Causes of Hormonal Acne

Every woman has to face with some things like bloating, cramping, mood swings and acne. It happens every month. Acne is considered to be influenced by hormones. However the researchers haven't got any answer on this very subject - until now. The final week of the cycle is characterized by hormonal acne flare-ups in 50% of the women, a recent study confirmed.

Being a specific kind of acne, it is most probably that hormonal acne will not respond to such traditional treatments as topical or systemic antibiotics or topical retinoids. There are several ideas that may help you and your doctor find causes of hormonal acne:

- Acne flare-ups precede the menstrual cycle;
- Acne breakout always takes place prior to the menstruation
- Report on irregular menstrual periods
- Oily skin of your face, what is not common for you
- Excessive hair growth, otherwise known as hirsutism
- The levels of certain androgens are increased

Most typically hormonal acne begins around the age of 20-25, though it can strike teens as well as mature women, over the age of 30 (in which case it is most persistent). The regions most commonly attacked by acne are the lower face - the jaw line and the chin - as well as back and chest, with face still remaining the most popular place of blemishes and lesions. Regardless of the fact that hormonally-influenced acne is seldom severe and usually manifests itself as small inflammatory nodules and papules, women suffering from the disease can't help but wonder: how does it start? What are the causes of hormonal acne?

Firstly occurring some time before age of puberty (close to the age of 9 or 10) the adrenals start to release specific androgenic hormone - dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Androgens are so called "male" hormones, though they are produced by a woman's body as well. Other "male" hormones are dehydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone. All of them work as stimulants for the sebaceous glands. The result of it is an intense surface skin fat (sebum) production, which is one of the main causes of hormonal acne.

That is the reason for teenager's acne and oily skin. Boys suffer from "male" hormones more because they naturally have more of them. It is extremely difficult to treat acne in adolescents, as their hormonal levels always change. In some cases the first reaction to the external therapy can be good, if doctors use such methods as retinoids and benzoyl peroxide. In some cases antibiotics have to be used. However, most often these medications, even coupled with an oral antibiotic, do not provide a long-term remedy for treating acne in teenagers because of the hormonal changes. Frequent adjustments to courses of treatment are often necessary.

A lot of females experience this problem during maturity. Some others might not experience it until their twenties or thirties, going through continual outbreaks a few days prior to their menstrual cycle. It happens because their estrogen level is the highest in the middle of the cycle (on condition that a woman is not using hormonal pills for birth control). When a woman is approaching her period, the estrogen level is decreasing. There is also another hormone that can cause hormonal acne. After ovulation, the ovaries produce progesterone that leads skin to oiliness.

Hormone level is also one of the causes of hormonal acne that happens in pregnant women. Because of hormone changes in the third trimester sebaceous glands begin to produce much sebum and this is the reason of frequent breakouts. Menopause can also be in the list of causes of hormonal acne. Estrogen production decreases and testosterone dominates in the organism of a woman.

Acne that develops during menstruation does not disappear without medical help. You should consult the dermatologist and find acne products that will treat all causes of hormonal acne.