Hormones play a massive part in the development of acne, inflammation of the skin that causes blackheads, whiteheads and red spots usually known as zits or pimples.
These hormones are a natural development for both male and female teenagers, but teenager males often produce more of them, which results in more severe breakouts for teenage males.
These hormones produce an oil known as sebum which has the common phrase of "the fuel that feeds the flame of acne".
But after the age of about 22, the sebum production decreases, but this doesn't mean you can't have an acne breakout in your 20's.
But it does often die down in your 20's.
The presence of androgens makes your oil glands go into overdrive.
The androgens produce extra oil, which block your follicles and form together with the dead skin cells on thelayer of your skin.
When this sticky mixture works its way into your pores, it traps the oil and bacteria inside.
The problem is your oil glands can't determine when to stop, so the oil glandes keep producing more oil, which makes the follicle swollen.
The body tries to defend against the swollen follicles, in the form of white blood cells, they rush to the area an produce an enzyme that breaks down the follicle, this process causes an inflammatory response that results in acne.
Although most of the above is different for females, and vary as they go through the monthly cycle.
These fluctuations do cause acne to flare depending on the time of the month.
The most effective way to treat menstrual cycle acne is by applying topical medications.