Acne.org Products
 
Hi WishClean,
I'm a long time lurker, first time member. I have been following your posts for some time now. I've been struggling with acne since I was 19 and am now 23. My acne is the painful cystic type that takes forever to heal and leaves dreadful hyper-pigmentation. I know my acne is hormonal based on its location on my face but also because have slight chin hairs/fuzz. The imbalance is probably not too major because everything else works like a clock, my periods are regular, I'm in good shape, no pcos or cysts -- I don't have any other hormonal issues other than the acne and (a little) hair.
I tried Spironolactone 2 years ago and it did nothing for my acne -- only made my periods turn to spotting and come twice a month. After that I tried Vitex which absolutely annihilated my acne -- I combined it with DIM (from Estrosense) and WOW, I had not had such clear skin since high school. It was clear to me at this point that my imbalance was progesterone:estrogen based and not androgenic (which explains why the spiro never worked!) After about 4 months into this treatment, I fell into horrible depression/anxiety. I've had issues with anxiety in the past but never depression. I knew it had something to do with my hormones, it took one quick search to discover that Vitex is contraindicated for those with history of depression (or anxiety in my case). I know that it has actually helped many women who suffer from these conditions but for me it did the opposite and worsened my anxiety ten-fold. It was quite sudden too... one day I was fine and all of a sudden I 'crashed.' I immediately stopped the Vitex and everything else. I wanted to let my body recalibrate itself, I didn't care about acne at this point just wanted to get back to a place of ease of well-being. I told myself I would just change my diet and try to get everything I needed from food.
It's been 2 years since then and my acne has improved but I still have bouts (sometimes for several weeks) of eruptions. I am at my wits end with this acne, WishClean. I read your posts and decided to look into Inositol -- I was relieved to discover that it has anti-depressant properties and that studies showed it lead to significant reduction of ocd/panic/depression -- so this eliminated my fear of it potentially affecting me the same way Vitex did. I've been taking 1/4 teaspoon of the NOW brand for about 2.5 weeks and I'm not sure if it's working, could be too soon to tell. I did however notice I feel "fatter" ... almost like I'm gaining weight, maybe retaining water -- not sure. Did you experience this?
I'm also considering giving DIM another shot as well. I know that it has a stronger hormonal impact than inositol and I worry that it could trigger my anxiety, but I am so desperate, my chin at the moment is covered in little red pimples and I have a big one at the angle of my jaw. I have a bottle of Estrosense at home as well as Estroblock PRO (600-something mg per capsule). Perhaps I should combine these with Inositol?
Can you recommend a regiment for me? Should I stick with the inositol? Should I combine DIM? How long did it take for you to see results with inositol and at what point did you add DIM to your regiment? I remember that with Vitex I saw results almost immediately.
Thank you in advance for reading this message and for your invaluable contribution to the website!
Emma
 
Hi Emma,
Thank you for sharing here, and hopefully your story can help others struggling with similar issues (as I get messages like yours every month). Ok, to address your points:
1. I did a quick search for vitex & depression, and it seems that others have the same issue. In my case, when I was on vitex my dosage was not high compared to what most of these women are taking (I don't believe in megadosing) and I was taking it in tincture form without the additives of the capsule. I remember, especially the first time I was on it (along with evening primrose & acidophilus & a multivitamin) I was very happy and my skin was glowing. The depression side effect might have something to do with the way vitex influences prolactin, and if taken at a rather high dose (or higher than that person's body requires - it could vary according to each person's body) then it can mess with hormone levels including prolactin.
2. I don't think vitex should be used long term - you need to take breaks from it. It slowly balances some hormones, and if you are lucky it's the right ones (esp. progesterone, prolactin, and for some estrogen & testosterone) BUT if taken for too long at the same dosage, then it could either LOWER or INCREASE specific hormones too much. Unfortunately, it's hard to know when to slowly wean off unless you are getting your hormones tested regularly, and even that might not be an accurate indication. I was given vitex by a qualified holistic pharmacist & homeopathic doctor, I didn't just take it on my own as I knew nothing about herbs at the time...he specifically told me (along with another co-worker of his) not to take it too long...he said around 6 months.
3. DIM might also be similar in that it can actually start to increase the GOOD estrogens along with reducing the bad estrogens...that's not a bad thing in the short term, but if your estrogen levels are already in the "normal to high" range, then you would need to take a break from it for a while.
4. Inositol is known to do wonders for anxiety...it's actually used as an anti-anxiety supplement and also for people with OCD and other compulsive disorders. BUT, again, if taken at higher dosages than your body can tolerate, it can backfire. Try to take 1/8 teaspoon TWICE a day (which is the same dosage as you are taking now, but split into 2) on an empty stomach (1st one in the AM when you wake up, 2nd one can be early afternoon if you find it keeps you awake at night) to see if the bloating improves. Yes, I had some water retention on inositol, and also some days on DIM (depending on my cycle), while other times I woke up with a completely flat stomach. I think it's because the dosage needs to be adjusted (i.e. reduced/ stopped) on certain days of your cycle, but I haven't done that...it takes too much patience, tracking, and precision.
5. You know which herbs work for you...DIM & vitex. So, you need to keep targeting those hormones, but leave prolactin intact. I would either stay away from vitex or take a very low dose of it to prevent messing with your prolactin since you are so prone to depression. I think there's a brand of DIM that has a bit of vitex in it, maybe you can start with that. I personally have the Olympian Labs DIM, which is just DIM, and that's the only brand I have used because I don't like brands that mix DIM with other stuff. Inositol does not balance the same hormones, though....it sounds like your main issues are estrogen & progesterone.
Inositol will probably do nothing for balancing your estrogen levels so you will need to combine it with something else. Have you checked the SoulCysters website? Women on that site usually combine inositol with other supplements. Of course, some are taking way too many things because they want to conceive, but you might find more ideas on how to combine inositol there.
6. Inositol is definitely milder than DIM and vitex. Even with vitex, I saw results gradually. With DIM, I got the fastest results but it could be because my acne was already under control with inositol. Inositol took a few weeks to really kick in, but I somehow knew it was working within the first few days since I stopped getting bad flare ups and, a few days later, my period's flow was more "healthy" if that makes sense (red blood as opposed to the brownish black blood I used to get the first couple of days).
7. For depression, have you thought about getting your vitamin D levels measured? Vitamin D can be a very powerful anti-depressant. Also, vitamin C (low acid for me) can help in the absorption of other supplements and with boosting your immune system. That's definitely a good supplement to start with.
8. I know it sounds cliched, but as someone who has also suffered with depression, I can tell you how I got over it. Last year, I used vitamin D short-term (doctor prescribed D2 because I couldn't take D3, but D3 would be the best if you can take it) and it really helped me a lot. Also, yoga, walking outside, keeping busy, relaxing, and doing things for myself really help me not get depressed. Having goals and working towards them can also help a lot because a depressed mind is usually an idle mind.
I hope this helps!
Hi WishClean,
Thank you so much for your detailed response. Yes I have taken D3 for depression, I also take 5HTP which helps tremendously as well as L-Theanine. Since I've been taking Inositol I have actually found that my mood is much more stable and my anxiety is less pronounced. I also do mindfulness meditation and other mindfulness meditative practices which have been incredibly enlightening.
You mentioned that my dose of Vitex may have been too high -- what is considered a mega/high dose compared to a smaller dose?
