Skin Conditions
Your skin provides the hormonal clues you need to start healing your cycles, enhancing your fertility, feeling more energetic, happier, sexier and gooood! Your skin speaks to you all the time, you just need to listen. It’s one of your body’s largest organs and part of the WomanCode “elimination” group along with the liver and large intestine.
These organs don’t produce hormones, but they are necessary for ushering hormones out from your body. Can you imagine what would happen if all of the hormones your body produces and all those in the food you eat, the medications you take, and the products you use, just stayed in your blood stream? You’d have an explosive hormonal situation, that’s for sure - the kind that sees estrogen build-up lead to tumor growth. It would also imbalance your whole endocrine system, leading to problematic periods, infertility issues, PMS, PCOS, low libido and low moods.
So when you see changes to your skin - whether that’s acne, eczema, rosacea or discoloration - you know your skin is trying to tell you something important about your hormonal health.
I’ve talked to you about acne before in detail, I even have a webinar on the subject, so here I’d like to address those other three skin issues you might encounter.
Exit Eczema
Problem: I’m just getting over a bout of eczema that came up in my post-partum period. It’s very common for women to experience at this time, because your body is busy using all of your stores of essential fatty acids for your baby! That leaves not a whole lot left for you and your skin.
Solution: The best way to combat this is through heavy supplementation of a good source of essential fatty acids. Cod Liver Oil is packed with EPA and DHA essential fatty acids. Make sure you get the fermented kind of oil, because that retains twice the vitamins of processed oil. I swear by Green Pastures Royal Blue Ice Royal brand. In addition, take Evening Primrose Oil. Topically, you can use aloe vera gel and a good oil based moisturizer - I’m using LAFACE. I find epsom salt plus magnesium oil baths to be very soothing. I recommend Ancient Minerals topical magnesium oil.
Ditch Discoloration
Problem: A change in the pigmentation of your skin - particularly dark patches around the forehead area and eyes - is a sign of liver imbalance. The function of your liver is likely compromised leading to a buildup of estrogen leading to estrogen dominance. The liver is in a hormonal buddy system with your skin. This skin issue is like your liver sending you a message!
Solution: Support your liver with a good quality B-100 Complex, inositol, artichoke leaf extract, and the Get Clean tea by Republic of Tea, which contains a lovely blend of milk thistle burdock, and dandelion. Start increasing your intake of greens and cycle-synching your diet with my simple 4 week plan.
Renounce Rosacea
Problem: The redness and bumpiness to the skin that comes with rosacea is linked back to the health of your gut/microbiome. It is essentially a symptom of inflammation that, quite literally, shows up as inflamed skin. If not specifically clearly triggered by one food type, it will be your diet as a whole that is the source of the problem.
Solution: Make friends with your friendly bacteria and you will heal your skin. Approximately 5lbs of bacteria lives inside of you and the quality of their eco-system – the healthiness of the microbial life plus the diversity – governs your health. A poor internal ecosystem caused by bad diet, exposure to chemicals and stress, will suppress the good bacteria, promote the bad bacteria, and will lead to a toxic buildup of hormones and signs of systemic inflammation on your skin. I’ve outlined some Dos and Don’ts of taking care of your gut and I recently interviewed Dr Kellman, author of “The Microbiome Diet”.
Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!
to your FLO,
Alisa
Good things come in threes:
I want to hear from you!
First, do you suffer with rosacea or eczema?
Second, what treatments have you tried for eczema or rosacea?
Third, you know every one you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social by clicking the buttons below 
Need more Hormone Help?
If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.
I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.
Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!
Hi just wanted to let you know there is some controversy surrounding Green Pastures FCLO. Chris Kresser and Katie at Wellness Mama have good articles addressing this. Thanks for all you do!
Alisa,
I would caution suggesting Cod Liver oil because it has a high level of retinyl palimate vitamin A. It is stored in the fat in our body and can be toxic as it can build up. Other sources of omega 3 with EPA and DHA like eating wild salmon or supplementing with a brand like Nordic Naturals are safer options.
Hi Alissa!
I suffer from seborrheic dermatitis in the creases of my nose that travels up to my eyebrows and sometimes in my hair. It's worse in the winter and tends to get much better in the summer. Is this indicative of a hormonal imbalance or nutritional deficiency? What can I do to naturally treat this problem. Thanks!
Oops! I mean *Alisa
Which B-100 vitamin brand do you recommend, please?
What if a discoloration on the face is more red. No bumps.... but definitely not brown? Is this related to any of these solutions? Thanks!!!!!
Hi Heather,
It sounds like you have rosacea - this is certainly related to hormones. I would recommend doing the 4 day cleanse from the book (WomanCode) or downloading it from the website (for free). Also, make sure that your skin care products are natural, organic and chemical free!
Alisa
Thank you! I do not use any skin care products (other than organic/natural soap) but i will get to doing that cleanse right away! Your work is wonderful!!! thank you for care for us women out there.....
Hi! I suffer from eczema, and have my entire life. Typically just in my hands. However, I have skin that is so dry I often itch it until it bleeds - especially my legs. Lately, my face has had a lot of unidentifiable red patches - possible eczema? It doesn't itch, but does make me look VERY unattractive. I am pregnant, and this flare-up happened right around when I found out I was pregnant. I have not been able to figure out how to remedy it, although I'm fairly certain I have leaky gut.
I get red dry blotches on my cheeks. They can be little raised. They also sometimes flake off in dry patches. I've been trying to figure out if it's gluten or dairy or both causing. Been noticing it about 3 months. Not sure I can call it a post partum problem as my daughter is 1. Anyway does this sound like ezcema or rosacea?
Hi Mary,
This can also be hormonal! Since you had a baby recently, it is possible that things are not back to normal! Let my team know how they can support you if you need more info!
Alisa
Hi Alisa,
I have dark spots on my face cheeks and forehead. They get worst if I'm exposure to sunlight for long periods of time (I use sunblock) I'm a runner, so during weekends is when I have my long runs and sun light exposure. During the week I run before sunrise. I thought was after pregnancy skin but it got worst year after year and now it's 7 years. I'm trying a clean diet, I don't eat process food (no breads, pasta, cookies), I reduce my fruit intake a lot (half a pc a day at most). I tried skin products (R&F) it worked first 3 weeks reducing the darkness but I avoid sunlight at all and using sunblock, but after one running day of 30 min my skin turned darker and the products did't work anymore. I thought it was a liver problem but tried liver detox and didn't work. I think my hormones are the root. Please advise, I don't want to go to a dermatologist because I don't want to use skin products anymore they make my skin more sensitive. Thank you.
I have what I believe is hormonal pigmentation across my forehead, chin and mirroring patches on my cheeks. The cheeks have been there for a few years now but my forehead has gotten much worse recently. I have had a Kyleena IUD implanted in the last 5 months which releases lower levels of progestogen in the area. Could this be the cause of the forehead patches? How do I balance my hormones and get rid of the pigmentation before it gets worse?