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Do Steroids Cause Acne? A Guide |
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Whether it is a performance boosting anabolic steroid or a one prescribed by doctors to patients with health problems that include Aids or cancer, there is always a strong chance of it developing acne. Those who have been on moderate to high dose of oral steroids for a few weeks together are highly prone to such outbreaks.
How do steroids cause acne?
Steroids have a characteristic effect of boosting androgens in the body. Androgens are the male hormones that are also present in small quantities in females. Testosterone is the most important androgen and with increase in testosterone, the sebaceous glands are stimulated. This results in more sebum being secreted in the skin and ultimately it breaks out as acne. The effect is such that pimples spring out not only on the face but also the chest, back and neck. This is what is called as steroid acne. Higher the dose of steroids, more are the chances and severity of zits.
Characteristics of steroid acne
These are generally itchy bumps, sometimes pustular, sometimes larger. Most of them are of the same size, unlike the regular kind. They also tend to sit down rather than protruding.
Treatment of steroid acne
So how do you go about treating steroid acne? Obviously, you need to reduce the intake of steroids or turn to milder ones that don't cause side effects like acne.
For females, anti-androgen treatments are widely used. The most common are:
* Topical inocoterone acetate
* Spironolactone
* Cyproterone acetate
* Flutamide
* 5-alpha reductase inhibitors
For males and females in general, try these androgen acne treatments:
* Reduce DHT from the steroids. With reduction in dihydrotestosterone, steroid acne can be completely eliminated in many cases.
* Conversion of testosterone into DHT can be minimized with Finasteride and Duasteride
* Use topical products like shampoos containing Ketoconazole on affected and adjoining areas which stops the activity of DHT.
* Use less of androgens and more of anabolic compounds like Nandrolone.
While all these chemicals and compounds can be discussed with your doctor, what you can do yourself is clean out the clogged pores with acne soaps, wiping the oily regions and keeping it dry, and maintaining an anti-acne diet. A couple of general steroid acne supplements might show you great results too, which are:
* Vitamin B5 (1 to 10 grams a day)
* Vitamin A (10,000 to 100,000 IU per day)
Cortisol Acne Treatment:
When you have high cortisol levels one of the main effects is increased facial acne. Apart from de-stressing techniques like meditation and yoga, here are some anti-cortisol supplements you may want to take:
* Phosphatidylserine
* Relora
* 7-Beta-hydroxy-DHEA
Will this acne subside when steroid cycle stops?
Yes. Once the body's normal hormone levels are restored, the sebaceous glands will produce the right amount of sebum and acne will subside. The treatments listed above are for alleviating acne while the steroid therapy is on.
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