Also, you said "Inositol does not balance the same hormones, though....it sounds like your main issues are estrogen & progesterone. Inositol will probably do nothing for balancing your estrogen levels so you will need to combine it with something else" -- I was under the impression that your imbalance was also estrogen/progesterone related, which is why Inositol worked well for you, is that not the case? I suspect I have low progesterone and high estrogen since Vitex worked so beautifully for me (as it did for you!) -- I read that Inositol helps increase progesterone which is why women with PCOS have success while on it, and which is why it also benefits fertility. Vitex also promotes progesterone but through pituitary gland activation. So technically Inositol should help, am I right?
I'm debating whether or not to give Vitex another try at a smaller dose as you suggested. I'm just so worried that it might induce depression, it took me ages to feel good again and I kept getting increased anxiety during PMS which I never had, it took many cycles for that to smooth over... but maybe I'll be lucky at a smaller dose. Perhaps I should just start with adding some DIM to Inositol (1/8 tsp twice a day - as per your suggestion) and see if that makes a difference....and leave Vitex as a last resort?
Emma xx
Hi WishClean,
Thank you so much for your detailed response. Yes I have taken D3 for depression, I also take 5HTP which helps tremendously as well as L-Theanine. Since I've been taking Inositol I have actually found that my mood is much more stable and my anxiety is less pronounced. I also do mindfulness meditation and other mindfulness meditative practices which have been incredibly enlightening.
You mentioned that my dose of Vitex may have been too high -- what is considered a mega/high dose compared to a smaller dose?
Also, you said "Inositol does not balance the same hormones, though....it sounds like your main issues are estrogen & progesterone. Inositol will probably do nothing for balancing your estrogen levels so you will need to combine it with something else" -- I was under the impression that your imbalance was also estrogen/progesterone related, which is why Inositol worked well for you, is that not the case? I suspect I have low progesterone and high estrogen since Vitex worked so beautifully for me (as it did for you!) -- I read that Inositol helps increase progesterone which is why women with PCOS have success while on it, and which is why it also benefits fertility. Vitex also promotes progesterone but through pituitary gland activation. So technically Inositol should help, am I right?
I'm debating whether or not to give Vitex another try at a smaller dose as you suggested. I'm just so worried that it might induce depression, it took me ages to feel good again and I kept getting increased anxiety during PMS which I never had, it took many cycles for that to smooth over... but maybe I'll be lucky at a smaller dose. Perhaps I should just start with adding some DIM to Inositol (1/8 tsp twice a day - as per your suggestion) and see if that makes a difference....and leave Vitex as a last resort?
Emma xx
If inositol is helping you in other ways besides acne, that's still good. It is used for anxiety, ADHD, OCD and other issues, so it could definitely help but keep the dose conservative. I read that a few people with ADHD (or could be OCD, can't remember now) who took a very high dose (the therapeutic dose, which is much higher for those conditions than for acne) actually had manic incidents...which is why I think that anything in excess can backfire.
My imbalance is complex, that's why it took me a lot of research & trial and error to figure the basic things out. My progesterone is low, and I (used to?) have high estrogen (one sign is that I tend to put on weight in my mid-section, and another sign is melasma). But I also have symptoms of high androgens, such as some facial hair (now much more manageable) & excess body hair (thank you laser for getting rid of it!). As I mentioned before, I took vitex the first time for much longer than I was advised...I was told to take the full dose for 6 months, then reduce it and gradually wean off. Since I was using a tincture, I was taking I think around 26-30 drops per day (if I remember correctly), and I'm not sure how much it amounts to in capsule mg. I would probably never take vitex capsules anyway, since I was getting an original vitex tincture from a naturopath in Europe, and it seemed of a higher quality than processed stuff because he was getting it straight from the source (the tree, that grows in parts of Europe/ Mediterranean).
Anyway, after about 7-8 months on vitex, I was still afraid to reduce the dose since my skin was healthy & glowing (I also credit evening primrose oil for the glow). But I did notice more chin & neck hairs sprouting, and that's how I suspected that there was something off with my androgens. It seems that vitex fixed some hormones, but threw my androgens (or perhaps indirectly, through prolactin levels or the pituitary gland) off balance. Or, it lowered my progesterone even more, since I read that increased facial hair could also be a sign of low progesterone. Either way, the second time I went on it, it did keep the acne at bay but I did not have as spectacular results as the first time. I also had increased sensitivities & high histamine reactions to things, so I stopped all herbs while sorting out that issue. And the third time I took it, I developed a rash-like reaction within the first 2 weeks so I stopped it completely and haven't touched it since. My body was reacting to a lot of things during that time, though, but it seemed that my flare ups got worse 2 weeks into vitex so I stopped it and swapped it with DIM.
My facial hair responded well to inositol, and I think even to DIM a little bit, so I knew I was on the right track.
The truth is, noone really knows exactly how vitex works. Why? Because there are no funded long-term & high sample experiments, although I believe there should be. There are so many reviews online, yet so little research. Inositol, on the other hand, has more research behind it (including doctor recommended products) and fewer reviews/ actual user experiences. I still do not fully understand the mechanism of vitex, and I don't think anyone accurately does. I think women react differently to it, depending on individual body chemistry, and it can be quite unpredictable. Even the person who recommended it to me was baffled by the increase in facial hair and could not offer a scientific explanation for it. So yeah, I would leave it as a last resort since out of all your options, it is the one least suitable for long term use. Of course, there are women (esp. on soul cysters) who take vitex for years without negative side effects, but based on my experience with it, I would only recommend it when all else fails. Keep using the inositol, and if you feel like you need to, add a low dose of DIM and monitor your reaction daily. Also, it wouldn't hurt to up your vitamin C, either through diet or an acid-free supplement.
FYI: I usually turn to examine.com if I need an overview of the research that's out there for particular herbs & supplements. They usually include exceptions to how something acts, and also mention interactions. The page on vitex is interesting. http://examine.com/supplements/Vitex+agnus+castus/
See this part about vitex on Examine.com, for example:
"It is primarily used today to alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Vitex agnus-castus has outperformed placebo in numerous trials, and has been shown to be effective at reducing hot flashes, bloating, irritability, sleep disturbances, depressions, various mood disorders and even cramping associated with premenstrual syndrome.
Though animal evidence suggests that taking Vitex agnus-castus may increase estrogen and progesterone levels, further research is needed to confirm this effect. Vitex agnus-castus has limited use outside of its effects on premenstrual syndrome.
Vitex agnus-castus acts similarly to dopamine, by reducing prolactin levels, which are elevated during premenstrual syndrome. It may also act on the opioid system by releasing beta-endorphins, something the human body lacks during premenstrual syndrome."
--> This seems to point to vitex's positive impact on PMS and depression, but you had a different experience. I think it could be due to, as I mentioned, the dosage, and/or the fact that in your case, you may have only needed it right before your period/ during PMS. I noticed this whenever I took evening primrose..it helps me more before ovulation and before my period, otherwise I feel bloated and a bit moody. Timing these things takes patience and careful tracking, though....anyway, just another thing to think about...
Hi WishClean,
Thank you so much for your detailed response. Yes I have taken D3 for depression, I also take 5HTP which helps tremendously as well as L-Theanine. Since I've been taking Inositol I have actually found that my mood is much more stable and my anxiety is less pronounced. I also do mindfulness meditation and other mindfulness meditative practices which have been incredibly enlightening.
You mentioned that my dose of Vitex may have been too high -- what is considered a mega/high dose compared to a smaller dose?
Also, you said "Inositol does not balance the same hormones, though....it sounds like your main issues are estrogen & progesterone. Inositol will probably do nothing for balancing your estrogen levels so you will need to combine it with something else" -- I was under the impression that your imbalance was also estrogen/progesterone related, which is why Inositol worked well for you, is that not the case? I suspect I have low progesterone and high estrogen since Vitex worked so beautifully for me (as it did for you!) -- I read that Inositol helps increase progesterone which is why women with PCOS have success while on it, and which is why it also benefits fertility. Vitex also promotes progesterone but through pituitary gland activation. So technically Inositol should help, am I right?
