Women increasingly affected by acne

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not just limited to teenagers. Over 40% of adult women are victims of forms more or less severe. Many of them have not experienced such worries at puberty. How to explain this phenomenon? Point with Dr. Florence Poli, dermatologist.

Very common in early puberty, acne usually disappears with age. But beyond this general picture, this skin problem for more and more adult women. A trend we said Dr. Florence Poli, Department of Dermatology Hospital Henri Mondor.

41% of adult women affected by acne
The number of adults who consult for this skin problem seems real increase. Alerted by this trend that concerns primarily women, many dermatologists have liked to have the heart net. In collaboration with the Sofres, the team of Dr. Florence Poli has led in November 2001 a survey of nearly 4 000 women aged 25 to 40 years, a representative sample of the French population1.

And the results are amazing! "Not less than 17% of women with acne were true and 24% physiological acne (mild form characterized by less than 5 buttons)" we said Dr. Florence Poli. The proportion of adult women with acne would be 41%! The lesions involved mainly the lower face and chin.

The causes are still mysterious
Women use more of acne makeup and consume more anxiolytics or sedatives. "Despite the many advances in cosmetic, we can assume that some may favor the onset or perpetuation of acne. Consumption of anxiolytics may be related to stress, with known roles in the onset of acne "we said Dr. Poli. Since time, dermatologists agree on the negative role of stress which favors but can also exacerbate acne2.3. Life increasingly hectic working women if it led to the boom of acne?

This study also shows that adult acne is not necessarily an enduring acne since adolescence. Among the women affected, 41% have seen this disease appear when they were adults. There is therefore no necessary link between acne and acne puberty late. Finally, during the week preceding rules, 78% of women experience acne outbreaks inflammatory.

Few women treated
Only 22% of affected women have a care. How to explain such a small proportion of patients treated? Dr. Florence Poli advances several hypotheses. "Less severe acne seems more experienced in adulthood than during adolescence. N'handicaperait disease not strong quality of life, forms lighter, can be camouflaged. Finally, there is a high proportion of disappointed treatment. The aggressiveness of some local produce - less effective as an adult - may discourage some patients "admits Dr. Florence Poli which reviews the various weapons Acne:

The local treatment are based benzoyl peroxide, to retinoid or d 'antibiotic;
The oral treatments: antibiotics are the class of tetracyclines. Only flat, acne tends to reappear at the end of treatment;
Some birth control pills to hormone estroprogestative (as Jasmine, Triafemi, Or Tricilest Diane 35 which is an anti-hormonal acne also have a contraceptive effect ...) can improve acne;
Finally, theIsotretinoin (therefore the best known is Roaccutane® now generic) is reserved for severe acne. Beware, its action teratogenic (which can induce malformations in the fetus) involves women, the establishment of effective contraception and the achievement of a pregnancy test before beginning any treatment and then every month after the beginning are mandatory.
"The management of acne can be difficult and long. However, treatment can now overcome this skin disease in most cases" concludes Dr Florence Poli.

 

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