What causes acne?

[Ricky93]

Hi,

What is the main cause of acne while on TRT doses?

Some "experts" say DHT others E2.

I have a major sensitivity with it. Like above 150+ migs test a week already causes my back to explode. I'm wondering what causes the most acne, conversion to DHT or estradiol? I notice a major improvement with finasteride but that comes at the expense of less mood/drive. AIs don't have quite the same impact.

 

[Zc7219]

For me hormone fluctuations


3x week test shot, bacne like crazy


Daily injections with test/primo to control estrogen, skin is clear.

 

[Vexx]

When I first started TRT, the clinic had me playing around with Ai doses and that caused me to get some pretty decent acne breakouts.
I’ve also noticed when I’m changing doses or pinning schedules I’ll get a decent amount of back acne too. My personal experience would be the drastic changes in hormone levels causing it.

 

[anon55]

I was on cycle at 400mg test a week with no acne at all. Now I'm off and it's appearing on my back on the trap/shoulder zone. Nothing too bad, but some small pimples. I'm using finasteride at 5mg a day so not a DHT problem. The fluctuation is key I think.
Edit : I use test U, so the drop of T takes time.

 

[BamaCrazy]

Hi,

What is the main cause of acne while on TRT doses?

Some "experts" say DHT others E2.

I have a major sensitivity with it. Like above 150+ migs test a week already causes my back to explode. I'm wondering what causes the most acne, conversion to DHT or estradiol? I notice a major improvement with finasteride but that comes at the expense of less mood/drive. AIs don't have quite the same impact.

My understanding is testosterone and anabolic steroids cause the body to produce an increased amount of sebum, which can clog pores. That oily substance is a great environment to grow acne causing bacteria. Which can lead to inflammation and the formation of acne lesions. A higher level of androgens also creates hormonal imbalances in the body which can contribute.

Your diet, skincare products and hygiene play a role in avoiding acne.

 

[Ghoul]

Testosterone causes sebum glands to enlarge. Bigger glands can produce higher levels of sebum.

All androgens, progesterone, and IGF-1 stimulate sebum production.

When hormone levels increase rapidly, sebum production increases without a proportional increase in sebocyte cell turnover. These cells move sebum out of the pore onto skin.. Without increased turnover sebum builds up clogging the pore, natural sebum eating bacteria grow out of control inside the pore, causing inflammation and acne.

Only when hormone levels increase slowly can sebocyte turnover keep up to prevent this problem. Puberty or exogenous hormones are the usual sources of fast hormone increases leading to this.

A full cycle of isotretinoin acts as a (mostly) permanent solution because it shrinks sebum glands(you can see pores on your face shrink as a result), reducing the amount of sebum they're capable of producing, and it genetically reprograms sebocytes so they turnover much faster all the time, keeping pores clear,

Everything else is just a bandaid.

 

[BigDadd7]

More sebum, less semen. That's unfortunate.

 

[AlexDavis43]

Hi,

What is the main cause of acne while on TRT doses?

Some "experts" say DHT others E2.

I have a major sensitivity with it. Like above 150+ migs test a week already causes my back to explode. I'm wondering what causes the most acne, conversion to DHT or estradiol? I notice a major improvement with finasteride but that comes at the expense of less mood/drive. AIs don't have quite the same impact.

150+ might be high for you as TRT

TRT is supposed to be for life and no one wants to deal with side effects forever

A lot of guys who go to TRT clinics and get 150-200 mg/wk experience acne & oily skin

Consider trying a slightly lower dose (100-125) and see how you feel, if you get the same sides, etc