Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Is There An Acne And Hormone Connection?

 

Acne and its development is said to have a close connection with changes in hormones. High levels of the androgen and testosterone hormones present in the body have been found in people suffering from acne and who often have oily ski. Because of this a sort of Yin and Yang phenomenon, a balance of androgen and estrogen, is thought to be required to maintain healthy skin. When hormonal imbalances occur, acne tends to develop.

The belief that there is a connection between acne and hormones holds that acne  often starts around the age of 19 to 24, thus it can start with teens but also affect mature adults. This is when people will typically get lesions on the lower face, mostly on the chin and jaw line. Although the majority of its victims are affected mainly on the face, it may also appear on the chest and back. 

The idea that there is a connection between acne and hormones comes from thew fact that acne typically starts to appear when the body starts to produce androgen hormones. Androgens are the biggest culprit that incite the sebaceous glands to enlarge and emit sebum. Sebum builds up in the follicle and then gets pushed up the hair shaft until it reaches the exterior of the skin. As this movement occurs, the sebum then blends with bacteria which cause the hair follicle blockade. It is merely the blocked follicles which become the breeding area for bacteria, resulting in acne.

Hormones play a major role in the regulation of every body function. Sleep, growth and other related body functions largely depend upon your hormones. So, as it is mentioned above, when your hormones are out of balance, certain problems like acne may arise.  And, if your hormones are in balance then there is less chance for acne to emerge. 

The occurrence of acne in teens as well as in adults also tends to explain the connection between acne and hormones. In teens, it is commonly noted that during the onset of puberty, androgen is produced which holds a major role in the development of acne. The acne and hormones connection is most noticed in mature women during their menstrual cycle. Certain reports in fact have noted that acne that worsens during a woman’s monthly cycle is not something that women will grow out of as they get older.

A good acne treatment should be effective at every stage of life.

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