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instead of raising your progesterone, why not try reducing the bad estrogens in your body? I noticed while progesterogen helped some, it still broke me out with more inflamations around my mouth and the middle of my back. Since I stopped with the cream, and recently vitex, those areas have cleared up but I am breaking out more on my shoulders again and getting more small closed comedones especially on chest. I duno which I hate more but DIM has showed me great improvements and I have been losing so much weight! DIM helps motabolise those nasty bad estrogens we are constantly exposed to, I can tell my motabolism is benefiting from it! Also, maybe you should try taking some DHT blockers? Allot of people are starting to believe DHT is what is causing hormonal acne. Just started takingt stinging nettle, which is similar to saw palmetto but no reports of weight gain with stinging nettle. I hope this stuff helps! I will let you know if it does. Just keep working with yourself! maybe you are insulin resistance? I believe this is a major factor to acne. Stinging nettle is also suppose to help with insulin resistance so you can't go wrong with this herb!
Oh on a side note, I have hypothyroidism and break out more when I take synthroid... Ugh
and sweat more too. I am only 18 and thing my hormonal imbalances have caused a low thyroid.
I will never stop until I'm clear! Hope you wont either just keep trying!
Thanks for your reply!
I have to raise my progesterone because as I've said before in this thread, I have depression that is caused my estrogen dominance. When I decrease the progesterone support, I get VERY depressed. I'm not on progesterone cream. I'm on progesterone support, which helps my body makes it's own progesterone. My estrogen is at a good level, within range... it's just that my progesterone is low. I avoid everything that would increase my progesterone: plastics, soy, flax, BC, etc.
I'll ask my doc about the DHT blockers. I have thought about incorporating stinging nettle, I'll look into that more. My blood results are good, and I am underweight if anything, so insulin resistance is probably unlikely. I feel confident that my acne is made worse by my progesterone supplement (it's pretty managable when I'm not on it).
I haven't ever taken synthroid, only a compound and Naturethroid. I have heard nightmare stories about Armour and Synthroid. I am tolerating the Naturethroid well, I would recommend it.
My skin is actually super clear right now. I had 3 pimples and one cyst, but they are fading now and ATM my skin is looking good. I bought some arnica oil, and am using it in my Oil Cleanser as well as some tumeric. I used the arnica as a spot treatment on the cyst and I think it helped it go away faster.
I actually think they can't measure estrogens produced by xenoestrogens. I'm not sure, of course, but I think it may be an entirely different estrogen than what is typically measured in labs. They have three estrogens: estradiol, estrone, and another one I can't think of. Those are estrogens produced by your fat, ovaries etc, i.e. your body. Xenoestrogens are an outside source of estrogen, so I'm wondering if they don't show up on labs.
Just a thought.
My endo (which is caused by high estrogen) has gotten so much better from green smoothies. And I have no acne. They're phytoestrogens, so I think they're clearing out the xenoestrogen junk. My labs were NEVER high in estrogen or low in progesterone, but I still had all the symptoms of E dominance.
I don't now.
I actually think they can't measure estrogens produced by xenoestrogens. I'm not sure, of course, but I think it may be an entirely different estrogen than what is typically measured in labs. They have three estrogens: estradiol, estrone, and another one I can't think of. Those are estrogens produced by your fat, ovaries etc, i.e. your body. Xenoestrogens are an outside source of estrogen, so I'm wondering if they don't show up on labs.
Just a thought.
My endo (which is caused by high estrogen) has gotten so much better from green smoothies. And I have no acne. They're phytoestrogens, so I think they're clearing out the xenoestrogen junk. My labs were NEVER high in estrogen or low in progesterone, but I still had all the symptoms of E dominance.
I don't now.
I'm confused. I have never argued that I need more estrogen, and certainly I don't want xenoestrogens. I am avoiding things that would give me excess estrogens, more than the average person I would argue. Like I said in my previous post, I avoid plastics, soy, flax, BC, etc. I'm not sure what good testing for xenoestrogens would be when I am already treating for estrogen dominance.
