Hormone Imbalance and Your Skin

Our bodies are incredibly intricate, finely tuned machines with hormones serving as the messengers. Each hormone has a specific instruction to share with each organ and those directions dictate everything from digestion to body temperature to mood to energy to weight and so many other aspects of our health.

Now, we are not endocrinologists, and even doctors will tell you that the endocrine system is so complex that they don't fully understand it. What we do know is that hormones are underappreciated – until they aren't carrying the right messages for optimal health.

We tend to "lump" these missed signals into a catch-all term, "hormone imbalance". Which is true. It just doesn't quite express how miserable it can feel to be tired, nauseated, cold when no one else is, suffering from uncontrollable mood swings and breaking out all over the place. And worse? Feeling like there is nothing you can do about it.

Whether suffering from hypothyroidism or poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or any other diagnoses, we still want to look our best. At Pure Skin by Maggie, we frequently see clients who are dealing with hormone issues with their doctors and seeing results in some area, a main concern is still their skin – the first impression they give to the world. It's easier to disguise exhaustion than what appears on your face.

The Good News...

There are things you can do at home to help your body heal and regain its balance!

This is NOT a recommendation to forego a doctor's care. Hormone conditions can become serious and lead to long term health issues and autoimmune conditions if left untreated. These are things you can do in conjunction with visits to the doctor and taking necessary medication.

1. Get plenty of rest. Our bodies heal when we are at rest. Listen to your body; get enough sleep at night and if needed, get rest during the day. Sometimes even 15 minutes of time laying down can re-set your body for the day.
2. Exercise! It can be something fun and it doesn't have to be strenuous to be beneficial. But every system and function of our body benefits from exercise. Again, listen to your body about how much and how often. If 5 minutes is all you can handle, then start there and do 5 minutes as often as you can each day, every day.
3. Drink plenty of water. We hear this all the time, but it's extremely important. And take it a step further: get a good filter for your faucet at home to remove as much of the chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals as possible.
4. Eat whole, fresh foods and avoid refined sugars. Give your body the fuel it needs to function as best it can. Refined sugars play havoc with your endocrine system as insulin levels go up and down. This isn't about deprivation, but moderation with treats that we all love.

The Good News for Your Skin...

The 4 tips above will benefit every system in your body, including your skin. But there are things you can do to help your skin even more.

1. Pay attention to the ingredients in your skin care products. All of the Pure Skin by Maggie products are free of parabens, sulfates, and other known endocrine disrupters. What you put on your skin gets absorbed and affects your whole body.
2. Develop a good skin care routine. Yes, hormone induced acne is an inside-out issue; however, give your skin its best shot by not leaving a chance for bacteria, dead skin cells, and old oils to clog it up and exacerbate the condition.
3. Visit an esthetician for professional help. Our founder, Maggie Liu, is trained to know the source of different types of acne and how to treat them. Even with a hormone imbalance, there are steps you can take externally to support healthy, glowing skin.

Finally, while you should consult a physician before taking any supplements, we have developed an herbal supplement, Pure Skin Capsules, to help balance hormones and lead to the pure skin of your dreams! We have had a number of clients see their skin woes turn around with this natural healing support. The powerful ingredients include:

• Chinese Saffron Extract to promote blood circulation
• Ginseng Extract boost metabolism and detoxification
• Brazilian Mushroom Powder to enhance the body's immune system
• New Zealand Lactoferrin to reduce inflammation and free radicals
• Chaste Berry Extract (also known as Vitex) to gently and naturally balance hormones
• Red Clover Extract to supplement the body's hormone insufficiencies
• Damiana Leaf Extract to help the body's endocrine system self regulate secretion

These capsules and a health-full lifestyle can lead to beautiful skin and hopefully more energy and vitality as your hormones become more balanced.