Hormones & Problems With Adult Acne
Posted on 03. Jan, 2009 by admin in Acne Prevention
Women and Hormonal Acne – Are The Hormones You Produce Each Month Causing Breakouts?
Hormones & Problems With Adult Acne
Every month numerous women experience uncomfortable bloating, acne, cramping and mood swings. Although experts have shown that hormones do in fact influence problems with acne, there has not been a large amount of research that has gone into this common problem. However, a study that was recently conducted by Alan Shalita, MD, dermatologist, led to the confirmation that out of all women, half of them had breakouts with acne that occurred the week before they had their period.
This specific kind of acne that is known as hormonal acne may not respond to many of the traditional treatments for acne, such as topical antibiotics, systemic antibiotics and topical retinoids. There are several factors that can assist your doctor into identifying acne that may be influenced by hormones:
* An increase of the oils in your face
* Menstrual cycles that are irregular
* Flare-ups of acne prior to menstruating
* Acne that begins in adults who have never had acne problems
* Blood tests revealing high levels of specific androgens
* Hair growing in strange places or excessive growth of hair, called Hirsutism
Acne that is influenced by hormones will normally start at age 20 to 25; it can begin in older women and teenagers as well, and can be persistent in those over 30. Some women may tend to experience breakouts that are on the back and chest, however most women will experience them on the facial area, typically the jaw line and chin. Acne that is influenced by hormones is generally experienced at moderate levels that are limited to a small amount of comedones, along with papules and nodules that are inflamed.
How the process begins
Usually when girls are 9 or 10 years of age dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate or DHEAS – known as an androgen, begins its production in the adrenal glands. Also joining in at the first signs of puberty are dehydrotestosterone or DHT and testosterone – the male hormone that women produce. Sebum or the natural oils of the skin are produced in higher quantities by the sebaceous glands as they are triggered by each of these hormones. This excess oil production is exactly why more teens experience problems with acne, and because more male hormones are produced in boys, they tend to experience even more problems.
Acne in teens can be a challenging problem to treat, simply because the hormones are continuously hard at work. Many less aggressive treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoids that are sometimes taken along with an antiobotic, may work great for initial breakouts. However, shifting within the hormones can begin and these types of medications will no longer work as well. Because of this fact teens will generally need to adjust the treatments they use as the hormones change.
The cycle begins
Several women do not outgrow acne as they reach adulthood, and there are those who do not begin experiencing problems until they reach ages of 20 or 30, many of which will experience bothersome breakouts the week prior to starting their period. If a woman is not using birth control methods with hormones, during mid-cycle the levels of estrogen will peak, and then they will become lower as the period nears. When the ovulation process has completed, the hormone progesterone that is stimulated by the sebaceous glands begins its production in the ovaries, and in turn more acne can occur because of the excess oil that is produced. Many women who are pregnant and in the third trimester can also experience acne because of the hormones that is present and causing more oil to be produced. After the process of menopause has completed and as more testosterone is being produced and less estrogen, some women will experience problems with acne.
Can anything be done?
To enjoy the most success with fewer breakouts it is recommended that you see your dermatologist for breakouts that may be caused by hormones, as this is a problem that will become much worse during the menstrual cycle, and is not one that women can grow out of. There is a variety of treatments that are very successful in lowering the level of breakouts experienced by hormonal acne.
Treatments can include systemic and topical treatments, along with contraceptives that are taken orally to help regulate the menstrual cycle.
