Such a great post, I’ve been considering spironolactone for ages but not sure whether to go for it. I’m pretty sure my breakouts are hormonal as they are all around my cheeks, jawline and chin. However I have a regular period and I’m not on BC, don’t have PCOS so that would suggest it’s not hormonal? Do you think it’s worth going to a GP or Dermatologist to get bloodwork for hormones to determine if it’s hormonal?
Thank you :) on the hormonal acne front - many many people have HA without PCOS, so it could very well be hormonal without having PCOS. In my opinion, hormone tests are rarely helpful under the guidance of a derm or GP. GPs basically don’t know how to utilise the tests well, and often say everything is ‘normal’ even when you are at the high or low end of the scale (but still within the normal range), which means they miss opportunities for improvement and therefore don’t help you. Derms usually don’t do hormone tests because 99% of adult acne is hormonal, so I would say you could almost guarantee your acne IS hormonal, if that makes sense. Derms will probably either give you accutane or spiro. Finally, I think the only specialist who could truly look at your hormones and directly address them is an endocrinologist. So there are a few options x
Thank you so so much for replying and so in depth as well! The subscription is already worth it 😂 Thank you for clarifying because I’ve been on the fence for so long wondering if my acne was truly hormonal or not. I know it’s much harder to treat which is incredibly frustrating but while I wait to save money for an endocrinologist or derm for bloodwork or spironolactone, is there anything else you’d recommend trying to help prevent hormonal spots? Herbal teas or diet or products? I pretty much follow your routine and have for a while now - I even got dr Sam’s retinol and it is the only retinol that has ever agreed with me! But every so often I’ll get a flurry of hormonal spots which leave PIE for years and I’m currently working to get rid of the PIE and scars I have had for 2 years😂 it’s a viscous cycle! X
Totally understand your frustration! And I’m glad you say the sub is worth it, I’m really enjoying posting to SS so there should be loooads more posts coming :)
It’s really hard for me to advise because most of the non-medical routes have really skimpy evidence for working, and I always have to tread carefully because I truly do believe in science and don’t want to be seen as spreading pseudoscience/misinformation.
That being said, if I were in your shoes and based on everything I’d learned, this is what I’d do: cut out dairy (studies show high dairy consumption can increase IGF1 which increases oil production and causes more acne, personally I also always break out when I eat a lot of dairy, that’s why I don’t eat it on a daily basis). I’d also track your sugar intake, fruit is fine but I’d try not to have more than 30-40g sugar on a daily basis, I use my fitness pal. I would do this for a substantial amount of time, like 3-5 months. I would also make sure to eat leafy greens on a daily basis, orange foods with vitamin A (carrot, sweet potato), a reasonable protein intake and mostly stick to whole foods.
I would also try to make an assessment of what type of hormonal situation is going on (basically impossible if you’re not a doctor I know), but for example - do you deal more with symptoms of PCOS, or estrogen dominance? I would then pick a supplement or two that helped whichever you relate more to.
I would take a good all-round skin supplement like Aegles (for example), and make sure I am also taking vitamin D3.
Finally, I would also do a hygiene lifestyle check: am I sleeping well most nights for 7ish hours? Am I particularly stressed or unhappy? Do I exercise regularly? They sound silly but I do think they make a difference
Honestly I love every bit of content you post on every platform, the new yt series reviewing people’s skincare is so good too! I’m excited for more to come on that :) have also loved seeing more of your personality come out on TikTok. You’re so great girl, keep doing you!
Thank you for all those suggestions, its really helpful because anytime I’ve been stuck for the last few months I’ve just referred to all of your TikTok’s and pulled out bits of info I thought would apply to me! But it’s nice to speak to on this platform and get an in depth response to my questions. It’s so appreciated!
I’m going to take on board your suggestions and hopefully I will start to see an improvement on my hormonal acne - just feels like it’s so uncontrollable at the minute!
