Hormonal Acne

If you have severe acne, you'll naturally begin wonder if there are any acne solutions. You'll also want to understand what is causing your acne woes and if hormones are to blame. Dermatologists have generally agreed that in most cases of teenage acne, it is triggered by imbalances in hormones. Some refer to acne caused by hormone changes as “hormonal acne.”

If you have acne, it is likely that your hormones, mainly estrogens and/or androgens are to blame. When levels of estrogens and androgens escalate, breakouts of “hormonal acne” follow. Consequently, it is important to understand that when your levels of androgens and estrogens are at stable levels, they are actually helpful in maintaining healthy skin.

Hormone Acne: When does it appear?

Hormone acne will generally appear throughout your teen years if you happen to be affected. If you are already dealing with hormone acne in your teens, you may need to treat it until your mid-twenties. This is because hormone levels continue to fluctuate heavily throughout puberty; thus causing unwanted facial breakouts. Though it is most noticeable on your face, breakouts are also fairly common on your chest and/or back.

To fully understand how hormone acne develops, we must discuss in more scientific terms. Glands called your “sebaceous glands” become larger when stimulated by the hormone androgen. When your sebaceous glands are affected by androgen, oily skin develops; harboring the development of acne. Oily skin is caused by the production of sebum, which is a term referring to an oil-like build-up on the layer of your skin. In case you were wondering, there are zero known benefits from having extra sebum on your skin.

Over time, a large amount of sebum builds up near the root of a hair follicle. This hair follicle pushes up through the skin and the oily sebum gets pushed up with it. As the hair continues to grow, unwanted bacteria and sometimes dirt get pooled with your sebum. When a pool of sebum, bacteria, and/or dirt all build up and push up through your skin, you see a resulting pimple or acne. If many follicles get oily and dirty, you will easily observe many pimples on your face. In severe cases of hormonal acne, an individual’s entire face may have many follicles clogged with sebum.

Throughout puberty, hormones from your adrenal gland (e.g. dihydroepiandrosterone) joint together with testosterone and end up secreting added sebum on your skin. Since puberty occurs during the teenage years, it makes perfect sense that teenagers have the highest rate of acne in comparison to the treatment of adults with acne.

Hormonal Acne Treatment: Men vs. Women

Once a dermatologist or skin care specialist is able to correlate a hormonal imbalance with acne, you will be able to discuss treatment options. Hormonal acne treatment usually involves testing various medications that target hormone levels to establish a proper balance. Not surprisingly, women and men are affected differently by hormonal acne, so they will receive different hormonal acne treatment options.

For women, a dermatologist, or skin care specialist, may prescribe or recommend birth control pills due to the fact that they have been proven to lower the count of androgens – the hormone responsible for the acne. Among others, corticosteroids may be an effective treatment option. Corticosteroids are not always recommended because they may actually worsen your acne. However, in most severe cases, corticosteroids have been recommended for hormonal acne treatment.

Among men and boys, hormonal acne is the result of higher than normal levels of testosterone. Though the problematic hormone is known to dermatologists, acne-plagued teens are difficult to help due to the fact that their hormone levels are constantly fluctuating during puberty. Teens with acne may benefit from initial prescription only to find out a few short weeks later that it is no longer ineffective. This can be a frustrating process for both the teen with the acne and the dermatologist who is trying a bunch of new medications, but cannot predict rapid changes in hormone levels – which are responsible for acne breakouts.

Hormonal "Acne Cures" – Emerging Technology

It is important to know that there is no such thing as hormonal "acne cures.” Medication and other options like acne laser treatment or something like microdermabrasion acne treatment (as offered by a dermatologist), will significantly reduce hormonal acne and may even clear your face of many pimples. However, it is important to not be disappointed if you need to stick with a medication routine.

Science and skin care technology are advancing, and in the future, there may be hormonal acne cures. But, in the present, the goal is to seek the most effective treatment method – tailored towards individuals on a personal level. This is due to the fact that each case of hormonal acne is different and not everyone has the same type or degree of hormonal imbalance.

Hormonal Acne Treatments Review

It is important to also know that when hormones are produced in healthy levels, they actually protect your skin from developing acne. A good balance of hormones (e.g. androgen/estrogen) will facilitate and allow you to maintain healthy looking skin. It is crucial that you understand how hormones are capable of upsetting many of your natural bodily functions. Even a very small hormonal imbalance could potentially complicate acne problems.

Things that can be done to ensure you find a successful treatment include: blood testing – to make sure you have a hormone imbalance and working with a dermatologist or skin care specialist. Though you may not have much success with hormonal acne treatments initially, persistence will get you the face you've always wanted with clear skin. It’s only a matter of time before you find the right treatment option and get that acne cleared up!