Anyone with a basic knowledge of human biology will know about hormones and how important they are in the proper functioning of the body. And the role of hormones when it comes to acne is so significant that we felt the need for a separate article on the topic.
Male menace?
For the uninformed, the root of acne lies in male hormones, or androgens. Though they are male hormones, androgens are also present in women, in lesser quantities. Crucially, however, in both men and women, androgens control the functioning of the sebaceous glands, which produce oil (sebum) that moisturizes the skin and prevents it from becoming dry.
Things start to go wrong when androgens send wrong signals to the sebaceous glands, over-stimulating them so that they produce excess sebum, which gathers in hair follicles and, along with dead cells, clogs the pores of the skin. The clogged area then becomes a fertile breeding for acne-causing bacteria and acne lesions start to develop.
As acne expert Louisa Craig says, “Though no strong scientific evidence exists to prove this fact, it has generally been observed that those who suffer from acne often have relatively oily skin. The reason is that they have higher levels of androgens, and this hormonal imbalance probably causes their acne.”
The onset period
Hormonal acne usually sets in around the age of 18 and lasts into the mid-20s. This form of acne most often attacks the face, though in some cases it can spread to the chest and back. We are, of course, talking about adult hormonal acne here, though hormonal acne is equally, if not more, prevalent among teenagers.
Now for some jaw-breaking stuff: ever heard of dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (don’t even bother pronouncing it, call it DHEAS)? It is an androgen secreted from the adrenal glands as we approach puberty. When we actually reach puberty, the androgens testosterone and dehydro-testosterone (DHT) are also doing the rounds of our bodies. When these hormones become over-active, they over-stimulate the sebaceous glands, which is why teenagers get acne. And because male hormones lie at the root of it all, teenage boys are more affected than girls.
To make matters dodgier, it is difficult to teenage hormonal acne because of the rapidly occurring nature of hormonal change. So, even if a teenager responds positively to a certain Acne Treatment medication at the age of 15, say, there is no guarantee that he will continue to do so when he is 19. So medication for teenage hormonal acne needs to change constantly.
Adults get it too!
Many adults, particularly women, develop acne in their mid-20s or even 30s, particularly before their menstrual period, and once again owing to hormonal changes that occur in the body at this time. For the same reason, many pregnant women also develop acne. In such situations, the Best Acne Treatment is to consult a dermatologist, because the body is not receptive to certain kinds of medication at such times.
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