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Menopause and acne
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bpcookie posted:
Hello girls, Im peri menopausal and all of a sudden my face is breaking out like crazy. Im taking 3.75 Vivelle dot and also the Estring, and progesterone tablets. Do you think I have too much estrogen, too little or something else? The only other time that I had acne was when I was on my period when I was a teen.

This is so frustrating and embarrassing. Have any of you went through this during peri menopause?
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Menopause and acneHello girls, Im peri menopausal and all of a sudden my face is breaking out like crazy. Im taking 3.75 Vivelle dot and also the Estring, and progesterone tablets. Do you think I have too much estrogen, too little or something else? The only other time that I had acne was when I was on my period when I was a teen.<br /><br />This is so frustrating and embarrassing. Have any of you went through this during peri menopause?
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noodie1969 responded:
responding to bpcookie

Yes, I too have had really bad acne and also taking the vivelle dot 0.375? I thought the acne would be over since I had a full hysterectomy. NO! and they are Huge! I'm 43 and this is embarrassing. Is there a cure? i need answers too.

Also my question to you is what are you taking the progesterone tablets for and is it helping?
Report This| Share this:Menopause and acneresponding to bpcookie<br /><br />Yes, I too have had really bad acne and also taking the vivelle dot 0.375? I thought the acne would be over since I had a full hysterectomy. NO! and they are Huge! I'm 43 and this is embarrassing. Is there a cure? i need answers too. <br /><br />Also my question to you is what are you taking the progesterone tablets for and is it helping?
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Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP replied to noodie1969's response:
Dear noodie & bpcookie: There can be two contributing factors to menopausal acne:

1. Increased androgen levels---Androgens (male hormones like testosterone which can prompt acne and unwanted facial hair growth) come from the ovary and are stimulated by high LH (lutenizing hormone) levels. Around the time of menopause both FSH and LH levels rise from less than 20 to up to 100.

2. Lowered estrogen levels---Estrogen increases levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds testosterone making it ineffective. After menopause, even if one is using systemic estrogen, blood estrogen levels are WAY lower than when young or when using birth control pills.

This is why birth control pills are used to treat acne and facial hair in young women. They suppress LH levels and increase estrogen levels (leading to more inactivated testosterone).

Noodie, if you had an oophorectomy your major source of androgens would be the adrenal gland. But the adrenals produce much less than the ovaries. bpcookie may still have a uterus, in which case she would need the progesterone to keep the lining of her uterus thin. Remember, estrogen "feeds" the lining of the uterus to make it thick.

What to do about the acne? The first step would be to treat the acne with topical medications, perhaps with an MD consult. Ultimately, around age 60, LH and FSH levels begin to come down---although not to less than 20.

Yours,
Jane
Report This| Share this:Menopause and acneDear noodie &amp; bpcookie: There can be two contributing factors to menopausal acne:<br /><br />1. Increased androgen levels---Androgens (male hormones like testosterone which can prompt acne and unwanted facial hair growth) come from the ovary and are stimulated by high LH (lutenizing hormone) levels. Around the time of menopause both FSH and LH levels rise from less than 20 to up to 100. <br /><br />2. Lowered estrogen levels---Estrogen increases levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds testosterone making it ineffective. After menopause, even if one is using systemic estrogen, blood estrogen levels are WAY lower than when young or when using birth control pills.<br /><br />This is why birth control pills are used to treat acne and facial hair in young women. They suppress LH levels and increase estrogen levels (leading to more inactivated testosterone).<br /><br />Noodie, if you had an oophorectomy your major source of androgens would be the adrenal gland. But the adrenals produce much less than the ovaries. bpcookie may still have a uterus, in which case she would need the progesterone to keep the lining of her uterus thin. Remember, estrogen "feeds" the lining of the uterus to make it thick.<br /><br />What to do about the acne? The first step would be to treat the acne with topical medications, perhaps with an MD consult. Ultimately, around age 60, LH and FSH levels begin to come down---although not to less than 20.<br /><br />Yours,<br />Jane
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