Such a great post, I’ve been considering spironolactone for ages but not sure whether to go for it. I’m pretty sure my breakouts are hormonal as they are all around my cheeks, jawline and chin. However I have a regular period and I’m not on BC, don’t have PCOS so that would suggest it’s not hormonal? Do you think it’s worth going to a GP or Dermatologist to get bloodwork for hormones to determine if it’s hormonal?
Thank you :) on the hormonal acne front - many many people have HA without PCOS, so it could very well be hormonal without having PCOS. In my opinion, hormone tests are rarely helpful under the guidance of a derm or GP. GPs basically don’t know how to utilise the tests well, and often say everything is ‘normal’ even when you are at the high or low end of the scale (but still within the normal range), which means they miss opportunities for improvement and therefore don’t help you. Derms usually don’t do hormone tests because 99% of adult acne is hormonal, so I would say you could almost guarantee your acne IS hormonal, if that makes sense. Derms will probably either give you accutane or spiro. Finally, I think the only specialist who could truly look at your hormones and directly address them is an endocrinologist. So there are a few options x
Thank you so so much for replying and so in depth as well! The subscription is already worth it 😂 Thank you for clarifying because I’ve been on the fence for so long wondering if my acne was truly hormonal or not. I know it’s much harder to treat which is incredibly frustrating but while I wait to save money for an endocrinologist or derm for bloodwork or spironolactone, is there anything else you’d recommend trying to help prevent hormonal spots? Herbal teas or diet or products? I pretty much follow your routine and have for a while now - I even got dr Sam’s retinol and it is the only retinol that has ever agreed with me! But every so often I’ll get a flurry of hormonal spots which leave PIE for years and I’m currently working to get rid of the PIE and scars I have had for 2 years😂 it’s a viscous cycle! X
Totally understand your frustration! And I’m glad you say the sub is worth it, I’m really enjoying posting to SS so there should be loooads more posts coming :)
It’s really hard for me to advise because most of the non-medical routes have really skimpy evidence for working, and I always have to tread carefully because I truly do believe in science and don’t want to be seen as spreading pseudoscience/misinformation.
That being said, if I were in your shoes and based on everything I’d learned, this is what I’d do: cut out dairy (studies show high dairy consumption can increase IGF1 which increases oil production and causes more acne, personally I also always break out when I eat a lot of dairy, that’s why I don’t eat it on a daily basis). I’d also track your sugar intake, fruit is fine but I’d try not to have more than 30-40g sugar on a daily basis, I use my fitness pal. I would do this for a substantial amount of time, like 3-5 months. I would also make sure to eat leafy greens on a daily basis, orange foods with vitamin A (carrot, sweet potato), a reasonable protein intake and mostly stick to whole foods.
I would also try to make an assessment of what type of hormonal situation is going on (basically impossible if you’re not a doctor I know), but for example - do you deal more with symptoms of PCOS, or estrogen dominance? I would then pick a supplement or two that helped whichever you relate more to.
I would take a good all-round skin supplement like Aegles (for example), and make sure I am also taking vitamin D3.
Finally, I would also do a hygiene lifestyle check: am I sleeping well most nights for 7ish hours? Am I particularly stressed or unhappy? Do I exercise regularly? They sound silly but I do think they make a difference
Honestly I love every bit of content you post on every platform, the new yt series reviewing people’s skincare is so good too! I’m excited for more to come on that :) have also loved seeing more of your personality come out on TikTok. You’re so great girl, keep doing you!
Thank you for all those suggestions, its really helpful because anytime I’ve been stuck for the last few months I’ve just referred to all of your TikTok’s and pulled out bits of info I thought would apply to me! But it’s nice to speak to on this platform and get an in depth response to my questions. It’s so appreciated!
I’m going to take on board your suggestions and hopefully I will start to see an improvement on my hormonal acne - just feels like it’s so uncontrollable at the minute!
Thank you again xx