Beauty Article

Acne first comes about during adolescence
when hormone levels begin to increase.This sudden flucturation of hormones causes the sebaceous glands to go into overdrive. They start generating increased levels of such oils that end up becoming clogged inside the glands. When the oils can't escape
acne results!

So it goes without saying that when there is a fluctuation in the hormone levels within the body
it can trigger an increase in sebaceous oil production
and therefore increases the chance that an outbreak of acne will likely occur. With women
acne breakouts are common while they are taking birth control pills and also when they become pregnant.

Using Birth Control Pills to Control Acne

Women who do take the birth control pill and who notice that their acne is getting worse should discuss the situation with their doctor. Different types of oral contraception have differing levels of hormones and one side effect of some contraception is an increase in acne. Switching to another brand may bring acne back under control.

Any woman who is healthy
and is at least age 15
who has begun menstruating and who has decided to start using oral contraception can discuss getting a prescription for a birth control pill with their doctor. There are several brands that help clear up acne but only one so far has been approved by the FDA for treatment of acne and that is Ortho Tri-cyclen.

It is important to note that taking the birth control pill as a way to treat acne should be the last alternative
after all other acne treatment options have been attempted without success. The birth control pill does have side effects and it must be taken exactly as prescribed to be effective.

Acne During Pregnancy

Women who have become pregnant often report an increase in acne
too. Many changes occur within a woman's body in an effort to properly prepare the body for the growing fetus. The two primary female hormones at work in every woman's body are progesterone and estrogen. Progesterone is more androgenic than estrogen
which basically means it is more like the hormones found in men. Increased progesterone during pregnancy can cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebaceous oils than normal and that is what can cause outbreaks of acne.

If possible
the best way to handle acne during pregnancy is to realize that it is a short-term problem that will usually go away once the baby is born. If this isn't possible
discuss your options over with a dermatologist who has experience working with patients during their pregnancy. After going through your situation
the dermatologist will be able to suggest treatment options that'll make you happier with your appearance and that won't harm your baby.