Saturday, December 6, 2008

How Does Hormones Affect Adult Acne In Women?

How Does Hormones Affect Adult Acne In Women?

For a large number of women, the whole cycle of cramping, bloating, mood swings and acne pimples breakouts occur every month. It is commonly known among medical experts that acne is influenced by hormones, but the amount of study on this subject has been limited until recently. Dermatologist Alan Shalita conducted a recent research and confirmed that 50% of women experience acne pimples breakouts during the week before their period begins.

This type of adult acne is known as hormonal acne. And in some situations it does not respond to traditional acne treatments such as topical retinoids and systemic or topical antibiotics. There are several signs that can help you and your doctor identify your hormonally-influenced adult acne. These signs include:

Adult acne breakouts that appear for the first time in adults
Acne breakouts that come before the menstrual cycle
A history of irregular menses
Increased amount of oil on the face
Hirsutism (excessive growth of hair, or hair in unusual places)
Increased levels of male hormones in the blood stream

Although hormone induced acne usually begins around the ages of 20 and 25 years, it can occur in teenage and mature women also. But it is most common in women above the age of 30 years. These women usually experience acne pimples on their chin and on their jaw line. In some women the acne pimples might occur on the chest and back, but most breakouts usually occur on the face. Hormone induce acne is usually moderate. You might wonder how it starts.

Adult Hormonal Acne usually begins at puberty. Before a child reaches puberty (around the age of nine or ten), the adrenal glands starts producing dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). This is an androgen ("male" hormone). Other androgens that are produced in a woman's body include testosterone and dehydrotestosterone (DHT). And they start to be produced in the body around puberty. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oil). This is the reason why teenagers have oily skin and acne is common in teenagers. And since the hormones that stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oil) are "male" hormones, teen acne is more severe in boys.

So many women pass into adulthood with their acne still being a problem in their lives. Some women might not develop adult acne until their 20s or 30s, usually experiencing acne breakouts a week before their menses. Why is this? During a woman's normal menstrual cycle, if she is not taking any hormonal birth control pill, the level of estrogen in her body reaches a peak at mid-cycle and then drops as she nears her period.

After ovulation, the ovaries start producing progesterone which is another hormone that stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oil). This increased oil on the skin can only mean one thing, more acne breakouts. These hormones are also the reason why some women experience acne breakouts during pregnancy. Some women also experience acne pimples breakouts after menopause. This is because the estrogen levels begin to reduce and testosterone becomes the prevailing hormone.

So how can this type of acne be cured or treated? Since this kind of acne is caused by hormones the best acne treatment is one that balances the hormones and also prevents acne causing bacteria from causing inflammation on the skin. There are a few products in the market that can actually get rid of your adult acne and to get a listing of the best products

By: Temitayo Olatunde

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