Some women get acne during pregnancy, due to the sudden peak in estrogen and progesterone, not necessarily testosterone. I guess there are various factors. High cortisol can also cause acne. so many things!

Thanks so much WishClean! I am on my way to school or I would write more, but the main thing I want to say is, I guess it's just easy to get confused or discouraged when reading all the various theories regarding the cause of acne, so I appreciate your consistent insight!

With Vitex, did you get an IB? How long did it take to work? What brand did you use? And was there a rebound when you went off it?

The reason why I'm considering vitex over NPG is 1) cost, 2) better absorption and 3) more consistent progesterone dose (cream can rub off or be hard to keep exact measurements).

Do you think this is a better idea for me?

I hear what you're saying about my liver, I will be taking those vitamins that help with it, I also stopped glucosmart and don't plan on adding anything else to my treatment (just swapping NPC for Vitex, maybe).

SoftFocus, good points re pregnant women and acne!

Thanks so much WishClean! I am on my way to school or I would write more, but the main thing I want to say is, I guess it's just easy to get confused or discouraged when reading all the various theories regarding the cause of acne, so I appreciate your consistent insight!

With Vitex, did you get an IB? How long did it take to work? What brand did you use? And was there a rebound when you went off it?

The reason why I'm considering vitex over NPG is 1) cost, 2) better absorption and 3) more consistent progesterone dose (cream can rub off or be hard to keep exact measurements).

Do you think this is a better idea for me?

I hear what you're saying about my liver, I will be taking those vitamins that help with it, I also stopped glucosmart and don't plan on adding anything else to my treatment (just swapping NPC for Vitex, maybe).

SoftFocus, good points re pregnant women and acne!

You're right. Causes of acne really vary. Mine goes away when I'm on a really strict diet...so there are ways around it without going into hormonal treatments, but of course it's nice to be able to eat more freely when you are taking something to regulate your hormones.

The first time on vitex my acne was pretty bad to begin with so I don't remember getting an IB....I was also eating horribly, so I remember breaking out after indulging in too much sugar - nothing to do with vitex. The second time I didn't have an IB but I kept getting flare ups around ovulation and my period until 3 months into it. I just noticed they were less severe and easier to cover with makeup. And I also remember being more sensitive to allergies the second time around, that was one reason I quit taking it.

When I went off it, both times, hell broke loose! It was almost as bad as getting off bcp, even when I tried to wean off slowly. The second time I didn't wean off as slowly as I wanted to because I was having histamine reactions and hives, and the doctor put me on antihistamines and told me not to take anything else with it (big mistake!). Not sure if vitex made me more prone to hives, or if it was purely allergies that caused it, but I did read about women developing hives from vitex. I don't know if I may have developed an allergy to it, like I did to other things....I still wonder about that. But overall, it's much safer than bcp, I think I was just sensitive to it towards the end of my 2nd course because I already had other digestive issues going on before I even started re-taking it. I should have tried taking probiotics with it like I did the first time, maybe you should try that too if you find it hard on your stomach. Start SLOW and then increase because it's more likely to cause an IB if you start with a high dose. If i were you, I would continue the NPC for at least the first month on vitex, then wean off slowly and increase vitex.

As greengables said, I don't recommend taking spiro while on vitex, they can cancel each other out or cause negative interactions with each other. But I don't think you should quit spiro cold turkey....decrease first, then maybe switch to glucosmart (for a less potent antiandrogen), then keep taking glucosmart with vitex & NPC, then wean off NPC and glucosmart. Does that make sense? I don't think it's good to stop everything cold turkey.

Also, if you notice increased facial hair and thinning hair on your head while on vitex, add inositol (glucosmart or get the powder form). I think vitex needs to be taken with an antiandrogen a few months into it. If I were to take it again, I would definitely pair it up with inositol to prevent hirsutism.

