Acne and Gender
Acne, that horrific
bane of clean and clear skin, is a condition that affects both males and
females with impunity, typically at the onset of puberty and throughout
adolescence in varying degrees.
However, as acne formation is at least partly influenced by the surge of
hormones in one’s body, which are secreted in different levels by men and
women, and men and women do possess different types of skin, it stands to
reason that acne would affect a person differently depending on that
individual’s gender. Indeed, the
treatment of acne in a man would involve processes and substances that may
not work as well with or be harmful to a woman, and vice-versa.
Male acne is
instigated by the presence of the male hormones androgen and testosterone,
which increase the production of the natural skin oil sebum.
As you may be aware, the primary culprit of acne formation is
excessive sebum clogging follicles and pores in the skin, which trap
bacteria and become infected, resulting in the telltale bumps and lesions
that one experiences. As such,
acne in males tends to be more pronounced, and the outbreaks worse, than in
women. Also, male skin is up to
25 percent thicker than female skin, so it is more resistant to harsh
treatments that involve certain concentrations of benzoyl peroxide,
salicylic acid or some other active ingredient.
The best regimen for a man consists of washing one’s face daily and
finding a medication that really works, which does not have to be specially
formulated for women.
Women can also
attribute their acne to androgen hormone activity, but also due to
fluctuations in the levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone,
which, if inadequate, cannot adequately suppress the androgens from
overstimulating the body’s sebaceous glands.
This is why women tend to suffer acne outbreaks during a pregnancy
and when they enter menopause.
Women are literally the thinner-skinned of the species, and their skin is
also up to 25 percent drier, being more acidic than male skin.
Moreoever, women generally produce less skin oil than men.
Lastly, the skin of a female is more susceptible to damage from
treatments that are too severe.
Consequently, women are more vulnerable to acne infections and suffering
breakouts due to these drawbacks.
It certainly does little good that most women also wear makeup, which
in many cases aggravates the affliction, due to the inadvertent clogging of
pores. A woman would be prudent
to adopt the same daily washing schedule as with men, but use products that
are made especially with the female physiology in mind, as these are milder
and are far less likely to cause an allergic reaction or other detrimental
effect.
The use of birth
control pills is an acne eradication technique that many women swear by, and
it functions because the drugs replace and reinforce the female hormones,
while reducing the production of the male hormones.
Certainly, this is a method exclusive to women, as men would not even
consider taking birth control pills, which can cause damaging chemical
imbalances.
To conclude, your
gender does play a relevant role in determining the proper care and
treatment for your acne. Be
informed of what your gender needs and act accordingly instead of darting
out and just buying the first remedy that you see.
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