Your adrenal gland produces greater amounts of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, in early adulthood than later in life. DHEA supplements contain a synthetic form of this hormone that may provide certain health benefits, although more research is necessary to confirm these benefits. DHEA can cause several side effects, including the development of acne. As with any herbal remedy, talk to your doctor before taking DHEA supplements.
DHEA
Your body converts DHEA into estrogens and androgens. Your levels of DHEA naturally decline as you get older, leading some people to believe that this hormone may provide anti-aging benefits. Although DHEA may help with certain types of hormonal deficiencies and possibly some conditions related to aging, such as mood and memory problems, further research is required to confirm its effectiveness and safety.
Side Effects
DHEA is a precursor to other hormones and can increase your levels of testosterone, a male hormone that can cause several side effects, including acne. Besides developing pimples and pustules, women who take DHEA supplements may notice certain signs of masculinization, such as facial hair, an increase in abdominal weight, voice deepening and loss of head hair. Men who take supplements may experience symptoms of excessive testosterone including testicle shrinkage, high blood pressure and aggression. Other side effects may include oily skin, liver problems and a decrease in the levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol.
Acne
Excessive amounts of male hormones may be responsible for causing acne in women. DHEA supplementation that causes acne may also contribute to irregular menstrual cycles and an increase in acne flare-ups during the premenstrual phase. This type of acne usually goes away after you stop taking DHEA and your hormone levels return to normal. Drugs that can treat hormonally influenced acne include low-dose corticosteroid drugs, such as dexamethasone, and antiandrogen medications, including spironolactone. (Please see Reference 4)
Wild Yam Extracts
Disogenin is the chemical that laboratories use to make the synthetic form of DHEA. Wild yams contain disogenin, and some herbal supplements market this herbal extract as a type of natural DHEA, although there is no evidence that your body can convert the disogenin into DHEA, or that disogenin in its natural state will provide any noticeable health benefits. There is also no indication that disogenin causes acne breakouts or any of the other side effects commonly associated with an increase in male hormones.
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