Thanks GreenGables, but there is no way I would quit every acne treatment. I have struggled with severe acne since I was 16, I'm now 30, and it has never been manageable without treatment. Also, I do not have access to hormonal testing, so there would be no point in quitting everything to "assess", the result would just be more painful acne and more guessing. I also have no intention of taking multiple medications or mixing medications, just exploring my options. Regarding the type of acne I am getting, I would say the nodules are average, pre-treatment. However, for three years on spiro I was clear with no nodules. What bc would you suggest works well with spiro? Ive tried Diane and had a horrible rebound, so not that one.

WishClean, thanks for the info, but it's sounding like vitex is not a better option (for me) than NPC. I've lowered my dose of NPC and am going to observe how that goes.

I know it's been said on this forum, but I still find it confusing, what hormones are at play during menstruation that may trigger acne? This is my worst time for nodules.

Thanks GreenGables, but there is no way I would quit every acne treatment. I have struggled with severe acne since I was 16, I'm now 30, and it has never been manageable without treatment. Also, I do not have access to hormonal testing, so there would be no point in quitting everything to "assess", the result would just be more painful acne and more guessing. I also have no intention of taking multiple medications or mixing medications, just exploring my options. Regarding the type of acne I am getting, I would say the nodules are average, pre-treatment. However, for three years on spiro I was clear with no nodules. What bc would you suggest works well with spiro? I™ve tried Diane and had a horrible rebound, so not that one.

WishClean, thanks for the info, but it's sounding like vitex is not a better option (for me) than NPC. I've lowered my dose of NPC and am going to observe how that goes.

I know it's been said on this forum, but I still find it confusing, what hormones are at play during menstruation that may trigger acne? This is my worst time for nodules.

brenmc, have you tried keeping a log of your breakouts, as it was suggested to me? Mine usually occur during ovulation/mid-cycle and on my period. I'm 30 too, btw, and the older we get, the more risky it is to be on birth control. I wouldn't recommend spiro and bcp, but maybe you can try yaz which has some anti-adrogenic properties. However, if you have estrogen dominance, bcp will only make it worse and will cause weight gain. And any time you try to get off bcp, your body will basically not know what to do without the synthetic hormones. There's no immediate freakout, because the hormones are still in your system, but a few months after coming off bcp is when women usually start to break out if they were acne prone before. It's better to either be on spiro, which is not a synthetic hormone but a hormonal treatment, or go the herb or supplement route. I tried a lot of bcp and, considering the side effects of those, vitex was relatively safe.

Is there a chance that you don't need to take anything? The first time I was on vitex I took it too long... my mom was lucky enough to be on hormones for only 6 months and then she was able to come off and everything was balanced. So, could it be possible that you don't need anti-androgens anymore? Technically, you were on 2. And I read that glucosmart has 600mg of chiro-insitol, which is the recommended amount for thin women with PCOS if they are NOT taking other antiandrogens. If they are, then you are supposed to use less I think. And your spiro dose was high....I don't know what your weight is, but if you are a small person, you might have been taking too many anti-androgens. We need a bit of testosterone, so if testosterone is too low compared to other hormones that can be an issue too.

I'm just guessing though...the safest would be to take a hormone test to at least get a vague idea of what your imbalance is. I know it's difficult right now though, but guessing can be tricky

I agree about liver support. If the liver isn't working properly, there's no use in taking more stuff for acne. I read about NAC for hormonal balance but I haven't tried it yet.

Guessing can definitely be tricky. I understand the idea of stopping everything, but, as I said, I have done that over the course of the last 15 years and the result has always been the same- acne returns full force or worse (in the case of bc).

Guessing can definitely be tricky. I understand the idea of stopping everything, but, as I said, I have done that over the course of the last 15 years and the result has always been the same- acne returns full force or worse (in the case of bc).

I know what you mean. Even doctors are guessing most of the time, and while it may seem relatively safe in the short term, long term side effects say otherwise. There's no chance of you trying to get hormonal testing, even through online saliva testing (the one where they send you the kit and you collect samples and send them back)? I know it's hard where you live, but you don't want to cause another imbalance if what you have been taking so far is no longer working for you. it's either because your hormones changed or you are not responding to the treatment anymore....or, your body can't process the drug as well as it used to. It would help you if you had an indication of what might be wrong internally. Most of us here are guessing based on your symptoms but it's hard to pinpoint the exact cause without some sort of testing.