I'm debating whether or not to give Vitex another try at a smaller dose as you suggested. I'm just so worried that it might induce depression, it took me ages to feel good again and I kept getting increased anxiety during PMS which I never had, it took many cycles for that to smooth over... but maybe I'll be lucky at a smaller dose. Perhaps I should just start with adding some DIM to Inositol (1/8 tsp twice a day - as per your suggestion) and see if that makes a difference....and leave Vitex as a last resort?
Emma xx
If inositol is helping you in other ways besides acne, that's still good. It is used for anxiety, ADHD, OCD and other issues, so it could definitely help but keep the dose conservative. I read that a few people with ADHD (or could be OCD, can't remember now) who took a very high dose (the therapeutic dose, which is much higher for those conditions than for acne) actually had manic incidents...which is why I think that anything in excess can backfire.
My imbalance is complex, that's why it took me a lot of research & trial and error to figure the basic things out. My progesterone is low, and I (used to?) have high estrogen (one sign is that I tend to put on weight in my mid-section, and another sign is melasma). But I also have symptoms of high androgens, such as some facial hair (now much more manageable) & excess body hair (thank you laser for getting rid of it!). As I mentioned before, I took vitex the first time for much longer than I was advised...I was told to take the full dose for 6 months, then reduce it and gradually wean off. Since I was using a tincture, I was taking I think around 26-30 drops per day (if I remember correctly), and I'm not sure how much it amounts to in capsule mg. I would probably never take vitex capsules anyway, since I was getting an original vitex tincture from a naturopath in Europe, and it seemed of a higher quality than processed stuff because he was getting it straight from the source (the tree, that grows in parts of Europe/ Mediterranean).
Anyway, after about 7-8 months on vitex, I was still afraid to reduce the dose since my skin was healthy & glowing (I also credit evening primrose oil for the glow). But I did notice more chin & neck hairs sprouting, and that's how I suspected that there was something off with my androgens. It seems that vitex fixed some hormones, but threw my androgens (or perhaps indirectly, through prolactin levels or the pituitary gland) off balance. Or, it lowered my progesterone even more, since I read that increased facial hair could also be a sign of low progesterone. Either way, the second time I went on it, it did keep the acne at bay but I did not have as spectacular results as the first time. I also had increased sensitivities & high histamine reactions to things, so I stopped all herbs while sorting out that issue. And the third time I took it, I developed a rash-like reaction within the first 2 weeks so I stopped it completely and haven't touched it since. My body was reacting to a lot of things during that time, though, but it seemed that my flare ups got worse 2 weeks into vitex so I stopped it and swapped it with DIM.
My facial hair responded well to inositol, and I think even to DIM a little bit, so I knew I was on the right track.
The truth is, noone really knows exactly how vitex works. Why? Because there are no funded long-term & high sample experiments, although I believe there should be. There are so many reviews online, yet so little research. Inositol, on the other hand, has more research behind it (including doctor recommended products) and fewer reviews/ actual user experiences. I still do not fully understand the mechanism of vitex, and I don't think anyone accurately does. I think women react differently to it, depending on individual body chemistry, and it can be quite unpredictable. Even the person who recommended it to me was baffled by the increase in facial hair and could not offer a scientific explanation for it. So yeah, I would leave it as a last resort since out of all your options, it is the one least suitable for long term use. Of course, there are women (esp. on soul cysters) who take vitex for years without negative side effects, but based on my experience with it, I would only recommend it when all else fails. Keep using the inositol, and if you feel like you need to, add a low dose of DIM and monitor your reaction daily. Also, it wouldn't hurt to up your vitamin C, either through diet or an acid-free supplement.
FYI: I usually turn to examine.com if I need an overview of the research that's out there for particular herbs & supplements. They usually include exceptions to how something acts, and also mention interactions. The page on vitex is interesting. http://examine.com/supplements/Vitex+agnus+castus/
Thank you, WishClean. That is all extremely helpful. I will stick with the inositol and stay at this lower dose -- my body is very sensitive to vitamins/supplements so i will definitely not be taking large doses of it. 1/4 tsp daily will hopefully be enough. I will add some DIM to inositol and see how that works. I have a bottle of Estrosense/Estrosmart at home which contains 50mg of DIM per capsule -- perhaps I will start with one capsule a day and increase to 2 capsules after a few weeks.
Do you recall wen you noticed the Inositol started working? What about DIM?
Many thanks xx
Hi WishClean,
Thank you so much for your detailed response. Yes I have taken D3 for depression, I also take 5HTP which helps tremendously as well as L-Theanine. Since I've been taking Inositol I have actually found that my mood is much more stable and my anxiety is less pronounced. I also do mindfulness meditation and other mindfulness meditative practices which have been incredibly enlightening.
You mentioned that my dose of Vitex may have been too high -- what is considered a mega/high dose compared to a smaller dose?
Also, you said "Inositol does not balance the same hormones, though....it sounds like your main issues are estrogen & progesterone. Inositol will probably do nothing for balancing your estrogen levels so you will need to combine it with something else" -- I was under the impression that your imbalance was also estrogen/progesterone related, which is why Inositol worked well for you, is that not the case? I suspect I have low progesterone and high estrogen since Vitex worked so beautifully for me (as it did for you!) -- I read that Inositol helps increase progesterone which is why women with PCOS have success while on it, and which is why it also benefits fertility. Vitex also promotes progesterone but through pituitary gland activation. So technically Inositol should help, am I right?
I'm debating whether or not to give Vitex another try at a smaller dose as you suggested. I'm just so worried that it might induce depression, it took me ages to feel good again and I kept getting increased anxiety during PMS which I never had, it took many cycles for that to smooth over... but maybe I'll be lucky at a smaller dose. Perhaps I should just start with adding some DIM to Inositol (1/8 tsp twice a day - as per your suggestion) and see if that makes a difference....and leave Vitex as a last resort?
Emma xx
If inositol is helping you in other ways besides acne, that's still good. It is used for anxiety, ADHD, OCD and other issues, so it could definitely help but keep the dose conservative. I read that a few people with ADHD (or could be OCD, can't remember now) who took a very high dose (the therapeutic dose, which is much higher for those conditions than for acne) actually had manic incidents...which is why I think that anything in excess can backfire.
My imbalance is complex, that's why it took me a lot of research & trial and error to figure the basic things out. My progesterone is low, and I (used to?) have high estrogen (one sign is that I tend to put on weight in my mid-section, and another sign is melasma). But I also have symptoms of high androgens, such as some facial hair (now much more manageable) & excess body hair (thank you laser for getting rid of it!). As I mentioned before, I took vitex the first time for much longer than I was advised...I was told to take the full dose for 6 months, then reduce it and gradually wean off. Since I was using a tincture, I was taking I think around 26-30 drops per day (if I remember correctly), and I'm not sure how much it amounts to in capsule mg. I would probably never take vitex capsules anyway, since I was getting an original vitex tincture from a naturopath in Europe, and it seemed of a higher quality than processed stuff because he was getting it straight from the source (the tree, that grows in parts of Europe/ Mediterranean).
