When it comes to problems with acne, women occasionally have a bigger problem. Lament it as we might, they are often judged on their looks. Their physiology makes them more susceptible to suffering acne at particular times. Treatment options can be costlier for them and less affordable.
As teenagers, girls are more precocious. Normally most girls will show signs of acne by about age 11 as opposed to age 13 for boys. The reason isn't hard to find. Girls grow up quicker. They become pubescent up to two years before boys.
During this time the human hormone system sees hormone levels increase rapidly such as estrogen or testosterone. There's a class of hormones that are less familiar but more important at to acne onset - androgens.
The name 'androgens' means, these hormones are shared by both males and females but, as noted, the increase in girls occurs sooner. Once they reach puberty the androgen levels rise higher in young men so they tend to show worse acne.
About two out of three of all teens will suffer from acne to some degree. For girls, the acne tends to last longer often on a regular basis. As a young woman enters her twenties her periods tend to raise the likelihood of developing at least mild acne. Since that occurs monthly, so does the acne. The week prior to the start of the period is usually the worst for almost 62% of women.
The problem persists for girls throughout the years of reproductive capacity. Over half of women (as opposed to only 42.5% of men) between ages 20-29 develop acne. The incidence drops significantly for the ages thirty to thirty nine to 35.2% and twenty per cent respectively. When she enters her 40s, the per centage has fallen to 26.3% (twelve percent for men). For those aged fifty plus the per centages are about 15% and 7% for women vs. men.
The severity shows a similar trait. During the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle, outbreaks increase about 25%. Even blackheads and whiteheads increase about by a fifth during this time.
Pregnancy promises a little respite but it mostly shifts the pattern. It doesn't wipe out acne entirely. During pregnancy, outbreaks can occur now and again. Skin changes, even for those who have never had acne, are to be expected when a woman is pregnant.
Here again significant hormonal changes are taking place. The largest number of cases tends to occur during the first three months. That shouldn't be surprising since this is when hormone levels are changing most rapidly from their usual amount and distribution. Delivering the baby will many times see an end to the outbreaks but they tend to persist in women who breastfeed.
Though a woman has to always be more careful about the medicines she takes, over the counter are probably safe. Some studies have suggested, however, that isotretinoin (brand name: Accutane) and tetracycline (doxycycline), treatments for severe acne, not be used during pregnancy. There is a danger of birth defects or growth problems in the fetus.
As the father of eleven and grandfather of 9 I have seen the distress that acne can cause. We should all understand that spots and pimples damage more than the skin. go2-url.com/aeiasr - www.costa-classified-ads.com
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