Hormonal Acne Causes

Hormonal acne can be caused by the normal changes in hormone levels that occur just before the menstrual periods in women.

These changes involve levels of androgens like testosterone with respect to levels of estrogen and they result in the development of acne lesions.

These androgen level changes contribute to the development of premenstrual pimples (pimples just before periods) by causing changes in the amount of oil and in the consistency of the oil in the skin’s sebaceous glands since it becomes thicker and therefore more likely to clog the pores.

Other physiological (normal) hormonal changes that contribute to the development of hormonal acne include those that occur during pregnancy, just before menopause (pre-menopausal) and during menopause (menopausal).

These hormone changes all result in an increase in the production of oil by the skin and clogging of the skin pores which leads to acne breakouts.

Hormonal acne is also caused by diseases like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which affects around 10% of all women. PCOS is characterized by acne affecting the chin and jaw and it is accompanied by excessive growth of hair above the upper lip, on the chin, sideburns and other parts of the body. Other PCOS symptoms include irregular periods, diabetes and infertility.

Women can also develop hormonal acne when the levels of hormones in their body change as a result of starting or stopping oral contraceptive pills (birth control pills). Hormonal IUDs and implant contraceptives that only release progestin can also cause adult acne.

Hormonal acne can also develop as a result of eating beef, poultry and other meats from farmed animals since they contain hormones that can disrupt the balance of hormones in the body.

Hormonal Acne Characteristics

Hormonal acne is characterized by the following:

* Getting acne lesions like whiteheads, blackheads, painful pimples, nodules and cysts around the mouth, chin, jaw line and even the neck.

* Getting acne before monthly periods due to hormonal fluctuations.

* Getting acne during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.

* Having a lot of hair on the chin even though you are a woman because of hormonal conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome.

Hormonal Acne Treatment

To treat acne caused by hormone imbalances do the following:

* Avoid dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt since a study found a link between consuming dairy products and an increased risk of developing acne.

* Avoid eating meats from farmed animals and consume organic meats.

* Drink 2 cups of peppermint tea each day since a study found that it reduced testosterone levels in women.

* Drink 1 cup of green tea each day since it has anti-androgen properties.

* Stop eating sesame seeds (sim sim) since they contain phytoestrogens that can affect the levels of hormones in the body and lead to acne.

* Reduce the consumption of fatty beef and other saturated fats since a study found that a diet with less saturated fats and more polyunsaturated fats from nuts resulted in reduced levels of the hormones which trigger acne.

* Use birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin to regulate your hormones.

* Consult an Acne Doctor to see if you are a good candidate for prescription acne medications like tretinoin which is applied on the skin and isotretinoin which is taken by mouth.

Other prescription medications used in hormornal acne include the diuretic spironolactone because of its anti-androgen properties.