Acne and Progesterone Cream Options

[angel3]

I started using progesterone cream and find that I get acne whenever I use the cream!   Has this happened to anyone else?  When I don't use the cream my complexion is clear.  

                   Thanks

[DesRothchild]

Hi. As usual with me, I've had a completely different reaction and have noticed a DEcrease in acne with the progesterone cream. In fact, one of the "menopause" books recommends rubbing it on your face to treat acne! It's so weird how we all react do differently--like we are different species or something!

[cyberpal]

I've suffrered from acne since I was a teen.    The last few years of perimenopause has actually helped my skin.    But I just tried the Progest cream a few days ago and boy have I got a few painful zits (ugh!!) right on the back of my head.     Don't know if its a coincidence but I may lay off the cream and see what happens.

[Kari]

I've never had a problem with acne from progesterone cream, but i've noticed something else that i've never seen posted........a strange smell. With my higher dose I seem to be exuding an oily smell, and I shower every morning. The closest I can come to describing it is kind of a dirty baby, and fry daddy smell. It's not that it's so terribly strong.....it's just there and causes me to be self conscious. I don't think it's my estradiol cream and i'm too afraid to stop using either one for fear i'll have a relapse of symptoms.  Could my progesterone be converting to testosterone maybe?  Anyone have a clue about this?   :confused:

[Wordgirl]

Kari, that's so funny--dirty baby and fry daddy smell! Anyway, I have read that the odors we emit during menopause changes (and we can have more B.O.!) I've never read anywhere that progesterone supplementation could cause that. Plus, wouldn't pregnant women really stink with the huge amount of progesterone they produce?

As for progesterone converting to testosterone, I THINK I have read that it can, but only slightly. And I know progesterone can convert to estrogen, because I asked Pete at one of the chats (but, again, only a very small amount can convert). If you do have an increase in testosterone, for whatever reason, that oily smell would make sense, I think. But wouldn't you have other "symptoms" like aggressiveness and increased libido? Your questions are very interesting.

[Kari]

Wordgirl,

So you're saying i'm just stinky?  :o   Just kidding, your post makes a lot of sense. I had another thought about this (since I just took another shower and applied my creams and can smell it again). Maybe it's the base my creams are in. I think i'll ask my pharmacist about this. Or.....maybe my sense of smell is off.......like I need another meno problem. LOL!   I asked my hubby and daughter if I smelled like a fry daddy and they said no. (unless they were just being nice, :biggrin:)  

As for the conversion to testosterone.......no aggression here, and my libido could use a boost so I guess it's not that. Maybe it's just my nose.......I am a clean person.  :)

Thanks for the words of wisdom. Much appreciated.

[Kalanie]

Hi Kari...  I was having a strange kind of body odor that didn't smell like me until I started using the hormones... so weird, but now it is gone.  :)  I am sure it has to do with our change in hormones, like Word said.  I was also wondering if the odor you are smelling might be from the creams....  sometimes when I put on certain hand lotions, I can smell it for hours, especially if I don't like it.    

[Dixiepeep]

Fry daddy/Dirty baby smell-thanks for the visual LOLI have ACNE from Progesterone cream.  I use Shower to Shower powder in addition to my regular deorderant for feeling fresher.  I do not feel as clean as before my surgery for some reason.  I take 2 showers a day now.

[angel3]

Quote: from Dixiepeep on 2:57 pm on June 26, 2002[br]Fry daddy/Dirty baby smell-thanks for the visual LOLI have ACNE from Progesterone cream.  I use Shower to Shower powder in addition to my regular deorderant for feeling fresher.  I do not feel as clean as before my surgery for some reason.  I take 2 showers a day now.

       I keep getting acne when I use the progesterone   cream.  Yet , I have heard it can help acne for some.   Could it be the brand I'm using? Or perhaps it   is the hormone conversion in my system.            Any Comments?