Anyway, after about 7-8 months on vitex, I was still afraid to reduce the dose since my skin was healthy & glowing (I also credit evening primrose oil for the glow). But I did notice more chin & neck hairs sprouting, and that's how I suspected that there was something off with my androgens. It seems that vitex fixed some hormones, but threw my androgens (or perhaps indirectly, through prolactin levels or the pituitary gland) off balance. Or, it lowered my progesterone even more, since I read that increased facial hair could also be a sign of low progesterone. Either way, the second time I went on it, it did keep the acne at bay but I did not have as spectacular results as the first time. I also had increased sensitivities & high histamine reactions to things, so I stopped all herbs while sorting out that issue. And the third time I took it, I developed a rash-like reaction within the first 2 weeks so I stopped it completely and haven't touched it since. My body was reacting to a lot of things during that time, though, but it seemed that my flare ups got worse 2 weeks into vitex so I stopped it and swapped it with DIM.
My facial hair responded well to inositol, and I think even to DIM a little bit, so I knew I was on the right track.
The truth is, noone really knows exactly how vitex works. Why? Because there are no funded long-term & high sample experiments, although I believe there should be. There are so many reviews online, yet so little research. Inositol, on the other hand, has more research behind it (including doctor recommended products) and fewer reviews/ actual user experiences. I still do not fully understand the mechanism of vitex, and I don't think anyone accurately does. I think women react differently to it, depending on individual body chemistry, and it can be quite unpredictable. Even the person who recommended it to me was baffled by the increase in facial hair and could not offer a scientific explanation for it. So yeah, I would leave it as a last resort since out of all your options, it is the one least suitable for long term use. Of course, there are women (esp. on soul cysters) who take vitex for years without negative side effects, but based on my experience with it, I would only recommend it when all else fails. Keep using the inositol, and if you feel like you need to, add a low dose of DIM and monitor your reaction daily. Also, it wouldn't hurt to up your vitamin C, either through diet or an acid-free supplement.
FYI: I usually turn to examine.com if I need an overview of the research that's out there for particular herbs & supplements. They usually include exceptions to how something acts, and also mention interactions. The page on vitex is interesting. http://examine.com/supplements/Vitex+agnus+castus/
Thank you, WishClean. That is all extremely helpful. I will stick with the inositol and stay at this lower dose -- my body is very sensitive to vitamins/supplements so i will definitely not be taking large doses of it. 1/4 tsp daily will hopefully be enough. I will add some DIM to inositol and see how that works. I have a bottle of Estrosense/Estrosmart at home which contains 50mg of DIM per capsule -- perhaps I will start with one capsule a day and increase to 2 capsules after a few weeks.
Do you recall wen you noticed the Inositol started working? What about DIM?
Many thanks xx
Estrosense has a bunch of other ingredients, though, so if I were you I would take just DIM on its own to see if it is working. Indole-3-Carbinol, contained in Estrosense, is a bit controversial and I'm not sure it's the right form to take if you have hormonal sensitivities.
The DIM I have is 100mg, but I used to take half a capsule twice a day (so 100 total, but split into 2) along with vitamin C for better absorption. Some have success if they combine it with calcium d glucarate, but I didn't. Now if I feel like I need DIM, I just take around 25mg for a couple of days as maintenance and sometimes add a bit of evening primrose oil with it.
Inositol started working a bit within the first week, but I didn't see a dramatic improvement until about 3 weeks- 1 month into it. DIM started working within the first week, but I think it was also because inositol helped keep the acne at bay. DIM just kind of sealed the deal. On top of that, though, I was taking digestive enzymes because I still got breakouts from certain foods & products. But that type of acne was not hormonal/ cystic, it looked different, so I had to do something else for that.
EDIT: From examine.com's page on DIM (also read this in other sources):
"In small amounts, it can both inhibit the aromatase enzyme (and prevent conversion of testosterone into estrogen) and it can act on more potent forms of estrogen and convert them into less potent forms; this conversion reduces the overall effects of estrogen in the body. However, taking too much DIM at once can actually induce the aromatase enzyme and act in the opposite manner and increase estrogen synthesis." --> so it's all about finding the right dose and not overdoing it. I would say start low, definitely!
Yes, on second thought the other ingredients contained in Estrosense may not be wise to take at the moment. I will purchase DIM on its own and HOPEFULLY that combined with Inositol will help!!! Don't think I will be that lucky tho
xx
Keep me updated on your progress! give it some time 
Yes, on second thought the other ingredients contained in Estrosense may not be wise to take at the moment. I will purchase DIM on its own and HOPEFULLY that combined with Inositol will help!!! Don't think I will be that lucky tho
Keep me updated on your progress! give it some time
I certainly will Thanks for everything!! xxx
I have been following this thread with a lot of interest as I think supplements and diet have been overlooked by western medicine as ways to address the root causes of acne. I had some side effects with high doses of Inositol, nothing overly worrisome. I did much better on the "quarter dose" and it may have helped my skin. The timing was such that I was taking it, plus a bunch of other supplements, so its hard for me to know what was going on. I tried so many different supplements (out of sheer panic to find anything to reduce cystic acne) that I had to start paring it down. I continue to take Vitex (chaste berry) through a tea that I buy from Republic of Tea. I think this supplement works (at least for me) to balance hormones, especially progesterone. I've also tried Saw Palmetto and thought that was working, but it had some less than pleasant side effects. I'm trying to understand what supplements may help, so I've eliminated SP and am watching to see how my skin reacts. At the moment, I take zinc monomethionine, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C,lutein (which helps eyesight but also seems be quite a good anti-inflammatory agent), calcium, and a probiotic. I steer clear from taking extra B vitamins or biotin which I think can aggravate acne prone skin - for some people. I always have to qualify that thinking because everyone is SO different. All of this takes time to figure out if it is working or not - like months in my case. I'm interested to hear other people's experience with supplements and diet.
Examine.com's page on inositol has been updated with more research. They also gave it a high rating for acne! However, there's no sufficient evidence on whether it can help men as well...
Hi WishClean,
do you know if it's possible to take inositol with spironolactone?
backstory:
I have been taking spiro for a couple of years and it's worked wonderfully for my skin, up until a few months ago. following a relapse with an eating disorder, my skin got a little crazy on me (despite being on 100mg of spiro!) papular acne, mostly. no cysts as of yet.
i'm also taking 1000mg of vitamin C.
before taking spiro I had tried close to everything.. nothing topical ever worked for me. I'm tempted to say I may have PCOS. although I've never been diagnosed, I have some similar symptoms (irregular periods, persistent acne resistant to topicals, mood swings and PMS, previously overweight, long/light peach fuzz facial hair)
since inositol and spironolactone both work to reduce androgens, albeit in a different way, I'm hoping a small dose of inositol might put me back on track. i'm scared to get off the spironolactone completely because I don't want my face to explode like it was before!
also, do you feel like inositol gives a calming, anxiolytic effect? could it improve sleep quality? i've seen some reviews claiming it does..
i would greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer, as you seem exceptionally knowledgeable on this matter.
thank you!
Hi WishClean,
do you know if it's possible to take inositol with spironolactone?
backstory:
I have been taking spiro for a couple of years and it's worked wonderfully for my skin, up until a few months ago. following a relapse with an eating disorder, my skin got a little crazy on me (despite being on 100mg of spiro!) papular acne, mostly. no cysts as of yet.
i'm also taking 1000mg of vitamin C.
before taking spiro I had tried close to everything.. nothing topical ever worked for me. I'm tempted to say I may have PCOS. although I've never been diagnosed, I have some similar symptoms (irregular periods, persistent acne resistant to topicals, mood swings and PMS, previously overweight, long/light peach fuzz facial hair)
since inositol and spironolactone both work to reduce androgens, albeit in a different way, I'm hoping a small dose of inositol might put me back on track. i'm scared to get off the spironolactone completely because I don't want my face to explode like it was before!
also, do you feel like inositol gives a calming, anxiolytic effect? could it improve sleep quality? i've seen some reviews claiming it does..
i would greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer, as you seem exceptionally knowledgeable on this matter.
thank you!
