Male Hormonal Acne Saliva Test
Could Hormones Be Contributing to Your Persistent or Oily Skin?
Persistent acne on the face, back, chest or shoulders can be frustrating—particularly when it develops or becomes worse after starting testosterone treatment or using hormone-related supplements.
This at-home saliva test measures testosterone and DHEAS, the two results in this panel most relevant to androgen-related acne. It also measures estradiol, progesterone and morning cortisol to provide a broader hormone profile.
The test helps answer one practical question:
Do any of my measured hormone levels fall outside the laboratory reference ranges and deserve further investigation?
Your ZRT Laboratory report presents five numerical results with reference ranges, visual graphs and individualised hormone-specialist comments. These comments explain relevant findings and suggest possible next steps.
£195 — laboratory analysis and specialist laboratory comments included
- One morning saliva sample
- Five hormone results
- Testosterone and DHEAS included
- Broader estradiol, progesterone and cortisol information
- Collect at home without needles or a clinic appointment
- Hormone-specialist interpretation included
- Laboratory analysis included
- Normally reported within 3–5 working days after the laboratory receives your sample
Is This Test Right for Me?
This test may be suitable if:
- You have persistent acne with noticeably oily skin
- Your acne affects your face, back, chest or shoulders
- Acne appeared or became worse after starting prescribed testosterone
- Acne developed after using anabolic steroids or hormone-related supplements
- A healthcare professional has suggested investigating a possible hormonal contribution
- You want objective hormone results to discuss with your prescriber or healthcare professional
The test is not routinely necessary for every man with acne. Acne can occur even when hormone results are within the laboratory ranges because skin sensitivity, oil production, blocked pores, inflammation, skincare products, medicines and other factors can contribute.
This test does not measure DHT or hormone activity inside the skin.
What Will My Results Help Me Understand?
1. Review Testosterone Alongside Your Acne
Androgens can influence the skin’s oil-producing glands. Your report shows the testosterone level measured in your saliva and compares it with the applicable laboratory range.
Benefit: You receive an objective measurement to consider alongside acne, skin oiliness and any testosterone treatment or anabolic-steroid use.
A result within range does not rule out androgen-sensitive acne, and an abnormal result does not establish that testosterone is the only cause.
2. Review Your DHEAS Result
DHEAS is an adrenal androgen involved in the production of other steroid hormones.
Benefit: Measuring DHEAS provides additional androgen-related information, particularly when acne is accompanied by marked oiliness or began after using hormone-related products.
3. Consider Your Broader Hormone Profile
The test also measures estradiol, progesterone and morning cortisol.
Benefit: These results give the hormone specialist additional information to consider alongside testosterone, DHEAS, your symptoms, medicines and current treatments.
Estradiol, progesterone and hormone ratios do not reliably identify the cause of male acne by themselves.
4. Understand Whether Further Investigation May Be Useful
Your report includes individualised hormone-specialist laboratory comments.
Benefit: You receive an explanation of relevant findings rather than unexplained laboratory numbers. Depending on your results and the information supplied on your requisition form, the comments may:
- Highlight measurements outside the laboratory ranges
- Explain how medicines, supplements or hormone treatments may affect interpretation
- Identify results that deserve discussion with your healthcare professional
- Suggest whether confirmatory or additional testing may be useful
- Provide considerations for your next step
5. Make a More Informed Decision About What to Do Next
Your results can help you decide whether to:
- Share the report with your testosterone prescriber
- Discuss an unexpectedly high or low result with your healthcare professional
- Ask whether confirmatory blood testing is appropriate
- Continue investigating non-hormonal causes if results are within range
- Seek appropriate acne treatment rather than trying to alter hormones yourself
Do not stop or change prescribed testosterone or other medicines based only on this report. Discuss treatment changes with the person who prescribed them.
What Will My Report Include?
