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Treatments for Hormonally Influenced Acne in Women
When women in their thirties and forties suffer from acne, it is common
to be very embarrassed to be suffering from a condition that is often
considered a teenager’s problem. Acne can play a devastating
role on a person’s
self-esteem. When women suffer acne as they age, its effects can be
detrimental on their personal and professional lives.
When acne is more severe than the occasional outbreak during a menstrual
cycle, women rarely consult a medical physician. Relying only on the
types of products that served them when they were younger, they are
not taking into account the physiological changes they have undergone
as they have aged. A common misconception is that treatments for teenagers
are not for adults is very untrue.
Women who suffer from hormonal acne may also suffer from:
- Irregular Menstrual Cycles
- Obesity
- Infertility
- Diabetes
A physician’s exam and laboratory evaluation of hormone
production should be able to explore whether or not a woman’s
mature acne is a result of hormones. Just because a woman
suffers from acne as an adult does not mean she suffers from
the conditions above. Hormone levels can be aggravated by
stress and diet as well as hormonal imbalance. This is why
it is important to consult a physician.
The American Academy of Dermatology finds that the hormonal
acne is
most often influenced by androgens in the body. Androgens are hormones
that stimulate the sebaceous glands and hair follicles in the skin.
During menstruation, women, both young and old, tend to have acne flare-ups.
Stress can also affect the levels of androgens, resulting in further
breakouts. A vicious circle, because the appearance of acne may increase
a woman’s stress. These adult-acne flare-ups usually occur most
often on the lower face, chin, and jaw line of adult women.
Clues that help the doctor determine whether acne in an adult woman
is due to an excess of androgen hormones are hirsutism (excessive growth
of hair in unusual places), premenstrual acne flares, irregular menstrual
cycles, and elevated blood levels of certain androgens. The doctor may
prescribe one of several drugs to treat women with this type of acne.
Low-dose estrogen birth control pills help suppress the androgen produced
by the ovaries. Low-dose corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone or
dexamethasone, may suppress the androgen produced by the adrenal glands.
Finally, the doctor may prescribe an antiandrogen drug, such as spironolactone
(Aldactone). This medicine reduces excessive oil production. Side effects
of antiandrogen drugs may include irregular menstruation, tender breasts,
headache, and fatigue.
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Severe cystic acne,
where large, deep swellings appear on the face, shoulders, chest,
and back, are the most painful and most disfiguring of the acne conditions.
In women, it must be treated with absolute care because it does not
respond to over-the-counter medications, oral or topical antibiotics,
or most prescription forms of treatment for other forms of acne. The
best and most effective treatment for severe cystic
acne is the drug isotretinoin. Consult your dermatologist before going
on this medication. WARNING: "Accutane may cause depression, psychosis
and, rarely, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide."
While isotretinoin is the most effective treatment and usually is
prescribed for a period of 16 to 20 weeks, it is extremely hazardous
to take for a woman who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant because
it is known to cause severe birth defects in the unborn fetus. **Again,
consult your dermatologist before going on this medication.**
There are potential psychological side effects as well, including depression
and in rare cases, suicide. The links between the two are unclear, but
research continues not only to understand better treatments for acne,
but also in the effects acne treatments have on the body.
It is very important for adult women who suffer from more than intermittent
acne to consult a physician in order to determine the best course of
treatment, and to be aware of all the facts regarding the recommended
treatments. Hormonal acne is treatable and with the availability of
modern medicine, no woman needs to suffer from it.
Dermatologists agree that three-step acne fighting kits are an excellent
way to treat acne without the harmful side effects or dangers of oral
drugs. A 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide kit is ideal, and we strongly recommend
our solution, Tru-derma, as it is backed by all of the research and
information on the Acne-Resource Center. Click here to learn more.
Other Resources:
American Dermatology Association
Acne.net
BringHealth.com
McKinley Health Center
A Guide to the Treatment of Acne (http://www.burnsurvivorsttw.org/acne.html)
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