This Natural Supplement Helped My Hormonal Acne
I started taking DIM (Diindolylmethane) on January 7th, 2019. I saw results 4 months in, when my acne became less inflamed. At that time, I got my period consistently for two cycles, which hadn’t happened in years. And I didn’t get a terrible hormonal breakout before these periods, which never happens. Normally I get flare ups before my period, with painful, cystic breakups along my jawline.
I’ve been taking DIM for over a year now. Occasionally, I will get new cysts, but my skin doesn’t flare up as bad as it used to.
Left: November 2018, Right: July 2019 (6 months on DIM)
Left: March 2019, Right: July 2019. I had flareups 3 months into taking DIM. The saying“It gets worse before it gets better” definitely applies.
Benefits from taking DIM:
My skin is less inflamed.
My skin is less congested.
Cystic acne less frequent.
Overall reduced breakouts.
Benefits that may or may not be from DIM^:
Less painful periods.
Consistent periods.
Reduced insomnia.
^I think less stress was a major factor, but DIM definitely helped.
What is DIM?
DIM is a bioactive compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, like brussels sprout or broccoli. I first heard about DIM in Dr Eric Berg’s video The Causes of Acne. I asked my doctor if I could take it with my birth control (Portia), and he had never heard of DIM before. He looked it up right then and said that “it looks like it’s targeting the aggressive form of estrogen.” Basically, it supports and modulates the body’s estrogen metabolism.*
I use the brand Smoky Mountain Nutrition from Amazon. Other brands sell a higher concentration for acne-prone skin, but the body can only absorb around 200mg - 250mg at most. So there’s no point is paying more for something your body can’t use.
My doctor said that it should be fine if I take it along with birth control, but to take them at separate times of the day - DIM in the morning, BC in the afternoon or evening. I stopped taking the Portia birth control because I wasn’t satisfied with the results, but I’m still using DIM supplements. Some side effects can include headache, though I’ve never experienced any. I actually have zero side effects using the DIM supplement, which I love because I’m typically sensitive to side effects.
It’s recommended to take one supplement pill daily with food and a glass of water. I typically take mine after lunch and with at least 8 oz water.
My Current Skin Journey
Most of my acne struggles come from underlying hormonal issues. This year, I learned that I have PMDD, a severe and often debilitating extension of premenstrual syndrome. DIM didn’t completely clear up my skin, but it did help, and that gave me the confidence and encouragement to keep going. Now in July 2020, I’m still taking DIM, with the plans to wean off by the end of this year. When I’m eating a balanced diet, exercising, and avoiding sugar, my skin does really well. Because of PMDD and my mental health, I’m not always able to do this things. But I will keep trying and continue to update my blog with my skin progress!
* Research articles for further reading:
“3,3′-Diindolylmethane Modulates Estrogen Metabolism in Patients with Thyroid Proliferative Disease: A Pilot Study” - link to article on NCBI (The National Center for Biotechnology Information)
“Chemopreventive properties of 3,3′-diindolylmethane in breast cancer: evidence from experimental and human studies” - link to article on NCBI (The National Center for Biotechnology Information)
