Do Birth Control Pills Cause Or Cure Acne
Birth control pills may help some women control acne. The hormones in birth control pills can help block androgen hormones. Androgen puts oil glands into overdrive. Some birth control pills, though, can make acne worse. So even if you take birth control pills, you’ll still need a good acne skin care routine.
Oil Buildup = Clogged Pores
These clogs are caused by a buildup of oil and dead skin cells. The oil were talking about is called sebum, and its a natural oil produced by your body to keep your skin from getting too dry.
Fun fact: What is sebum? Sebum is produced by sebaceous glands that are connected to your hair follicles. On a clear skin day, these glands make sebum at the perfect rate, keeping your skin moisturized without clogging your pores. Good job, sebaceous glands!
When you get an acne breakout, dead skin cells and sebum gather in your hair follicles and cling to each other. Unfortunately, your sebaceous glands dont get the message that your pores are clogged, so they keep making sebum like nothings wrong. That excess oil keeps building up in the hair follicle, leading to pimples.
All that buildup inside the hair follicle provides a perfect environment for bacteria to gather and grow. This bacteria is what causes the redness, swelling, and pain that go hand-in-hand with acne breakouts.
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Try A Cortisone Injection
Another professional treatment for big pimples is a cortisone injection. A tiny needle is used to inject diluted steroid into the blemish. Within just a few days, the pimple shrinks and disappears. Again, this procedure must be done by a dermatologist, but it’s a fast way to heal stubborn zits.
A cortisone injection should be seen as a last-resort treatment since it can cause side effects like an indentation of the skin around the injection site. Cortisone injections are not right for every person or every blemish, either. Check with your dermatologist to see if this is a good fit for you.
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Top Tip: Reduce High Glycemic Foods
Other foods have been linked to acne and worsening inflammatory conditions as well. For example, high glycemic load foods. Therefore, if one wants to try a new diet to improve their acne, in addition to avoiding dairy, I would recommend avoiding refined flour, sweets, and processed carbohydrates. Again, the exact mechanism isnt known for certain, but we believe that these refined carbs lead to an insulin spike which causes a hormonal cascade that can increase inflammation and oil production.
Experiment With Acne Lasers
There are a few different types of in-office lasers your dermatologist can use to target and destroy bacteria within your skin, the most popular of which is Aerolase. Aerolase penetrates the skin, kills bacteria thats involved with acne, and also delivers whats called a heat shock that shrinks the oil glands and helps cut down on oil production, says Dr. Howe.
Its not overly painful, and it can be effective on some types of acnebut only to a certain degree, and not on everyone. I always warn patients that its expensive, around $300 to $400 per session, and results will depend on their acne, says Dr. Howe, who uses Aerolase in conjunction with a tried-and-true hormonal acne treatments, like a topical prescription and/or an oral prescription. Just know that lasers are not a long-term fix: Almost all patients will need a monthly maintenance treatment, he says.
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Symptoms Of Hormonal Acne
During puberty, hormonal acne often appears on the T-zone, which includes your nose, chin, and forehead. Hormonal acne in adults may start on the lower area of the face, which includes the jawline and lower cheeks.
Acne may appear as comedones, which are of two types whiteheads and blackheads.
Blackheads open at the surface of the skin, and they appear black after sebum interacts with the air.
Whiteheads are closed beneath the skin surface and appear white on top.
Touching or picking at comedones may rupture the follicle wall, but some ruptures also happen spontaneously. When this occurs, sebum and bacteria from the ruptured pore can spread to the surrounding area, leading to inflammation. Inflammatory acne starts as papules, which are commonly referred to as pimples.
Acne may also appear as:
- Papules: Small, raised, red bumps from inflammation or infection of the hair follicles
- Pustules: Small and red pus-filled pimples
- Nodules: Similar to papules but larger in diameter, this type is also dense and painful and lies deep in the skin
- Cysts: Large lumps under the skin that contain pus and may be painful and tender
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Home Remedies For Cystic Acne
- Try topical creams like Retinoid A . A dermatologist can also prescribe higher strength retinoids.
- Use warm compresses to soothe inflammation. Make sure to use a clean washcloth and dont use water thats too hot. This can help encourage pus to come to the surfacebut dont pop the pimple once it has.
- Remove makeup every single night before going to bed. It may also help to choose products that are labeled non-comedogenic or oil-free to combat build-up under the skin.
- Use a gentle facial cleanser. Harsh scrubs can further irritate and dry out your skin, which can lead to excess oil production as your skin works to make up what was lost. You should wash your face at least once per day in the evening before bed with a gentle cleanser.
- Avoid picking at your skin to lessen irritation and prevent infection from spreading. If you find yourself unconsciously touching irritated areas, try covering cysts with an adhesive bandage and keeping your nails short.
- Consider your diet.There is evidence that a low-glycemic diet can help alleviate acne. It may help to cut back on sugar and other high-glycemic foods like white bread, potatoes, and pasta.
