It's Supplementary, My Dears...

My lovelies, I am not a medical professional, so please consider this post a starting point for your own research, if you're facing any of these problems, and consult with your doctor before beginning any new supplementation regimen.

I'm still too sexy for this face mask.

Some years ago, I bitched about the adult-onset acne that was making me miserable. Sure, I'd suffered with a bit of zit-action as a teen, but nothing compared to what attacked me in my early to mid-40s. (The hormonal hell women endure just never goes away, does it, FFS?) I wrapped up that last post with the hope that trying some new moisturizers and an electronic face brush would prevent more Frankenzits (a trio--or more--of pimples erupting in close proximity to each other, giving the appearance of one massive, heaving mountain of teeming pus), and resolved to keep using some weird pink silt stuff to treat any further spots.

Well. The face brush hurt my face, even after dishing out extra for the super sensitive brush head (I don't know how some of you folks can deal with these whirring implements procured from the dank pit of Pinhead's closet). And the silty-pink-stuff proved ineffective. The zits kept coming, crowding my face and leaving legit acne scarring and hyperpigmentation markings in their wake, the bloody little bastards.

I'd spent so much money on treatments (and a LOT on that device!) and none of it helped. I felt pretty desperate, I have to say. Then it occurred to me that maybe a topical approach wasn't the right one. Was it possible to treat these mfrs from within?

Yes. Yes, it was.

I researched supplements for skin health and, while I was at it, for mood regulation, as PMS--which also hadn't seriously troubled me before--had begun to push me into violent mood swings that the antidepressants I was taking at the time couldn't tame. (Frigging perimenopausal hormones!) From my own research, I settled on trying out some sea buckthorn and fish oil supplements (for skin and mood, respectively) and, from my then-boss (who's a year older than me and was going through similar PMS-y difficulties) learned about evening primrose oil for the PMS. Basically, I was seeking an assist from some of the omega fatty acids (fish oil=omega-3; sea buckthorn=omega-7; evening primrose oil=Gamma linolenic acid, or GLA, which is an omega-6 fatty acid). I betook myself to Amazon and ordered.*

About two months after taking the three different supplements regularly, my break-outs were fewer and farther apart, until I hardly broke out at all. As for the raging PMS--I still have one day a month, either just before my period or on the very first day, on which I am irritable, uncontrollably weepy, and can't seem to concentrate very well at all. I know that doesn't seem great, but it's an amazing improvement over what I'd been experiencing before. And if I do get any new zits (very rarely, now--maybe 2-3 a year, if that many), I apply a really good sulfur-based cream** at bedtime and it's significantly reduced, if not gone, by the following morning. (Er...the cream, containing sulfur, does have an unpleasant odor. But then, I'm not sharing my bed with anyone who might object, so...)

I've been taking these supplements for about six years now and, while they're not cheap, they're effective, and that's what matters to me. I started getting the occasional hot flash in early 2018 and I have a feeling that these three beauties are what's kept them from troubling me regularly. (So far.)

So this is what's been helping me, as I approach The 'Pause. Feel free to share in the comments what's helped you! And, again, please be sure to consult with your own doctor about what kind of supplements, if any, could be beneficial to you before embarking on a supplementation program of your own.

*This is non-sponsored content--I'm not affiliated with the companies or products mentioned in this post.

**It seems the spot treatment pictured above is not currently available as a stand-alone product (which it was when I purchased it), but is included in a kit on the PTR website, if you're interested in checking it out. I like PTR products generally, though I've not tried all the stuff in this kit. Also, PTR can be quite pricey, but the kit isn't too bad (as of today's date).