[vlaire]

I am 46. I have used a OTC progesterone cream for three cycles in hopes to help late cycle depression. It has, (I'm happy again) but this last cycle I began to get huge painful acne which I have never had. Also, I had other strange symptoms such as dizziness, a swirliness in my head and then a panic attack. I have never had a panic attack and went to an emergency room thinking I was going to die. I suspected my symptoms were due to the cream. I was able to see a doc who uses prog cream in her practice and we determined most of my symptoms were due to how I was applying the cream (My body could not handle the cream on thin skin areas.) I began to feel better but then, this week, (about the same day of my cycle as last month) I began to feel the panic again. I called the doc and it was suggested to use a little bit more cream. This helped. Now, I would like to get off the cream because I hate this acne, but whenever my progesterone gets low, I have very bad anxiety. I'd rather be depressed. And, I feel like I am addicted to a drug -- if I don't want anxiety (which is the most awful thing I have ever felt!) -- I better use the cream. Are these symptoms part of the adjustment stage or am I someone who can not tolerate a progesterone cream? I used FemGest for 3 cycles and am now using Progest. My doc has ordered a compounded prog cream though I haven't received it yet. What is with this acne? It must be hormonal.  Any thoughts?

[Wordgirl]

vlaire, you could try not using the cream for a month (maybe take a little Xanax for the anxiety/depression?) to see if it *really* is causing the acne. As we go further into meno, we get more symptoms regardless of progesterone use, I think. Also, maybe you could have your hormone levels tested to see what you really need, or if you have too much androgens (causes acne). I didn't have any "adjustment" period with the prog. cream, so I don't know if that could be the problem.

I'm sorry you are having the panic and anxiety. That is the worst. It's all trial and error for all of us. I wish you luck.

[angel3]

Quote: from vlaire on 10:03 pm on Nov. 21, 2002[br]I am 46. I have used a OTC progesterone cream for three cycles in hopes to help late cycle depression. It has, (I'm happy again) but this last cycle I began to get huge painful acne which I have never had. Also, I had other strange symptoms such as dizziness, a swirliness in my head and then a panic attack. I have never had a panic attack and went to an emergency room thinking I was going to die. I suspected my symptoms were due to the cream. I was able to see a doc who uses prog cream in her practice and we determined most of my symptoms were due to how I was applying the cream (My body could not handle the cream on thin skin areas.) I began to feel better but then, this week, (about the same day of my cycle as last month) I began to feel the panic again. I called the doc and it was suggested to use a little bit more cream. This helped. Now, I would like to get off the cream because I hate this acne, but whenever my progesterone gets low, I have very bad anxiety. I'd rather be depressed. And, I feel like I am addicted to a drug -- if I don't want anxiety (which is the most awful thing I have ever felt!) -- I better use the cream. Are these symptoms part of the adjustment stage or am I someone who can not tolerate a progesterone cream? I used FemGest for 3 cycles and am now using Progest. My doc has ordered a compounded prog cream though I haven't received it yet. What is with this acne? It must be hormonal.  Any thoughts?

When I quit using the progesterone cream my acne went away.  For myself ,adding any "hormone" creates more of an imbalance in my system. I found for myself,   taking magnesium, B complex50mg.3 x a day , passionflower herb tea, (anxiety) soy, and exercise makes a huge difference.  

(Edited by angel3 at 5:01 pm on Dec. 21, 2002)

[vlaire]

To Angel3,What symptoms were you trying to get rid of with the progesterone cream? I have found that it really has helped my mood (I am happy again and I was really depressed and angry and irritable all the time -- I have been awful to live with) but I hate the way my body feels. Out-of-it, drugged a bit. I want to stop using the cream but when my progesterone gets low, I have a panic attack. (WHich I never had before trying this cream.) So, I am now afraid of not using the cream yet I want to get off of it because this acne is awful!  So, why did you try it and was it easy for you to stop using it? I think I might need some help getting off it until my body can create its own hormone levels again, expecially with the anxiety/panic attack part of it. Did the vitamins help? Thanks.

[Suzie]

My anxiety and panic actually improved while using the cream, but when I went off for the 13 days to allow for a period my panic attacks were terrible. They would come on suddenly and get extremely intense. Much worse than before. I had to use klonopen daily for a month to get off the progesterone cream . I'm not using any hormones now, but I do still occasionally have panic attacks. They aren't nearly as intense as they were while on the cream.