Well, my approach is to pick one and stick with it. But you could try it and let others know how it goes. I have no experience with this combination.
Yes, inositol is used to calm anxiety, so it could help you out if you have anxiety/ stress, but stay at a low dose because megadosing has the opposite effect (manic episodes).
Inositol seems to be quite the multi-tasker. WishClean posted a link to a study that indicates Inositol may have a positive impact on lowering blood glucose levels. Ovositol, which is the brand name of the Inositol supplement I have taken is a combination of myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol. The study on examine.com indicates this combination, which I think (if I am reading this properly) provides the most benefit especially at lower doses. I'm considering to start taking Ovositol again, now that I've eliminated other supplements that may have been contributing or perhaps causing some of the mild side effects I was experiencing. I think there is a connection between acne and too much insulin, and keeping blood glucose under control will help keep insulin levels from rising and break that acne / high insulin connection. I have been following a low glycemic index diet + walking in the evening after eating and I think this combination works for me, and adding a low dose of Ovositol may provide additional benefits. I'll update with my experience.
I thought I'd chime in with my experience since I've been taking Inositol for a while now. I'm just finishing with my second bottle of powder, currently taking 1.5g a day. It has been great for my skin ever since I started taking it. Combined with yaz, healthier diet, exercise, and bp gel I seem to have been able to get rid of over 90% of my acne. Though I did notice Inositol caused some weight gain, made me feel really tired in the morning, and gave me a ton of anxiety and ocd (which I've always had to some extent) each time I raised the dosage. Overtime all of those side effects seem to subside for me. Even if they didn't, though, I would take the trade for everything that it's done for my skin. Thank you so much Wishclean for helping me discover this product. I can finally look at myself in the mirror and be happy (for the most part haha).
Inositol seems to be quite the multi-tasker. WishClean posted a link to a study that indicates Inositol may have a positive impact on lowering blood glucose levels. Ovositol, which is the brand name of the Inositol supplement I have taken is a combination of myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol. The study on examine.com indicates this combination, which I think (if I am reading this properly) provides the most benefit especially at lower doses. I'm considering to start taking Ovositol again, now that I've eliminated other supplements that may have been contributing or perhaps causing some of the mild side effects I was experiencing. I think there is a connection between acne and too much insulin, and keeping blood glucose under control will help keep insulin levels from rising and break that acne / high insulin connection. I have been following a low glycemic index diet + walking in the evening after eating and I think this combination works for me, and adding a low dose of Ovositol may provide additional benefits. I'll update with my experience.
Definitely, if you suspect insulin resistance, then a low GI diet is key...inositol is an added bonus to that, as it helps regulate blood sugar.
I haven't tried ovasitol...to me, the dosage seems a bit high, but it's probably because it's a product doctors recommend, so the amount is a bit excessive. I would not take the full dose of it, just half or 1/4 to avoid potential bloating.
I thought I'd chime in with my experience since I've been taking Inositol for a while now. I'm just finishing with my second bottle of powder, currently taking 1.5g a day. It has been great for my skin ever since I started taking it. Combined with yaz, healthier diet, exercise, and bp gel I seem to have been able to get rid of over 90% of my acne. Though I did notice Inositol caused some weight gain, made me feel really tired in the morning, and gave me a ton of anxiety and ocd (which I've always had to some extent) each time I raised the dosage. Overtime all of those side effects seem to subside for me. Even if they didn't, though, I would take the trade for everything that it's done for my skin. Thank you so much Wishclean for helping me discover this product. I can finally look at myself in the mirror and be happy (for the most part haha).
I'm glad you are seeing good results! 1.5 g might be more than you need, which could explain why you gained some weight and the other side effects. Also, some people take inositol in the evening if it makes them drowsy in the morning, so you might want to switch the time you take it and see if that helps. It seems like your body is getting used to the inositol, but if you were experiencing side effects, especially anxiety and OCD, then it definitely means that you were taking too much. Inositol helps calm anxiety & OCD...once it starts to do the opposite, it means you've taken too much and you should decrease your dosage.
Chiming in here to say- I've had inositol for a while, maybe since February , after reading so many good things about it for hormones/acne on the internet. I never really gave it a fair go. Lately I've been noticing on certain days of my cycle I get really depressed and a little anxious. Particularly when days when my estrogen is the lowest. The other day I was feeling like this and I decided to try some inositol. It made me feel SO much better. I can't even explain. There's definitely serotonin - estrogen connection and inositol increases serotonin. Chronic stress, which is what I went thru will for sure mess up neurotransmitters and maybe I do have lower levels of serotonin, and maybe that's impacting my (low) estrogen levels and causing my breakouts. I'm going to keep taking it, it really made me feel normal when I had been feeling depressed and anxious
Chiming in here to say- I've had inositol for a while, maybe since February , after reading so many good things about it for hormones/acne on the internet. I never really gave it a fair go. Lately I've been noticing on certain days of my cycle I get really depressed and a little anxious. Particularly when days when my estrogen is the lowest. The other day I was feeling like this and I decided to try some inositol. It made me feel SO much better. I can't even explain. There's definitely serotonin - estrogen connection and inositol increases serotonin. Chronic stress, which is what I went thru will for sure mess up neurotransmitters and maybe I do have lower levels of serotonin, and maybe that's impacting my (low) estrogen levels and causing my breakouts. I'm going to keep taking it, it really made me feel normal when I had been feeling depressed and anxious
That's great...it helps me calm down as well Even though I no longer feel the need to take inositol daily, I still take it for stress on top of its other benefits. Just be careful not to take more than you need...for me, 1/8 of a teaspoon seems to do the trick, no need to take more.
I thought I'd chime in with my experience since I've been taking Inositol for a while now. I'm just finishing with my second bottle of powder, currently taking 1.5g a day. It has been great for my skin ever since I started taking it. Combined with yaz, healthier diet, exercise, and bp gel I seem to have been able to get rid of over 90% of my acne. Though I did notice Inositol caused some weight gain, made me feel really tired in the morning, and gave me a ton of anxiety and ocd (which I've always had to some extent) each time I raised the dosage. Overtime all of those side effects seem to subside for me. Even if they didn't, though, I would take the trade for everything that it's done for my skin. Thank you so much Wishclean for helping me discover this product. I can finally look at myself in the mirror and be happy (for the most part haha).
I'm glad you are seeing good results! 1.5 g might be more than you need, which could explain why you gained some weight and the other side effects. Also, some people take inositol in the evening if it makes them drowsy in the morning, so you might want to switch the time you take it and see if that helps. It seems like your body is getting used to the inositol, but if you were experiencing side effects, especially anxiety and OCD, then it definitely means that you were taking too much. Inositol helps calm anxiety & OCD...once it starts to do the opposite, it means you've taken too much and you should decrease your dosage.
Actually I got all of those side effects when I started taking it for the first time, and I took 0.6g a day at first. I also noticed it makes a big difference to actually split the dosage and take it morning and night. All of those side effects are gone now though.
Actually I got all of those side effects when I started taking it for the first time, and I took 0.6g a day at first. I also noticed it makes a big difference to actually split the dosage and take it morning and night. All of those side effects are gone now though.
I see, then it could have been your body adjusting to it. Normally, there should be no side effects at all if you're at the right dosage. Splitting it up definitely helps, plus it gives you a steady supply of inositol. Since inositol is water soluble, it leaves the body and does not get stored, that's why it helps to take it twice daily.
