Treating Hormonal Acne In Adult Women

July 19, 2011 admin Uncategorized

No one likes to look into a mirror only to see red, swollen zits looking back at them. Acne during the teenage years is bad enough but when it appears later on in life it can be even more damaging to your self-esteem and confidence. Adult acne is becoming increasingly common now and just like adolescent acne it is caused by hormonal fluctuations. Even though adult women are more prone to acne men can also be affected as well.

Women are especially vulnerable due to the various hormonal changes that they go through in life including menses, menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. These changes can cause hormonal imbalance and lead to hormonal acne.

If hormonal acne is suspected in a woman a blood test to look for increased androgen levels in the blood would be recommended. Once confirmed an immediate course of treatment must be taken to prevent scarring.

Standard acne treatments will not work for hormonal acne. The doctor may prescribe topical retinoids, topical antimicrobials and oral antibiotics for women are a suffering from severe cases of hormonal acne.

For women who experience flare ups before the menstrual cycle treatment will usually consist of oral medications like birth control pills which will be given for their hormonal influences. A low estrogen birth control pill like YAZ (or Yasmin) will help a lot with the elimination of hormonal acne. Birth control pills will regulate the menstrual cycle and decrease the androgen activity which causes the acne. This solution will not be ideal for all women especially those who are trying to get pregnant. Some women also suffer adverse reactions to birth control pills like blot clots or stroke so they may prefer to stay away from them altogether.

Women who are pregnant can experience flare ups during the pregnancy but in this case treatment options will be limited to topical treatments. Post-menopausal women who experience acne flare ups will find that traditional acne remedies will be helpful if they purchase the treatments that are targeted for mature skin.

Women who experience hormonal acne should consult with their physician who will evaluate their skin type and propose an appropriate skin care regimen. More often than not the skin care routine will include cleansing with a mild facial cleanser followed by use of a light moisturizer.

Scrubs and harsh toners should be avoided since they can cause irritation and increase the severity of acne flare ups. Since the flare ups may only be prompted at certain times in a woman’s life the skin care routine will need to be adjusted to accommodate these periods like during pregnancy and before a menstrual cycle. Acne treatments can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn therefore it is important to use sunscreen daily and purchase products that are labeled noncomedogenic so that they won’t clog your pores.