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Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists
Skinwise Reading laser clinic. Please visit here first before trying the larger laser chains.
British Institute and Association of Electrolysis
www.theremustbeabetterway.co.uk Natural, organic skincare based in Reading
Article on Dianette and a link to depression
PCOSFriendly A forum for PCOS sufferers
Article on how hair cells help your skin to heal (which is why you should not remove the tiny, blond ones!)
Mineral Pure Makeup Foundation powder suitable for use straight after electrolysis.
Shea by Nature Shea butter and black soap that is both vegan and fair trade.
I have removed several links to sites dealing with PCOS as I feel they can be very misleading. There are actually several different subsections to the umbrella term ‘PCOS’ and taking medication that is not right for you personally could worsen your symptoms. For example, there is SAHA syndrome, insulin resistance and actual poly cystic ovaries. Any of these can cause PCOS, but treatment for each is markedly different.
To get the best treatment for you, keep a diary of your menstrual cycle to see whether your treatment is helping (noting weight and mood fluctuations too) and consider each of the following:
If you are overweight, did other symptoms appear before or after putting on weight? If they appeared after gaining weight then it’s very likely to be your excess fat causing the hormonal imbalance. Fat is a huge source of estrogen in the body. A very low fat diet, such as Rosemary Conley or high protein diets are best to reduce the overall estrogen levels and cut the vicious circle of craving fatty foods and storing more body fat. If other symptoms (such as irregular periods or acne) appeared before the weight gain then you should think hard to work out what the cause was (insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, low level stress over a number of years, more than 2 units of alcohol in one day for several months, a contraceptive pill, patch or injection that did not agree with you, and so on).
If you have acne that is very painful indeed, appearing as solid lumps deep in the skin before eventually coming to a head, then you are more likely to find relief with saw palmetto, or spironolactone (prescription medicine). Dianette is a common treatment too, but you should monitor your reaction closely. Do not take black cohosh as this may worsen your acne. If you have acne with thinning hair then Propecia (also called Finasteride) is something you should discuss with your doctor. Remember that is it a medicine designed for men, so you may need to take a lower dosage. None of these medicines should be taken lightly, and certainly not for years on end (just until your symptoms improve). Many customers have found the Sensitive Skin Serum from P8N8 excellent for this type of acne, along with temporarily avoiding any moisturiser until the acne has cleared up and using mineral foundation (not the type sold on the High Street but those more like Bare Escentuals or www.mineralpuremakeup.com ).
Excess hair on the face and body does not automatically mean you have PCOS. Most women will develop some coarse hairs on the face at some point in their lives without any health problems. If coarse hair growth is increasing every few months and/or covers an area larger than a 50 pence piece anywhere on the chin, neck/underchin area or the centre of your chest then visit your doctor as soon as possible.
Finally you MUST make an effort to identify and eliminate any foods that worsen your symptoms EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT. Alcohol (more than 2 units per day) is never going to help. Alcohol consumption in women has reached ridiculous levels in the past 15 years, and is more likely to affect your symptoms than anything else. Not only does binge drinking increase your testosterone levels but it also stops your liver from working properly which means excess hormones are not expelled from the body quick enough. Also, try adjusting your intake of omega 6 (found in most fatty junk food and some dairy products) as too much is bad for your health. If reducing your omega 6 intake doesn’t help, try increasing the amount of omega 3 in your diet. Remember not to eliminate any food entirely, just reduce the amount consumed.
(This is my personal opinion garnered from recent studies and observing clients with androgenic disorders. It should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.)
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