Photo: Hormonal Acne
There are a number of reasons that are said to contribute to acne eruption. Some of these, which are considered true to young and old or men and women alike, are poor diet, lack of exercise and enough sleep, poor cleansing habits and hormonal imbalance.
The last on the list transpires when the sebaceous glands, the glands responsible for the secretion of oil, overproduced oil or sebum. You see, sebum does not pose danger to the body since it lubricates the skin as well as the hair, however, excessive production of it could be a different story especially if it is combined with dirt, dead skin cells and other pollutants. Combining all these elements along with oil could adversely block the pores, thus, allowing bacteria to thrive and infect the spot. This spot then becomes the much-dreaded acne in the form of whiteheads, blackheads or pimples.
Hormonal acne is believed to be spurred by the masculinising effect of “androgens” during puberty. This hormonal change causes the oil glands to be enlarged and highly sensitive thereby triggering overproduction of oil and blockage of pores. Contrary to popular belief, however, adolescents are not the sole target of hormonal imbalance. Adults, especially pregnant women, may also suffer from this imbalance which could be unfavorable to the skin.
Given their adverse effect on the body, this type of imbalance should not be taken lightly. There are a number of hormonal acne treatments that can help curb the production process. These treatments or therapies also restore the hormones’ natural equilibrium thereby allowing the glands to produce just the right amount of oil needed by the body. Some of these treatments come in the form of pills that need to be taken on a regular basis to ensure their effectiveness. For women, birth control pill is by far the most common form of treatment. These pills regulate oil production along with their power to control the hormones in the reproductive system.
There is indeed a host of natural and herbal medicine available now that could be considered as hormonal acne treatments. Most of these pills are not available over-the-counter though so you may want to talk to your dermatologist first to get the one that would best address your hormonal needs and suit your present state of health as well.