Suzie

[angel3]

Dear Vlaire,     I was taking the progesterone cream mainly for irregular periods.    I took it for 4 months and found that I was getting horrible acne cysts on my face. They were even near my eye!  I had heard that in some women  that the pro. cream can clear acne or create acne!    I decided to stop the cream.  It did seem I had alittle more anxiety after stopping the cream.   Using progesterone cream  is one of the largest unsupervised trials of hormone use ever conducted!   I went to seek help from an herbalist and started taking  Vitex  (Chasteberry.) This is an herb that taken regularly keeps cycles more regular.  Daily use enhances progesterone, luteinizing hormone,dopamine, and luteotropic hormone.    I find I feel better on the Vitex then the progesterone cream.   The vitex does not give me acne while it boosts my own progesterone production.         For anxiety and general mood the vitex works well- for some women.   I have found soy, B complex  vitamins and magnesium helpful.  Exercise really helps also as everyone knows.        I have found that taking natural supplements that boosts my own natural hormones help me feel the best instead of adding a "hormone." It is interesting to note that in the United States we have the highest  rate of  women suffering from peri/menopause than any other counrty!   Note: Sorry for my late response.  I posted before  to your post last week but my post reply would not submit for some reason.  So this is my 2nd reply.    I hope this info was helpful.                            Jan  

(Edited by angel3 at 11:21 pm on Dec. 3, 2002)

[vlaire]

Thanks. My acne was also the cyst variety -- which is not normal for me -- and in weird places on my face that I wouldn't expect acne. I decided to stop using the cream last Monday. In the last month of using a prog cream whenever my progesterone level got low I would begin to feel extreme anxiety and had my first ever panic attack. I didn't know what was going on and thought something was seriously wrong and went to am emergency room for the first time in my  life!  I suspected the cream. I decided that I was definitely going to stop the cream no matter how much anxiety I might feel, even though my depression had lifted and I was"happy". My physical self was not happy, though. My period was due so I thought, maybe I can stop the cream without the anxiety. I didn't take it last Monday night and within a few hours, truly,  I felt my body saying "thank you". I could feel the relief, physically. Anyway, my period did not come for a few more days but when it did it was the heaviest period I have ever had in my life. But, I have felt no anxiety and everyday I feel less the effects from the cream. I also have not felt depressed, but it might still be too early to know if that is gone for good. I began taking Evening primrose a few days ago. My face is improving. I plan on taking B complex and magnesium and thought to try the vitex. I spoke to a compounding pharmacist and she told me that she was surprised that such a small amount of the progest had affected me the way it did. (I was only using the smallest dab!) I am surprised that side effects from using progesterone cream is not documented. Just because we are "rare" doesn't mean that we don't exist. When I began to feel the scarey side effects, I began searching on the Web to find out what was going on. I have found a few of us who experienced similiar things while using this hormone. I wish I had been one of the ones in which this natural hormone was the best thing -- but it's not right for me either. I also wish there was a way in which we could help get side effects listed for the other "rare" women who might experience similiar effects.  But even the MD that I saw after my trip to the ER and who uses alternative methods in her practice which includes prog. cream, thought that my new symptoms were just new menopause symptoms showing up. I don't think she really believed me that I said it was from the prog. cream. Thanks for your response. Hearing about your experience assures me that I was not imagining what I knew to be true of mine. Alice

[jimi]

No one had acne since dec. ? Amazing! I have what I am sure is hormone overdose related acne. The HUGE blind, sore kind. I have used natural compounded progesterone creme with DHEA, This sorted out the hot flushes but caused depression and acne, went on antidepressants, this caused anxiety. Took 25 mg of valium for the anxiety and felt like I was on a merry go round. Stopped everything and felt great. In the middle of all this somewhere, I got a script for natural hormone Troches(lozengers), but by the time I had them made up, I was off everything else and feeling good, so was a bit reluctant to use them - but they cost an arm and a leg, so I gave them a try. They contained estrogen, testosterone and progesterone and according to my blood tests, My Dr. said they were the right dose. Well, I took 1/4 morning and night for two days only and got two HUGE blind pimples for my money - and felt worse. Needless to say, I have retired the Troches. I am now on nothing again and apart from these two horrid sore pimples that are shrinking away, a touch of globus, the odd hot flush and night sweat..... ....I feel fine! Progesterone for me appears to cause acne and I would rather have hot flushes than acne.jimi

(Edited by jimi at 1:19 pm on May 9, 2003)

[Suzie]

I'd forgotton about the acne! I had that too while on the progesterone cream ! My face has cleared up and looks great now that I'm off the cream !

Suzie

[darling]

My acne problem is subsiding with use of progesteron. but i use a phto -estrogen in conjunction with it ----maybe that has something to do with it. I have heard i think from doctor john lee's book that progesterone cr. helps clear up the acne. also great for getting rid of headaches. darling