Is Sex Linked To Acne?
Puberty is a time when hormones stimulate change in all parts of the body. Both guys’ and girls’ sweat glands will produce greater amounts of sweat and oil glands will produce greater amounts of oil. As a result, acne — pimples on the face and other parts of the body caused by bacteria and trapped oil — may appear. Acne starts happening about the time that many young people begin to experiment with various kinds of sex play, including masturbation. As they get older, many people may have more sexual experiences and less acne. It is a myth that having sex causes acne. And it’s a myth that having sex cures. You can treat a mild case of acne with over-the-counter creams containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. You can also see a health care provider about treating more serious cases of acne. There has been always a debate regarding the sex and acne. The sex and acne, myths and facts have no authenticity but they are strongly believed by the people all across the world. The number one issue that comes to any male’s mind is the link between the masturbation and acne. The history of masturbation holds many bizarre and that has been a moot point. The myth is masturbation can cause blindness, mental disturbance, acne, and/or severe hair growth. Another thing that makes people to think that having sex regularly can make one’s beard to grow faster and so more manful. Whatever this means, the sex and acne has some relation in between them. In the most across-the-board sense, there is no doubt that there is a link between male sex hormones and the texture and condition of his skin and hair. The process that links sex and acne actually begins with the sex drive. While masturbation and sexual intercourse do not cause acne, increased levels of androgens, which do cause acne, may also heighten the sex drive. The increased levels of androgens accounts for the connection between acne and sex. The first event leading to acne is stimulation of the sebaceous (oil making) glands by testosterone. Next, the pores plug up and trap the oil inside. Bacteria grow in the trapped oil, causing the production of irritating chemicals. Finally the body’s immune system comes into play. There is both good and bad news about this immune response. While it fights the bacteria, it also causes the redness, swelling, pus-like fluid and later scarring which make acne so unsightly. There are several times in our lives when our hormones can become unbalanced and wreak havoc, including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and, well, any other time they feel like it. More specifically, acne may be precipitated by androgens, male hormones present in both men and women. The oil surplus created by these hormones may be instrumental in clogging hair follicles where bacteria grows and causes acne pimples and blemishes. Hormonal acne is seen mostly in women due to the natural cycles a woman goes through, such as menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Contraception is one of the most recognized ways of preventing pregnancy. Contraception can include birth control pills, skin patches, injections, emergency contraception, copper-T etc. The most widely used form of contraception is birth control pills. But, these hormone pills have certain side effects as well like weight gain, headache, abdominal pain etc. Hormonal contraception affects skin in many ways and certain birth control pills are being used for treating hormonal acne. It is always better to consult a doctor before using birth control pills. Hormones and acne problems are very common; approximately 30 million healthcare office visits are related to hormonal acne every year. On top of that figure, millions of people purchase over-the-counter remedies and never seek the advice of a medical professional for their acne.
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