Hormonal acne also known as acne vulgaris is a disturbing skin condition caused by overproduction of androgen hormones in the body. Androgen or testosterone is the main sexual hormone in males but it's also present in females. Hormonal acne is primarily as a result of excessive production of androgen.
These hormones stimulate sebaceous glands to produce high amounts of sebum or natural oil in the skin. The Sebum produced accumulates in the hair follicles or pores where it mixes with dead cells and bacteria causing the formation of pimples or blemishes.
Hormonal acne is usually rife during puberty but may continue afterwards into adulthood in some people. Teenagers or adolescents suffer more from hormonal acne due to the hormonal changes that take place during this time.
Hormonal acne is more pronounced in males than females during this period mainly due to the fact that males produce more testosterone than females. Hormonal acne in adults is usually caused by instances of hormonal imbalance. Women particularly may suffer more due natural cycles they undergo which include menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
Some people may suffer or experience more instances of hormonal acne mainly due to hereditary factors. Other factors that are known to contribute or trigger hormonal acne include:
Puberty
The body undergoes numerous hormonal changes during puberty. In males the production of excessive androgen hormone causes the formation of skin blemishes or pimples.
Excessive intakes of fatty foods and sugars
Over eating foods rich in fats and high in sugars may cause hormonal acne. This is essentially due to the fact that the body stores more fat or oils with some of it eventually clogging in the skin pores. High sugar intake may cause over production of insulin which is known to cause inflammations on the skin.
Stress
Stress stimulates the production of hormones from adrenal glands; this type of reaction is known to aggravate the skin condition.
Vitamin and mineral deficiency
Vitamins and minerals are known to have many positive therapeutic effects in the body. The absence of vitamins in a diet may cause the body to lack enhanced immunity that enables the body to fight infections.
Menstruation, Pregnancy, Menopause
A woman normally experiences sharp decrease of estrogen (female sex hormone) during ovulation, pregnancy or menstruation. The decline in estrogen is usually accompanied by the rise or increase of testosterone triggering the formation of acne vulgaris.
Dead skin accumulation
Dead skin cells that accumulates in the pores mixes with sebum and bacteria to produce pimples or skin blemishes.
Presence of bacterial in the pores
The multiplication of bacteria in the hair follicles causes the formation of spots or pimples.
Irritation of skin
The skin is a very sensitive tissue meaning that minor irritations of the skin may cause inflammations.
Use of steroids
Steroids are known to boost the production of testosterone in males which is the primary cause of this type of acne.
These are the most common effects of hormonal acne.
Hormonal Acne Treatment
Mild cases of hormonal acne can be treated by taking over the counter medicines such as Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Keeping the skin extremely clean during the treatment process is highly recommended.
The doctor may also prescribe a combination of Benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics to ease the situation. Antibiotics in this instance are used to reduce or ease inflammations caused by bacteria. A dermatologist may also administer medicines such as "Accutane" (oral or topical retinoid) that essentially unclog the skin pores.
Treating acne vulgaris in women involves administering various doses of female hormone estrogen and progesterone. Oral birth control medicines are also recommended. Boosting estrogen levels and suppressing androgen is the key to treating acne vulgaris in ladies.
Leading a healthy lifestyle that includes eating the right diet exercising and managing stress as some of the preventative measures one should adopt. Eating the right food quantities prevents the occurrence of obesity which is known to cause acne vulgaris.
Obesity causes the production and storage of lots of fats in the body. Excessive amounts fats in the body or in the body tissues such as skin causes this type of acne. One should also avoid taking too much sugar as the production of insulin is known to cause inflammations on the skin. The key to treating hormonal acne is to apply medicines or hormonal treatments as prescribed by the doctor.
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