Hormonal Acne

Mirror…mirror on the wall, am I the prettiest of them all? Is the answer to this question a shattering crack running right across the length of the mirror? You have the perfect features and the most effervescent smile, but there seems to be just one little flaw; a million little zits find home on your pretty little face. Warty, oozy, ugly little things that itch like hell and make you want to hide away from the world. You always wanted to be snow-white but you are now the ugly step mom, however, making a poisoned apple and feeding it to the world, hardly seems like an option. Melodrama aside, with every inch of your face except the forehead and the eyes covered in acne, facing the world is an everyday battle. “Crater face” is your permanent nickname and follows you around like a hovering dark cloud. If all this just seems too familiar to you, you are suffering from hormonal acne. Hormonal acne affects close to 80% of the people worldwide between the age groups of 18 and 30. Contrary to popular belief it is not caused by bad diet or dirt but by fluctuations in hormones which increase secretion of oil. Every problem has a solution and so does hormonal acne. Here are some measures that will help you get rid of those gardens of zits.

Hormonal Acne Treatment

The first step in reducing acne is to throw those greasy creams away. Any cream which leaves your skin oily is a big no, as it will only increase the number of black heads and white heads which in turn will aggravate the acne. “Comedone” is the medical term for whiteheads and blackheads so “non-comedogenic” simply means not causing breakouts. Use only non-comedogenic preparations for the skin.
Using the right soap also plays a very important role in reducing acne. A soap that is only slightly drying will be best suited. Soaps with moisturizers or perfumes should be completely avoided.
If you think that sun exposure will reduce your acne, then you are grossly mistaken. Increased sun exposure can lead to acne rebound as the oil content in the skin increases. So stay away from the sun.
A simple home treatment for acne that does not require a prescription is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is antibacterial, and seems to dry the oiliness of the skin. It is important to note that there are several over-the-counter treatments, but not all are effective and can lead to irritation. Therefore, make sure that you pick something that is largely made of benzoyl peroxide and has very few added ingredients.
However if none of these work, and irrespective of how hard you try, you just can’t get rid of those ugly pimples then a trip to the physician awaits. The physician will start you off with topical medication such as tretinoin and adapalene which make the surface protein of the skin less sticky.
If the acne is very severe then topical antibiotics like erythromycin are prescribed. Oral contraceptives can also aid in reducing acne and are prescribed to women who like being on the pill.
The above mentioned drugs do not give complete clearing and most women still do not get the wondrous clear skin they always desired. If you are one of those women whose acne is still not completely eradicated then hormonal treatment for acne is the way to go.
Hormonal treatment is very subjective and differs from patient to patient. The main idea behind it is to lower free testosterones and to protect the oil glands from this hormone.

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