Did you take blood or saliva hormone tests?
You definitely didn't understand my post. I was saying that I don't think xenoestrogens can be measured, so you may have higher estrogen than you know.It may be why your progesterone if off. Your estrogen may be high w/o showing up on labs bc of this.
I had blood done and none of my values were off, but I still had symptoms of high estrogen and high androgens. I think it was xenoestrogens.
Sorry this sounds harsh but my PC is totally acting up right now and it's annoying me being on it right now, lol. I can barely see what I'm writing.
You definitely didn't understand my post. I was saying that I don't think xenoestrogens can be measured, so you may have higher estrogen than you know.It may be why your progesterone if off. Your estrogen may be high w/o showing up on labs bc of this.
I had blood done and none of my values were off, but I still had symptoms of high estrogen and high androgens. I think it was xenoestrogens.
Sorry this sounds harsh but my PC is totally acting up right now and it's annoying me being on it right now, lol. I can barely see what I'm writing.
From my understanding, progesterone wouldn't be "off" from high estrogen levels. They come from two different precursors. Cortisol is a precursor for progesterone, and when your body gets stressed and you are in adrenal fatigue, your body "steals" cortisol and you aren't left with enough to make progesterone. So, estrogen dominance is actually progesterone deficiency.
But even if my xenoestogens are high, I am on the same treatment as I would be if I knew my estrogen is high: supporting progesterone, on DIM and broccoli to help metabolize excess estrogen from my body and avoiding xenoestrogens such as soy, plastics, etc.... generally trying to bring the ratio between estrogen and progesterone up. What, in your opinion, am I doing wrong? What more should I be doing? (note: the support of progesterone is very necessary for me because when I try to ween down from it, I get thrown right into depression.)
I doubt DIM works that well long term, because people are always saying it stops working. I think maybe the xenoestrogens adapt to it, because they're adaptive and mutagenic by nature unlike natural estrogens produced by the body. It's good to avoid xenoestrogenic things, but with our environment it's impossible.
What to do is the 1 million dollar question. If I knew that I'd be a millionaire. Xenoestrogens are a real problem.
I think progesterone decreases by working to eliminate estrogens too, so if your estrogen is high you're using more of it than if it weren't.
I never said you were doing anything wrong, just that your estrogen may be high without you knowing it since I don't think xenoetrogens are measurable. You keep saying your estrogen is normal and I don't think it is or you wouldn't have symptoms of estrogen dominance. My estrogen and progesterone were both completely normal but I had signs of estrogen dominance, so I think xenoestrogens are not measurable in labs. Who even knows if progesterone counteracts them? What I'm saying in all of these posts are that xenoestrogens are a wildcard and not enough is known how to combat them since they're a new problem.
Anyway, green smoothies are helping me a lot, especially with brussel sprouts which is a potent fighter against too much estrogen. Hopefully it continues to work. My endo is basically gone. I had terrible bloating and pain from it to the point I looked at least 3 months preggo but that's all gone without losing weight. So, I'm suggesting you add smooothies to your diet to balance your hormones.
I still can't see what I'm writing due to PC issues so don't mind my typos etc.
My progesterone is low still, that's why I have symptoms of estrogen dominance. To quote myself: estrogen dominance is actually progesterone deficiency. I never said progesterone counteracts xenoestrogens, but it does counteract my depression. That's my #1 issue. Then the progesterone causes my acne, I know this because when I decrease it, my acne goes away but my depression comes back. I started this thread because I am wondering why progesterone has helped so many women here on the org, but causes acne for me. I feel like I'm in Groundhog's Day, this is the same phrase in the first post I made about this. I'm not arguing that xenoestrogens aren't a major problem, but I don't think they are causing my acne.
Sorry I sound frustrated, but I keep repeating this over and over again. I have been seeing a naturopath for 2 years who has majorly helped me, depression, energy, headaches, etc. Right now my acne is a lot better now than it was when I started this thread, I am mostly clear... just lots of red marks. Even if the DIM doesn't last forever, hopefully it will last until I can ween down from the progesterone.
