ilovethesea
Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2013
- Messages
- 1,115
Hi, this is my first post and I hope you can help me. I'm a 37 yr old female and am in the process of trying to transition my diet to more Ray Peat style.
The main problem I'm looking to figure out is that I've always had consistent premenstrual breakouts. They coincide with my cycle in that as soon as estrogen drops (2nd half of the cycle) my skin gets oilier and I get these cystic bumps. Then as soon as my period comes (and estrogen goes up again) my skin totally calms down and is perfectly clear... only to start the problem all over again.
I know it is related to estrogen/progesterone because in the past when I've been on the birth control pill and (briefly) spironolactone - both of which raise estrogen - I had 100% flawless skin. One time I took a progesterone-only birth control pill and it made me break out terribly. I also tried taking chasteberry recently, which I understand raises progesterone, and although I think my mood was better it gave me the worst cystic breakouts I've had in memory.
My cycle is very regular by the way, 28 days exactly. I have had my hormones tested and while normal, my progesterone is apparently a little on the high side. It used to be low before but I believe is higher now from taking iodine (50mg Iodoral)... which I take because I only have 1/2 a thyroid due to thyroid cancer. I know Ray Peat doesn't believe in iodine so I'm not sure if I will continue taking it when I'm done the bottle. The iodine hasn't made any difference either way with acne. I take it because I believe I got the cancer from being severely deficient and also because I was exposed to radiation (throat x rays) as a toddler.
Anyway the latest is that my naturopath recommended I take a low dosage of plant estrogens and see if it helps. (She makes a blend that includes kudzu root, red clover, angelica, black cohosh etc). So far it has only been 1 month so too early to know if it's doing anything, but now reading Ray Peat's views on estrogen I am so confused. I see that he recommends women take progesterone but I am scared to take the Progest-E in fear of breaking out.
Or do I not even take any of these female hormones? I honestly don't know what to do anymore. I know vitamin A can be helpful and right now I'm using Retin A topically although I'm concerned about its long term side effects. I also seem to have better skin when I take cod liver oil even though I'm learning that is a no-no as well. I thought that vitamin A supplements were toxic without vitamin D though?
Anyway if anyone has any ideas of how I can fix this I would be very grateful. thank you!
The main problem I'm looking to figure out is that I've always had consistent premenstrual breakouts. They coincide with my cycle in that as soon as estrogen drops (2nd half of the cycle) my skin gets oilier and I get these cystic bumps. Then as soon as my period comes (and estrogen goes up again) my skin totally calms down and is perfectly clear... only to start the problem all over again.
I know it is related to estrogen/progesterone because in the past when I've been on the birth control pill and (briefly) spironolactone - both of which raise estrogen - I had 100% flawless skin. One time I took a progesterone-only birth control pill and it made me break out terribly. I also tried taking chasteberry recently, which I understand raises progesterone, and although I think my mood was better it gave me the worst cystic breakouts I've had in memory.
My cycle is very regular by the way, 28 days exactly. I have had my hormones tested and while normal, my progesterone is apparently a little on the high side. It used to be low before but I believe is higher now from taking iodine (50mg Iodoral)... which I take because I only have 1/2 a thyroid due to thyroid cancer. I know Ray Peat doesn't believe in iodine so I'm not sure if I will continue taking it when I'm done the bottle. The iodine hasn't made any difference either way with acne. I take it because I believe I got the cancer from being severely deficient and also because I was exposed to radiation (throat x rays) as a toddler.
Anyway the latest is that my naturopath recommended I take a low dosage of plant estrogens and see if it helps. (She makes a blend that includes kudzu root, red clover, angelica, black cohosh etc). So far it has only been 1 month so too early to know if it's doing anything, but now reading Ray Peat's views on estrogen I am so confused. I see that he recommends women take progesterone but I am scared to take the Progest-E in fear of breaking out.
Or do I not even take any of these female hormones? I honestly don't know what to do anymore. I know vitamin A can be helpful and right now I'm using Retin A topically although I'm concerned about its long term side effects. I also seem to have better skin when I take cod liver oil even though I'm learning that is a no-no as well. I thought that vitamin A supplements were toxic without vitamin D though?
Anyway if anyone has any ideas of how I can fix this I would be very grateful. thank you!