Hey everyone,
I'm back with some updates. I was taking Inositol for a little while -- I noticed if I took more than 1/4 teaspoon I would have splitting headaches that would not quit! I decided to take it once a week instead which turned to taking it quite inconsistently. I decided to add DIM to Inositol ... I took DIM 2 years ago in the Estrosense complex I combined that with Vitex and I was CLEAR! Unfortunately, the Vitex made my anxiety/depression so horrific. I stopped everything.
So I added DIM (Estrosmart this time, containing I3C, DIM, Turmeric, CDG, etc) -- and man oh man, it was giving me horrible vertigo -- just awful dizziness all day long. I tried to tolerate this side effect, I want my skin to clear so badly, I told myself just deal with the dizziness and it will subside eventually. Well it has been 3 weeks and it hasn't abated so yesterday, after my dizziness was so bad at work that my boss sent me home, I decided to stop Estrosmart.
Now I'm completely discouraged. The inositol gives me migraines beyond 1/4 tsp, the Estrosmart gives me dizziness, Vitex (the ONLY thing that worked to clear me) makes me depressed! Ugh!!!! I'm so frustrated guys, I feel I will ALWAYS have bad skin. I don't understand how I was able to take Estrosense 2 years ago (exact same as Estrosmart except it contains Milk Thistle) and be symptom free but 2 years later I try Estrosmart and bam, horrible incapacitating dizziness.
I just feel completely out of options. At the moment, I'm only taking the minimum dose of Inositol that doesn't give me a migraine but I feel it's not working. Another thing I'm willing to try is Fermented Cod Liver Oil -- which apparently contains fat soluble vitamin A and helps with acne. I want to try it because I've never been keen to take the synthetic vit A from regular supplements. So I will add that.
But what should I do? Should I try plain DIM (Dim-plus, Estroblock). Should I give Vitex another go at a lower dose (used to take Nature's Way 1 capsule a day (400mg), even tho I'm so scared to?
What should I do? I'm so desperate, I really thought Estrosmart was going to be a winner, but of course, had to have an aversion to it.
I attached pictures of my skin, it's a mess right now. Left side is always worse than my right. Sorry for sounding so negative, just at my wits end with all this 
Hey everyone,
I'm back with some updates. I was taking Inositol for a little while -- I noticed if I took more than 1/4 teaspoon I would have splitting headaches that would not quit! I decided to take it once a week instead which turned to taking it quite inconsistently. I decided to add DIM to Inositol ... I took DIM 2 years ago in the Estrosense complex I combined that with Vitex and I was CLEAR! Unfortunately, the Vitex made my anxiety/depression so horrific. I stopped everything.
So I added DIM (Estrosmart this time, containing I3C, DIM, Turmeric, CDG, etc) -- and man oh man, it was giving me horrible vertigo -- just awful dizziness all day long. I tried to tolerate this side effect, I want my skin to clear so badly, I told myself just deal with the dizziness and it will subside eventually. Well it has been 3 weeks and it hasn't abated so yesterday, after my dizziness was so bad at work that my boss sent me home, I decided to stop Estrosmart.
Now I'm completely discouraged. The inositol gives me migraines beyond 1/4 tsp, the Estrosmart gives me dizziness, Vitex (the ONLY thing that worked to clear me) makes me depressed! Ugh!!!! I'm so frustrated guys, I feel I will ALWAYS have bad skin. I don't understand how I was able to take Estrosense 2 years ago (exact same as Estrosmart except it contains Milk Thistle) and be symptom free but 2 years later I try Estrosmart and bam, horrible incapacitating dizziness.
I just feel completely out of options. At the moment, I'm only taking the minimum dose of Inositol that doesn't give me a migraine but I feel it's not working. Another thing I'm willing to try is Fermented Cod Liver Oil -- which apparently contains fat soluble vitamin A and helps with acne. I want to try it because I've never been keen to take the synthetic vit A from regular supplements. So I will add that.
But what should I do? Should I try plain DIM (Dim-plus, Estroblock). Should I give Vitex another go at a lower dose (used to take Nature's Way 1 capsule a day (400mg), even tho I'm so scared to?
What should I do? I'm so desperate, I really thought Estrosmart was going to be a winner, but of course, had to have an aversion to it.
I attached pictures of my skin, it's a mess right now. Left side is always worse than my right. Sorry for sounding so negative, just at my wits end with all this
I know how you feel. I recently started taking vitex and have noticed its making me feel jittery and like my heart is beating really fast ? Weird ?? Yesterday my inositol arrived in the post and i was so excited i immediately tried some. Today i am so sleepy i can't get out of bed or concentrate on anything! Maybe i took too much but soooo annoying!
I haven't heard of estrosmart. Perhaps there are other ingredients in it that you could b reacting to? I have taken estroblock brand of dim and the only side effect i had was a bit of nausea for the first few days. Otherwise no issues. I only felt it mildly improved my skin though hence why i decided add in vitex and now inositol. Maybe you should go back to the brand that helped you before since it seemed to agree with you?
Maybe trying a lower dose vitex would be worth a shot. I'm not sure why it would cause depression ??? I have found vitamin d helpful for lifting my mood
I've never tried fermentable cod liver oil. I take fish oil, vit d and vit a which is pretty much what is in cod liver oil. i also eat a paleoish/grain free sugar free diet. Everything i do seems to help a little so i just keep adding something new to the mix
Don't give up. Maybe just start with small doses of supplements and gradually build up so you can moniter for side effects. By the way i didnt think your skin was tooooo bad. It looks like mine on a good day I think we probably see ourselves as looking way worse then others do. but i get it - pimples are horrible and we won't be happy till they're ALL gone
Hey everyone,
I'm very new here and as I see this topic is a bit dead recently but I'd like to share you some useful infos I've just discovered.I lovethis inositol topic andread throughcouple of times it wassuch a big help for me to be on the right track.I'd like to thank to Wishclean and the others your advices and experiments. English is not my native language so sorry about the mistakes.
My research started to find something natural way for hirsutism (I came off the pill few months ago and the symptoms increased but I am not willing to take it again) this is how I came across with the supplements and herbals. So far trials and errors and I'm still tryingto figure out the underlying issues. The doctors disappoint me I just cannot find a proper one who doesn't wanna put me on the pill again.
I have to admit that I made one big mistake in the beginning, I didn't get the blood test done and tried to find out the right herbals/supplements from the symptoms. Although I didn't really have a chance for it since I live abroad and my health insurance doesn't cover it.I would encourage everybody to get it done before makeing things worse with wrong herbs,like I did few times.
for example about the vitex, there are such a lot of mixed reviews,some women swearby it and for others it is making things worse. Vitex is actually aprogresteron-boosting herb which sounds reallygood for PCOS womenbut there are two hormones, one is called prolactin and the other is LH. Vitex suppressesprolactin so it's mosthelpful in women that have slightlyelevated prolactin but it can increase the LH which is typically commonly already elevated in PCOS and in insuline resistent women. So if you don't have elevated LH it can work fine as it will probably boost progresterone and it ends up stimulating ovulation.
I learnt this and so many really important and useful thingsfrom an Australiannaturopathic doctor. I've just discovered her website, interviews, blogs and her firstbookfew days ago, I am really excited about it, I feel like I will find thesolution for my problems. I thought it couldhelp for others as well. I wish I would live in Australia Iwould visit her clinic for sure.
Here name is Lara Briden you can google her website and check it out. She has been dealing with PCOS patientsfor 20 years and has wide experiments that's why I hope her advices and treatments will help me and I think it can also help for everybody here.
