[Daniel]

@LAK

I’ve also written about acne before. It gives more insight into how acne works, plus it includes some supplement recommendations that might help.

[Daniel]

Your friend’s acne flaring around her period—especially on the chin and jawline—is a classic sign of hormonal acne, often driven by an androgen imbalance (like elevated DHT or testosterone) or progesterone deficiency. Accutane (isotretinoin) is a powerful drug, but it doesn’t address the underlying root causes.

One of the best things you can do to help is simply ask the right questions to uncover potential root causes. Progesterone naturally declines with age, especially in the 10 years leading up to menopause (and yes, she might already be in that phase). This decline can cause a relative estrogen deficiency. Interestingly, high progesterone production (yep—can’t win sometimes!) can also contribute to acne, since progesterone has mild androgenic activity.

How can you recognise hormone imbalances in women?

You could ask if she’s experiencing:

– PMS symptoms (mood swings, breast tenderness, poor sleep, bloating)
– Changes in her menstrual cycle (irregular ovulation or heavy bleeding)
– Low libido
– Male-pattern baldness
– Extra hair growth in unusual places (besides the chin, the abdomen for example)

PCOS

Hormonal acne is also commonly seen in people with PCOS. In addition to female hormone imbalances, she may also be dealing with insulin resistance. High insulin levels can signal the ovaries to produce more testosterone.

Best ways to check if insulin is playing a role:

– Get her fasting insulin tested (my personal favorite), or look at HbA1c combined with fasting glucose.
– Try a low-glycemic or low-carb diet and observe whether her acne improves. This means avoiding flour-based products, refined/processed carbs, sugar, and sugary foods.

Diet & Acne Triggers

We already touched on some foods, but here’s a more complete list of common acne aggravators:

– Dairy products
– Alcohol (interferes with estrogen and androgen clearance, and may spike blood sugar through cortisol release)
– Gluten-containing products

There’s also a handout in the Symptom Dictionary where many of these things are summarised. You can find it here:

https://bbettermembership.com/resource-library/a/acne/

• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by  Daniel.

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[Daniel]

Hey @iryna_klevetenko ,

Sometimes pediatricians could prescribe these supplements as a preventive measure. The best is to ask your pediatrician of course, but here are some reasons why iron and vitamin D could be recommended. When your child

• is exclusively or mostly breastfed beyond 6 months (vitamin D is often recommended in these cases).
• has a diet lacking iron-rich foods.
• drinks too much cow’s milk (Cow’s milk can reduce iron absorption)
• has dark skin or limited sun exposure, which could lead to lower vitamin D levels.
• was born prematurely or had a low birth weight (iron deficiency anemia is more common in preterm babies since they miss the last trimester’s iron transfer from the mother).
• shows symptoms of anemia (pale skin, fatigue, irritability).
• If the mother had low iron levels during the third trimester, the baby could be at a higher risk of anemia at birth.

Perhaps this gives you some insight into why these recommendations are made. These supplements can be stopped depending on your child’s health, growth, and lab results (especially if anemia plays a role).

[Daniel]

Hey @Annie ,

The type of approach depends a bit on what causes discoid eczema. Research shows there is not
one single cause”. Here are some common causes:

• Skin Barrier Dysfunction: Impaired skin barrier makes the skin prone to moisture loss and irritation.
• Allergens / Irritants: Reaction to environmental allergens, soaps, detergents, or perfumes.
• Dry Skin: Dry, cold climates or frequent hot showers strip natural oils and worsen symptoms.
• Infections: Bacterial infections, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, can aggravate the condition.
• Stress: Stress maybe not a cause of discoid eczema, but it can exacerbate eczema due to its impact on immune function.

Focusing on optimizing immune function plays a role in all causes. This is why vitamin D seems to bring relief to discoid eczema. Other nutrients may play a role as well: zinc, vitamin A, and B vitamins (you know the B12 levels?).

