Acne Treatment with Ethinyl Estradiol
Alternative Uses of Ethinyl Estradiol: Acne Treatment
Ethinyl estradiol is a commonly used component of birth control devices and in hormone replacement therapy. Ethinyl Estradiol is used in many forms, including the orally ingested pill, the vaginally inserted ring and the skin patch. Along with the two most common uses, contraception and estrogen replacement therapy, there are some other conditions which may be treated with the use of ethinyl estradiol. One such condition is acne.
Acne
Acne (Acne Vulgaris) is a common skin condition that occurs mostly in teenagers. A very large percentage of teenagers and even adults are affected by acne. Acne vulgaris manifests itself by producing pimples or lesions on the skin, mostly in the face, and it affects both males and females. The severity of acne breakouts varies between cases and there are different causes for the condition. The pimples produced by acne are sometimes inflamed and filled with a yellow liquid or a black head.
Causes of Acne
There are many conditions that give rise to acne vulgaris, although the root cause of the condition remains relatively unknown. Acne is a result of the pores and hair follicles on the skin becoming blocked or clogged with bacteria or other material, leading to the swelling of the pimple on the outer layer of the skin. Many things can give rise to acne. For one, there seems to be a hereditary link between members of a single family affected with acne. Furthermore, acne can be caused by diet, stress, skin inflammation and even certain medications. Another interesting link to acne is hormone activity. Females who are menstruating as well as those going through puberty often have trouble with acne breakouts. Hormones like testosterone and other androgens are also extensively linked to the development of acne. This hormonal link to acne may be treatable with the use of ethinyl estradiol and other oral contraceptives.
Treatment of Acne
Historically, acne has been treated with the use of topical chemicals like sulphur and benzoyl peroxide. Other topical ointments are also used to kill the bacteria that clog the pores of the skin. There are also other treatments like retinoids, laser therapy and less commonly used home remedies. Hormonal treatments, with the use of estrogen, progestagens and antiandrogens, have also been quite effective in controlling acne breakouts.
Acne Treatment Using Oral Ethinyl Estradiol
Women who use oral contraceptives have been observed to show higher levels of acne control. Based on these observations, scientists have done studies to explore the effectiveness of oral contraceptives like ethinyl estradiol in the control of acne vulgaris. One fairly recent study has shown drastic decreases in skin lesions for women affected by acne, who were placed on oral ethinyl estradiol. In the study, over 90% of the women affected by moderate acne vulgaris who were placed on low dose oral ethinyl estradiol showed improvement after six months. On average, these women saw a decrease of over 50% in lesion count.
Results like these give overwhelming support to the effectiveness of ethinyl estradiol as an acne treatment. Women are always advised to consult a physician to discuss the possible risks associated with using ethinyl estradiol.