About two years ago I switched from oral birth control to an IUD and my skin wasn't happy. Huge cysts were popping up on my chest and back with occasional ones on my jaw line. Typical hormonal acne! Restore and Harmonized Water helped, but didn't clear it entirely. Enter DIM. Diindolymethane is an extract from cruciferous vegetables. Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage are examples in this group of vegetables. The beauty of this ingredient is that it binds with estrogenic toxins and helps us to metabolize estrogen in our bodies. Most estrogenic toxins get stored in fat as they are not water soluble. DIM binds with these toxins and eliminates them through our urine. 

With exposure to a multitude of things like chlorine, plastics, and pesticides that form estrogenic toxins in our bodies, we need a little more help removing them. Both men and women are exposed to these chemicals and though we think of estrogen as only effecting women, men also have estrogen in their bodies. Men use aromatase to convert testosterone to estradiol (a form of estrogen). When there is too much estradiol and not enough testosterone, more aromatase activity can result. DIM will help metabolize some of this estrogen to help balance these levels. It will also help to reduce gynecomastia (enlargement of breast tissue) in men. DIM can be used by both men and women to help with environmental exposure, hormonal acne, mood stability, hair loss, and oily skin. Women can also take DIM for PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, and ovarian cysts. Some research on DIM has also shown DNA repair and anti-cancer benefits. 

Common Questions about DIM: 

Is DIM effective for hormonal acne when the client is currently taking birth control, IUD, etc.? 

Yes, DIM helps to metabolize estrogen into healthier forms (like 2-hydroxy estrogen) promoting normal levels of progesterone. This will help reduce symptoms related to PMS, like acne. 

How do you know when to recommend DIM and when to recommend Skin Perfection? Are they interchangeable? Can you take both at the same time? 

Skin Perfection Harmonized Water reduces purging of toxins while DIM binds toxins before they reach the skin so they are both beneficial to take for hormonal acne and can be taken together. 

Is DIM effective for males with acne? 

If a man is experiencing hormonal acne, blemishes along the jaw line or on the body, then yes, DIM will definitely help to regulate the hormones causing acne.

Does DIM interfere with Birth Control and if so, how? 

Hormonal birth control has either estrogen, progestin, or both. These hormones are used to affect the cycle of the body preventing pregnancy. DIM does not effect this cycle, but instead helps the body to manage the estrogen so it doesn't interfere with the efficacy of hormonal birth control. DIM binds estrogenic toxins and metabolizes estrogen into a healthier form for the body.

How long should you take DIM? Can you take it, then stop taking it, and restart it?

Take DIM as long as you need to keep symptoms at bay. Once that is achieved, you can discontinue. However, if symptoms return, you should continue using the supplement. It is safe to stop and start again with no adjustments to dosage.

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