Estrogen face cream for a 25 year old...should I do it?
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:03 pm

I suffer from hirsutism, it's a hereditary thing. I am just so sick of it- having to constantly pluck, wax, shave, thread my moustache, chin hairs, side burns, forhead even! I do a combination of all these things depending on how much time I have.

I have been dealing with this since I was 15 and I just got so used to it, I never really realised how much it effects my life until recently. I never wear my hair up in case because of the stubble and I never let any one touch my face.

My doctor gave me Vaniqa but its useless and give me dry skin. The only other option I have been told is to go on the pill which I don't want to do.

I have been told some doctors prescibe estrogen cream to some women to apply on thier face where the hair grows... I want to try this. But I find it all so confusing- will it raise my Estrogen levels to dangerous levels because I am still young (...ish lol) so probably already have a high level of estrogen?

But isn't it just like going on the pill? Plenty of girls my age and younger take that and therefore increase thier level of estrogen...I don't think putting the cream on my face will raise it as much as taking the pill will right?

Also do I need to use a progesterone cream with it?

Sorry for the long message- just very confused and desperate....

Any help, advice greatly appreciated.

p.s. I can't get laser or electrolysis becasue I have vitiligo.

free skin care · Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:31 pm

IMO have a chat with a friendly local pharmacist. They will know or be able to look up licensed indications (allowable reasons for prescribing), common unlicensed uses, side effects, what percentage is absorbed systemically and any other risks - oftentimes pharmacists know more than medics about the drugs themselves. Another avenue is to Google the type of product you are thinking of, find the data sheets/ patient information leaflets online, contact the drug companies themselves by e-mail or find the drug listing on the FDA site. Smile

You shouldn't get a 'bum steer' from any source: this information will be freely available from drug trials and they are not making a direct sale.

HTH!

Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:33 pm

Thanks for your reply!

Thats actually a good idea about getting in touch with the company. Don't know why I didn't think of it before!

I would never have the guts to talk face to face with a pharmicist! I mean its also a good idea but I would be way too embarrased! However I could trying phoning I guess...

free skin care · Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:56 pm

Someone on EDS is a practicing US pharmacist I think, maybe they will respond. You should get plenty from the data sheets/ patient information leaflet or company themselves if you prefer that route. There is no point putting yourself through the stress of a face-to-face consultation only not to remember a word that was said. Confused

Another thought is any charities that deal with hirsuitism. Often healthcare charity websites are a wonderful resource, they can be bang up-to-date with the research as well as the anecdotal evidence. But I think it would still be best to get information from the drug company. Sending you (((hugs)))

free skin care · Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:14 am

You might want to read books by Elizabeth Vliet & Geoffrey Redmond. Vliet is an MD who specializes in hormones and Redmond I think is an endocrinologist.

free skin care · Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:16 am

I would discuss this with your dr before you do anything that will effect your hormones. If you do this on your own and you select the wrong product or use the wrong amount you could cause yourself a new set of problems. Its not worth guessing.

free skin care · Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:01 pm

The most common reason for facial hirsutism in younger women is a condition named polycystic ovaries (PCO). You should check with your doctor. A blood test (sometimes with a pelvis ultrasound) will tell him whether or not that is the problem.

PCO syndrome causes an increase in testosterone, not a lack of estrogen. So estrogen creams not likely to help. The usual treatment is a particular type of birth control pill (contraceptive) that counters the effect.

Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:56 am

I have been going to electrolysis for years for that. I had my hormones tested via saliva and blood and am estrogen dominant. Having too much estrogen is the cause of mine. There is a book by Dr. John R. Lee about hormones (natural) that was very helpful. It is available at Amazon or your library. You really need to have your hormones tested first.

free skin care · Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:35 am

DrJ wrote:

The most common reason for facial hirsutism in younger women is a condition named polycystic ovaries (PCO). You should check with your doctor. A blood test (sometimes with a pelvis ultrasound) will tell him whether or not that is the problem.

PCO syndrome causes an increase in testosterone, not a lack of estrogen. So estrogen creams not likely to help. The usual treatment is a particular type of birth control pill (contraceptive) that counters the effect.

PCOS patients actually have higher than normal levels of estradiol, which converts to testosterone (which converts to dht). Estriol cream is a common Rx for facial hirsutism in PCOS patients. That said, do consult your physician for the Rx, given your age.

free skin care · Sat Feb 11, 2012 12:46 am

i would like to recommend dr brandt skincare...easy and nice to use

Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:15 am

Thanks for all your replies guys.

So I had my hormones tested and luckily everything is in check. I never really thought that anything would be off because apart from the facial hair, I have no other problems re periods, pms, etc.

My doctor just said the hair I have is because of my ethnicity and genetics Rolling Eyes

So I asked my doctor if she would prescribe estrogen cream for me to put on my face- not to correct any imbalances, I just hoped that having an increased amount of estrogen in the hair follicles would stop them from producing hair. She said no though because it would cause an increase in my systematic estrogen which would obviously cause other problems.

So my question to you guys is (I wish I had aked her!- I forgot) Do you think a Phyto-estrogen cream would help me?

free skin care · Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:38 am

sally565 wrote:

Thanks for all your replies guys.

So I had my hormones tested and luckily everything is in check. I never really thought that anything would be off because apart from the facial hair, I have no other problems re periods, pms, etc.

My doctor just said the hair I have is because of my ethnicity and genetics Rolling Eyes

So I asked my doctor if she would prescribe estrogen cream for me to put on my face- not to correct any imbalances, I just hoped that having an increased amount of estrogen in the hair follicles would stop them from producing hair. She said no though because it would cause an increase in my systematic estrogen which would obviously cause other problems.

