Acne is kind of skin condition followed by the occurrence of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, nodules, pustules etc. The right cause of acne have not been determined yet. According, to the studies and researches the factors that dominate the causes of acne are bacterial infections, clogging of skin pores, side effects of medicines and hormonal changes. Among all these factors, hormonal changes occurs in our body several times giving rise to hormonal acne. This kind of acne is also known as adult acne. When the body produces sebum oil hormonal changes occurs and acne develops on skin. Children and kids never suffer from hormonal acne. This is because at young and tender age, the hormone levels of the body remains unchanged. At this age the glands that produces oil is not mature enough for producing oil.
Hormonal Acne
Since, hormone acne are caused by imbalances in hormone level, women are more prone to this type of acne. Women experiences lots of hormonal changes during pregnancy, puberty, menopause. Sometimes, consumption of medicines pave the way for change in hormonal level. Change in the level of androgen hormone gives birth to favorable conditions for acne. Androgen is main hormone that causes hormonal acne. This hormone is actually a male hormone, but this hormone is also present in women, though in a very small quantity. When any kind of imbalance occurs in this hormone, the oil, glands produces excessive oil. This oil provides a good environment for the development of bacteria. The combination of bacterial and oil development results in blocking hair follicle and thus acne results.
Causes of Hormonal Acne
Environmental factors also add to hormonal acne. Chemicals such as trichlorophenol produces dioxin, when it reacts with air. Dioxin is a kind of oily powder that glues to the skin. Rain and wind helps in spreading dioxin rapidly. Dioxin helps in producing keratin that further leads to pimples and blackheads. This chemical is very poisonous and takes long time for sun to eliminate this from the atmosphere. In the year 1976 the people of Seveso, in Italy suffered from acne problems for this chemical. Even some anti-bacterial components triclosan yields dioxins when it comes in contact with sunlight. This chemical is present in dish soaps, lotions, cosmetics, hand soaps, antimicrobial cream. These chemicals not only gets accumulated in human body, but also in milk, fish, chicken, eggs. Thus, environmental pollution causes hormonal acne.
Hormonal Acne Treatments
Since androgen hormone is the major cause of hormonal acne, the doctors prescribe anti-androgen to effectively treat hormonal acne. Spironolactone and flutamide are some types of anti androgens components. For women, oral contraceptives are also recommended to prevent hormonal acne. The time period for hormonal acne treatment generally takes over months. But in some cases, the treatment continues for years. In order to be sure that hormonal acne has been eradicated completely, mild form of treatment continue after the completion of entire course. This kind of treatment is generally prescribed for women patients only and continues throughout the life.