Hormones And Acne

Acne is the most common skin condition known in the United States, and nearly everyone will get pimples at some point in their lives, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Hormone fluctuations can cause acne flares, which is why teenagers' skin often breaks out, and why women sometimes see acne before their menstrual periods. In some cases, controlling hormones can curb acne.

Significance

Several factors cause acne, including overgrowth of the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, swelling of the sebaceous glands in the skin that produce sebum (skin oil), clogged pores and inflammation. Male hormones known as androgens, which include testosterone, stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. If you're producing too much androgen, or if your sebaceous glands are particularly sensitive to those hormones, you will develop acne.

Function

Both men and women can suffer from acne outbreaks due to hormones, although women appear to be more susceptible. Women who have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in which high levels of androgens cause cysts in the ovaries and irregular menstrual periods, often have this type of hormonal acne. PCOS also causes facial hair growth, weight gain and problems with ovulation in women.

Types

But some women with hormonally-driven acne don't have PCOS or abnormal menstrual periods, but do have high levels of androgens. In one 2001 study cited in the medical journal Skin and Aging, researchers found high androgen levels in nearly two-thirds of female acne patients, even though some of them had normal menstrual cycles. However, most women with acne do not have elevated androgen levels. In these women, their sebaceous glands may be over-stimulated by normal levels of androgens, according to the study.

Prevention/Solution

Women have a treatment option for acne that's caused by hormones. They can take oral contraceptives containing the hormones estrogen and progestin. These two hormones help to balance the androgens circulating in the body, and therefore help to clear acne. Two particular brands of oral contraceptives, Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Estrostep, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in treating acne, and dermatologists often use other brands as well.

Considerations

However, dermatologists likely will try other treatments first for acne before reaching for the prescription pad to order oral contraceptives, according to the AAD. That's because oral contraceptive users risk some side effects, including an increased risk of stroke and serious blood clots. Prior to prescribing oral contraceptives, your dermatologist is likely to prescribe strong benzoyl peroxide-based ointments or antibiotics. And men cannot take oral contraceptives, and so they must rely on other treatments for their acne outbreaks.