This video is a followup to my first video about Topical Treatments for Hormonal Acne. In this video I discuss everything I did internally to address my 5 years of hormonal imbalance and hormonal acne.
Watch the video below and find links to all of the products I talk about underneath!
Please comment with any questions you may have and don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube Channel!
Click here to read my full acne story. If you missed the first video and post about topical skincare, you can find it by clicking here.
To address my hormonal imbalance and target toxic estrogens, I recommend taking Estroblock Regular Strength or Triple Strength and 3000mg of Vitamin C per day.
To limit my exposure to xenoestrogens which mimic healthy estrogen in the body, I eliminated any artificial products in my home and switched to using Glass Tupperware Containers. I also got a Shower Filter to limit my exposure to toxins like chlorine and fluoride which occur naturally in tap water. Glass Tupperware
To support my body’s natural detoxification, I take Thorne SAT once per day. I also have a glass of lemon water, a half a dropper full of both milk thistle and burdock root and a swig of Rosita Cod Liver Oil every morning.
I make sure to drink plenty of water and always add a few drops of Trace Minerals which replenishes the lack of minerals in my body due to hormonal imbalance and it makes the water taste a lot better! Taking a zinc supplement is also great for your skin as we are often low in zinc and zinc is especially good for skin health.
This is the juicer that I use. It has a huge spout so you don’t have to prep anything, just drop the fruit in whole, it’s extremely easy! Suja Juice also makes some great juices that would be just as good as homemade juice.
To support my gut health, I take a daily probiotic and make sure to include lots of fermented foods and bone broth into my diet.
I recommend eliminating coffee and caffeine while you are trying to heal your hormones. Dandy Blend is a great coffee alternative and dandelion is also great for detoxification as a bonus! I also use a variety of different Vital Proteins products, their collagen, gelatin and beauty greens are all great for hormonal balance and gut health.
I also take a digestive enzyme to help my body digest my food properly and to ensure I am absorbing all of the nutrients.
Lastly, I employ self-care to help with detox and to de-stress. Dry brushing is a great technique that supports your lymphatic system, detox and allows you to take some time to focus on yourself each day.
I know you’re not a doctor but I’ve read that fermented foods are not good for people who have thyroid problems. I’ve been recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. Could I restore my hormones without kombucha or sauerkraut? Or am I doomed with my sandpaper face forever 😩? Thanks for all the info thus far.
Hi Brandy, of course. Obviously if you’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness it’s important to consult with your doctor! But yes you can absolutely do all of this without fermented foods. Bone broth would be a fantastic choice!
Gosh, that is a great description of my facial skin! I thought I was the only one with a sandpaper face. It’s on my forehead and on both sides of my nose. Some days the bumps are more prominent than others. Rarely get red, if the bump erupts, which takes many days, it contained a hard crystal. Went to a dermatologist who tried several treatment plans to no avail; they even poked them with a needle to open them up. Had NO idea what was causing it. They wouldn’t diagnose them as rosacea. This makes me wonder if I have the same problem internally in my cells. I was diagnosed in 2001 with Graves, did RAI treatment and am now hypo taking synthroid daily.
I know that you are still taking all the supplements but how long would you say the initial detox phase is (as in no caffeine)?
Good question. I would do those things until you start seeing results. It will take a different period of time for each person. Personally, although I will do caffeine occasionally now or have an alcoholic drink, I still follow all of the other detox protocols because I know my body is still adjusting to this new normal and I don’t want to ruin all of the progress I’ve made.
Is hormone imbalance something a physician can diagnose? How did you know you had it?
I did a lot of research. The fact is, I went to countless doctor’s for years who never diagnosed this properly. So yes, they can, but they often don’t. Hormone issues are one of the most misdiagnosed conditions. A functional medicine doctor or naturopath would probably be a better bet, but even they can get it wrong. (Mine did). After I did my own research it was painfully obvious I had a hormone issue. No woman in her 20s and 30s should be getting acne like that, especially not something with a squeaky clean diet and healthy lifestyle. Feel free to shoot me an email if you’re unsure about your own symptoms, maybe I can help point you in the right direction.
