Menopause Acne
69Menopause Acne and Hormone Levels
Menopause acne is related to the changes in hormone levels of menopausal women.
The cause of acne is most often linked to the androgens hormones stimulating the sebaceous. These are oil glands and hair follicles found in the skin.
When the sebaceous glands are over-stimulated by androgens, acne flare-ups can occur.
About half of all women experience acne episodes involving increased facial oiliness during the week preceding menstruation.
Women with hormonal acne also may experience irregular menstrual cycles, obesity, infertility or diabetes. It's vitally important for these women to consult with their physician, as a blood test can determine the cause of these symptoms and the best treatment option.
Hormonal Testing for Acne
For extreme cases of acne, hormonal testing is useful. This testing is the same as tests for extra hair growth or alopecia, and consists in measuring androgens to see if elevated levels are involved in causing the acne.
It's important to note that even if androgen levels are normal, they are still involved in starting the acne process. Some women with acne have a hormonal disorder, but not most women. A hormonal disorder is more common in teenagers, not menopausal women.
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Treating Hormonal Acne
Dermatologists have been recognizing hormonal treatments such as oral contraceptives to be an effective treatment option for women who have experience issues with acne, no matter how severe the case.
Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives which commonly contain estrogens and progestins, directly affect how much androgen your body produces and can therefore impact acne.
Some possible behaviors of estrogens working to improve acne include...
Reducing DHT levels due to inhibition of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase
Decreased production of ovarian androgens and adrenal DHEA-S and
SHBG increase, which reduces levels of androgens
Take Care of Your Skin
It's a good idea to talk to your doctor or health care professional about what to do for sensitive skin. You likely have drier and more sensitive skin than you did when you were young so this would be important when talking about appropriate skin care.
Cleanse your face and avoid vigorous scrubbing. Scrubbing real hard can likely irritate the skin and make the acne worse. Also, toners containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid may help remove surface oils during the premenstrual period. Tones may help keep acne from reappearing, also for those people with oily skin. A light moisturizer is also recommended to combat dryness that can be caused by common acne therapies.
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Natural Solutions to Clearing Up Menopause Acne
- Best Tips for Hot Flash Relief
Tips for Reducing Hot Flashes There are ways other than taking prescription medication to deal with annoying hot flashes. Some of the best remedies for hot flashes include exercising, reducing stress and avoiding common triggers like spicy food and alcohol. Maintain a Healthy Diet There are types of foods you can eat to help reduce hot flashes. Drink milk and eat calcium-rich foods such as yogurt and cheese. Eat dark green, leafy vegetables including broccoli and spinach. Eat vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain cereal products. Consume foods that are high in vitamin C and carotene such as oranges, grapefruit, carrots, winter squash and tomatoes. Exercise Exercising regularly is good because it helps you maintain hormonal balance. Avoid triggers Hot flashes are triggered by caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, or drinking or eating something very hot, like soup. Avoid eating large amounts of food at one time. Avoid stressful situations. Reduce stress Researchers have found that deep, slow breathing can reduce the effects of hot flashes by half, probably by calming the central nervous system. Avoid getting overheated Dress in layers so you can remove them at the first sign of a flash. Keep cool by using cotton sheets while sleeping and by wearing lightweight clothes and lingerie made of natural fibers that allow your skin to "breathe". Consider Soy Eating a soy-rich diet might help because soy products contain estrogen-like substances. Foods that contain soy include tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk, whole soybeans, texturized vegetable protein, and soy powder. Consider Natural Remedies or Herbs The most popular herbs for hot flash relief are black cohosh, blue cohosh, dong quai, unicorn root, fennel, wild yam root, sarsaparilla, red clover, and yam. Consider Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy BHRT is considered natural because the hormones used in BHRT are taken from soy and/or yams. The advantage of BHRT over traditional HRT is the fact that the BHRT hormones are made to be identical to the moleculer structure of the ones produced by the human body. For more on natural help with menopause and hot flashes, visit BHRT-Resource.com.
- Remedies for Hot Flashes
Remedies for Hot Flashes. Exercise Exercise will directly decrease hot flashes. Exercise at least 30 minutes every day. Women who exercise regularly and maintain a balanced diet suffer less from hot flashes. Watch Your Diet What you eat can often trigger hot flashes. If you consume spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeinated beverages, try going awhile without them and see if your hot flashes subside. Yoga Meditation like yoga can help. For women at midlife and beyond, Yoga is a unique form of menopause medicine that help women adjust to hormonal changes and cope with a wide range of menopause symptoms, all without negative side effects. Yoga practice is an antidote to the stiffness and fatigue that tends to settle in the body with the passage of time, while also providing a calming effect that reduces stress. Menopause is not an illness but a natural biological process, though the risk for Heart Disease and Osteoporosis rises after Menopause. Drink plenty of water and avoid spicy foods Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily and avoid hot, spicy foods. Black cohosh Herbal remedies are popular for relieving menopause symptoms. Black cohosh often provides effective relief of hot flashes, as well as other symptoms of menopause including headaches, heart palpitations, and anxiety. Vitamin E Research has shown taking 400 IU to 800 IU of Vitamin E daily significantly reduces the occurrence and severity of hot flashes and night sweats. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) has become a popular method for providing relief from hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause for many women. Natural progesterone cream available OTC, in compounded prescriptions, or as traditional prescriptions are possible options. Be sure you understand both the risks and the benefits of Hormone Replacement and how it's relevant to your personal medical history. Talk with your doctor to see if BHRT is right for you.
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, an Option to Consider for Menopause Relief
Bioidentical hormones are a newer, more advanced approach to hormone replacement. BHRT has the advantage of using medicines that are bio-chemically identical to the natural hormones that your body develops. Not all women experiencing menopause need the same treatment and that's why it's important to consider BHRT. The benefit of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is rather than having your doctor prescribe medication that is the same that's prescribed to all other women experiencing menopause, the doctor can prescribe individualized medication unique to your needs. For instance, you can get your hormone levels tested. Your hormone levels are tested first then your doctor prescribes the medication specific to what you need. You then get a prescription compounded by a compounding pharmacist. A compounding pharmacy is the type of pharmacy where a pharmacist or physician mixes drugs creating a prescription necessary to fit the unique needs of a patient. Compounding may be necessary for medical reasons such as avoiding a non-essential ingredient that the patient is allergic to, changing the form of the medication from a solid pill to a liquid, or to obtain the exact dose needed.






