Quote from acnemom:

Your posts make a lot of sense, how do you know that you have very high androgen levels? Just curious.My daugher (blood type O) was told by doc that her blood sugar levels were low, do you think this may figure into all this?

Yeah, low blood sugar means she may be HyperInsulinemic otherwise known as Insulin Resistant. She tried accutane and it didn't work, right? If she is Insulin Resistant, it will never work (100%).

I know that I have high androgen levels because of my physical symptoms (acne, hirsutism) and also because of years of testing. I've had acne since I was 10, but it took a regular doctor when I was 17 to look at me and the hair on my arm and say "no this isn't normal" Prior to that I had tried to get a diagnosis and even saw an Endocrinologist, but I came up normal based on what he tested me for. I believe it was because he only tested me for Thyroid problems, but Androgens are what contribute to acne production so it doesn't make sense that most automatically assume you must have only thyroid problems if you have acne.

I didn't actually get a diagnosis until a few months before my 21st birthday. That was after seeing my 3rd endocrinologist and from being on BC (Tri-Levlen) and Spironolactone (200mg) for several years. Those drugs only eliminated about 50% - 75% of my acne, but it NEVER eliminated my "Breakout Cycle" That is what I call the period where my acne is at it's worse (9 months out of the year). So when I found this new endocrinologist, he tested me for everything imaginable & based on my family history. Then he would test me for other things, such as gluten intolerance & my blood type, if I put up a good enough case ;-)

End result, due to having high DHEA (adrenal androgens) and High Free Testosterone levels, you could say I was Hyperandrogenic. BC (50%) & Spiro (30%) only reduced my Free Testosterone levels by 80% which was still too high for a Female! All males & Females should have 97% of their Testosterone bound, what's left is known as Free Testosterone. This FT is available to be converted into DHT (super testoserone) which is associated with a variety of virilizing effects in females as well as prostate problems in males. According to my lab results (reference ranges vary by lab) a female has 0 - 1.4% Free Testosterone levels. Yet I started out with 10% and dropped down to 2% from BC & Spiro and it still wasn't enough.

Therefore, because the other drugs (antiandrogens) weren't enough he put me on Avandia (dropped the BC & went on 150mg of Spiro). The reason this drug works is because it will help our body better utilize insulin and as such, will boost our SHBG (binds Free Testosterone), thus lowering your Free Testosterone levels. Unfortunately after a year, 2mg of Avandia only improved my skin by another 10%. I don't know how it affected my actual androgen levels, but I'm sure it helped a wee bit more based on the results. Changing my diet gave me 99% clear skin & body w/o drugs (tested this), a lot less oil, smallest pores since before puberty, and eliminated my menstrual pains (always regular cycles), but because of the hirsutism I still use 100mg of Spiro.

So, does any of the above associated problems run in your family? What about her fathers? Does she have any other symptoms such as weight problems, menstrual irregularties or pain? hirsutism or alopecia? Insulin Resistance is generally asymptomatic for many many years before you begin to show signs, like acne or weight gain, but the one sign apparently common is Acanthosis Nigricans (dark patches in certain folds of the body). Insulin Resistance is something that we all go through during puberty, but it is supposed to be temporary, ending when puberty ends. Yet, if she still has low blood sugar levels and seemingly persistant acne and other problems, hopefully you'll look more into this.

HTH

Quote from boulder21:

SweetJade -

You must be a doctoral canidate? you seem to know way too much to be an undergrad! Yes it's so nice to be able to look in the mirror and see clear skin!!! If only I had known 5 or 10 years ago!!! Although I'm still not ready to say I've got a long term solution...one day at a time!!!

Yeah, SweetJade you could make Billions selling this information!!!! Unfortunatley that thought doesn't hold water because all it takes is a trip to a nutritionist and will power (too avoid bad foods). For most people insurance covers the cost of the nutritionist!

Yup, that's exactly how I felt when I first changed my diet. At the time I was on 150mg of Spiro, 4mg of Avandia (recently upped dose), & an antibiotic for my ear infection (lack of sleep does make u sick). That was in August and I started to get IBS symptoms (lacking fiber) and so I went off of the Avandia to see if I was experiencing side effects (stopped that antibiotic much earlier) 3 months into the diet AND into my (non-existent) breakout cycle. At this point, my acne hadn't worsened and I was cautious/afraid that if I went off the Avandia it might do so. Yet....my skin kept getting better =) Despite the research I had to suuport what I was doing, others testimonies & my results it took over a year before I was confident enough with my diet to know that this was working and this was REAL.

I've been dealing with this for 14 years now and have always been open to dietary changes, natural treatments or whatever would have helped my acne go away. If I had known, I certainly would have done this 10 years ago too. Right or wrong, if I had even a whisper of it, like we did with the sodas, iodine, & chocolate rumors, I would've done it in heart beat.