WHAT TO DO….
I don’t really have an acne problem but my problem area is around my
chin and jaw line. I don’t breakout with whiteheads or blackhead but
what seems to be under the skin. It’s like big red bumps and they
hurt. I was my face every morning in the shower and at night i clean
it with biore toner. I also get a few places on my shoulders. What
product would be helpful?????
February 21st, 2005 at 9:07 am
Sounds cystic to me. Have you seen a doctor?
–judy
February 24th, 2005 at 4:40 pm
<have a hormone profile done (saliva test) to measure estradiol,
projesterone, DHEA and testosterone ratios. This will tell you exactly where the
imbalance
is and what type of hormonal therapy you can use to get on track>
Isake … I have a question about this saliva test. It seems most gynos only
want to do the blood profile (also most only work with the synthetic
hormones). The ones I’d asked told me the saliva test "wasn’t good enough."
I have some similar problems to Keesha, but mostly the hirsutism / hair
follicle stuff. How could I convince the doc to do the saliva testing, or do I
need to doc-shop?
- Katie
February 28th, 2005 at 1:42 am
Hi Katie
Saliva testing is appropriate in cases where free form
or unbound hormones are what you need values for which
is often the case. One of the few hormones that needs
both bound and unbound form values is thyroid and is
done only done by blood. Other than that saliva is
well documented as being extremely accurate.
This methodology is called "functional medicine" or
"functional assessment". Unfortunately most allopaths
and holistic practitioners refuse to use it or do not
know about it. I would definitely shop around for a
practitioner who’ll take you seriously. Try the
Woman’s’ Community Pharmacy in WI for a list of
reputable MD’s who are open to this method. Also do a
google search for func. med. to learn more about
saliva efficacy.
You do not need a prescription to order these types of
test but most labs will only release results to a
practitioner who will then interpret them for you and
give you a copy.
With your condition I think this would be good route.
I am a licensed medical esthetician and I use
functional medicine almost all the time. It saves you
time and money from guesswork and treats the
underlying causes so results are long lasting.
Let me know if I can be of any further help to you.
Isake Lockett PME
www.surfaceinc.com
February 28th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Just my 2 cents. But, my cystic acne turned out to be a serious hormonal
disease. It too surrounded the same areas as Keeshas. I highly recommend getting
the tests that Isake mentions. Before I got my diagnosis, though, I did the
Accutane thing. It worked for me. I’m completely blemish free. But, I did have
to
do everything Isake mentions. Plus, I needed a letter from my shrink
explaining that I suffer from anxiety disorder/depression and that I’m under his
care
w/medicaiton. I’m glad I did the Accutane, but I wish I had the hormonal
disease diagnosis prior to doing the Accutane. Something to think about…
–judy
March 1st, 2005 at 2:43 am
Katie,
The hirsuitism is just one of many symptoms of a hormonal disease named
Cushings Syndrome–a serious disease that causes an overproduction of Cortisol
(a
steroid). I would definitely get testing done.
March 1st, 2005 at 8:25 pm
> hirsuitism is just one of many symptoms of a hormonal disease named
> Cushings Syndrome
Thanks - I don’t know enough to know if I really have hirsutism or just a
little problem (denial looming LOL), but will definitely research more!
- Katie
March 2nd, 2005 at 5:16 am
Hi Judy
Thank you for the heads up. I discourage folks from
doing Accutane b/c we know of multiple instance of
serious side affects. However, I have used it myself
and can testify it is a miracle worker in carefully
chosen patients. I had to to quit because of elevated
liver enzyme (a sign of toxicity) and depression. I’m
glad it worked well for you but I am surprised to hear
you were allowed to use it with a history of
depression. No doubt you”ve heard about the link btw
the drug and suicides. Just keep enjoying your clear
skin now. Have you gotten the hormonal problem under
control? I’m curious how you handled it once your skin
was asymptomatic. Thanks in advance for sharing!
Isake Lockett PME
www.surfaceinc.com
March 2nd, 2005 at 5:23 pm
Hi again! Youre absolutely right, Cushings disease and hirsutism do
have cortisol disorders in common. However Cushings is easily
recognizable by a huge hump of fat that deposits on the neck region
and most doc’s can spot it by this main symptom. If you don’t have
this symptom you probably don’t have Cushings disease. So if I were
you, I would be interested in doing a cortisol/estradiol/ testosterone
spread to check for imbalances that can be causing the hirsutism. If
you want to experiement without testing, you can try a whole adrenal
cortex supplement with some adaptagenic herbs such as magnolia
extract
or gensing and pregnenolone for 12 weeks and see if there is any
improvement. Good luck!
