Dermatologists have been recommending hormonal treatments for acne for quite some time. Women have been using these treatments, such as birth control, to treat their acne problems, even in severe cases. Hormonal cures are especially effective when the acne is the result of hormonal changes in women, such as with menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. Hormonal cures work by interrupting the beginning phase of the acne development. The user needs to decide which hormonal cure works well.
Connection between Hormones and Acne
Acne starts to develop when the body starts to produce certain hormones, including the sex hormone. These hormones cause acne by blocking pores and trapping in oils and dirt. Acne can be treated tropical by applying medicated ointment to the acne spots, but the more effective way is to attack it at the source and stopping the acne from forming in the first place.
Several androgens play a role in the development of acne: DHT, DHEA-S, androstenedione and testosterone. Some women experiences very high levels of testosterone and androgen in their bodies. This condition is called polycystic ovarian syndrome. Acne is just one of the symptoms of this condition, along with weight gain, infertility and facial hair. Controlling the production of these hormones helps with the fight against acne. Hormonal therapy, with dieting and exercise, has been effective against polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Types of Hormone Therapy
The two types of hormonal cures for acne are oral contraceptives and Spironolactone. Oral contraceptives contain progestins and estrogen. The estrogen helps to control the amount of androgen that is produced by the body, which impacts the initial development of acne. Progestins affect acne by changing the activity of testosterone and androgens. Progestins increase the androgens that don't produce acne. Estrogen and progestins work together to fight acne at the source. Oral contraceptives on the market today are Yasmin, Alesse and Tri-Cyclen. These have been proven to improve the appearance of the skin in the women taking them.
If trying to get pregnant, using birth control pills may not be the right choice for fighting acne. This is where spironolactone comes in. It is a synthetic steroid that acts as an anti-androgen. It works by binding to the body's androgen receptors to block their binding to cell receptors. This blocks the body to produce too much of the harmful hormones that causes acne. Based on a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2008, spironolactone proved successful in 85 percent of women using it. The side effects included tender breast, irregular menstrual cycles, headaches and fatigue.
Tags: have been, birth control, development acne, ovarian syndrome, polycystic ovarian, polycystic ovarian syndrome