I am 33 years old, often have acne, causing pain, dark scars; have tried many skin care methods according to instructions on TikTok but it does not help, what should I do? (Thu Thao, Nghe An).
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Acne in adult women is mostly hormonal acne. A 2008 study found that about 50% of women aged 20-29 and 25% of women aged 40-49 suffer from acne. Women are prone to acne before and after giving birth, during perimenopause, menopause or during their menstrual cycle. These are periods when the body undergoes certain changes that cause hormonal imbalance, forming hormonal acne.
Usually, hormonal acne often grows around the lower jaw, chin, neck, the lesions are mainly pustules, cysts and comedones but less common. Some other signs that may accompany hormonal acne include hirsutism, increased sebum secretion, menstrual cycle disorders, and early puberty.
Hormonal acne occurs when the oil glands in the skin become sensitive to a group of hormones called androgens. Androgens promote the production of sebum in the skin and cause acne. Both men and women have increased levels of androgens during puberty. Some women are more sensitive to androgens than others, and hormone sensitivity changes as we age.
Women with oily, acne-prone skin in their 20s and 30s often continue to have acne after menopause. Sometimes, lifestyle habits can aggravate hormonal acne. Using too many skin care products can cause irritation, leading to redness and often “triggering” acne breakouts.
Acne around a woman's cheeks and jaw. Photo: Freepik
There are many ways to help treat and prevent hormonal acne.
First of all, you should simplify your skin care routine. On social networks like Tiktok, many people share complicated skin care routines, with a long list of products. However, improper skin care, overuse of products can cause irritation and make acne worse. Therefore, people should only care for their skin with basic products such as: cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.
There are many over-the-counter products that can help treat acne, but you should not try more than one treatment at a time. You can start by using a moisturizer containing 2% salicylic acid for a few weeks to see if your skin improves. Commonly used acne-fighting active ingredients include: benzoyl peroxide; adapalene, or Differin gel, azelaic acid, beta hydroxy acid...
If acne affects the quality of life and reduces self-confidence, patients should see a dermatologist and make a plan to completely treat the disease.
MSc. Dr. Vu Thi Thuy Trang
Department of Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
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