I juice local organic CSA veggies, is that different than smoothies?
What are CSA veggies? Do you use brussel sprouts or broccoli in them? The cruciferous veggies really help with estrogen dominance.
Have you tried vitex? That's what my naturopath had me use to raise progesterone and it didn't give me acne. In fact it helped it. I know you're on something natural but don't think it was vitex.
Hello,
Just stumbled upon this forum as I was doing a bit of research on the natural progesterone cream I have been taking for the past 8 months or so. I have been prescribed this cream and have it made at a compound pharmacy for me. It has been prescribed to me by a doctor to treat PCOS. I am 29 and have struggled with an absent periods for almost 10 years now. Along with missed periods, my hormone levels are all out of wack. I have been off and on the birth control pill through out the 10 years but decided that I no longer wanted to rely on them to assist with my periods; so two years ago was when I last took them. I went 10 months with no period after that and throughout that 10 months my acne was out of control. From my face, to my chest as well as my back, my acne became an obsession of mine. After several months spent online researching remedies I came across a youtube video where a naturopath was praising natural progesterone cream for women with PCOS. I found myself a private doctor who specialized in hormonal balancing and was prescribed this cream. During the first few months of taking this cream my acne cleared up as I was told it would. Sometime in April I started breaking out around my cheek and chin area. Since then my acne has gotten progressively worse. I know my body very well and I am certain that my acne has flared up again because I have an abundance of progesterone in my body. I too am frustrated.
I recently started taking Vitex, femMED (which is a hormonal balancing supplement) and saw palmetto but havent noticed any changes as it is still too early to tell.
I'm wondering if switching the area where I apply the cream would help? Also, I recently increased the amount of cream I apply because I haven't had my period in a few months but I am now thinking that I should perhaps decrease it back to the amount I was taking before.
I'm wondering if switching the area where I apply the cream would help? Also, I recently increased the amount of cream I apply because I haven't had my period in a few months but I am now thinking that I should perhaps decrease it back to the amount I was taking before.
Where are you applying it? Mercola says to apply it to the labia or internally.
I'm wondering if switching the area where I apply the cream would help? Also, I recently increased the amount of cream I apply because I haven't had my period in a few months but I am now thinking that I should perhaps decrease it back to the amount I was taking before.
Where are you applying it? Mercola says to apply it to the labia or internally.
I am rotating between the inner part of my arms.
Hello,
Just stumbled upon this forum as I was doing a bit of research on the natural progesterone cream I have been taking for the past 8 months or so. I have been prescribed this cream and have it made at a compound pharmacy for me. It has been prescribed to me by a doctor to treat PCOS. I am 29 and have struggled with an absent periods for almost 10 years now. Along with missed periods, my hormone levels are all out of wack. I have been off and on the birth control pill through out the 10 years but decided that I no longer wanted to rely on them to assist with my periods; so two years ago was when I last took them. I went 10 months with no period after that and throughout that 10 months my acne was out of control. From my face, to my chest as well as my back, my acne became an obsession of mine. After several months spent online researching remedies I came across a youtube video where a naturopath was praising natural progesterone cream for women with PCOS. I found myself a private doctor who specialized in hormonal balancing and was prescribed this cream. During the first few months of taking this cream my acne cleared up as I was told it would. Sometime in April I started breaking out around my cheek and chin area. Since then my acne has gotten progressively worse. I know my body very well and I am certain that my acne has flared up again because I have an abundance of progesterone in my body. I too am frustrated.
I recently started taking Vitex, femMED (which is a hormonal balancing supplement) and saw palmetto but havent noticed any changes as it is still too early to tell.
I'm wondering if switching the area where I apply the cream would help? Also, I recently increased the amount of cream I apply because I haven't had my period in a few months but I am now thinking that I should perhaps decrease it back to the amount I was taking before.
