Skin care

Adult Acne? 6 Things Everyone Needs to Know

Because you think you know everything there is to know about acne and blackheads ... but you don't

by Allie Flinn | 7 COMMENTS

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Your Acne Could Be Caused By a Serious Medical Condition "If you've tried a lot of medicines, pills and prescriptions, think about your hormones," says Miami-based dermatologist Betty Bellman, M.D. She sees a lot of patients who come in with symptoms of persistent acne, those stray, wiry facial hairs, and trouble losing weight. Sound like you? It could be PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). According to the Office on Women's Health, as many as five million women in the U.S. may be affected. Dr. Bellman refers these patients to an endocrinologist, who can help figure out the best way to regulate the hormonal imbalance.

All acne is hormone-related, but flare-ups caused by Aunt Flo and breakouts induced by a visit from your in-laws respond differently based on the treatment. Most hormonal acne (the kind related to your period) will pop up about a week before your period and it appears along your chin and jaw line, says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research for the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. If this is when and where you notice your breakouts occurring, look into hormonal fixes, like birth control, with your doctor.

Spironolactone is also prescribed for treating hormonal acne flare-ups, according to Dr. Zeichner. Originally designed to treat high blood pressure, the medication has been used off-label for decades to treat acne. "It works by competing with testosterone," says Dr. Zeichner. It races the testosterone to your oil glands and binds to the receptor before the testosterone -- decreasing oil production and starving the acne-causing bacteria on your face.

Acne caused by stress hormones can't be helped by contraceptives. Your skin freaks when you're stressed because it causes your adrenal glands to pump out more cortisol, increasing oil production and "feeding" the acne-causing bacteria on your face. The solution? Manage your stress (yeah, easier said than done) and get into a good cleansing regimen.

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