Btw, was it you who was taking conjugated linoleic acid/ CLA? If so, that can actually worsen insulin resistance and even negate the effects of glucosmart.

Thanks for the reply. I'm going away next week, but when I get back I will look into ordering some hormonal testing online.

 

Guessing can definitely be tricky. I understand the idea of stopping everything, but, as I said, I have done that over the course of the last 15 years and the result has always been the same- acne returns full force or worse (in the case of bc).

I know what you mean. Even doctors are guessing most of the time, and while it may seem relatively safe in the short term, long term side effects say otherwise. There's no chance of you trying to get hormonal testing, even through online saliva testing (the one where they send you the kit and you collect samples and send them back)? I know it's hard where you live, but you don't want to cause another imbalance if what you have been taking so far is no longer working for you. it's either because your hormones changed or you are not responding to the treatment anymore....or, your body can't process the drug as well as it used to. It would help you if you had an indication of what might be wrong internally. Most of us here are guessing based on your symptoms but it's hard to pinpoint the exact cause without some sort of testing.

Btw, was it you who was taking conjugated linoleic acid/ CLA? If so, that can actually worsen insulin resistance and even negate the effects of glucosmart.

I have to go get my lab results tomorrow, and if my estrogen is high the doc wants me to try myomin. I was reading random stuff about it, and similarities to vitex came up, so I tried to see why vitex stopped working for me long term.

I was reading some stuff on vitex on examine.com for a synthesis of medical studies and now I'm really confused. At some points, it says it can have an anti-estrogenic effect, but in another part it says it can actually increase both progesterone and estrogen. This site also mentions effects on dopamine, melatonin, and other parts of the endocrine system. http://examine.com/supplements/Vitex+agnus+castus/

Any thoughts on what issues long term vitex supplementation might cause? For me, it fixed the problem at first, then I don't know what happened. But this used to be my go-to cure, so I figured I need to find something comparable for the estrogen part since the rest are sort of covered now.

I obviously don't know nearly as much as you about hormones, but I think managing insulin levels is the best route for PCOS gals like us. Ever consider metformin? I am. I took it before with spiro and it did help a bit.

I obviously don't know nearly as much as you about hormones, but I think managing insulin levels is the best route for PCOS gals like us. Ever consider metformin? I am. I took it before with spiro and it did help a bit.

Metformin has too many side effects and also if it messes with blood pressure like other drugs I can't take it bc my blood pressure is low. The dr. did recommend it initially, but then I found out that inositol is basically the supplement equivalent to metformin. There is even a study comparing the 2 that found inositol to be just as effective. So I'd rather stick with what works at this point. I started chiro-inositol 2 days ago to strengthen the dose and I'll update on how that goes. My insulin was always in the normal range, but of course that doesn't mean much.

Interesting study about insulin and inositol: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23467955

Hey guys, I really felt the need to help and tell you what is working for me.

I had really bad acne when I came of diannette bc pill. I had to come of it as I got a dvt in my leg!!!! So can't go back on it. I must of has a bad reaction or something?

Currently I use Agnus Castus liquid in the morning with some water. Then wash my face with witch hazel face wash then apply a small amount of extra virgin olive oil. I know it sounds nuts but it totally works. My skin has never looked this good. I repeat this in the evening too.

I work in the beauty cosmetics industry so I know quite a lot about skin ect. I think alot of people can be allergic to face creams ect more so if you have food allergy's.

I have a dairy allergy so I just avoid it now. Even though I love to eat cheese milk ice cream. I just can't it totally breaks me out. After all why should we be drinking the milk of another animal as adults its a bit nuts if you ask me. I now eat very healthy kind of follow the low GI now. Sugar/Wheat and as I say dairy make my skin go mad. I have tryed soooooo many different things and this is by far the best thing that works for me. Hope this helps. Before when my skin used to get bad a mask made up from crushed up magnesium tablets on my face did help. But I know longer need to do this. I really hope this helps someone.

