3 replies to this topic

[jokerj]

Okay, I have a question-- if the hormones that rise during PMS are progesterone and estrogen, why do treatments like BCP and Spiro, medications that would increase prog. and est. in relation to other hormones, work for premenstrual acne?

Thanks!

[Starlitskies]

Actually, testosterone is what rises before your period, and then estrogen/progestin balance back out once your period starts. The reason birth control pills work is because it's giving your body a CONSTANT dose of hormones, so it tricks your body into never spiking your hormones up and down. Thus, they stay more level and you don't end up breaking out - and it usually keeps you from ovulation which is the main way birth control keeps you from getting preggers

However, a lot of women react badly to the progestin inside the birth control methods, which can sometimes cause your acne to get worse, instead of better... Sucks don't it?

[societydeb]

Maybe you should have your hormones checked, I did and thats how they found out my testosterone was super high, which was why no topical stuff was working, and I needed spiro.

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

Androgens and estrogen rise at ovulation. Then progesterone rises and counteracts the estrogen. At the last week of your cycle you have high progesterone and maybe androgens. During your period week you have very little estrogen and androgens, basically everything is dormant but estrogen begins to rise slowly at the time.

Most sources on the cycle leave out the spike in testosterone mid-month for a reason I've never understood. But the short answer is that they work because they counteract the spike in androgens from mid-cycle and thereafter. I don't believe estrogen causes acne. People think that if they break out mid-cycle that it's estrogen caused because nowhere does it say that androgens rise at the time. Estrogen= no acne. Androgens = acne. Progesterone deficiency or too much of it can cause acne because it throws everything off and progesterone can act like an androgen in high doses if there's not enough estrogen to balance it out. It also affects testosterone too and may inhibit its acne causing effects. But estrogen doesn't cause acne.

Edited by LoveGreenSmoothies, 09 June 2012 - 09:31 PM.