Dont use homemade remedies like toothpaste, baking soda, honey, or sugar on your skin. These substances can irritate and clog your pores, and do not work at combating cystic acne.
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Know Your Skins Hormone Cycle
So how do you know what to expect? Its actually fairly simple map where you are in your menstrual cycle and youll have a good idea of your hormone levels.
- Day 1-5: Menstruation Oestrogen and progesterone are low and you might feel it too. Skin may look lacklustre and drab.
- Day 6-13: Follicular Phase Preparing for ovulation and things are looking up, oestrogen and testosterone levels are rising slowly and your skin should be clearing up nicely.
- Day 14-16: Ovulation Oestrogen is at a high so youre feeling good and your skin is clear. This is when we feel most positive about our appearance.
- Day 17-28: Luteal Phase Progesterone builds, soars and then comes back down again. During this phase skin swelling and pore tightening due to water retention can lead to excess sebum and clogged pores. In a word, acne.
What Is The Best Treatment For Teenage Acne
Its often hard to pinpoint a specific timeline for anything health-related, especially for physical changes that are linked with puberty, growth, and aging. Your body and genetic makeup have their own unique timetable for all these processes. Its necessary to point out that we dont necessarily outgrow acne, but the nature and type of acne will change for most over time. Acne treatments may include:
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Discover How You Can Get Clear Of Your Acne Schedule A Free 15 Minute Clear Skin Discovery Session
This is all important because research has shown there are androgen receptors in the base of the oil gland and also in the cells that line the pores! If there are high levels of testosterone floating in the body, they are highly capable of binding to these receptors.
To put it simply, when these hormones attach to the oil glands in the skin, they trigger the gland to produce more oil as well as feed the bacteria. Then, an inflamed acne lesion is well on its way to the surface of your skin.
The key takeaway is that by lowering androgen and testosterone levels in the body, the skin will not produce as much acne or not produce ANY at all.
So how does Estrogen play into all this?
Estrogen and testosterone frequently act like a teeter totter. As one goes up the other goes down.
Hormonal acne is an elevated androgen/testosterone and low estrogen issue. It is not an elevated estrogen problem. Therefore, taking herbal supplements that block estrogen, such as DIM, will make your acne worse and increase testosterone causing cystic breakouts. I do not recommend DIM for hormonal acne for these reasons.
So it makes sense that if you lower androgen levels, the skin will not produce as much oiland your acne will improve!
Should You Squeeze Papules
When acne papules cause a lot of pressure under your skin, you may want to squeeze them. However, it would be best if you didnt squeeze your papules. There isnt any pus to remove, and squeezing can several problems:
- You may open your skin and introduce bacteria into the opening. Bacteria can cause an infection.
- You may irritate your skin. Your skin is sensitive, and your nails are stronger than your skin. When you use your nails to apply a lot of pressure to your skin to try to pop a papule, you can cause inflammation.
- You may scar your skin. You can seriously damage your skin and cause permanent scarring if you apply too much pressure.
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Youre Using The Wrong Products
Unless your skincare products and acne fighting tools were doctor recommended, theres a high probability the tools your friends and family recommended for your acne battle arent the right ones for you.
You and your best friend may have acne, be the same age and have similar lifestyles, but that doesnt mean you have the same acne. That means the same over-the-counter acne treatment wont necessarily work.
While your friend may need to treat the bacteria itself with something like benzoyl peroxide, your root cause may be clogged pores and dead skin, which can be addressed by a retinoid product.
And your routine likely needs to be different from your friends. Just because she can get away with washing just with water, or only using a moisturizer, doesnt mean your problems are the same. Skin drying products are only good if youre producing excessive oil. Used in excess, drying products are only going to increase the dryness of dead skin cells.
Practice Good Skin Hygiene
Not taking care of your skin and going to bed without washing your face can cause or worsen acne, says Engelman. In addition, you should wash your pillowcase frequently and keep your makeup brushes clean. Also, dont share your makeup brushes with friends as this can transfer their dirt and oil onto your skin.
Your makeup could also be clogging your pores and contributing to your acne. Look for makeup and skincare products that wont clog pores or have labels like non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic and oil-free.
Avoid touching your face. Dont touch, pick or pop pimples as it can make acne worse and cause scarring. If you have a large pimple or acne cyst, talk to your dermatologist and they can determine if an acne extraction is needed.
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Where Are Your Pimples Popping Up
We often think of the T-zone as the main area for acne breakout, since the forehead, nose and chin are notorious for pumping out lots of sebum in acne-prone skin. But there are other areas of the face that experience acne breakouts. And where those breakouts occur may shed light on the source of the problem.
Your Acne Is Different
Everyones skin is unique. Acne, its causes, and its treatment are different for everyone.
Retinoid, AHAs, BHAs, azelaic acid, and benzoyl peroxide are some of the most effective products available to treat acne. While all these products can be found over the counter, their success in treating your acne will depend on their proper use and application and the current condition of your skin.
You will need a dedicated program with prescribed home care using products specific to the needs of your skin.
