Acne.org Products
Oh yes. I've had doctors dismiss the thought that I might have PCOS because I wasn't fat...
sometimes you can have " normal" hormone levels but still be sensitive to androgens or whatever. I'd tell the doctor the fact that you have hormonal acne speaks for itself that you do have a problem.
if your doctor isn't helpful go to another one. A derm or endocrinologist might be better.
theres also a saliva test called ZRT laboratories that does very thorough hormonal testing. Good luck
BeccaRubin, same with me. They literally told me "Hormones have nothing to do with acne." I have Kaiser (I'm in So Cal and they have dominated our area). I feel so helpless because the doctors DISREGARD the stacks of evidence that prove hormones and your gut are directly linked to acne. Especially hormonal acne-- chin, jawline, neck.
Snarkygirl, same with me! They dismissed the possibility of PCOS because I'm 5'7" and 115 pounds. I have insulin resistance and irregular periods. I also have hirsutism. My mid section has no curves to it. I used to have painful excruciating periods that would mean day 1) keel over and die, couldn't eat and I had dry heaves all through out the day/night. My period would be insanely heavy for the first few days and be kind of "clotty". I would have two periods in the same 5 weeks.
Fast forward to the past year, my periods have not been painful whatsoever (and that was so positive for me) until my acne went insane and my tummy is no longer curvy and I always look bloated.
I am going to start a blog on this website to keep track of my "progress". I've got my blood test information from a few weeks ago (I did 25 viles of blood for vitamin deficiencies and hormone levels which apparently are as reliable, like you said the saliva test is much better.)
Positivity and good thoughts coming to both of you .
xo
4 hours ago, Siddhartha N said:BeccaRubin, same with me. They literally told me "Hormones have nothing to do with acne." I have Kaiser (I'm in So Cal and they have dominated our area). I feel so helpless because the doctors DISREGARD the stacks of evidence that prove hormones and your gut are directly linked to acne. Especially hormonal acne-- chin, jawline, neck.
Snarkygirl, same with me! They dismissed the possibility of PCOS because I'm 5'7" and 115 pounds. I have insulin resistance and irregular periods. I also have hirsutism. My mid section has no curves to it. I used to have painful excruciating periods that would mean day 1) keel over and die, couldn't eat and I had dry heaves all through out the day/night. My period would be insanely heavy for the first few days and be kind of "clotty". I would have two periods in the same 5 weeks.
Fast forward to the past year, my periods have not been painful whatsoever (and that was so positive for me) until my acne went insane and my tummy is no longer curvy and I always look bloated.
I am going to start a blog on this website to keep track of my "progress". I've got my blood test information from a few weeks ago (I did 25 viles of blood for vitamin deficiencies and hormone levels which apparently are as reliable, like you said the saliva test is much better.)
Positivity and good thoughts coming to both of you .
xo
" Hormones have nothing to do with acne"...! Wtf how did this person get a medical license??? At least 3 doctors told me they DO...and I did my own research.
I'm sorry but it enrages me how ignorant some so called professionals can be. Or maybe they just wanna push products.
4 hours ago, Siddhartha N said:BeccaRubin, same with me. They literally told me "Hormones have nothing to do with acne." I have Kaiser (I'm in So Cal and they have dominated our area). I feel so helpless because the doctors DISREGARD the stacks of evidence that prove hormones and your gut are directly linked to acne. Especially hormonal acne-- chin, jawline, neck.
Snarkygirl, same with me! They dismissed the possibility of PCOS because I'm 5'7" and 115 pounds. I have insulin resistance and irregular periods. I also have hirsutism. My mid section has no curves to it. I used to have painful excruciating periods that would mean day 1) keel over and die, couldn't eat and I had dry heaves all through out the day/night. My period would be insanely heavy for the first few days and be kind of "clotty". I would have two periods in the same 5 weeks.
Fast forward to the past year, my periods have not been painful whatsoever (and that was so positive for me) until my acne went insane and my tummy is no longer curvy and I always look bloated.
I am going to start a blog on this website to keep track of my "progress". I've got my blood test information from a few weeks ago (I did 25 viles of blood for vitamin deficiencies and hormone levels which apparently are as reliable, like you said the saliva test is much better.)
Positivity and good thoughts coming to both of you .
xo
oh my gosh...go eat a steak or some raisins girl! That's a lot of blood.
I never had normal periods, have some extra hairs and had serious PMS. I have no blood sugar issues but that's my one good point lol.
I started Loryna ( generic Yaz) but I don't like it. I'm going to get Gianvi back or the actual Yaz. I'd love to rest your log.
Hey is that Joe Strummer? <3
A little background on me: I am 23 years old. So naturally, the doctor just wanted to give me a quick fix. He was so adamant that birth control will solve my hormonal, cystic acne. I questioned him, HOW? When all I've ever heard about birth control is the lawsuits on day time television warning if you or a loved one has taken the drug _______ and suffered complications, you may be entitled to compensation. Also I'm in California, so unless you are talking to a naturopath, it's all "well let's treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause".
