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Hormonal Acne 101: How It Happens & How To Treat It

Hormonal Acne 101: How It Happens & How To Treat It

Hormonal Acne 101: How It Happens & How To Treat It

When it comes to hormonal acne, the first thing most people picture is a severe breakout of bright red spots on their faces that haunted most of their teenage years. However, the unfortunate truth is these breakouts aren’t just a distant memory — hormonal acne can show up unannounced years later, when you are least expecting it.

There is a common misconception that hormonal acne only affects teenagers, which is not the case! Multiple studies that have been conducted through the years have found that acne is a persistent issue that affects people of all ages.

Despite its prevalence, many people do not truly understand what hormonal acne is. Indeed, it is more than just the occasional pimple that sticks out like a sore thumb. In this article, we go over everything you need to know about hormonal acne – including what it is, how it happens, and possible treatment options.

What is hormonal acne?

Before we delve any further, we must first understand what hormonal acne is. Hormonal acne is more than just the (not so) good old-fashioned pimple.

As the name suggests, hormonal acne is acne tied to fluctuations in an individual’s hormones. Research has found that women are more likely to experience hormonal acne than men.

Hormonal acne often affects the lower third of the face — around the mouth, chin, and jawline. These breakouts can be in the form of inflammatory lesions, cysts, whiteheads, and blackheads.

Causes of hormonal acne

As mentioned earlier, hormonal acne is tied closely to the fluctuations of one’s hormones.

Androgens and estrogen are two hormones that must collaborate effectively for clear skin. Testosterone is an example of an androgen that stimulates the sebaceous glands and increases sebum production. Estrogens have the opposite effect and slow the production of sebum. Therefore, breakouts are common when testosterone levels are abnormally high and estrogen levels are low.

Testosterone levels rise in an individual’s teenage years as a part of puberty. In adulthood, the menstrual cycle and pregnancy for women can result in hormonal changes that trigger hormonal acne. Certain conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), may lead to increased testosterone levels. Individuals who consume an excessive amount of dairy are also prone to hormonal acne – with research showing that dairy stimulates testosterone production in the body.

Typically, hormonal acne tends to manifest in a cyclical pattern, with breakouts generally popping up in the same place monthly.

Does it ever go away?

As your body adapts to hormonal or physiological changes, all types of acne, including hormonal acne, can get better over time. But in many instances, hormonal acne is a persistent issue that will be challenging to resolve without proper, personalized treatment.

So, if you feel like all hope is lost because you have tried multiple off-the-shelf products and don’t seem to see any results, know that there are acne treatment options available – from laser treatments to topical and oral therapy.

Say goodbye to hormonal acne for good with The Clifford Clinic

For the best acne dermatologists in Singapore, consider visiting us here at The Clifford Clinic. With more than 18 years of experience and knowledge in providing acne treatment in Singapore, we are equipped with the professional know-how to help you combat hormonal acne for good. A safe, effective, and long-lasting acne treatment plan will be created specifically for you based on your skin condition and goals.

When it comes to stubborn adult acne like hormonal acne, we would recommend the AGNES treatment – a long-term and permanent solution to painful breakouts and cystic breakouts. As the pioneers for AGNES treatment in Singapore, The Clifford Clinic has developed a safe, effective acne protocol that can treat even the most difficult cases of acne. In order to effectively treat recurrent acne, AGNES specifically shrinks the sebaceous glands by going after the source of the issue.

A tell-tale sign that the individual pore is damaged by scarring is when you observe that acne frequently appears in the same location (like hormonal acne does). With the use of AGNES, our certified doctors will be able to identify the damaged pores on your skin under high magnification and treat each one of them with brief bursts of RF energy to decrease the oil glands. This will greatly reduce the likelihood of acne returning to that particular pore.

Another treatment you may consider is our Gold Photothermal Therapy Treatment (PTT). With the use of a dermatological laser, gold nanoparticles are introduced into the pores and glands during the procedure. The goal of this targeted heating is to alter the pores and glands that cause acne so that less oil is produced – treating acne at its source.

Besides this, we also offer acne scar treatments in Singapore to heal any scarring left behind from hormonal or cystic acne, as well as hair transplant procedures to help boost your self-esteem. If you feel self-conscious about acne marks or pigmentation, our Q-Switch Laser Treatment would be of great help. This is an effective yet non-invasive treatment that removes unwanted marks on the skin with a high-energy laser pulse. A single treatment can eliminate between 75 and 100% of a brown spot. Sometimes a second procedure is required to completely heal the affected area. The skin’s natural collagen will also be gently stimulated throughout this laser treatment to keep your skin firm and supple.

For more information on our extensive range of treatments or to book an appointment, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today!