Chronic Acne

Like clockwork every month, millions of women experience mood swings, bloating, cramping and acne. Research has shown that acne is influenced by hormones where nearly half of women during the week preceding their period have experienced acne flare ups.

Hormonal acne may not respond to traditional acne therapies that dermatolgists use to treat acne conditions. Hormonally influenced acne has several clues that can be identified by your doctor:

• Adult onset acne - acne breakouts appear in adults for the first time
• History of irregular menstrual cycles
• Acne flares up preceding a menstrual cycle
• Increase of facial oiliness
• Elevated levels in the bloodstream of certain adrogens
• Hirsutism - excess of hair growth or unusual places have hair

Typically hormonal acne begins around age 20 to 25. It can occur in mature women and teens as well and in women over 30 is the most persistent. These women usually experience acne lesions in the lower part of the face, especially the jaw line and chin. While some may have breakouts on the back and chest, majority have exclusively blemishes on the face. Usually hormonal acne is moderate and limited to small inflammatory nodules and inflammatory papules with occasional comedones.

Adult hormonal acne starts from puberty where it all begins. Around the age of 9 or ten before adolescence, an androgen, dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is starting to be produced. Other androgens like dehydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone, male hormones at work in a woman’s body, are joining in at puberty onset. The sebaceous glands are stimulated by these hormones secreting more of the natural oil or sebum of the skin. This is why acne and oily skin are more prevalent amongst teenagers. Teen acne tends to be more severe in males since boys have more of the male hormones. It can also be challenging to treat since their hormones are constantly fluctuating.

Adult hormonal acne can be a vicious cycle when many women enter adulthood not being able to outgrow their acne. Although some may not develop acne until their 20′s or 30′s, persistent breakouts can be experienced right before their period starts. Why this is that during normal menstrual cycle, estrogen levels at mid-cycle peak, then declining as period nears the end. The ovaries, after ovulation, produce the hormone progesterone which stimulates the sebaceous glands. Acne occurs due to the extra oil. Hormones in a percentage of pregnant women is also responsible for acne as well. During the 3rd trimester, the sebaceious glands go into high gear. Also after menopause, some women experience acne as the estrogen levels begin easing off and the testorsterone hormone becomes dominant.

For adult hormonal acne breakouts, the best treatment plan for these recurring acne flareups can be determined by your dermatologist.