Causes of Female Adult Acne

Even if you had clear skin as a teenager, the causes of female adult acne can make you break out. Adult onset acne is acne that reoccurs after having had clear skin as an adult. It occurs almost entirely with females in their twenties, thirties, and sometimes even during/after menopause.

Adult onset acne is just another name for post-adolescent acne and female adult acne.

Now I'm no expert in this category, especially being a member of the opposite sex. So while I may not have any personal experience with this particular topic, I've done plenty of reading to fill out the gaps in my acne knowledge base.

What are the Causes of Female Adult Acne?

The causes of female adult acne are mostly the same as the causes of acne vulgaris, but the way this type of acne fluctuates tends to make it rather obvious that female hormones are to blame.

In other words, the breakouts are typically caused by your menstrual cycle - generally about 2-7 days before your period, and will take a variable length of time to clear - perhaps even a month :( .

The release of androgens (male hormones) trigger the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil which increases the chances for acne. Estrogen appears to have the opposite effect and reduces the chances for acne.

It may not be due to your own hormone's though. It has been shown that oral contraceptive medications, food products, and performance enhancing drugs also have androgenic effects.

Why do only some women suffer from acne due to these hormonal swings? I suspect that it may be due to an overburdened liver. You see, it's the livers job to deactivate hormones and get rid of them. But if the liver is too busy, the hormones might recirculate through your body.

If that happens, you could have too many hormones going through your blood, which is one of the main factors in causing acne.

Cosmetics have been known to cause a mild form of acne called acne cosmetica. If you suspect this is the cause of your acne, be sure to use cosmetics that are non-comedogenic, meaning that they won't clog pores. Most makeups these days are better for that.

What are the Symptoms?

As with adult acne in general, it does differ slightly from the acne you can get as a teenager.

• The breakouts are usually mild to moderate in severity - no pesky nodules or cysts. They are usually inflammatory papules and pustules.
• Because the breakouts are milder in severity, scarring is mild. However, the term "mild" is relative and depends on one's own perceptions.
• Noninflammatory acne (comedones) such as blackheads and whiteheads are more rare.
• Most blemishes will occur on the lower part of the face - this includes the lower cheek, chin, and below the jawline.

Be careful in diagnosing yourself, because you may not have acne vulgaris but rather:

• Rosacea - an acne lookalike
• Pseudofolliculitis barbae and keratosis pilaris - razor bumps
• Endocrinopathy - a hormonal abnormality

Adult Onset Acne and Pregnancy

Acne is unpredictable and sometimes counter-intuitive during pregnancy. As if things weren't already complicated enough right?

Some women clear up their skin under what is called "the glow of pregnancy". This may be great at the time but the acne will usually come back afterward.

For some women the acne can get worse. Some women even get acne for the first time in their lives when they're pregnant. This is because you are even more sensitive to the hormones that are fluctuating throughout your body. Don't worry though, things will come back to normal (as far as your skin goes anyways) afterward.

If you're pregnant and have adult onset acne, you generally want to avoid any sort of oral treatment for the pimples. This is because many of them pose the risk of generating birth defects and can also pass into breast milk.

If the acne is really bad and you want it treated, there are some options that your doctor/dermatologist can provide. As for topical treatments, benzoyl peroxide has been used for many years and is probably safe - but it can cause premature skin aging. Consider natural treatments as they are the safest option.

Talk to your doctor first, to try and uncover your own causes of female adult acne.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female endocrine disorder that occurs when the ovaries are stimulated to produce excessive amounts of male hormones (androgens). This is one of the main unique causes of female adult acne.

One of the symptoms that occurs when you get PCOS is a sudden flare up of acne, which can be pretty severe. Other symptoms include irregular menstrual periods and infertility.

Treatment options include medication prescribed from your doctor, as well as dietary changes. In a nutshell, you want to eat a low glycemic-index diet to bring your hormone levels back to normal. This isn't terribly different from treating acne in general, as a low-GI diet is great for treating acne and your health in general.

Acne into Your 40's and Beyond

You're never too old for acne. Adult onset acne can occur during and after menopause. This is because estrogen levels tend to lower, leaving testosterone as the dominant hormone which can trigger some mild acne.

Finally, you may also consider good health supplements : Health Supplements if you want to balance your hormones and prevent outbreaks of adult acne.

References:

Goodheart, Dr. Herbert P. "Addressing Acne in Adults" Acne for Dummies., 2006

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