Hormones often fuel adult-related acne, particularly in women, who experience hormonal changes with pregnancy, menstruation and menopause. Although self-care can help control acne breakouts, it is often not enough. For moderate to severe cases of hormonal acne, you may need to seek the advice of an endocrinologist, who specializes in female hormonal conditions.
Facts
Geoffrey Redmond, M.D., endocrinologist specializing in female hormone problems, indicates that acne is considered a hormonal disorder. Androgens and testosterone, both of which are hormones, set off acne by stimulating the skin's sebaceous oil-making glands. Excess hormones stimulate overproduction of oil, which clogs pores,traps oil and causes bacteria to grow. The body's immune system responds to the bacteria growth. Dr. Redmond states that the redness and pus-filled swelling characteristic of acne blemishes are caused by the immune system response to the bacteria. Hormonal causes of acne are seen more often in women than men, reports Acne.com.
Features
High levels of androgen and testosterone sex hormones may be a culprit for oily skin and acne, reports DermNet NZ. Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, a female hormonal disorder, often have high androgen levels, which may lead to acne, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health.
Time Frame
Hormonal acne is more prevalent during certain times in a woman's life when her hormones become unbalanced and cause excess activity in the skin's oil glands. During puberty, pregnancy and menopause, some adult women will experience mild or moderate acne as a result of hormonal changes. Stopping and starting birth control pills may also be a cause of hormone-related acne, reports MayoClinic.com.
Myth
Dr. Redmond says that chocolate and high fat foods due not cause hormonal-related acne. While good hygiene may help to control acne, it will not solve an acne problem.
Treatment
People who are prone to acne should only use noncomedogenic products, which means they do not block pores, and wash their skin with soap-free, slightly drying cleansers. Benzoyl peroxide should be applied twice a day, following skin cleaning. Although evidence is sparse, some natural treatments, such as tea tree oil, glycolic acid and zinc supplements, may be helpful in reducing acne blemishes, according to MayoClinic.com.
Consideration
If self-care methods fail to clear acne breakouts, another option is hormonal acne treatment. An endocrinologist or gynecologist who specializes in hormonal acne treatment can administer treatments that block the androgen hormones from stimulating the oil glands.
Prevention
Dr. Redmond recommends avoiding soaps with moisturizers or perfumes, abrasive scrubs and astringents. Astringents may seem to initially dry out the skin, but they do not stop oil production. While sun exposure may initially seem to control acne, it actually increases skins oiliness, reports Dr. Redmond.
Member Comments