Causes And Cure Of Hormonal Acne

Acne commonly occurs during the teens and early twenties in males as well as females. At this stage, it is caused not because of germs and dirt, but because of the hormonal changes. The problem is therefore referred to as hormonal acne.

Conditions Marked By Acne

In cases of both males and females, the imbalance in sex hormones causes acne. In case of males, it is triggered by over secretion of androgens (that develop secondary sex characteristics such as maturing of voice, and growing of beard and other body hair). In case of females, estrogen and progesterone are the culprits. In both the sexes, hormonal acne is a condition marked by greasing of skin (excess oil secretion causes pimples), excess hair growth on the body and face, and in some cases even thinning of the scalp hair. Most people get rid of hormonal acne in their twenties or early thirties.

Role Of Sebaceous Glands

Acne occurs in teenagers because hormonal changes during this stage stimulate the sebaceous glands in youngsters; these glands secrete fatty oil known as sebum that lubricates the hair and skin. In women, menstrual periods, use of contraceptive pills, cortisone medications, coupled with stress could aggravate hormonal acne in later life. The only people who generally escape acne are eunuchs, who do not have oily skin, as their glands secrete no or low testosterone secretion. However, the castrates who are given dozes of this hormone can show skin lesions.

However, only hormonal imbalance is not solely responsible for acne. There are a number of other factors both dietary and otherwise, which cause skin lesions. Some of them are as follows:

• A fat and starch-rich diet.
• Intestinal stasis caused by prolonged constipation.
• A sedentary lifestyle.
• Excessive use of cosmetics (unbranded products are especially dangerous), and prolonged exposure to detergents or other harsh chemicals.
• Psychogenic stresses, specifically pricking pimples, worsen hormonal acne.

With the advancement of medical science, there is a range of medical treatments available in the market to fight acne. It is advisable that one tries to get rid of the problem at home first, and if need be, see the doctor. Some tips to avoid hormonal acne are as follows:

• Avoid eating food that, you think, caused skin problems for you in the past.
• Use oil-free cosmetics, which are unlikely to irritate the pores of your skin.
• Avoid rubbing your skin excessively, assuming that the blackheads will go, as they are not caused by dirt, but due to the air oxidizing protein - keratin, in the body.
• Check on sweating by taking regular baths, using deodorants and talcum power, as body humidity worsens hormonal acne.