I haven't read her book yet so I cannot tell if it's worth, but I read throughher blogs on larabriden.com, you can find a plenty of writingsabout PCOS types and treatments,insuline resistence, hair loss, acne, supplements, herbals and so on.
I hope it helps.
On 11/28/2015, 8:00:12, Zanette said:Hey everyone,
I'm very new here and as I see this topic is a bit dead recently but I'd like to share you some useful infos I've just discovered.I lovethis inositol topic andread throughcouple of times it wassuch a big help for me to be on the right track.I'd like to thank to Wishclean and the others your advices and experiments. English is not my native language so sorry about the mistakes.
My research started to find something natural way for hirsutism (I came off the pill few months ago and the symptoms increased but I am not willing to take it again) this is how I came across with the supplements and herbals. So far trials and errors and I'm still tryingto figure out the underlying issues. The doctors disappoint me I just cannot find a proper one who doesn't wanna put me on the pill again.
I have to admit that I made one big mistake in the beginning, I didn't get the blood test done and tried to find out the right herbals/supplements from the symptoms. Although I didn't really have a chance for it since I live abroad and my health insurance doesn't cover it.I would encourage everybody to get it done before makeing things worse with wrong herbs,like I did few times.
for example about the vitex, there are such a lot of mixed reviews,some women swearby it and for others it is making things worse. Vitex is actually aprogresteron-boosting herb which sounds reallygood for PCOS womenbut there are two hormones, one is called prolactin and the other is LH. Vitex suppressesprolactin so it's mosthelpful in women that have slightlyelevated prolactin but it can increase the LH which is typically commonly already elevated in PCOS and in insuline resistent women. So if you don't have elevated LH it can work fine as it will probably boost progresterone and it ends up stimulating ovulation.
I learnt this and so many really important and useful thingsfrom an Australiannaturopathic doctor. I've just discovered her website, interviews, blogs and her firstbookfew days ago, I am really excited about it, I feel like I will find thesolution for my problems. I thought it couldhelp for others as well. I wish I would live in Australia Iwould visit her clinic for sure.
Here name is Lara Briden you can google her website and check it out. She has been dealing with PCOS patientsfor 20 years and has wide experiments that's why I hope her advices and treatments will help me and I think it can also help for everybody here.
I haven't read her book yet so I cannot tell if it's worth, but I read throughher blogs on larabriden.com, you can find a plenty of writingsabout PCOS types and treatments,insuline resistence, hair loss, acne, supplements, herbals and so on.
I hope it helps.
Hey Zanette,
Thanks for reviving this thread,and reminding me to also add an update. Here are some notes based on what you wrote:
- For hirsutism, inositol is the most effective supplement I have ever tried
- For acne, inositol will work depending on the hormonal (if any) imbalance you have - it's not for everyone, but it's something worth trying at a low dose since it has no side effects at reasonable doses
- Hormonal tests (especially saliva) can help eliminate some of the trial and error, but keep in mind that those are not 100% reliable either. My blood tests always came back "normal", but the normal range is too broad to pin point imbalances & does not take into consideration other factors such as BMI, height, etc. So, what could be normal for one person, could be high for another.
- Acupuncture has helped me pinpoint more issues than conventional medicine...I still highly recommend it
- An ultrasound has led me to the removal of a dermoid cyst. I recommend getting an ultrasound if you are worried about PCOS, cysts, or any other gynecological problems, just as precaution. Doctors were advising me against it, saying I don't need it and that I should go ahead and get back on birth control, blah blah blah. Eventually, I had to follow my instincts and get checked out, and I did indeed have a dermoid that needed to be removed and was probably exacerbating my hormonal issues.
- Check your vitamin D levels
- Get a GI/ liver test to test your digestion...I recently got one and found out I might have a gluten allergy, which relates to inflammation, which can worsen acne
- My purpose here is to show women (and hopefully men too) that there are alternatives to medication. If one treatment does not work for you, there are plenty of options.
- Supplements I like besides inositol: vitamin C, vitamin D (although I can only take D2 - if you can take high quality D3, go for it), niacin, garlic supplements (antibacterial and antioxidant), DIM - broccoli extract (not a fan of DIM mixes, just DIM itself). Right now I'm trying out nicadan, as recommended by an integrative dermatologist. YES, a derm actually recommended supplements, so I thought, why not...I still am not a fan of prescription supplements, though, but I will give it a try. *QUALITY of supplements is important - do your research and try to go for supplements that use the least fillers and extra ingredients. Check for things like low acid/ non-acidic (for Vitamin C), vegan (for vitamin D), no colorings, vegetable capsule, etc...avoid as many of these as possible.
- DRINK WATER - the cheapest yet most neglected trick for better skin. Make sure it's filtered/ spring/ non-tap.
- Yoga, meditation, exercise...anything that helps keep stress at bay
19 hours ago, WishClean said:
Hey Zanette,
Thanks for reviving this thread,and reminding me to also add an update. Here are some notes based on what you wrote:
- For hirsutism, inositol is the most effective supplement I have ever tried
- For acne, inositol will work depending on the hormonal (if any) imbalance you have - it's not for everyone, but it's something worth trying at a low dose since it has no side effects at reasonable doses
- Hormonal tests (especially saliva) can help eliminate some of the trial and error, but keep in mind that those are not 100% reliable either. My blood tests always came back "normal", but the normal range is too broad to pin point imbalances & does not take into consideration other factors such as BMI, height, etc. So, what could be normal for one person, could be high for another.
- Acupuncture has helped me pinpoint more issues than conventional medicine...I still highly recommend it
- An ultrasound has led me to the removal of a dermoid cyst. I recommend getting an ultrasound if you are worried about PCOS, cysts, or any other gynecological problems, just as precaution. Doctors were advising me against it, saying I don't need it and that I should go ahead and get back on birth control, blah blah blah. Eventually, I had to follow my instincts and get checked out, and I did indeed have a dermoid that needed to be removed and was probably exacerbating my hormonal issues.
- Check your vitamin D levels
- Get a GI/ liver test to test your digestion...I recently got one and found out I might have a gluten allergy, which relates to inflammation, which can worsen acne
- My purpose here is to show women (and hopefully men too) that there are alternatives to medication. If one treatment does not work for you, there are plenty of options.
- Supplements I like besides inositol: vitamin C, vitamin D (although I can only take D2 - if you can take high quality D3, go for it), niacin, garlic supplements (antibacterial and antioxidant), DIM - broccoli extract (not a fan of DIM mixes, just DIM itself). Right now I'm trying out nicadan, as recommended by an integrative dermatologist. YES, a derm actually recommended supplements, so I thought, why not...I still am not a fan of prescription supplements, though, but I will give it a try. *QUALITY of supplements is important - do your research and try to go for supplements that use the least fillers and extra ingredients. Check for things like low acid/ non-acidic (for Vitamin C), vegan (for vitamin D), no colorings, vegetable capsule, etc...avoid as many of these as possible.
- DRINK WATER - the cheapest yet most neglected trick for better skin. Make sure it's filtered/ spring/ non-tap.
