I’m excited to talk all things hormones! When I first started to break out, one of the first thoughts that popped into my head was maybe my hormones are imbalanced?
I was breaking out mainly on the jaw line and chin area, and that usually indicates that your hormones are struggling (My Story).
So of course I started researching for days and days of what to do.
After going to my naturopathic doctor, telling her my every day life style, lotions and creams I used and supplements I took, she had me do some bloodwork.
The results came back perfectly normal besides being a little low on vitamin D.
I don’t know if anyone else has had this experience, but it can be so frustrating!
“But just because the results come back normal, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an imbalance in hormones somewhere” she said.
Hormones can be a confusing and tricky topic as there’s just so much information.
I hope that I can make it more simple and easy to understand. That way we can quickly diagnose if our hormones are crying out for help!
What are Hormones and What is Their Role?
Hormones are the chemical substances that travel throughout our bodies bloodstream, affecting the function and activity of another part of the body.
They are produced by the glands in the endocrine system, giving commands to organs and body tissue.
Our hormones develop our sebaceous glands, and once they are fully mature (puberty), that’s when we get acne.
Both male and females produce an excess amount of male hormones, called androgens, which clogs our glands and can over produce sebum, which leads to acne.
A hormonal imbalance can be detrimental to our bodies, as they are responsible for regulating many important bodily processes.
Hormones Help to Regulate:
❁Heart rate
❁Our growth and development
❁Stress levels and emotional state
❁Our hunger and metabolism
❁Body temperature
❁Sexual function and reproduction cycles
❁How we sleep
Hormonal Changes In Women
We always hear the popular myth that acne is just for teenagers, but we can all attest to that not being true!
Studies have shown that 40% of all adults (usually after the age of 25) are still dealing with acne (I being one of them)!
Because of the fact that women go through a lot more hormonal changes then men do as adults, women tend to struggle with acne more (80% of adult acne sufferers are women).
Some Common Hormonal Changes in Women:
❁The menstration cycle
❁Pregnancy
❁Menopause
During each of these different seasons of life, hormonal levels in our bodies fluctuate, affecting the health and clarity of our skin.
There are many different hormones that could be affected, so your symptoms may vary depending on what type.
Some Common Symptoms of Familiar Imbalanced Hormones Include:
❁Hot flashes or night sweats
❁Digestive problems
❁Persistent Acne- usually around the jawline
❁Extreme Fatigue
❁Reduced sex drive
❁Diarrhea or constipation
❁Sudden change of weight loss or weight gain
❁Hair loss
❁Mood swings
❁Anxiety and irritability
❁Headaches
❁Blurred vision
All women will endure some type of hormonal imbalance in their lifetime. They may even be a result of our every day life style habits, or medical history.
Some Causes of Hormonal Imbalance:
❁Extreme stress
❁Changes due to menopause
❁Ovarian cancer
❁Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI)
❁Birth control medications
❁Severe allergic reactions
❁Anorexia
❁Exposure to a lot of toxins or chemicals
❁Poor diet and nutrition
❁Cancer that affects the endocrine glands
❁Being overweight
❁Changes in body due to pregnancy, child birth, or breast feeding
Practical Healing Steps
There are many prescribed treatments to help with imbalanced hormones, but since we are taking this on in a natural approach, I’ve listed some ways we can balance our hormones naturally.
First we should do our very best to help our hormones by changing any bad habits in our every day life style.
Helpful Habits To Practice:
❁Exercise regularly
❁Maintain a healthy body weight
❁Practice good hygiene
❁Maintain a low stress level- practice yoga, read a good book, take time to relax and slow down (this is something I have to practice doing every day.)
❁Eat a healthy and balanced diet ( low on sugar and high processed foods, and rich in colorful vegetables and fruit)
Balancing Our Hormones
As I was mentioning before, my naturopathic doctor prescribed me some natural supplements to help balance my hormones.
I’ve been taking them for about 7 months now and I see a dramatic change in my mood ( I used to have really bad mood swings).
My acne has improved immensely, and I overall feel so much better!
Remember, it won’t help you to keep applying all your topical creams and spot treatments if your body is miserable on the inside!
You have to first heal the inside, to see a result on the outside!
If you find yourself with any of these symptoms I have mentioned, or can relate to how I was struggling, please don’t wait to either go ask your doctor or to take supplements to help your hormones.
Your hormones (and skin) will thank you for it!
Here are a few brands that are filled with only natural ingredients and that will help to get you balanced.
Now let’s go help our hormones!!
**Please note that some of these links on this page are affiliated. This means that if you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. This doesn’t ever cost you extra. But it’s these small commissions that helps to keep this blog going! Please know that I will only recommend product that I trust, or have personally tried and loved, and that are completely safe and natural.
This is the brand I personally used. Remember it won’t be a complete fix overnight. It took a few months, but as long as your working towards healing, that’s what counts!
Female Hormonal Balance Supplement for Women with Licorice Root (100 Capsules)
100 Summers 