Ugh!!!!!!!!!! I Hate My Hormones

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daphne009

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Previously I took Vitex for about 10 days probably and during that time I started getting really hard lumpy acne around my chin and jawline area (both sides, which are now finally going away). I have irregular heavy perioRAB while not on the pill and hormonal acne to go with it. Why would Vitex cause this acne in me when it is meant for women, especially those of us with irregularity and heavy flow? Has anyone else experienced this? Was it just an initial breakout or should I not be taking it all together? I also considered implementing Saw Palmetto in with the Vitex because I'm sure androgens are also an issue for me but would this cause any side effects? Anyone tried this before?
 
Hi Daphne, I just replied on your other thread - I've never heard of Vitex (i'll look it up shortly) but I did want to say that hormonal acne (and I believe all acne is hormally related) is the pits and I have empathy for all of us (men/women) who are hormonally vunerable.

I read about testosteron/androgenic acne about 1 year ago and was so intrigued that I purchased 2 books. There are a few endrocinologists out there who deal with hormones and acne but you have to do your research and then pray there is one within 50 miles. I've been trying to get an appointment for a clinic run by a well-renowned reproductive endocrinologist who specializes in women, hormones, acne, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, hair loss (which is also androgenic) infertility and Eastern homeopathic remedies but with children we don't get much time for ourselves :) and :(

If I recall Vitrex helps bring on perioRAB or help with flow? The nurse at my GP's office suffers from PMDD (dyphoric disorder during PMS/2 weeks) and recommended YAZ for me but I know you hope to avoid birth control. Another friend takes Sarafm (prozac) for 2 weeks before her period and her skin has benefitted from this regimen. In a nutshell ( a long one! ) hormones are so delicate and individualistic - if you are thinking of seeing a specialist I would consider a hormone endocrinologist who specializes in disorders women face.

There is help out there. I get so frustrated when I feel I'm just another nuraber at some of my doctor's who are not really listening and I've actually been told to have a hysterectomy to deal with peri! I've also found women doctors to be worse than male (in my experience only) but keep looking - there are gems ot there and I've finally found a GP who listens and is open to my tidbits, eg "Sprio works for Acne so I've read" - he'll google it and say "you're right; I'll think it through". Hang in there.
Good luck
 
I would love to see an endocrinologist however unfortunately, money is an issue for me right now too (no insurance either!) I took prozac when I was a teen for depression and that broke me out horribly and made me more depressed so I went off of it. I am at a loss, wish I had insurance.
 
I have been on Vitex for 2 months and I haven't had acne this bad in a very long time. Cysts around the jaw line and chin and big hard ones. Gross! My derm told me when I get acne in those areas it is hormonal but I never linked the two until I read your post. I also, didn't tell him I was taking it....

We're trying to have a baby and Vitex is supposed to help with that and since that is really important to us right now, I will suffer with the acne but this is what seems to help me...I am using Retin-A all over in the am and pm. I also am using Clenzoderm around the jaw line where it gets bad (all over is too drying). And when I have an open one (I am kind of a picker/sqeezer) I use tea-tree oil which is a natural anesthetic but dries the puppies up practically overnight but warning...it burns like crazy. THEN occasionally I will use tazorac but find that if you use it consistantly it doesn't work (for me).

And my final thought :) is: Recently I saw on a post that someone said Primrose helps with hormonal acne and I think I might try it (shrug).

Good luck!
 
Wow. I have found my posting. I get these on my chin and where you would put blush on and they come in like groups. They are deep in the skin, and won't "pop" it is so annoying. I look like a borab went off on my face in several areas half the time. My hormones are out of whack and am working on a resolution for that so until then I deal with this and PMDD for half of the month, nearly every month. I was so crazy on Monday this week I thought I might hurt someone. I kind of want a hysterectomy at this point as I have to deal with hormone replacement anyway, and my mood swings are so bad that I am mean. I can't take it much longer. :confused:
 
Yeah I've tried vitex twice now and within a matter of days of being on it I have big hard lumpy pimples popping up out of nowhere. For me, that stuff is evil!!!
 
Yeah, mine come in groups too and they just sit there FOREVER! And once some start to go away I start getting more somewhere else which is sooo aggravating!! Yeah, they won't pop which is the other annoying part about them. We just have to suffer through it. Right now I'm on 2 tablespoons of flaxseed per day and naturally clear vitamin supplements, essential greens and saw palmetto. Only been on this a week or more but it seems to be helping already but I'm not getting my hopes up yet. We'll see....
 
Thanks re clarifying Vitex - I saw it in the store and didn't ask what it was because I was more "concerned" with the higher mg I am taking - 450mg Saw Palmetto - the fine print says "not recommened for use by women" but the herbalist explained that is "marketing" and to take that dosage once every other day. I researched it a bit more and it can make you bustier - wild for me as I'm not well endowed but I actually have a cleavage now ;)

I've also read that the apple cider vinegar tablets are good because they help balance the body's acidity.

I also use only Head & Shoulder to shampoo and will wash my face with it - it contains zinc.

I hope everyone finRAB their niche because for a good few years the horrible breakouts really got me down - shallow but it did affect my overall well-being and I'm happy to have it somewhat under control.

Hotty Totty - I wish you and your husband the best. I too suffered from infertility for many years. There are some great support sites for those trying to conceive.

Daphne, I hope it works, I'll look for an update - I did want to let you know about the recent info I found re Saw Palmetto - it's interesting stuff to read about. I will return to 100 mg daily when the 450mg's run out. Insurance is huge - I would never go to the derm if we were without which we have been previouslyl

Tired, I've been thinking about a hysterectomy for a couple of years now but have been told that those symptoms are about the same as perimenopause. I too suffer(ed) from PMDD. Another "natural" herb I used daily is Valerian Root .

I too was told that Evening Primrose oil helps with hormonal acne and started that last Thursday.
Best wishes all.
 
I've been where you ladies are at. Tried everything from accutane to yasmin (which works by the way I just started losing my hair from the shift in hormones), antibiotics, diet ( reducing refined sugars and trigger fooRAB will help control cystic acne, that's a very long post, trust me. The quick end is Loren Cordain wrote a very short book call the the dietary cure for acne, and it's spot on in explaining the hormonal roller coaster we are all on) you name it. This has been going on for more than 25 years. Before my wedding in OCt I tripped upon another website for acne and there were some people having great succes with good ole BP and salycilic acid. The catch is in the application. I tried every bp product in the world till this point and they didin't work, but now I use it a little differently. I use an SA wash by OXY and then the OXY wash with 10% BP as a mask for 10-15 min in the morning and at night. The results have been great. Don't be afraid of moisturizer, i know us acne suff. tend to dry our skin out to no end, but use an oil free moisturizer, cause you will get dry. I still get an occasional bugger around by period, but they resolve at some point. IN the past I needed to get cortizone injections they were so deep and inflamed. My best guess is that when bp is not layered on very thickly and given the appropriate amount of time to work, some of us have too stubborn bacteria or too much and it's not effective. THis allows the med to work longer. All I can say is I've been able to control mine to where my life is no longer on hold. I also avoid refined sugar, I use stevia or xylitol to sweeten everything i make myself and i use splenda or other diet products when i'm out. I hate to use the latter because i'm not convinced they're healthy but i crave a diet coke with food sometimes. eating better will definitely help to some extent and dr perricone in his book the the clear skin prescription talks about coffee both reg and decaf having an effect on the adrenal glanRAB which ultimately effects testosterone, etc to have the effect on acne. Sorry this is so lengthy and sloppy, but i knew i hadn't been doing my part to help the cause. good luck.
 
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