The drug should be applied once daily in a thin layer on the affected areas of skin, and it is for external use only. Differin Gel 0.1% should not be used on damaged skin (for example, cuts, abrasions, eczema, or sunburn). People using Differin Gel 0.1% should avoid sunburn and avoid product contact with their eyes, lips and mouth. Differin Gel 0.1% should not be used by people who are allergic to the product. In the first few weeks of use, skin may become irritated (redness, itching, dryness, burning). Consumers should stop use and ask a doctor if irritation becomes severe, if there is no improvement in acne after three months of daily use, if symptoms of allergic reaction appear, or if they become pregnant or are planning to become pregnant while using the drug.

For more information, please visit: Differin Gel 0.1%.
 
Thanks Nelson.........sounds very useful for acne flare ups........OTC is very nice. Never hurts to have more in our arsenal versus acne.
 
Very brief and informative post Andy. Thanks for sharing. Acne is the one of the common issue in youngsters nowadays. Common reason behind it is the hectic lifestyle, junk food and many more reasons. It can be treated by the natural home remedies but it can come back so it is advisable to have a acne treatment from the skin specialist doctor.
 

trt4me

New Member
I have bad shoulder acne with almost no face acne. Mine is genetic since I always had some.
If my estrogen gets too high, it's gets bad.
Stress also does it.
For me testosterone level doesn't do it.
Only thing that helped is panoxyl soap it has helped many. 2--3 showers a day and One week I see a difference.
Ask my dht is high but I have a bald shaved head already so I don't think I should th and lower it as it is supposed to help sex drive. Oily head too.
 

trt4me

New Member
Thank you Nelson!!!

Isn't the root cause of acne while on TRT simply your body isn't used to the increased hormones? Would your body naturally get used to the increased hormones after couple years and then that be the new normal?

Do you know who bodybuilders have such good skin when they are using astronomical amounts of AAS?

I have spoken to pro bodybuilders about this long ago, it's totally genetic. Many get no acne while some will. They have no secret behind this.
 

madman

Super Moderator
I agree with trt4me.............regardless of the many factors which can contribute to acne genetics has the final say. I have always had mild/moderate acne as a teenager and extremely oily skin...............grew out of the acne by early 20s but I am now 42 and still have extremely oil skin yet no acne and to boot my TOTAL T/FREE T are borderline low.
 

Noah Yates

New Member
How about use a salt shower scrub to take off the dead skin and clean the pores, then moisturize with a good body lotion
 

CSI007

Member
I guess the same principles would apply to one that is using HCG monotherapy - if your T is up then your going to be producing more DHT. I noticed this week that I am starting to break out. Been a looongggg time since that has happened to this degree.
 
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