I also struggle with adult acne, the inability to lose weight, and stomach issues. This post had done a wonderful job of connecting the dots. I thought it was hormonal so I went to the doc and she said all of my levels are normal. I still feel as though I have too much testosterone and that is why I am struggling. I see that you provide a list of supplements and I have a two part question regarding those. 1. In your opinion, should I stay away from the estroblock (because I feel like I have too much testosterone)? 2. If I don’t take estrobock, how/when should I take the other supplements? Is there a schedule that makes them work better together? Thank you for putting all of this information together and sharing!!!!!
What kind of tests did your doctor do to tell you your levels were normal? You may not have gotten the right test, like me. I REALLY wish I had trusted my instincts more because I think from the second I walked into that office I knew I had hormonal issues and I wish I had been more direct with her in that we needed to address that issue. Estroblock is fine for testosterone because an excess of estrogen is actually what often causes the spike in testosterone. One of my close friends felt the exact same way and not only did estro block help her but her latest doctor told her that’s what she should be taking. So yeah… I would recommend following the protocol as is but let me know if you have any other questions!
I am curious about the trace minerals. My daughter suffers from an autoimmune disorder. I thought the trace minerals might be good to add to our water after reading your blog and reading some reviews but when I went online there were mixed reviews- some people saying they were toxic. We are adding the collagen in and I am very excited about that but just curious as to what you found with the trace minerals. Thank you for sharing your story. I have tried several items you have recommended and really enjoyed them. I love the nut pods and the granola that isn’t granola- forgot the name right now!
Hi Melinda, Trace Minerals Research is an extremely reputable brand and I have been using their products for many, many years. I’ve never heard anything about them being toxic. If you’re worried about it, I might consult with your daughters doctor but I’ve really never heard that before. People make some pretty insane claims within online reviews, so the company’s reputation and my experience is what I like to go off. I know many, many people who add a few drops of minerals to their water or other beverages. Maybe if you add the entire container it would be toxic but why anyone would do that is beyond me. I add three drops to a glass… SO minimal!
Hi Anya, thanks so much for share your journey to clear skin! I too have suffered from severe acne since quitting birth control pills a few years ago. I’ve tried countless natural approaches to clearing it up and am just starting to clear it up now. Unfortunately I took Estroblock Pro for 4 months last year and it did nothing for my skin. I think I may have needed to add a liver supporting supplement and maybe up the dosage to 4 like you did. I found a brand in Canada that’s similar to Estroblock called Estrosmart that I’ve been taking for the past 7 months and while it’s helped my skin it was only maybe 60% clearer (I have hormonal acne on my jaw, neck, chest, back and shoulders). After going for bloodwork I found out that my liver enzymes are high! After a tonne of research I found out that it was because I was not supporting my liver enough to allow for phase 2 detox and it was overburdened. Apparently this is pretty common with DIM supplements! This would explain why it wasn’t fully clearing! I actually ended up ordering Thorne SAT and had a bad reaction to it (caused a massive breakout). I couldn’t figure out why until I read the label and it has soybean in it! Not sure if you were aware of that, seeing as soy is a phytoestrogen. I also found out that the main reason that DIM and Indole-3 Carbinol supplements work for acne is mainly because it is a potent anti-androgen! So if anyone has an excess of androgens (male hormones like testosterone, DHEA-S, DHT) then it is very useful! Just make sure to support your liver!!! I know I have estrogen dominance as well (low progesterone in ratio to estrogen) so I’m going to add the 3,000 mg of Vitamin C. I follow a Paleo diet and have taken the same probiotics and Vital Proteins collagen in the past. I noticed that my hair and nails were growing like crazy but I didn’t get around to ordering again. I’m going to add those back in now because I really think they were helping! Can’t wait to try adding these things to my supplemetn protocol to see if they help clear my skin up even more!! Thanks Anya!