.

Hey guys, I really felt the need to help and tell you what is working for me.

I had really bad acne when I came of diannette bc pill. I had to come of it as I got a dvt in my leg!!!! So can't go back on it. I must of has a bad reaction or something?

Currently I use Agnus Castus liquid in the morning with some water. Then wash my face with witch hazel face wash then apply a small amount of extra virgin olive oil. I know it sounds nuts but it totally works. My skin has never looked this good. I repeat this in the evening too.

I work in the beauty cosmetics industry so I know quite a lot about skin ect. I think alot of people can be allergic to face creams ect more so if you have food allergy's.

I have a dairy allergy so I just avoid it now. Even though I love to eat cheese milk ice cream. I just can't it totally breaks me out. After all why should we be drinking the milk of another animal as adults its a bit nuts if you ask me. I now eat very healthy kind of follow the low GI now. Sugar/Wheat and as I say dairy make my skin go mad. I have tryed soooooo many different things and this is by far the best thing that works for me. Hope this helps. Before when my skin used to get bad a mask made up from crushed up magnesium tablets on my face did help. But I know longer need to do this. I really hope this helps someone.

.

It's probably the agnus castus that's helping you internally....and maybe witch hazel a little bit topically.

I wish I could still take agnus castus/vitex...I seem to have developed an intolerance for it, or maybe it's because my digestion is generally bad and it's now too much for me.

Hi WishClean, Green Gables, jlcampi,

Thank you very much for this very helpful thread. Please help me if any one understands the lab results or guide me what should i start with.

I am also suffering from hormonal imbalance, hirsutism, acne, fatigue, aggression, PMS, mood swings, brest pain after ovulation, headaches (sometimes).

I have autoimmune hypothyroidism currently on 100g levothyrox.

My recent lab results are :

TSH 2.68 mUI/L

FSH 6.8 UI/L

LH 6.6 UI/L

Estradiol 30 ng/L (110.4 pmol/L)

17-OH progesterone 0.490 ng/mL (1.48 nmol/L)

Delta 4-androstenedione 2.32 ng/mL (8.10 nmol/L)

Testosterone 0.630 ng/mL (2.19 nmol/L)

Sulfate of DHEA 1450 ng/mL (3.94 mol/L)

Cortisol 12.0 g/dl (332 nmol/L)

These were taken on 28th of May and my menstrual cycle started on 25th of May night.

Any suggestions or comments are welcome please.

Thanks in advance.

I was taking saw palmetto with success up until April this year when my skin suddenly broke out. Maybe I've become intolerant to it? Anyway I've been looking into trying vitex as an alternative, can vitex be taken during menstruation? I'm seeing conflicting information, can anyone shed some light on this?

I was taking saw palmetto with success up until April this year when my skin suddenly broke out. Maybe I've become intolerant to it? Anyway I've been looking into trying vitex as an alternative, can vitex be taken during menstruation? I'm seeing conflicting information, can anyone shed some light on this?

Maybe you need to adjust your dose of saw palmetto? Or, if it was just one breakout then maybe it was just a one-off, so you could just keep doing what you are doing, and if another breakout happens then consider other options or a different dose.

There is conflicting information about taking vitex during menstruation. I personally took the same dose all month long, but now I wonder if tweaking it according to my cycle would have been better. I'm not sure, but my naturopath said to take the same dose every day.

I was taking saw palmetto with success up until April this year when my skin suddenly broke out. Maybe I've become intolerant to it? Anyway I've been looking into trying vitex as an alternative, can vitex be taken during menstruation? I'm seeing conflicting information, can anyone shed some light on this?

Maybe you need to adjust your dose of saw palmetto? Or, if it was just one breakout then maybe it was just a one-off, so you could just keep doing what you are doing, and if another breakout happens then consider other options or a different dose.

There is conflicting information about taking vitex during menstruation. I personally took the same dose all month long, but now I wonder if tweaking it according to my cycle would have been better. I'm not sure, but my naturopath said to take the same dose every day.

