Acne in the post adolescent female is becoming more common. Here we look at the treatments that are available
Acne vulgaris affects more than 80% of teenagers and persists well past the age of 25 in 3% of men and 12% of women.1, 2 In our general community acne vulgaris is considered a teenage/adolescent condition. Presently dermatologists are seeing increasing numbers of pre-teenagers.
Adult female patients, best described as those over 25, are also becoming more prevalent. Like most things in dermatology, good longitudinal studies are lacking.3, 4Â Women seek medical care for their acne at twice the rate of men.5Â In Western societies, one third of total acne office visits are made by women aged over 25.6
In the adult female group two distinctions are made. Firstly, there is the persistent group, which represent acne vulgaris that first presented in adolescence and continues into adulthood. New onset acne presents first in adulthood.
There is a further subset described as recurrent disease, that is acne that is present in adolescents, clears for a period of time, then returns in adulthood.7, 8, 9 Of these, persistent acne is the most common presentation seen in 75-85% of cases.9, 10, 11
The late onset acne is much less frequent, being reported for 20-40% of women.9, 12, 13
There is very little research data on recurrent acne, as this has not been screened for. The original view that the adult female acne presentation is of a mild to moderate inflammatory papular process, predominantly affecting the jawline, has now been challenged.14 In this international study it was concluded that adult women commonly have a low level of mixed comedones and inflammatory papules across all facial zones.
The treatments available to this patient group include all of those that are normally prescribed, e.g. topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, systemic antibiotics, hormonal therapies.
There are certain medications that are more frequently chosen for this group. Mature females prefer not to take oral antibiotics in the long term and the use of hormonal therapy is much more frequent in my patients. In my clinical practice a variety of topical agents have been used by these patients prior to meeting me.
I struggle to find choices they will not reject because of prior unsuccessful use. Tolerability of topical agents is problematic because of the heavy use of cosmetics as well as overuse of cleansers, toners, facial masks and cosmetic procedures. The ready recurrence of cutaneous irritation, erythema, dryness, peeling, stinging leads to poor uptake of topical therapies. Consequently topical agents are less popular, or less diligently applied.15, 16
Very rarely there is a clinical sign or symptom that leads the practitioner to consider an underlying endocrinopathy. Hyperandrogenism is similarly rare in this group, however the acute presentation or significant clinical presence of the features listed below would raise a red flag indicating investigation of androgens:
⢠Seborrhoea
⢠Hirsutism
⢠Androgenic alopecia
⢠Cushionoid features
⢠Increased libido
⢠Deepening of voice
⢠Acanthosis Nigricans
⢠Cliteromegally
Additionally, acne that is particularly therapeutic resistant, rapidly lapsing, very severe and associated with mark seborrhoea, may also need to be investigated.
The most common condition is polycystic ovarian syndrome for which luteinising hormone, follicular stimulating hormone, total testosterone and prolactin are investigations of interest. More rarely, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 17-hydroxy progesterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone and/or ACTH stimulation tests may be needed if a full hormonal battery is to be conducted.
TOPICALS
There are a variety of topical agents, from over-the-counter benzoyl peroxides, azaleic acids, salicylic acid combinations et cetera, to prescription monotherapy, retinoids, combinational retinoids and antibiotics, which are too numerous to list in this article.
In the next few years, there will be a number of newer topical combinations retinoids/antibiotics released in the Australian market. These will contain lower concentrations and newer formulations of topical retinoids, hence less irritation.
Topical dapsone has been released in Australia. In women 18 years and over, topical dapsone 5% gave a mean percent reduction of inflammatory lesions of 46.6%, and for comedonal lesions 39.8%. This was from a pooled analysis of two phase three studies of 5% gel. The Australian formulation is 7.5% and used as a monotherapy and is best used at night.17
HORMONES
Oral therapies for acne include combined oral contraceptives. Certainly in my practice, I am seeing an increasing number of women for whom such treatments are contraindicated. Some of these include family or personal history of breast cancer or thrombophilias. A number of patients do not tolerate any oral contraceptive due to side effects.