Shake. My. Head.
I disliked doctors BEFORE I went earlier this month and it just confirms my worst fears. Big pharmaceutical companies rely on us to be sick in order to make a billion dollar industry yearly. I refuse to take any sort of chemicals/medications/drugs. I have taken antibiotics once a year for the past ten years for various reasons because I didn't know any better. Thanks to the ignorance of the health industry and being a kid, teenager and now young adult-- I didn't know any better!
3 minutes ago, Siddhartha N said:A little background on me: I am 23 years old. So naturally, the doctor just wanted to give me a quick fix. He was so adamant that birth control will solve my hormonal, cystic acne. I questioned him, HOW? When all I've ever heard about birth control is the lawsuits on day time television warning if you or a loved one has taken the drug _______ and suffered complications, you may be entitled to compensation. Also I'm in California, so unless you are talking to a naturopath, it's all "well let's treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause".
Shake. My. Head.
I disliked doctors BEFORE I went earlier this month and it just confirms my worst fears. Big pharmaceutical companies rely on us to be sick in order to make a billion dollar industry yearly. I refuse to take any sort of chemicals/medications/drugs. I have taken antibiotics once a year for the past ten years for various reasons because I didn't know any better. Thanks to the ignorance of the health industry and being a kid, teenager and now young adult-- I didn't know any better!
yeah they don't consider the whole person has an imbalance. There's many natural options. I just read one where a girl said saw palmetto+ stinging nettle worked for her.
Some use had luck with other natural treatments like spearmint, VITEX or turmeric or cod liver oil.
2 hours ago, snarkygirl said:yeah they don't consider the whole person has an imbalance. There's many natural options. I just read one where a girl said saw palmetto+ stinging nettle worked for her.
Some use had luck with other natural treatments like spearmint, VITEX or turmeric or cod liver oil.
Apparently, from my blood tests (which saliva would be more reliable) I am super high in progesterone -- so I have been taking Chasteberry and noticed more break outs around my mouth. I'm going to stop taking that and see how it goes. I drink spearmint tea every day. I put turmeric on my food. I've never used cod liver oil but I have been taking Dr Mercola's krill oil supplement. Saw palmetto did not seem to help my skin either. Never tried stinging nettle tea but I'm going to.
1 hour ago, beccarubin said:I was going to be asked to put on birth control. Should I not do that anymore? and I'm also going to make an appointment to see an endocrinologist.
DO YOUR RESEARCH! I am biased. I refuse to take any form of drug or chemicals for fear of disrupting my body further.
2 hours ago, beccarubin said:I was going to be asked to put on birth control. Should I not do that anymore? and I'm also going to make an appointment to see an endocrinologist.
it depends on whether you want to take meds or go more natural. Siddhartha is interested in natural remedies and it sounds like her doctors have been pretty lame. Me, I'm for whatever will work for the next 10 years. I'd prefer not taking meds but I'm 32 and just don't want to waste any more time having acne.
I'm just going to follow this topic 
8 hours ago, beccarubin said:so naturally, what do you do?
hey I'm not sure if you mean me or the other girl.
Here's some natural stuff which has worked for people:
VITEX( or agnus cactus or chasteberry)
Stinging nettles
saw palmetto
spearmint tea or capsules
various mixes of cleansing or hormone balancing herbs...Chinese herbalist or naturopath's can tailor make one for you.
Some supplements are vitamin b 5 ( panthenol)
Turmeric
fish or flax or borage oils
caprylic acid
cod liver oil
antioxidants like resveratrol.
Obviously healthy diet. Green tea or white teas are supposed to be beneficial.I have a tea called Skin Detox and Green Tea antioxidant one.
Of course the hard part is trial and error and finding the correct combos. There's a thread on here where a girl said stinging nettle + saw palmetto cleared her. A few others claim fermented cod liver oil + butter fat( a specific brand) worked.
Too much info probably but I hope it helps.
I took evening primrose oil for a few weeks, but I did some research and realized it would work better for me if I take it when my period starts and take it for two weeks after the first day it starts. It is supposed to regulate your hormones when you take it at a certain time in the month. So my period is actually supposed to start in the next few days (who knows, it's got a mind of it's own hahaha) so I will do that experiment. I boughtComvita brand Royal Jelly & Evening Primrose oil capsulesfrom [Edited link out] **I use their Manuka Honey UMF 16+ for face masks**I try and balance any omega 6 intake with triple the amount of Omega 3 -- so with thefish (Salmon/Shrimp) I eat and krill oil supplements from Dr Mercola.
