Are you someone who has passed the puberty age in life but still getting pesky acne? Not only can acne spoil someone's day when it is something that you see in the mirror first thing in the morning, but it can also affect your self-confidence in general.
Hormonal acne affects about 25 per cent of women ages 40 to 49 years old, and there are various factors that contribute to this condition. Here’s what you need to know about hormonal acne.
What is Hormonal Acne?
Skin conditions such as acne develop when the body produces excessive amounts of sebum, an oil that prevents the skin from drying out. This sebum clumps with dead skin cells in a pore, creating an obstruction that will lead to acne lesion or zit..
Acne causes lesions in the skin, such as comedones, which are open or closed plugs that develop at the base of hairs.
As the name suggests, acne caused by changes in your hormone levels is called hormonal acne. Hormonal acne can affect people of any age, despite the fact that it is often linked to hormone changes during puberty. Women are particularly prone to it.
Many women can expect hormonal acne to start developing right before, during, or right after a menstrual cycle. Contrary to popular belief, hormonal acne can result in longer-lasting cysts and nodules that are deeper than those seen in regular acne. Spots on the chin, jawline, and mouth are caused by hormonal acne. Acne caused by hormones can also affect the entire face and back.
What Causes Hormonal Acne?
Progesterone and oestrogen levels fluctuate significantly throughout the menstrual cycle, and these hormone variations are what lead to this particular type of acne. Furthermore, the ratio of these hormones to one another can impact women's testosterone levels and be a cause of hormonal acne. Cortisol, which is a stress hormone, can affect all of these hormones too.
When your skin generates more oil as a result of hormonal fluctuations, hormonal acne occurs. Acne is the result of the interaction between this oil and the bacteria on your skin's pores or hair follicles.
Due to their skin's sensitivity to androgens like testosterone, which are present in average amounts in the body for most women, hormonal acne develops. Small levels of testosterone are typically produced by women even though it is thought of as a male hormone.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for women because it maintains a healthy libido, strengthens bones and muscles, and controls the menstrual cycle. The adrenal glands and the ovaries both create testosterone. The overproduction of androgens under certain circumstances might also result in hormonal acne.
Who Does Hormonal Acne Affect?
Hormonal acne affects both men and women, but most cases occur in women, pregnant women and women going through menopause:
Teenagers
Our bodies experience a hormonal excess throughout puberty, including testosterone and oestrogen. These hormones, particularly testosterone, are believed to be susceptible to the sebaceous glands and that elevated levels cause excess sebum production.
Menstruating women
Women who have regular cycles may notice a breakout of spots or that their acne worsens just before their period. This is believed to be brought by a decrease in oestrogen during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.
Pregnant women
During pregnancy, many women notice changes in their skin. If you frequently develop acne, you can observe that your symptoms worsen. Alternatively, you may be experiencing spot breakouts for the first time.
Changes in oestrogen and progesterone levels are thought to cause acne during pregnancy. The first trimester is when it occurs most frequently.
Women experiencing menopause
The hormonal changes brought on by menopause can lead to acne, just like during periods and pregnancy. The skin can also aggravate pre-existing issues like eczema and rosacea, which will be more sensitive.
How Common Is Hormonal Acne?
Hormonal acne is so common that it's usually referred to as plain "acne" by the skin management centre in Malaysia. Besides that, hormonal acne affects nearly 80% of the population during their lifetime. About fifty per cent of women in their 20s and twenty-five per cent of women in their 40s get hormonal acne.
Fortunately, hormonal acne is treatable, just like other types of acne. It is possible to manage your hormonal acne and lessen the symptoms of outbreaks through organic skincare in Malaysia and minor lifestyle adjustments.
Traditional Treatments For Hormonal Acne In Malaysia
The customised skin management procedures offered by Doux Visage address the underlying causes of acne, such as hormonal acne and teen acne. To properly treat acne skin without leaving scars and post-blemishes, we combine Soft Laser (Healing laser) with an improved extraction process & Acupuncture Treatment.
If you are looking for a skin management centre in Malaysia, Doux Visage is the first leading medical skincare in Malaysia to combine the power of Chinese Medicine with the goodness of Western beauty ingredients. With the expertise of Dr. Jenny Goh (Ph.D), treating any skin condition is second to none. Speak to one of our consultants by contacting us at +603 7728 6113.