Your ZRT Laboratory report includes:
- Your testosterone result
- Your DHEAS result
- Your estradiol result
- Your progesterone result
- Your morning cortisol result
- Laboratory reference ranges
- Visual graphs showing where your results fall
- Clear indicators for results outside the applicable ranges
- Your recorded sample-collection date and time
- Relevant medicines, supplements and hormone treatments reported on your form
- Your reported symptoms, where applicable
- Individualised hormone-specialist laboratory comments
- Suggested considerations or next steps based on the findings
The specialist interpretation is included within your ZRT Laboratory report.
Record the names, doses and timing of prescribed testosterone, anabolic steroids, supplements and other relevant products on your Test Requisition Form. Complete information helps make the laboratory comments more useful.
What Does the Test Measure?
| Hormone | What it adds to your assessment |
|---|---|
| Testosterone | Provides an androgen measurement to consider alongside acne, skin oiliness and hormone use |
| DHEAS | Adds information about an adrenal androgen involved in the production of other steroid hormones |
| Estradiol (E2) | Provides an oestrogen measurement to consider alongside testosterone |
| Progesterone | Adds further information about your measured steroid hormone profile |
| Morning cortisol | Provides a cortisol measurement at the beginning of your waking day |
This panel provides five individual hormone results.
It does not measure:
- DHT
- Androgen receptors
- Hormone activity inside the skin
- Bacteria, inflammation or blocked pores
- The definitive cause of acne
Test Details
Test ID: S-124
Sample type: Saliva
Hormones measured: 5
Sample required: One morning saliva sample
Testing method: LC-MS/MS
Laboratory: ZRT Laboratory — CLIA-certified
Hormone specialist interpretation: Included within the laboratory report
Suitable for: Adults and children able to provide the required saliva volume
Collection: At home — no clinic visit required
Laboratory reporting time: Normally 3–5 working days after the laboratory receives your sample
Kit validity: Use within 12 months of purchase
What Is Included?
Your purchase includes:
- At-home saliva collection kit
- Morning saliva collection tube
- Test Requisition Form
- Step-by-step collection instructions
- Laboratory analysis of five hormones
- Laboratory reference-range comparisons
- Numerical and visual results
- Individualised hormone-specialist laboratory comments
- Suggested next steps or considerations
- Digital ZRT Laboratory report
- Laboratory analysis fee
Return postage to the laboratory is arranged and paid for separately by the customer.
How It Works
1. Choose Your Collection Day
Men and children can collect on any day. If you use prescribed testosterone, anabolic steroids, corticosteroids or another hormone treatment, follow the treatment-specific timing instructions.
2. Collect Your Morning Sample
Begin collecting into the large saliva tube within 30 minutes of waking.
Do not eat, drink anything other than water or brush your teeth before collecting.
3. Complete Your Test Requisition Form
Record:
- Your acne and skin symptoms
- All medicines and supplements
- Prescribed testosterone or other hormone treatments
- Anabolic-steroid use, where applicable
- The dose and timing of relevant products
4. Send Your Sample
Return the labelled sample and completed paperwork using the supplied packaging and return instructions.
5. Receive Your Explained Results
Your report is normally issued by email within 3–5 working days after the laboratory receives your sample.
Kit delivery and return-postage time are separate from this laboratory reporting period.
How Can I Get the Most Value From My Results?
If Testosterone or DHEAS Is Outside the Range
Discuss the result with your healthcare professional. They may consider your symptoms, treatment history and whether confirmation using another sample type is appropriate.
If Acne Began After Starting TRT
Share the report with your prescriber. The result can support a more informed discussion about monitoring and acne management.
Do not reduce, stop or change prescribed testosterone without speaking to your prescriber.
If All Results Are Within Range
Hormone-sensitive acne can still occur when measured levels are within range. Normal results can help you focus the next discussion on other contributors and appropriate dermatological treatment.
If Acne Is Painful, Extensive or Causing Scars
Seek timely assessment from a GP, pharmacist or dermatology professional. Hormone testing should not delay effective acne treatment.
Preparing for Your Test
To help produce a usable sample:
- Avoid anti-ageing or anti-wrinkle facial creams and biotin supplements for three days before collection.
