Frequently asked questions

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Jan, 2005 by Tori Hudson

* Another option would be to take the .375 dose of estrogen along with black cohosh and/or red clover.

* If none of these work, then try .625 one day and .375 the next day and continue on this alternating regimen. That would at least be lower than the .625 mg every day. You could also request a prescription of bio-identical estrogen. This may have some as yet not well understood advantages over the Premarin.

We could all use some reminder about known methods of reducing our risk of breast cancer: Maintain ideal body weight, drink less than 1 drink of alcohol per day, low fat diet, good fat diet (olive oil, fish, nuts, seeds; avoid partially hydrogenated oils), lots of fruits and vegetables, soy foods, high fiber diet, regular exercise at least 4 times weekly, and try to eliminate pesticides and chemicals in our daily life.

Question: I am 34 years old and I have acne on my chin. I don't have any other signs of a hormonal problem with no facial hairs or anything like that. I tried taking progesterone cream but that did not help. What are your recommendations for my acne problems?

Answer: Although often a simple problem, acne can be difficult to treat. Theories about dietary influences on acne are controversial and contradictory. Chocolate, high fat diets, transfatty acids, sugar and simple carbohydrates have all been implicated. There have been some effects with vitamin A, vitamin E 400 i.u., selenium 200 mcg, zinc 45 mg, and pantothenic acid 2.5 gm four times per day up to two weeks. You have to be careful about the dosage of vitamin A in particular. The dosages that have been shown to be the most effective are high and potentially toxic. A dosage of 10,000-25,000 I.U. per day for 3-6 months should have no negative effects. I have had very good luck with adding some topical treatments such as a topical niacinamide spray, topical Tee tree oil, or treatments with a Dr. Haushka, aesthetician.

I don't know how long you tried the natural progesterone cream, but try it for at least 3 months. Natural progesterone can help many women with acne. It is still possible that there are some hormonal aspects to your acne.

Previously published in Let's Live March 2003

by Tori Hudson, ND

Professor, National College of Naturopathic Medicine and Bastyr University

Medical Director, A Woman's Time

Author, Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine

2067 N.W. Lovejoy * Portland, Oregon 97209 USA

503-222-2322 * womanstime@aol.com