We all know that veggies are good for us, right? Did you know that certain veggies can actually help clear hormonal acne by balancing hormones.
You may have wondered what’s in DIM darn veggies that is so good for us?
When we meet clients with hormonal acne, we always recommend a high dose of pharmaceutical grade Omega 3 fish oil to combat cystic breakouts on the cheeks and jaw line. For a lot of people, the addition of Omega Via to their daily routine is enough to balance the hormones and provide relief for the skin.
However, we sometimes have clients who need just a bit more hormonal balance in order to clear completely. And, that is when we add DIM to their clear skin routine.
What in the heck is DIM?
DIM (diinodolymlethane) is a food-based compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts that supports hormonal balance.
Research suggests that DIM helps to balance hormones by blocking excess testosterone—and when hormones are balanced, hormonal breakouts should, in theory, be diminished. Let’s get to the science behind this: When androgens (male hormones like testosterone) and hormone receptors (cells that translate messages to the body) bind together, it causes changes in the skin that can lead to acne.
Morgan Rabach, MD, dermatologist and Co-Founder of LM Medical in NYC, says that it may work similarly to Spironolactone, a prescription drug dermatologists often recommend to treat hormonal acne.
“Think of androgens binding to hormone receptors like a key in a lock—there is a cascade of effects that it unlocks when it happens,” says Dr. Rabach. “This includes things like increased oil production in the face, which clogs the pores and leads to acne. In short, when androgens and hormone receptors interact, acne happens, but Spironolactone prevents that from ever happening to begin with.”
DIM, as mentioned before, is thought to have the same mechanism as spironolactone. “It binds to the androgen receptor so that there’s no ‘hole’ for the androgen ‘keys’ to bind to,” says Dr. Rabach. “When the the two can’t bind, then oil isn’t increased, and fewer clogged pores means less acne.”
Unfortunately, to get the maximum benefit from DIM you would have to eat close to 2 pounds of cruciferous vegetables a day. Luckily, you can get this powerhouse nutrient in a dietary supplement form.
Skin Defense by Osmosis Beauty is our go-to source for adding DIM to your diet. We recommend taking two pills per day either one hour before or after any other medications.
DIM — The Last Step to Clearing Hormonal Acne
As always, this is not the cure all to clearing acne. Many of you reading this may hop right on over to our Skin Defense ready to purchase it. You might be thinking, “this is it!” Finally the answer to all of my skin issues.
Let me warn against doing that. You may have tried hundreds of different solutions to clear your acne, and none of them have worked or worked completely. And, this is why we one hundred percent recommend scheduling a consultation with us before purchasing anything else.
We rarely start clients directly on Skin Defense to cure their acne. We generally begin the hormonal clearing with a nutrition overhaul and Omega Via, pharmaceutical grade fish oil. On rare occasions, we will add it into someone’s plan when we identify a strong hormonal imbalance.
We always recommend consulting with your doctor before jumping on the DIM bandwagon. It is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.
What can you do before jumping on the DIM bandwagon? Increase cruciferous vegetables intake. Add cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, rutabaga, and turnips to your diet.
If you have questions about adding DIM to your clearing routine, please reach out to us. We will let you know if its right for you, and if it will help.
Cheers to clear!
Rene
