17 replies to this topic

[Beatrice1]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you guys know how I managed to clear my acne I've had for 13 yrs. Here's a little info about myself.
I'm 25, and started getting acne when I was 12. I've tried pretty much everything under the sun.
3 years ago, my acne got so bad I again that my dermatologist here in the u.s. put me on yaz. It helped a little, but I wasn't even close to be clear. I begged my derm to put me on accutane, but she said no.

I went to my dermatologist in Brazil, and she wanted me to start taking spironolactone. I started the spiro, had a horrible initial break out from it, that never seemed to clear up, so my derm in added accutane as well to speed things up a little. after 3 1/2 months on spiro I started losing my hair, and got some very bad panic attacks, and figured that it's probably better for my sanity to quit the spiro. I finished the course of accutane in 6 months. My face stayed clear for a while, but slowly my acne started returning again.

One month ago i was so fed up, and after reading everything I could about hormonal acne, I figured why not try nuvaring. (since i read somewhere here that someone had success from it)
Well, my face cleared up, but I started having all the bad side effects you could possible imagine, panic attacks, depression, migraine, spotting, etc.. So in the end I had to remove the nuvaring.

Of course my hormones went bananas after removing the nuvaring, and my acne came back with vengeance.

Started searching the acne.org website up and down, to see if there was something out there that I didn't try already.
Then I read about someone having success with progesterone cream. In all desperation I went to whole foods and bought the cream, i figured what do i have to loose at this point.

Within a couple of days my acne cleared up. Today I have perfect skin, not even one pimple.
I'm so happy I don't need to take accutane, bcp, or spiro. But at the same time it's upsetting that none of my dermatologists never suggested progesterone cream to me. And to have waisted so much time, money, feeling depressed, etc.

I understand that everyone is different, and what works for one person might no work for another.
But if I can help just one person to become acne free, and not having to suffer anymore, then this post was well worth it.

D

B

[melissa6980]

I'm really glad you found something that worked for you. I can imagine how frustrating it was going through that for all those years.

[Jennaaaay]

My acne is hormonal too!!!

I am really glad you found something that works for you!!!

[Beatrice1]

Thanks Melissa!
I'm so glad I don't have to worry about my skin for now. Hope it stays clear 4ever )

[Beatrice1]

Thanks, did you manage to keep your skin clear, or you're still searching for a solution?

[DC-girl]

Beatrice,

How long have you been on the cream? How long did it take to clear you?
Do you follow a special diet or avoid certain foods?

And where do I get progesterone cream? Is there a specific brand?

Thanks!

[Beatrice1]

Hi DC-girl.

I started the progesterone cream about 3 weeks ago. It took me a couple of days to clear me. When the clearing was happening I felt as my oily skin just went from day to night.
I bought my cream from whole foods, i think it's called pro-gest by emerita.
I don't follow any diets. I don't really believe we get oily skin, and acne from the foods we eat, I think it's more of an internal problem.
My next step is to start taking probiotics to correct some damage accutane, and antibiotics did to my intestins

How long have you had acne for?

B

Beatrice,

How long have you been on the cream? How long did it take to clear you?
Do you follow a special diet or avoid certain foods?

And where do I get progesterone cream? Is there a specific brand?

Thanks!

[mstrkrftr]

could this work for men? i think i have hormonal acne too.

[Beatrice1]

Hi Mstrkrftr!

I'm honestly not sure if men can use progesterone cream. Maybe you should try to contact one of the companies that makes them and ask.

Best of luck to you!

B

could this work for men? i think i have hormonal acne too.

[Beatrice1]

Hi Davidtheskinking.

That was my bet to. I'm just happy it's working, and hope my face stays clear. I tried testing my hormons before, but nothing really out of the ordinary came up. So I kind of gave up finding the real problem that was causing my acne.
Did you manage to control your acne?

B

Interesting Story! Thanks for sharing... My guess is that you had bad estrogen and the progesterone helped balance the bad estrogen out to balance your hormones to balance your skin and acne.

Good to hear it worked for you!

David

[faithgirl1409]

Hi Beatrice:) Thanks for sharing.
do you apply the cream to your face or elsewhere?
dont think the make you are using is available in SAfrica but I am possibly going to try solal.
thanks! new to this site but its so cool hearing all the different things that people have tried etc and my stories very similar to yours so pretty excited to try this out

[oXSophiaXo]

Hey Beatrice!

