The Hidden Hormone Behind Your Breakouts (That Isn’t Estrogen or Testosterone)

You’ve done the skincare.You’ve cleaned up your diet.You’ve tried the supplements, the facials, and maybe even cut out dairy... But your skin still flares up out of nowhere.

If that sounds familiar, there’s one sneaky hormone you might not be thinking about. And it’s not estrogen or testosterone. It’s insulin.Yep, the blood sugar hormone.

Let me tell you about a recent client of ours. She did the hair analysis we offer, and her results were really eye-opening. No signs of gut pathogens—no parasites, no fungus, no bacterial overgrowth or elevated reproductive hormones like estrogen, testosterone etc. And that’s what most people expect to see when they’re breaking out, right?

But what did show up? Clear signs that her body was struggling to regulate blood sugar.

When we looked at her labs, everything started clicking: Elevated fasting glucose, energy crashes, trouble losing weight, and of course, breakouts that kept cycling back every few weeks

Here’s the part a lot of people miss: insulin and your liver are deeply connected.

When insulin is constantly elevated, your liver gets overwhelmed trying to store all that excess sugar. And if you’re also dealing with exposure to things like heavy metals, environmental toxins, or hormone disruptors? It just adds more pressure to an already stressed-out system.

The liver has over 500 jobs, and when it’s backed up, one of the first things to slow down is detox, especially when it comes to clearing out excess hormones like estrogen.

So now you've got sluggish detox, more circulating hormones, inflammation building... and your skin is just trying to keep up.

More oil. More congestion. More breakouts. Sound familiar? You have to remember that your skin is a detox pathway so when your gut and liver are struggling to remove things out of the body the next up in line to take the hit is your skin.

Insulin is supposed to rise and fall throughout the day, but when it’s stuck on “high” for too long, it sets the stage for those persistent, hormone-driven breakouts that don’t seem to budge. No matter how “healthy” you’re living. And it’s not just about your skin.

You might also be noticing:

• Sugar cravings that hit out of nowhere

• Low energy or mood swings in the afternoon

• Stubborn weight that just won’t move

• Dark patches of skin around your neck or underarms

• Or fasting blood sugar creeping up on labs

If any of that’s happening, insulin imbalance could be playing a much bigger role than you think.

But here’s the good news:You don’t have to cut every carb or avoid dessert forever.

That’s not healing—that’s just another short-term fix.

The real goal? Helping your body handle sugar in a balanced, sustainable way.

Here are a few simple things I have clients start with:

• Eat protein first (eggs before toast, or chicken before rice)

• Never eat carbs alone—pair them with fat, fiber, or protein (apple + almond butter is a go-to)

• Move after meals—even a quick 10-minute walk helps

• Try a splash of ACV before meals—it helps blunt those sugar spikes

  
  

Because clear skin shouldn’t vanish every time you eat a slice of cake.

This is why I always say: we have to look beyond the surface. Balance your body, and your skin will follow.

P.S. If you’re stuck in that cycle of “clear skin one week, breakouts the next,” the Hair Analysis can help us get to the real root of what’s going on. We look at patterns like blood sugar dysregulation, mineral imbalances, detox stress, and more—so you’re not just guessing anymore.