Both men and women can have acne, but women are usually most effective when their acne is caused by hormones. When women have persistent acne, it is advised to have their hormone levels checked by either an endocrinologist or a gynecologist, one that is familiar with the way hormones affect acne. Even when women are treating their acne with the right skin care regimens, topical creams and oral medications, your hormones can still cause breakouts. Finding the cause of any hormone problems can help you get to the root of controlling your acne.
Your hormones affect your skin when your adrenal glands produce androgens, or male hormones, such as testosterone and dehydrotestosterone. When you consider all the hormones your body produces including male hormones that even women produce, it causes your body’s sebaceous glands to discharge sebum. Sebum is a natural oil your body produces. Some women produce more male hormones than others. The more oil your body creates, the more likely they are to cause your pores to become clogged. Teenage boys are usually affected most by androgens causing acne, since they produce more.
Your doctor will be able to identify hormonal acne if the afflicted didn’t have issues with their skin in the past and is breaking out for the first time as an adult, if pimples appear during a period, if you face is creating more oil than normal, if you are hairier than normal, or if you have had your blood tested and they find higher levels of androgens.
Women will usually experience hormonal acne in their 20’s and pimples appear near their jaw line and chin. A few have pimples on their chest and back.
Children are not affected by hormonal acne because they haven’t yet developed hormones. Teenagers, however, are developing their hormones and changes in them are normal. It can be treated, but may require different medications over time because of the constant change in their hormones.
When a woman is on her period, and has acne, flare-ups will usually occur about a week before it. Your body produces estrogen during this time and the closer she gets to her period, the levels of estrogen fall. The ovaries then produce progesterone, which is a hormone that stimulates the glands into action. Again, the more oil one produces, the more likely the pores are to become clogged with oils, which cause breakouts.
Pregnant women produce excess progesterone during their third-trimester and sometimes even after menopause.
Hormonal acne will not just go away, it requires treatment and may get worse as a women gets older. There are several different types of treatment available for controlling hormones and treating acne. Birth control pills are one of the most common treatments as it will help to lower testosterone levels. Acutance should be your last option, but when nothing else works it may be your only option. Acutance is a serious drug that contains isetronin. Isetronin can cause birth defects if you get pregnant while on this medication.
Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you.
Adult Acne And Hormones By
Mary Murphy