Why your hormone blood test comes back 'normal', but you still have acne.

You’ve done everything right.

You’ve changed your skincare routine, cleaned up your diet, and finally booked that hormone blood test to find out why your acne won’t clear.

And then, your results come back as 'normal'. Your GP reassures you there’s nothing to worry about.

But deep down, you know something still isn’t right.

So why does your skin tell a different story than your blood tests?

Let’s break it down.

1. GP hormone blood panels are designed to detect disease, not imbalances.

Here’s the part that’s rarely explained: routine blood tests ordered by your GP are built to identify disease, not early dysfunction. In other words, your hormones need to be severely out of range before they flag up as abnormal.

That means your results could appear 'normal' on paper, but still be imbalanced for your body’s unique biochemistry.

For example:

• Your testosterone might fall within the normal range, but if your sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is low, your free testosterone could still be high, leading to excess oil production and acne.

• Your oestrogen may appear fine, but poor liver clearance or gut dysbiosis can cause it to recirculate, worsening breakouts and inflammation.

• Your cortisol rhythm (which affects oil regulation, stress response, and inflammation) isn’t captured in a single blood draw.

So even if your results are technically 'normal', your skin can still be reacting to hidden biochemical shifts.

2. Hormone ranges don't reflect what's optimal for you

Another reason 'normal' results can be misleading? Reference ranges are based on averages, not what’s optimal for health.

For instance, if a hormone range runs from 1 to 10, being at 1.2 might still count as 'normal', but it doesn’t mean it’s ideal for you.

Your skin depends on balance and ratio, not just raw numbers. We must examine how your hormones interact with each other, and whether your body is using or clearing them efficiently.

If your GP hormone blood tests have come back normal but you’re still struggling with acne, don’t lose hope. It doesn’t mean there’s nothing wrong, it means the right questions haven’t been asked yet.

We can reveal the subtleties that standard panels miss, helping you understand your body’s unique biochemistry and bring your skin back into balance, naturally and effectively.

Written by Shweta Patel

Medical Biochemist | Founder of Derm360º

Shweta helps people struggling with chronic acne uncover the root biochemical causes behind their skin challenges. Through advanced hormone and gut testing, functional nutrition, and barrier restoration, her evidence-based approach delivers lasting, clear-skin results anywhere in the world.

📩 Ready to look deeper than your blood test results? Book your consultation at www.derm360.co.uk or contact hello@derm360.co.uk