- Yoga, meditation, exercise...anything that helps keep stress at bay
Hey WishClean,
Thanks for replying to my post. I always love reading your comments. Actually I have already been taking inositol for 4 weeks. Your positive opinion helped me to start to take it. I have no idea if I' ve IR so I was a bit scared, but only after 4-5 days taking my hair fall completely stopped and my acnes cleared up significantly. Because it improved my skin and my hair so quickly I suppose I have IR but I' ll make sure to get it tested next week. Unfortunately in the facial hair I don't see any change, obviously it takes more time for me, I just really hope it will help. I've been taking the myo-inositol in powder form, sometimes so hard to mesaure it precisely because more than1/8 teaspoon gives me headache. Divided it for two times per day works perfectly but I am considering if I should try the d-chiro inositol as well. I think here in Europe is even more expensive especially the chiral balance which is the only one I find good and I am afraid of the headaches. Is that very strong compared to the myo? Did it help you more?
oh, and the blood test, yes you're right it's not sure it will show increased androgens, I know because in the beginning few yers ago when I noticed the hormonal imbalance I got it made and was 'normal' according to my doctor, he said no other choice, only diane pill, stupidly I started taking and it really helped, very mild facial and body hair, no acne at all, nice hair, so actually I was happy and did't look for other options, but half year ago I decided to stop it(one of the main reason was the like almost zero libido) and of course every symptom came back. Fortunately thank to you the acne and hair problems are solved only the facial hair left which is maybe the most irritating for me. So now I think I have to make a blood test again(saliva is apperently better but here is crazy expensive to check all hormones) and if the glucose tolerance test shows positive I might be closer to find out the reason. (But I wanna check thhroid as well and everything what I can, even the ultrasound what you suggested.)
Yes you're right, there are so many choices of supplements and herbals to try if one doesn't work you can look for another, the only problem that it really takes time I read that even if you are in balance and found the right supplements/herbals and diet and your hormones work fine, the hirsutism can take 6-12 months to decrease, fortunately acne is much less.
Have you ever tried magnesium? (Magnesium glycinante or bisglycinate) It seems to be very convincing.
-magnesium regulates cortisol, lowers blood sugar, supports thyroid, aids sleep, fuels cellular energy, makes hormones, activates vitamin D, and magnesium is anti-aging as well.
It's safe and highly recommended for PCOS. I'm going to order to try, then I can update about it.
What C vitamin do you take? I have hard time to find non-acid, raw type. At the moment I only take sea buckthorn which is supposed to have vitamin C. Anyway absolutly fantastic supplement, I love it, it makes my skin and my hair so soft, Omega 7 is indeed a beauty vitamin.
I'm confused about the DIM, I don't think I have symptomps for estrogen dominance, f.e, I don't have apple shape, and I don't suffer from heavy period. I only have very mild PMS and don't have breast pain. Although I have sunspots on my face, especially under my eyes (another challange to keep it under control particularly in the summer) but those appeared during I was on the pill. Would you recommend the DIM in this case?
Thanks for reminding me to the importance of the water, sometimes I really forget about that. I've never tried acupuncture, but sounds exciting.
I'd like to ask you about electrolysis. I remember you mentioned that you are doing it in one of your previous post. Is it working? Does it leave scabs/scars on your skin? I' m just so scared of that and the lack of experience of the electrologist. How painful is it? My biggest problem is that here there are places with only laser and IPL but no way I would try those in hormone related places. I already checked the electrolysis home kits (there are only 2 types in Amazon, anyway.). The reviews are not really convincing, that's sure but it's not expensive and I desperately want to get rid of few hairs from my thighs, so I am just hesitating.
Thank you so much for your help. I do really appreciate it. Your experiments and expertise are amazing
On November 30, 2015 at 9:23:14 PM, Zanette said:Hey WishClean,
Thanks for replying to my post. I always love reading your comments. Actually I have already been taking inositol for 4 weeks. Your positive opinion helped me to start to take it. I have no idea if I' ve IR so I was a bit scared, but only after 4-5 days taking my hair fall completely stopped and my acnes cleared up significantly. Because it improved my skin and my hair so quickly I suppose I have IR but I' ll make sure to get it tested next week. Unfortunately in the facial hair I don't see any change, obviously it takes more time for me, I just really hope it will help. I've been taking the myo-inositol in powder form, sometimes so hard to mesaure it precisely because more than1/8 teaspoon gives me headache. Divided it for two times per day works perfectly but I am considering if I should try the d-chiro inositol as well. I think here in Europe is even more expensive especially the chiral balance which is the only one I find good and I am afraid of the headaches. Is that very strong compared to the myo? Did it help you more? The chiral balance was ok but it gave me some mood swings so I decided to stick with myo. I think the dosage was a bit strong for me
oh, and the blood test, yes you're right it's not sure it will show increased androgens, I know because in the beginning few yers ago when I noticed the hormonal imbalance I got it made and was 'normal' according to my doctor, he said no other choice, only diane pill, stupidly I started taking and it really helped, very mild facial and body hair, no acne at all, nice hair, so actually I was happy and did't look for other options, but half year ago I decided to stop it(one of the main reason was the like almost zero libido) and of course every symptom came back. Fortunately thank to you
Yes you're right, there are so many choices of supplements and herbals to try if one doesn't work you can look for another, the only problem that it really takes time
Have you ever tried magnesium? (Magnesium glycinante or bisglycinate) It seems to be very convincing.
-magnesium regulates cortisol, lowers blood sugar, supports thyroid, aids sleep, fuels cellular energy, makes hormones, activates vitamin D, and magnesium is anti-aging as well. Yes, I tried it..it didn't hurt, but I don't think it did anything for my skin.
It's safe and highly recommended for PCOS. I'm going to order to try, then I can update about it.
What C vitamin do you take? I have hard time to find non-acid, raw type. At the moment I only take sea buckthorn which is supposed to have vitamin C. Anyway absolutly fantastic supplement, I love it, it makes my skin and my hair so soft, Omega 7 is indeed a beauty vitamin. I take either Nature's Aid Low Acid Vitamin C (EU brand) or Nature's Way Whole Food Vitamin C (US brand). They are easier to digest and gentle on the stomach.
I'm confused about the DIM, I don't think I have symptomps for estrogen dominance, f.e, I don't have apple shape, and I don't suffer from heavy period. I only have very mild PMS and don't have breast pain. Although I have sunspots on my face, especially under my eyes (another challange to keep it under control particularly in the summer) but those appeared during I was on the pill. Would you recommend the DIM in this case? I can't say for sure, you can stick with what you are taking right now...no need to overload your body because if you take too many supplements, you won't know what's working and what doesn't. I incorporate supplements one at a time now - in the past, I used to start taking multiple things and wouldn't know what works and what doesn't.
Thanks for reminding me to the importance of the water, sometimes I really forget about that. I've never tried acupuncture, but sounds exciting.
I'd like to ask you about electrolysis. I remember you mentioned that you are doing it in one of your previous post. Is it working? Does it leave scabs/scars on your skin? I' m just so scared of that and the lack of experience of the electrologist. How painful is it? My biggest problem is that here there are places with only laser and IPL but no way I would try those in hormone related places. I already checked the electrolysis home kits (there are only 2 types in Amazon, anyway.). The reviews are not really convincing, that's sure but it's not expensive and I desperately want to get rid of few hairs from my thighs, so I am just hesitating. Yes, electrolysis can leave scabs and cause breakouts/ redness, so it's important to find a good professional. I usually apply witch hazel afterwards to minimize redness. I try not to put anything thick like a cream or lotion right after electrolysis because it can clog the pores and lead to breakouts. I always tell the aesthetician to avoid creams/ lotions. You can use a bit of Emla numbing cream before electrolysis if it's too painful. I don't recommend home kits (not the same heat currency as professional ones, plus you can actually damage your skin if you do it yourself), IPL , or any type of red light on hormonal hair growth.
Thank you so much for your help. I do really appreciate it. Your experiments and expertise are amazing
I responded to your post in red ^ ^