5 minutes ago, Siddhartha N said:I took evening primrose oil for a few weeks, but I did some research and realized it would work better for me if I take it when my period starts and take it for two weeks after the first day it starts. It is supposed to regulate your hormones when you take it at a certain time in the month. So my period is actually supposed to start in the next few days (who knows, it's got a mind of it's own hahaha) so I will do that experiment. I boughtComvita brand Royal Jelly & Evening Primrose oil capsulesfrom www.manukahoney.com **I use their Manuka Honey UMF 16+ for face masks**I try and balance any omega 6 intake with triple the amount of Omega 3 -- so with thefish (Salmon/Shrimp) I eat and krill oil supplements from Dr Mercola.
cool. I like that you do your research
Hmm. That's interesting. My doctor prescribed me spironolactone which helps to balance out hormone levels. This was without even checking my hormone levels. I now have 0 acne. (to be fair, I'm also taking doxy and tretinoin) Just 4 months ago, i had a horrible break out on my cheeks that showed no signs of slowing down and spiro has been amazing!! You should see a dermatologist if you can.
On May 28, 2016 at 2:18 AM, Ugurl said:Hmm. That's interesting. My doctor prescribed me spironolactone which helps to balance out hormone levels. This was without even checking my hormone levels. I now have 0 acne. (to be fair, I'm also taking doxy and tretinoin) Just 4 months ago, i had a horrible break out on my cheeks that showed no signs of slowing down and spiro has been amazing!! You should see a dermatologist if you can.
what dosage?
On May 25, 2016 at 11:29 AM, Siddhartha N said:BeccaRubin, same with me. They literally told me "Hormones have nothing to do with acne." I have Kaiser (I'm in So Cal and they have dominated our area). I feel so helpless because the doctors DISREGARD the stacks of evidence that prove hormones and your gut are directly linked to acne. Especially hormonal acne-- chin, jawline, neck.
Snarkygirl, same with me! They dismissed the possibility of PCOS because I'm 5'7" and 115 pounds. I have insulin resistance and irregular periods. I also have hirsutism. My mid section has no curves to it. I used to have painful excruciating periods that would mean day 1) keel over and die, couldn't eat and I had dry heaves all through out the day/night. My period would be insanely heavy for the first few days and be kind of "clotty". I would have two periods in the same 5 weeks.
Fast forward to the past year, my periods have not been painful whatsoever (and that was so positive for me) until my acne went insane and my tummy is no longer curvy and I always look bloated.
I am going to start a blog on this website to keep track of my "progress". I've got my blood test information from a few weeks ago (I did 25 viles of blood for vitamin deficiencies and hormone levels which apparently are as reliable, like you said the saliva test is much better.)
Positivity and good thoughts coming to both of you .
xo
Have you tried Spironolactone? It's supposed to help hormonal acne because it is an androgen inhibitor. You don't have to have PCOS for it to help acne but if you do have PCOS, it should help with a lot of PCOS symptoms.
5 hours ago, snarkygirl said:On May 28, 2016 at 2:18 AM, Ugurl said:Hmm. That's interesting. My doctor prescribed me spironolactone which helps to balance out hormone levels. This was without even checking my hormone levels. I now have 0 acne. (to be fair, I'm also taking doxy and tretinoin) Just 4 months ago, i had a horrible break out on my cheeks that showed no signs of slowing down and spiro has been amazing!! You should see a dermatologist if you can.
what dosage?
50 mg which i believe is the lowest dosage they have. I've been instructed to take spiro and doxy twice a day but tbh I now take them once a day. Ever since my acne has gone away I don't feel the need to use that, plus I'm worried my body will get dependent on them and they won't be as effective if I take them more often... My initial post might have been a bit misleading. What completely cleared my acne was taking doxy every day and applying tretinoin once a day. Spiro came into the picture after my acne had mostly healed. So far, I've been taking doxy/tretinoin for 3 months and spiro for one month, and I haven't had a recurrence of acne, so I know that it's doing what it's supposed to, but I can't attribute it to just one medication.
11 hours ago, Siddhartha N said:I am opposed to chemicals/drugs. So I don't take any. I'm trying to heal myself internally. But I'm glad it works for you!
i think you will find a solution, you seem very capable.
On May 30, 2016 at 2:31 AM, Siddhartha N said:I am opposed to chemicals/drugs. So I don't take any. I'm trying to heal myself internally. But I'm glad it works for you!
I tried that for a little while, I think I just went about it the wrong away that's why it did not work for me but i've always been interested in that. What do you mean by heal yourself internally? What is your diet/ skin care routine if you don't mind me asking?
14 hours ago, Ugurl said:I tried that for a little while, I think I just went about it the wrong away that's why it did not work for me but i've always been interested in that. What do you mean by heal yourself internally? What is your diet/ skin care routine if you don't mind me asking?
Hey girl hey! I've got a little blog situation going. Feel free to "lurk" me xo