I was wondering if you wouldnt mind posting up pics of before and after? I am just wondering if ur acne was similar to mine. My acne is mainly concentrated at the centre of my cheeks area and its been there for almost 3 years!! I got acne out of no where when i was 22 and nothing has worked. Derms say its not hormonal although I have never done any testing. But I can't tell if it is.. I dont have irregular periods but I do get acne flare ups a week before my periods. However during and after my periods, i still get persistent acne.

[melissa6980]

What about saw palmetto for guys? I've heard that has natural anti-androgen properties. That might help and guys can take it.

[TJ0000]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you guys know how I managed to clear my acne I've had for 13 yrs. Here's a little info about myself.
I'm 25, and started getting acne when I was 12. I've tried pretty much everything under the sun.
3 years ago, my acne got so bad I again that my dermatologist here in the u.s. put me on yaz. It helped a little, but I wasn't even close to be clear. I begged my derm to put me on accutane, but she said no.

I went to my dermatologist in Brazil, and she wanted me to start taking spironolactone. I started the spiro, had a horrible initial break out from it, that never seemed to clear up, so my derm in added accutane as well to speed things up a little. after 3 1/2 months on spiro I started losing my hair, and got some very bad panic attacks, and figured that it's probably better for my sanity to quit the spiro. I finished the course of accutane in 6 months. My face stayed clear for a while, but slowly my acne started returning again.

One month ago i was so fed up, and after reading everything I could about hormonal acne, I figured why not try nuvaring. (since i read somewhere here that someone had success from it)
Well, my face cleared up, but I started having all the bad side effects you could possible imagine, panic attacks, depression, migraine, spotting, etc.. So in the end I had to remove the nuvaring.

Of course my hormones went bananas after removing the nuvaring, and my acne came back with vengeance.

Started searching the acne.org website up and down, to see if there was something out there that I didn't try already.
Then I read about someone having success with progesterone cream. In all desperation I went to whole foods and bought the cream, i figured what do i have to loose at this point.

Within a couple of days my acne cleared up. Today I have perfect skin, not even one pimple.
I'm so happy I don't need to take accutane, bcp, or spiro. But at the same time it's upsetting that none of my dermatologists never suggested progesterone cream to me. And to have waisted so much time, money, feeling depressed, etc.

I understand that everyone is different, and what works for one person might no work for another.
But if I can help just one person to become acne free, and not having to suffer anymore, then this post was well worth it.

D

B

OMG, Im almost 27, started getting it at 15, had a few good years between but it got really bad again starting a few years ago for me too and for the life of me, I cannot get it under control, at least not consistently. Last week I was researching all about hormones (bc it HAS to be hormonal, absolutely NO other method of attack has worked) and from what I learned just by online browsing, I am totally convinced it is from a progesterone imbalance. However, I think I have too much of it.
What is your skin/body type like? Energy level? Are you naturally a more stressed or more calm person? What part of your face is affected most? Estrogen dominance vs. progesterone dominance have different physical and internal signs in a woman apparently.

Thank you!!!

[TJ0000]

could this work for men? i think i have hormonal acne too.

Found this, take a look:

[MichelleKL77]

Hi Beatrice, if you don't mind me asking, how do you apply the cream? is it on your face only, I looked into progesterone cream but it said you had to take it at a certain time before your were ovulating, it all seemed very confusing, I'm just wondering how you started it, have you managed to stay clear on it? is it something you have to continue using until you "grow out of your acne"? Sorry for all the questions!

[Green Gables]

Hi Beatrice, if you don't mind me asking, how do you apply the cream? is it on your face only, I looked into progesterone cream but it said you had to take it at a certain time before your were ovulating, it all seemed very confusing, I'm just wondering how you started it, have you managed to stay clear on it? is it something you have to continue using until you "grow out of your acne"? Sorry for all the questions!

Pre-menopausal women should use progesterone cream on days 12-26 of your cycle. Day 1 is the day your period starts.

If you take it every day you may stop menstruating.

Progesterone cream is most effective when applied to areas that have fat deposits, such as inner thighs, near the armpit, etc.

Edited by Green Gables, 04 January 2013 - 06:41 PM.