So my question to you guys is (I wish I had aked her!- I forgot) Do you think a Phyto-estrogen cream would help me?

The best known phyto-estrogen is soy isoflavones. They are about 1/2 as potent applied to facial skin as estrogens. (e.g. in studies of postmenopausal women, you see about a 23% increase in skin thickening & collagen production with estrogen, and about 11% increase with isoflavones). The situation is different with premenopausal women. Theory states that estrogens you add just diminish the estrogens you make (probably holds for systemic estrogens). But that's not what is observed clinically, in premenopausal women, in terms of facial skin. It may have to do with other events occuring in skin that change receptor dynamics. But, on the other hand, some can be absorbed. So it gets complicated.

Why not try the phyto-estrogens first, and if not happy try the estrogen cream?

There's a lot of new work going on in terms of turning on & off the stem cells that live in the bulge of each hair follicle. You will see some new approaches soon.

free skin care · Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:25 am

I can see why your Dr wouldn't want to prescribe you an estrogen cream for the purpose of hirsutism. It can be tricky as estrogen is quite the lipophilic (meaning, oily) compound, so its absorption can get significant. The problem with this is that an imbalance of hormones can cause a whole plethora of other complications, such as abnormal menstrual cycles, thyroid problems and even body temperature regulation. As well, it can potentially mask any other medical conditions that you currently have or may have in the future. This would make it extremely hard and tricky to diagnose.

You can try phyto-estrogens, but do keep in mind the above things that I listed. They are not typically used for those who have controlled hormone levels, as your lab tests have indicated. As well, most of these supplements aren't even tightly regulated (i.e. not pharmaceutical grade) so there can be a significant variance from batch to batch.

I have been told that topical retinoids can cause hair loss, so you can bring that up to your Dr and see what she thinks about it. It's a rare (and mild) side effect, but it might still be worth a shot. Plus, it helps with acne and anti-aging.

free skin care · Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:29 pm

sally565 wrote:

I suffer from hirsutism, it's a hereditary thing. I am just so sick of it- having to constantly pluck, wax, shave, thread my moustache, chin hairs, side burns, forhead even! I do a combination of all these things depending on how much time I have.

I have been dealing with this since I was 15 and I just got so used to it, I never really realised how much it effects my life until recently. I never wear my hair up in case because of the stubble and I never let any one touch my face.

My doctor gave me Vaniqa but its useless and give me dry skin. The only other option I have been told is to go on the pill which I don't want to do.

I have been told some doctors prescibe estrogen cream to some women to apply on thier face where the hair grows... I want to try this. But I find it all so confusing- will it raise my Estrogen levels to dangerous levels because I am still young (...ish lol) so probably already have a high level of estrogen?

But isn't it just like going on the pill? Plenty of girls my age and younger take that and therefore increase thier level of estrogen...I don't think putting the cream on my face will raise it as much as taking the pill will right?

Also do I need to use a progesterone cream with it?

Sorry for the long message- just very confused and desperate....

Any help, advice greatly appreciated.

p.s. I can't get laser or electrolysis becasue I have vitiligo.

This is a good article on hirsutism is women:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0615/p2565.html

You have pretty much eliminated the recommended treatments in the article. You are "sick of" constantly plucking, waxing, shaving, and/or threading; you can't have laser or electrolysis (becasue of vitiligo); you find Vaniqa "useless" and it caused facial dryness and you don't want to go on the Pill, even though it was recommended.

Have you asked your doctor about Spironolactone (Aldactone)? It is an oral medication and a few EDS members have used it (for acne). I am not sure how you feel about taking something internally (you rejected the Pill) but it may be an option. You may want to continue with the Vaniqa as a topical and need to realize it takes time to work (it slows the rate of growth but doesn't eliminate hairs completely). Discuss the dry skin with your doctor; he may have a solution. Whatever you decide, good luck with your treatments and don't let it get you down.

http://www.hirsutism.com/hirsutism-treatments/spironolactone-hirsutism.shtml

http://www.vaniqa.com/files/Vaniqa_Prescription_Info.pdf (slow to load this link)

Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:24 am

First of all I just want to thank you all for your help...

I've done some more research and I've realised estrogens are just something I don't want to be messing around with- too scary!

Phyto-estrogens- hmm

m still find that whole topic a little confusing with the whole they might fight with my actual estrogen BUT I am going to order for my post-menopausal mum! They sound like they will hopefully be ideal for her Smile

Lacy, your right perhaps I was a little hasty with the Vaniqa, I dunno, I am going to give it another go. But the dryness was pretty bad, I mean I'm talking, flakiness, pink, stinging, it was horrible.

I really don't want to be taking some prescription medicine orally for it though. I HATE medication and I am always weary of long-term side effects, I dunno, I'm just a little wierd about it.

I have decided to go for Laser though. Although its a risk with my vitiligo, I am just going to pray for the best. If I see a patch of Vitiligo developing (God Forbid) then I'll be sure to rub in some steroid cream ASAP and hope for the best!

Wish me luck!

free skin care · Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:23 am

Have some experience with this, unfortunately.

My vote would be an investment in electrolysis treatments.

Good luck, BFG

free skin care · Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:10 am

Work on your diet- you are old on the inside probably from eating carbohydrates.
http://jackkruse.com/the-holy-trinity-ct-4/

http://www.amazon.com/Lights-Out-Sleep-Sugar-Survival/dp/0671038680/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331914026&sr=8-2

If you don't eat right and don't sleep you will always be at the mercy of "modern medicine" who couldn't care less about you.

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