I haven't used progesterone cream in over 2 years. I use a progesterone and estrogen support tincture that my doc makes for me. The progesterone cream made me break out even worse, gave me heavy, painful periods, so she switched me over the tincture. I am tolerating that much better.
What are CSA veggies? Do you use brussel sprouts or broccoli in them? The cruciferous veggies really help with estrogen dominance.
Have you tried vitex? That's what my naturopath had me use to raise progesterone and it didn't give me acne. In fact it helped it. I know you're on something natural but don't think it was vitex.
The phytoprogest in my tincture does have vitex, it's the second ingredient: Dioscorea villosa (wild yam), Vitex agnus-castus (chaste tree berry), Smilax regelii (sarsaparilla), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), and Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) in a base of organic alcohol and spring water.
Honestly I think you shouldn't mess with your female hormones, androgens are typically the cause of acne. Check your tesosterone/ free tesosterone as we as cortisol. When do you generally break out? Mid cycle right after or during ovulation or right before your period? See right before your period starts all your female hormones drop ( even progesterone) leaving tesosterone at a constant level. Without estrogen to supress tesosterone it can cause oil skin and over excessive sebum production. Also if your depression also causes chronic anxiety you could have a serious problem with cortisol! Which is not good for the skin as well. Pay attention to your body. My cortisol and progesterone as well as fsh all came back fine, I think my lh too. I am not sure if my estrogen was checked but if it was that's fine too. My doctor didn't bother to check my tesosterone/ free on my lab worksheet and now in convinced tesosterone is my culprit. I mean everyone knows it causes acne but girls think because they are girls it's not an issue. Yet... Wouldn't females be more sensative to tesosterone than men seeing as we aren't suppose to have very much at all. Just listen to your body. Do you have oily skin? Sweat excessively? What about your fat distribution? When during your cycle do you tend to break out. If its caused my a sex hormone you can probably guess easily which one is the culprit. If not look into cortisol see how that's doing because that's an important hormone as well.
I am sort of insulted by your comment "Pay attention to your body." That's assuming that I don't pay attention to my body, that I don't track my cycles, my acne, my depression religiously, go over it with my doctor, and adjust my supplements.
Also, I'm not "messing" with my hormones, I am trying to balance them. I'm not on a hormone cream. I am on a hormone support, which helps my body make it's own hormones. I know I am low in them, because when I don't take the hormone support, I get severely depressed.
I've had my testosterone checked and it was LOW. I also had cortisol checked, which was also low and is being treated (I think I mentioned earlier in this thread). I know about the costisol/progesterone steal, etc (levels of both have gotten a lot better in the last 6 months). I don't have oily skin, I don't sweat excessively, my BMI is 18 and I am very thin. My breakouts are days 4-5, 12-15 and 21-27. Not sure what that says about my acne, but there it is.
So it seems like what is true for some isn't true for me.
My skin has gotten a lot better with zinc oxide cream.
Im wondering why my bio identical hormone cream has not helped me? Im thinking maybe I should supplement with DIM to get rid of bad estrogen. Im on a estrogen/progesterone cream now for 3 months. 4 months and each month is has slowly increased in dosage so why no improvement with my skin? I get plagued with congested clogged pores in my chin area. They are wedged in every little hair follicle and I cant stand it. I also break out on my jawline still and my seborrhea is a disaster as well. Any advise for me?
Im wondering why my bio identical hormone cream has not helped me? Im thinking maybe I should supplement with DIM to get rid of bad estrogen. Im on a estrogen/progesterone cream now for 3 months. 4 months and each month is has slowly increased in dosage so why no improvement with my skin? I get plagued with congested clogged pores in my chin area. They are wedged in every little hair follicle and I cant stand it. I also break out on my jawline still and my seborrhea is a disaster as well. Any advise for me?
Isn't taking progesterone and estrogen at the same time counterproductive? Progesterone downregulates estrogen and DHT. So you're downregulating the estrogen with progesterone than adding it back in with extra estrogen?