- Stay normally hydrated the night before without drinking excessive amounts.
- Record all medicines, supplements and hormone treatments on the Test Requisition Form.
- Collect within 30 minutes of waking.
- Do not eat, drink anything other than water or brush your teeth before collecting.
- Wash and dry your hands using a clean towel.
- Rinse your mouth with water and wait five minutes.
- Fill the tube at least halfway, excluding bubbles.
- Label the tube with your name, collection date and collection time.
- Freeze the sample if it will not be posted within 24 hours.
If You Use Hormone Treatment
- Continue prescribed treatment unless your prescriber advises otherwise.
- Follow the treatment-specific timing instructions.
- Use gloves or an applicator for topical hormones for at least two days before collection.
- Avoid applying hormone products to your face, lips or neck.
- Take particular care to prevent hormone cream or gel from contaminating your hands, towels, bedding or collection materials.
Saliva testing may not be suitable while using troches or hormones dissolved under the tongue because they can contaminate the sample. Ask your healthcare professional whether an alternative sample type is more appropriate.
Read the full Saliva Collection Instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does This Test Confirm That My Acne Is Hormonal?
No. It shows whether the five measured hormones fall within the applicable laboratory ranges.
The results may add useful information, but they do not establish that hormones are the cause of your acne.
Does the Test Measure DHT?
No. It measures testosterone, DHEAS, estradiol, progesterone and morning cortisol.
It does not measure DHT or androgen activity inside the skin.
Why Are Testosterone and DHEAS Included?
Both are androgen-related measurements. Androgens can influence skin oil production, which may contribute to acne in some people.
However, acne can occur when these measurements are within range because the skin’s sensitivity and local hormone activity also matter.
What Do Estradiol and Progesterone Add?
They provide a broader view of your measured hormone profile.
Neither a progesterone result nor an estradiol-to-testosterone ratio reliably identifies the cause of male acne by itself.
Does the Report Include Specialist Interpretation?
Yes. Your ZRT Laboratory report includes individualised hormone-specialist laboratory comments.
The comments explain relevant findings, consider the information supplied on your requisition form and may suggest matters to discuss or investigate further.
Can I Use This Test While Taking TRT?
It may be suitable depending on how your treatment is administered.
Follow the treatment-specific collection instructions and record the product, dose and timing on the Test Requisition Form. Share the completed report with your prescriber.
The test cannot determine by itself whether TRT is causing your acne or whether your dose should change.
Why Use Saliva Rather Than Blood?
Saliva and blood provide different types of hormone measurement. Saliva testing measures the unbound fraction present in the saliva sample, while blood testing may assess total or free hormone depending on the test ordered.
The results and reference ranges are not interchangeable. Your healthcare professional may recommend confirmatory blood testing when appropriate.
Will the Report Recommend an Acne Treatment?
The report explains your hormone results and may suggest appropriate areas for follow-up. It does not select a particular acne medicine or skincare product.
Acne treatment should be based on the type and severity of your acne, your medical history and a clinical assessment.
Is the Test Suitable for Children?
Yes, provided the child can supply the required saliva volume and there is an age-appropriate reason for testing.
Acne in children should be discussed with a healthcare professional, particularly when it begins unusually early or is accompanied by other signs of early puberty.
How Quickly Will I Receive My Results?
The laboratory normally reports within 3–5 working days after receiving your sample. Kit delivery and return-postage times are additional.
Does the Price Include Laboratory Analysis?
Yes. The collection kit, laboratory analysis, digital report and hormone-specialist laboratory comments are included.
You are responsible for arranging and paying for return postage to the laboratory.
How Long Can I Keep the Kit?
Use the kit within 12 months of purchase.
Not Sure Whether This Is the Right Test?
Email info@hormonelab.co.uk with your age, main symptoms, medicines and current treatments. Our team will forward your enquiry to our specialist doctors and respond with a suggested testing option within 24 hours.
