By: Bertil Hjert
Acne is a common problem among women. Women suffer from this problem due to hormonal changes and imbalance that occur in their bodies from time to time. Occurrence of acne is very common at the onset of puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause etc.
Acne can also be a warning sign of an underlying medical problem. For instance, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a common health condition that can easily affect the heart of the women, her menstrual cycle, blood vessels, potency to bear children, appearance, hormones and even result in small cysts inside the ovaries.
Sometimes higher levels of hormones usually result in acne, weight gain, ovulation problems and excessive hair growth. It is very important to seek medical advice in case, you ever observe the above mentioned signs and symptoms.
Acne affects women in many ways. Most young women will suffer from pimples at some point in their lives. However, acne tends to affect both men and women in different ways.
Here, we will focus on the effects of acne in women. Many women tend to get upset and ill due to acne as it tends to affect their overall personality. They may suffer from depression, low self esteem and poor body image.
A) Here are some reasons behind occurrence acne in women:
a) Hormonal changes during puberty girls experience increase in androgens or male sex hormones. This tends to make the glands larger and secrete more amount of sebum.
b) Hormone changes when one reaches adult-hood. The menstrual cycle is one of the most common causes of acne. Acne tends to appear a few days before the onset of the cycle and fades away once the cycle is completed.
c) Other changes in the hormone such as menopause and pregnancy and menopause also trigger acne in some women.
d) Discontinuing the use of birth control pills also triggers acne.
e) Consumption of certain types of medicines also results in formation of acne.
f) Women love to put on make up. However, an attempt to look beautiful may sometimes result in irritation of the skin and acne.
g) Friction on the skin caused by back packs and bike helmets can make acne worse.
h) Acne is also hereditary. If you have a family history of acne, there are greater chances that you may also have it.
i) Poor hygiene is also responsible for occurrence of acne on skin. One must not wash the face or scrub it too often as it tends to make the acne worse.
j) Eating a lot of chocolates or greasy foods may cause acne.
B) Treatment options
a) Laser treatment can reshape scars
b) Dermabrassions removes surface scars and minimize the depth of deep scars
c) Photodynamic therapy
C) Prevention Methods
a) Keep the skin clean with mild medicated soap twice a day.
b) Wash your face regularly
c) Never ever squeeze or pick acne lesions
d) Do not move freely under the sun
e) Choose good quality make up products.
f) Do not rub the skin
g) Seek medical attention as soon as possible
h) Do not go out in the sun without applying sunscreen at all.