Yes, I also found the liver support was KEY to success. I was even taking a liver support supplement but it wasn’t until I made all the rest of the lifestyle changes to support my detox pathways did I notice a difference. Everyone’s hormones are different, obviously so this entire process without a doubt will be trial and error for everyone. It sounds like you are on the right track though, keep me updated on your journey!
Hey Anya! I finally found my way over to your blog, and I love it! Question for you… Though I don’t struggle with hormonal acne, I’m sure your suggestions would benefit my health anyway! However, I’m a breastfeeding mom and am hoping to get pregnant again in the near future. Should I avoid any of the supplements above because of that? Any insight you have would be appreciated. TIA!
Hi Carley – I would absolutely speak to your doctor before taking any supplements while breast feeding!
I have struggled with hormonal acne for years as well when I hit my late 20’s. I am interested to try some of your products that you mention. Some products that have helped me tremendously have been “Eminence” and “Lush”
Thanks for your blog.
Jessica
As someone who suffers from hormonal acne and incredibly sensitive and reactive skin, I always have trouble finding good hair products for my curly hair. Do you have suggestions?
Hi Morgan, I really like Beauty Counter’s sea salt spray – http://bit.ly/2aXMdGK
Sorry if this is too personal, but were your periods regular throughout your hormone imbalance? Mine have been farther and farther apart and now have currently vanished as a result of my hormonal imbalance (acne, PCOS, insulin resistance, high prolactin, excess androgens, etc, etc) and I am trying desperately to get them back naturally and I’m wondering if any of these products might help regulate it. TIA!
Not too personal! I would say I couldn’t really get more personal than all these posts and videos. 🙂 My period was regular during the whole process, but I know many women who they’re not normal for. I do know that a great deal of women with PCOS have used this exact protocol with similar results. A lot of the women on Estroblock and all of the corresponding supplements/lifestyle changes I talked about have PCOS. Of course everyone is different, but it would certainly be beneficial for you to try these strategies and see if it works. Just be patient. This stuff takes time.
Thanks! For budget purposes, are there one or two products in the list you recommend starting first?
This is a really hard question because as I mentioned, it really is about diving in and seeing the whole picture. I tried certain strategies for months without making all of the changes and they didn’t work. Having said that, I think I would recommend the Estroblock and doing anything and everything you can to support your liver. Plus, following some of the lifestyle changes I recommended as those are more about habits than buying products and supplements.
Hi Anya,
I’m really interested in trying these suggestions you have made, but do you know if you are able to take Estroblock while also taking birth control?
Thank you!
Yes, absolutely. It is actually recommended that you take it while on birth control and then continue taking it if and when you come off to maintain a healthy hormone balance.
Did your hormonal acne create scars? I suffered from hormonal acne 15-20 years ago and used Prosctiv. UGH! I know. I wish I knew then what I know now. Anyway, I’ve got some scarring I would live to get rid of or fade. Any ideas?
Hi Leslie, it sure did. Did you see my post about what I did externally to heal my skin? I talk all about what I did for scarring here – http://www.anyaseats.com/topical-skincare-routine-hormonal-acne/
Hi there! I stumbled upon your blog through instagram recently and saw you post alot of pictures with collagen powder. I was searching through your blog to see if you wrote more about it but can’t seem to find anything. Can you explain why you use it, the benefits, any difference you see after using it…anything will help! Thanks so much 🙂
Megan
Hi Megan, here is a great article about collagen and gelatin – https://chriskresser.com/5-reasons-why-even-vegetarians-need-gelatin/
For me it’s been EXTREMELY helpful for my skin, nails and hair.
I have been suffering from serious acne and blackheads on my face,neck and back for over 7 years now. It was like I had a remission in 2012-about a month or two. Then it continued up till now. I’ve tried so many natural therapies- to no avail. Please could you let me know of some natural trustworthy recipes I can use to treat myself. It has given me a cause for concern. I really wish I can have a smooth face,neck and back without all the blackheads & acne.
Yours sincerely,