Face and body acne treatments may involve multiple electrical modalities, resurfacing solutions, and Organic Collagen Induction Therapy and possible LED light therapy.
Schedule a new client consultation and treatment. This is the best way to learn more about the acne treatment program and what to expect.
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What Triggers Hormonal Acne
Hormonal fluctuations trigger hormonal acne, and these fluctuations can happen because of:
- Hormonal changes
- Medications
- Lifestyle changes
But its important to note that hormonal acne is not your fault. Seriously. Fundamentally, everyones skin is the sameeveryone has hormonal fluctuations, oil productions, and acne-causing bacteria in their skin that could cause a huge breakout at any time, said Dr. Gohara. The sebaceous glands in some people are just naturally more sensitive to these triggers, causing a larger and more frequent inflammatory response.
Theres Confusing Information On Social Media
As if the world of acne wasnt confusing enough, social media has added a layer of complexity to it all. Scroll through any app, and youll likely be bombarded with conflicting messages, outdated advice, or DIY recommendations that will do more harm than good.
Dr. Campbell says skincare advice on social media has made treating acne harder than ever before. While it may be tempting to skip the doctors visit and try something you saw on TikTok, it likely will only make things worse. If youre struggling with acne, meet with a board-certified dermatologist so they can give you a personalized treatment plan.
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Top 6 Reasons Why Hormonal Acne Wont Go Away
Youve cut out dairy, gluten, and sugar, you rarely drink alcohol, youve spent a fortune on Zinc and Vitex and your diet is a healthy balance of protein, carbs and veggies, but youre still breaking out!!??
This is a common thing to see in our clinic, people who have been trying desperately to self-treat their acne based on what they see online but arent getting the results they want.
Otc Creams Ointments And Medication
Use OTC treatments on your whole face, not just the pimple itself. This helps stop new pimples from forming. Be sure to follow treatment directions exactly and give it at least four weeks to work. Many pimple treatments dry your skin, so be sure to moisturize.
Common types of OTC pimple treatments include:
- Retinoids.This ingredient is made from vitamin A and comes in creams, gels, or lotions. Dont apply these products every day at first to give your skin time to adjust.
- Salicylic acid.This helps clear mild acne. It comes OTC in lower doses, but you can also get it from a doctor.
- Benzoyl peroxide. This fights bacteria that can cause pimples. You can also get this in prescription form.
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What Hormones Cause Pimples
Hormones Stimulate Your Skins Oil Glands And its testosterone that plays the biggest role in acne development. Although its typically thought of as a male hormone, ladies have testosterone too, just in lower levels than men. Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands, making them produce more skin oil or sebum.
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How Can I Prevent Cystic Acne
You can lower your risk of getting acne by taking these steps:
- Use a mild foaming facial cleanser, lukewarm water and your fingers to wash your face after you wake up, before going to bed and after exercising or sweating.
- Apply oil-free moisturizer if you feel dry.
- Use noncomedogenic makeup and facial products.
- Dont sleep in makeup.
- Keep your hands away from your face during the day.
- Dont pick at or pop pimples or scabs.
- Wash your hair regularly and keep hair away from your face.
- Occasionally oily environments, such as working at a fast food restaurant, can contribute to acne flares.
- Diets high in simple sugars and dairy, also called a high glycemic index diet, may contribute to flares as well.
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What Gets Rid Of Hormonal Acne Fast
What else can I do to clear hormonal acne? Wash your face in the morning and again in the evening. Apply no more than a pea-size amount of any acne product. Applying too much can dry out your skin and increase irritation. Wear sunscreen every day. Use only noncomedogenic products to reduce your risk of clogged pores.
Best Herbs For Hormonal Acne
Vitex/Chaste Tree
This herb helps clear hormonal acne by indirectly raising your progesterone levels. Vitex works on your pituitary gland and suppresses the release of a hormone called prolactin .
Stress causes your pituitary gland to release extra prolactin which in turn suppresses progesterone production. Less progesterone means more oil and more acne. So Vitex prevents this happening.
Common signs youre making too much prolactin are feeling irritable before your period and your breasts swell or are tender before your period.
Licorice & PaeonySaw Palmetto
This herb stops testosterone exerting a strong effect on your cells. The weaker the effect of testosterone the less oil your skin produces and the less acne you have.
Blue Flag
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What Treatments Are Out There For Acne Scars
To help heal acne scars, there are numerous at home and in-office treatments. Before deciding what treatment route you think is best for you, make sure to consult with a dermatologist before starting treatment. Dermatologists are experts on determining the best personalized method to reduce scars and acne. They can also ensure the marks on your skin ARE acne and not another condition.
Hormonal changes, puberty, clogged pores, and more can have severe impacts on acne breakouts. The important thing to understand is that its normal. Its also very important to understand the underlying cause of acne and how you can help treat it.
Another vital step in treating acne is building an adult or teenage skin care routine. Whether you struggle with teenage acne or adult acne, understanding your skin type, whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin, etc., will help you choose the right skin care products for you.
If you or someone you know is experiencing adult acne, see a dermatologist ASAP!