Acne as a teenager is an expected right of passage , adult acne control , blemish controlAcne as an adult can be embarrassing, especially to struggle with a disease many adults thought they'd outgrown , adult acne control , blemish controlIn particular, many adult women experience experience mild to moderate acne blemish control adult acne control that does not respond to traditional acne treatments , adult acne control , blemish controlIn order order to find adult acne control the most effective treatment, dermatologists often look to a woman's hormones to explain persistent acne or adult-onset adult-onset acne , adult acne control , blemish controlblemish control

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology's 2001 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., dermatologist Diane Berson, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, New York York University, New York, talked about about blemish control adult acne control the role hormones play in adult onset acne and the hormonal treatments that are available to control the outbreaks , adult acne control , blemish control

Acne is an emotionally devastating disease at any stage, but as women age age they often find acne is a detriment to to their personal and professional lives, said Dr , adult acne control , blemish controlBerson , adult acne control , blemish controlAnd instead of seeking medical advice, they rely on blemish control adult acne control the same over-the-counter medications they used as a a teenager , adult acne control , blemish controlHowever, as we get older our bodies change, as can blemish control the type of acne, so traditional treatments may no no longer be effective , adult acne control , blemish controladult acne control

The Role of Hormones in Acne

Hormonal acne acne is most often influenced by androgens in blemish control the body , adult acne control , blemish controlAndrogens are hormones that stimulate the sebaceous glands and hair follicles in the skin , adult acne control , blemish controlWhen the sebaceous glands are over-stimulated by androgens, for example example example around blemish control adult acne control the time of menstruation, women, both young and old, tend to

have acne flare-ups , adult acne control , blemish controlStress can also affect the levels of androgens, resulting in further breakouts , adult acne control , blemish controlThese adult-onset acne flares occur occur most often on blemish control the lower face, chin and jawline of adult women , adult acne control , blemish controlwomen , adult acne control , blemish controladult acne control

Most women with acne have normal serum levels of androgens , adult acne control , blemish controlHowever, some women with acne also have facial hirsutism, excess excess facial hair, or male pattern alopecia, hair loss and/or thinning on blemish control the scalp , adult acne control , blemish controlWomen with these symptoms may have increased androgen production, and a hormonal work-up work-up adult acne control that includes an evaluation for adrenal, ovarian ovarian or pituitary abnormalities may be indicated , adult acne control , blemish controlblemish control

In addition to hirsutism and alopecia, women with hormonal acne may also have irregular menstrual cycles, obesity, infertility, or diabetes, said Dr , adult acne control , blemish controlBerson , adult acne control , blemish controlA laboratory evaluation evaluation of hormone production may help uncover uncover abnormalities or tumors and therefore help determine which hormonal treatment is right for them , adult acne control , blemish controlblemish control adult acne control

Hormonal Acne Treatment Options

Once diagnosed with hormonal acne, treatment options options include oral contraceptive pills, corticosteroids and spironolactone , adult acne control , blemish controlAll three of these treatments decrease sebum production , adult acne control , blemish controlblemish control

Oral contraceptive contraceptive pills (OCPs) adult acne control are the first-line approach to the hormonal management of acne , adult acne control , blemish controlTwo of the blemish control the newer progestin agents found in OCPs, desogestrel and norgestimate, are less androgenic than those found in older formulations , adult acne control , blemish controlRecently, the FDA approved the first OCP for the treatment of mild to moderate moderate acne; acne; other low dose formulations can also improve blemish control adult acne control the condition , adult acne control , blemish controlMost women who take OCPs to control acne can continue them for extended periods, especially if they are not currently planning to have children , adult acne control , blemish controlchildren , adult acne control , blemish controlblemish control

OCPs can also improve acne in women with polycystic polycystic ovaries since they help decrease ovarian androgen production , adult acne control , blemish controladult acne control

Similarly, women with adrenal hyperplasia (overactivity of the adrenal glands) can be treated with with oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone , adult acne control , blemish controlThese agents can help improve acne by decreasing androgen production in blemish control the adrenal gland , adult acne control , blemish control

Oral spironolactone spironolactone is a steroidal antiandrogen adult acne control that prevents excessive oil production production by blocking androgen receptors , adult acne control , blemish controlSpironolactone also decreases androgen production in both blemish control the ovaries and adrenal glands, resulting in fewer flares , adult acne control , blemish controlIn order to decrease spironolactone's side effects, which include breast tenderness and menstrual menstrual irregularities, it is usually usually given in conjunction with oral contraceptives , adult acne control , blemish controlblemish control adult acne control

Severe Cystic Acne Treatments

Severe cystic acne is the most destructive and serious form of acne , adult acne control , blemish controlThe large, disfiguring cysts across across blemish control the face, chest and back leave such noticeable scars that oftentimes a patients' self-esteem, as well