Acne Treatment

Female Adult Acne

Women often break out in their late 20s and early 30s, sometimes for the first time in their lives. This is thought to be hormone related. Premenstrual adult acne may be caused by over-stimulated androgens (hormones that stimulate sebaceous glands and hair follicles in the skin). During this time a woman’s oil-producing glands go into excess. Women may also see acne throughout their cycle, the cause of which we do not fully understand.

Pregnant women and women undergoing menopause and post-menopause also experience hormonal acne. Since these cycles are natural, not much can be done to stop the possible periodic outbreaks of acne. During pregnancy in particular, it is important that an expectant mother speak closely with her physician regarding appropriate acne treatments, topical or oral.

There are a few treatment options available for adult female acne. For women who have found that antibiotics or topical treatments have not been helpful solutions for acne, there are still alternatives. After consulting a physician, many women have turned to birth control for acne. As an acne treatment, birth-control pills, when used in low-dosages, with other forms of topical remedies, can decrease the amount of extra androgens and treat the skin itself, therefore limiting blemish breakouts. Before resorting to this type of treatment, women should be aware of other side effects related to birth control consumption and consult a gynecologist.