Well my face broke out terribly around the end of March. My diet is relatively healthy and I can't recall doing anything different. I tried tweeking the saw palmetto by increasing the dose, but still kept breaking out.

Nothing seems to be helping which is frustrating and my self-esteem is much lower now. I had a really bad flare up around my menstrual cycle last week, so I know my acne is hormonal. I came off the saw palmetto in may and started 500mg of vitex two days ago. I like to take herbs for a long period of time rather than hop from product to product, I'll see how I get on with the vitex.

thanks for your input.

Well my face broke out terribly around the end of March. My diet is relatively healthy and I can't recall doing anything different. I tried tweeking the saw palmetto by increasing the dose, but still kept breaking out.

Nothing seems to be helping which is frustrating and my self-esteem is much lower now. I had a really bad flare up around my menstrual cycle last week, so I know my acne is hormonal. I came off the saw palmetto in may and started 500mg of vitex two days ago. I like to take herbs for a long period of time rather than hop from product to product, I'll see how I get on with the vitex.

thanks for your input.

Sorry to hear that you broke out again. Saw palmetto only worked for me very briefly, so maybe it wears off for acne after a while. Have you tried DIM or inositol?

Well my face broke out terribly around the end of March. My diet is relatively healthy and I can't recall doing anything different. I tried tweeking the saw palmetto by increasing the dose, but still kept breaking out.

Nothing seems to be helping which is frustrating and my self-esteem is much lower now. I had a really bad flare up around my menstrual cycle last week, so I know my acne is hormonal. I came off the saw palmetto in may and started 500mg of vitex two days ago. I like to take herbs for a long period of time rather than hop from product to product, I'll see how I get on with the vitex.

thanks for your input.

Sorry to hear that you broke out again. Saw palmetto only worked for me very briefly, so maybe it wears off for acne after a while. Have you tried DIM or inositol?

Oh that's ironic, we both became immune to saw palmetto? Well it was good while it lasted. I'm abit hesitant about trying DIM I read mixed reviews about it so I wasn't so sure if it would exasperate my acne. I haven't tried inositol there doesn't seem to be much information about people experiences with it in relation to acne. I saw a few things about its benefits on a PCOS message board but I don't have PCOS. My period is regular, yet I still get the typical pms symptoms bloating, craving, acne before and during my menses.

Right now I have acne below my jawline and on my forehead. I started to develop forehead acne last month which is bizarre because I seldom get acne on my forehead it's mild but won't shift. Perhaps I need to review my diet again....

Can inositol and vitex be taken at the same time?

Well my face broke out terribly around the end of March. My diet is relatively healthy and I can't recall doing anything different. I tried tweeking the saw palmetto by increasing the dose, but still kept breaking out.

Nothing seems to be helping which is frustrating and my self-esteem is much lower now. I had a really bad flare up around my menstrual cycle last week, so I know my acne is hormonal. I came off the saw palmetto in may and started 500mg of vitex two days ago. I like to take herbs for a long period of time rather than hop from product to product, I'll see how I get on with the vitex.

thanks for your input.

Sorry to hear that you broke out again. Saw palmetto only worked for me very briefly, so maybe it wears off for acne after a while. Have you tried DIM or inositol?

Oh that's ironic, we both became immune to saw palmetto? Well it was good while it lasted. I'm abit hesitant about trying DIM I read mixed reviews about it so I wasn't so sure if it would exasperate my acne. I haven't tried inositol there doesn't seem to be much information about people experiences with it in relation to acne. I saw a few things about its benefits on a PCOS message board but I don't have PCOS. My period is regular, yet I still get the typical pms symptoms bloating, craving, acne before and during my menses.

Right now I have acne below my jawline and on my forehead. I started to develop forehead acne last month which is bizarre because I seldom get acne on my forehead it's mild but won't shift. Perhaps I need to review my diet again....

Can inositol and vitex be taken at the same time?

I believe they can be taken at the same time....just in case, take them hours apart. Vitex usually only interacts with medications and other herbs, not vitamin supps like inositol