Isake Lockett PME
www.surfaceinc.com
March 3rd, 2005 at 1:39 pm
Thanks again, you know a lot about this. No, I don’t have cushings …
Many might chose to experiment without testing, but I wouldn’t dare try to do
this without more information. Herbs are drugs and, like any drug (natural,
synthesized, etc.), have side effects. Wonder drugs are those whose side
effects on that person are minimal and the beneficial actions are helpful. I
have
an anxiety disorder which is a complex hormonal response that some drugs /
herbs bring on severely as a side effect. Any that "invigorate, stimulate, give
energy" are highly dangerous for me. They are like speed in a person of my
makeup and, at a point of discovering I’d taken a wrong thing, it’s also
dangerous to try and bring myself back "down" with my xanax … such a combo
could
be deadly.
I would jump at the chance to try something like you suggested were it not
for this … but I’m much safer working with an MD who is familiar with herbal
alternatives.
What do you know about the topical progesterones (I’ve heard so many
conflicting "facts" on those) ???
Thank you for your direction on which tests to ask for. It’s getting pretty
close to when I’ll stop holding out and do just that.
HTH
- Katie
March 4th, 2005 at 2:53 am
Not all the time. I did not have that. If I did, it was very mild because
noone made mention of it.
–judy
March 5th, 2005 at 9:49 am
Isake,
I was very aware of the depression thing and suicide link to accutane. At the
time, I was under a psychiatrist’s care (as well as psychotherapist) for it
and was taking an antidepressant. I was monitored regularly and took blood
tests every so often as well. My dermatologist wouldn’t proceed with the
Accutane
treatment unless he had a letter from my psychiatrist, giving "approval" (for
lack of a better word). My problem is more anxiety than depression.
The hormonal problem is definitely under control now. I do, however, have to
get my cortisol level checked regularly. I only have one adrenal gland left,
so I want to make sure I don’t lose that one too! My acne was only 1 of MANY
symptoms of my hormonal problem. Although the acne cleared with the Accutane, my
other symptoms didn’t go away until I had my problem taken care of.
I am very happy with my skin today. And, I am very grateful. I know accutane
doesn’t work for everyone. But, it did for me. And, I’m grateful today.
Thanks for asking!
–judy
March 5th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Hi Again Katie
You are very right to be cautious about herbal therapeutics when you are on
pharmaceuticals. I highly recommend the tests which will pinpoint imbalances and
then taking the results to your MD to see what can be done. I use the herbs
exclusively since I am not an MD but this would not be appropriate for you.
Please try to contact me about sources where you can order the test kits- you do
not need a prescription for them.
All "progesterone" creams made from yams are nothing more than moisturizers with
false advertising. Yam extract is used for synthesizing progesterone in the lab
via a chemical process. This is the only way it can become the hormone. It does
not convert into the hormone on normal human skin. The only creams/sprays/pills
that have progesterone will say "USP progesterone"- synthetic man made lab
manufactured hormone replica from a plant source. Sorry this is the only
"natural" progesterone available.
The closest herb is chaste berry extract which causes the brain to stimulate the
ovaries to release more progesterone in relation to estrogen. However this would
not be a choice for you with the drugs you must take.
If you want to try this route, talk to your MD about taking Prometrium- the only
micronized USP progesterone available in pill form. It is a prescription. Beware
the progesTINS and acetate progesterones like Provera- they aren’t biochemically
recognized as progesterone though many Md’s and pharmaceutical companies think
they are.
Many might chose to experiment without testing, but I wouldn’t dare try to do
this without more information. Herbs are drugs and, like any drug (natural,
synthesized, etc.), have side effects. Wonder drugs are those whose side
effects on that person are minimal and the beneficial actions are helpful. I
have
an anxiety disorder which is a complex hormonal response that some drugs /
herbs bring on severely as a side effect. Any that "invigorate, stimulate, give
energy" are highly dangerous for me. They are like speed in a person of my
makeup and, at a point of discovering I’d taken a wrong thing, it’s also
dangerous to try and bring myself back "down" with my xanax … such a combo
could
be deadly.
I would jump at the chance to try something like you suggested were it not
for this … but I’m much safer working with an MD who is familiar with herbal
alternatives.
What do you know about the topical progesterones (I’ve heard so many
conflicting "facts" on those) ???
Thank you for your direction on which tests to ask for. It’s getting pretty
close to when I’ll stop holding out and do just that.
HTH
- Katie
March 6th, 2005 at 3:31 am
It helps immensely. This answers specific questions I’ve been asking for
over a year now that the MD community doesn’t seem to understand "what" they
haven’t answered for me LOL. Now I have something to take to my doctor.
Thank you!
HTH
- Katie