However, many patients are improved with agents containing cyproterone acetate, desogestrel, diengestrel, drospirenone, gestodene or low dose (100 microgram) Levonorgestrel as the progesterone-only contraceptive pills and implantable contraceptives generally worsen acne.12, 16, 17
Hormonal therapies are very slow in onset, with maximal results in at least four to six months after commencement. Patients should be counselled that it will take three or more months for a visible improvement to occur. Oral hormonal therapies are frequently combined with more standard and topical systemic therapies at first, and then these agents can be dropped out once control occurs.
SPIRONOLACTONE
Spironolactone is a synthetic steroid and weak diuretic which is often prescribed by dermatologists for seborrhoea and/or hypertrichosis. It is an agent that can improve acne control as monotherapy, or in addition to other agents. The usual dose is 50-100mg daily and, like all hormonal therapies, it is extremely slow in onset, needing three to six months for clinical results to be apparent.
Occasionally patients treated with this agent will develop menstrual irregularities and/or heavy periods. If this occurs, therapy should be combined with an oral contraceptive. Ceasing these agents can result in an acute flare or rebound of acne. It is now considered not necessary to review renal electrolytes.18
A common question in practice is the use of oral contraception and a potential of antibiotic interaction.
A number of studies have found no link between the intermittent or long-term use of oral antibiotics and oral contraceptive efficacy.19, 20
METFORMIN
Polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance are often associated with the presence of acne and seborrhoea. Hormonal therapies are more successful in these patients when the issues of insulin resistance and weight loss are addressed.
Metformin is becoming more popular in this treatment group. The doses of 500mg twice daily for three months, and then 1000mg twice daily, have been helpful.21
PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING
Hormonal acne generally flares during the first trimester. As the pregnancy continues, acne usually improves significantly and by the last trimester can clear.
Breastfeeding generally slows the return of acne.22
As a rule, acne becomes less severe over subsequent pregnancies. Therapy while pregnant and/or breastfeeding is always problematic.
Treatments that are safe during this time include:
⢠Benzyl peroxide
⢠Erythromycin topical and oral
⢠Clindamycin topical and oral
⢠Azelaic acid
⢠Combinations of the above
Agents that should be avoided include:
⢠Oral isotretinoin
⢠Tetracycline antibiotics, doxycycline, minocycline
⢠Spironolactone
⢠Retinoid creams/gels
Isotretinoin is the only acne medication with proven teratogenicity and carries an extremely high risk of causing birth defects, particularly in the first trimester.
Another commonly occurring issue in practice is female patients being well established on a therapy who are unexpectedly fall pregnant. The issue with tetracycline antibiotics is staining of teeth in the later trimester of pregnancy. It is not relevant in the first few weeks of pregnancy. It is quite safe for the patient to stop their oral therapies and carry on with their pregnancy.
Those taking spironolactone should stop the drug immediately. The issue with spironolactone is considered to be feminisation of the male foetus. Again, in very early pregnancy there is no scientific evidence of any risk or harm. Spironolactone has not been associated with teratogenic defects.
It is well proven that systemic retinoids, particular isotretinoin, is strongly teratogenic. The use of topical retinoids, either as a cream or a gel, is contraindicated as a result of the potential possibility of systemic exposure. Once again, those using topical retinoids should stop immediately once pregnancy is discovered.
Data from large studies looking at systemic absorption of tretinoin are highly reassuring.23Â There is no evidence to suggest that there is an elevation of systemic retinoid levels with limited topical skin application on tretinoin.
Acne in adults is associated with Western diet, defined as a high consumption of milk, high glycaemic load and high calorie intake. This diet can result in a significant increase in insulin/insulin growth factor 1 serum level, and consequently in the molecular interplay of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 kinase, mediated nutrient signalling.
This leads to increased proliferation of keratinocytes, increased lipogenesis and sebum production and finally to aggravation of acne.24
Clinical Associate Professor Kurt Gebauer is a recognised authority on dermatological conditions and co-chair of All About Acne
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