Skin also has a protective layer called the “Skin barrier”. This barrier usually contains fat. A diet with good healthy fats can provide not only the nutrients for the skin barrier but help with resolving the inflammation that accompanies discoid eczema. Specific Omega 3s can help resolve inflammation. Sources should contain EPA and DHA. This means plant-based omega 3s won’t help however, marine-based omega 3s (like in fish oil or krill oil) can.

The gallbladder and liver play an important role in fat digestion. If they don’t work well, this too can lead to a dry skin. A liver function test done by your doctor could provide insight. Ruling out gallbladder issues as well of course. I’m going to assume your daughter is still a kid and therefore these issues are less likely.

Iron deficiency can play a role as well. With iron deficiency a broken skin barrier is more likely. Measuring serum hemoglobin, iron AND ferritin can give you a clue as to if your daughter is Iron deficient.

Keep the skincare basic. Washing it too much or using soaps containing irritants can cause harm. The skin barrier can be “washed away”.

Natural antibiotics could help if an infection is at play. With discoid eczema, there isn’t much research to back it up, but it is worth a try. Honey and Aloe Vera gel are easily applied to the skin and have antimicrobial properties. Some fats (like coconut oil) have anti-microbial properties as well, however they could clog the pores leading to different skin problems.

In summary:

– Support the immune system with nutrients (Vit D, Vit A, zinc, bioavalable B vitamins containing methylcobalamine and methyl-folate)

– Help the body resolve inflammation with Omega 3 sources

– Check lab values that asses iron status (and liver and gallbladder wellbeing)

– Keep your soaps “clean”, don’t wash to often and to hot.

– Use natural anti-microbials that can be applied to the skin.

To the other questions I’m missing a bit of context. Perhaps you could message me the link to the earlier question you’ve asked?

I hope this answer helps!

[Daniel]

Hey @dxb,

Functional Adaptation
Elevations in HDL and LDL are often a sign of “something”. Small elevations might simply be a functional adaptation to lifestyle choices.

For example: a diet heavy in animal proteins and (healthy) fats can cause LDL and HDL to rise. Animal proteins in nature are almost always accompanied by fats. When we eat more animal proteins, we eat often without realising more fats. What does this have to do with HDL and LDL?

HDL and LDL are Lipoproteins and they play a crucial role in the transport of lipids (fats) throughout the body. When we eat more fats, we need more transport vehicles. Although this is a functional adaptation, really high LDL values are still a concern and it’s better to lower the cholesterol values into the ideal range.

Underlying conditions:
Since LDL is borderline high and HDL is high I would dive deeper into other causes. HDL can act as an anti-oxidant in case there is some oxidative stress present in the body. Finding what causes oxidative stress can be related to other underlying conditions.

For example: conditions like hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, kidney problems or liver issues can raise LDL. Are there other symptoms you are currently experiencing? If so, let us know.

You can find Signs & symptoms of hypothyroidism & blood sugar imbalances in other courses. I’ve linked them below:

– Signs & Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

– Signs & Symptoms of Blood sugar imbalances (use this link: https://bbettermembership.com/courses/blood-sugar-regulation/lessons/the-phases-of-dysfunction-phase-1-2-signs-symptoms/)

Signs & symptoms of kidney issues can vary like changes in urination, swelling (edema), fatigue, high blood pressure, nausea, and shortness of breath due to impaired waste removal and fluid balance.

You can recognize liver problems by the following symptoms: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, and pale stools.

Female sex hormones:

Another player that could influence cholesterol production is relatively high estrogen compared to progesterone. This happens in certain stages of female life naturally. In the 10 years of menopause progesterone slowly declines leaving relatively high estrogen levels in females. This can also cause LDL cholesterol to rise.

Conclusion
Many things could contribute to elevations in LDL and HDL. Dietary choices like a high-fat diet high in calories, and a diet high in sugars and/or processed foods often can raise LDL cholesterol. Blood sugar imbalances and hypothyroidism are the most common health conditions that could elevate LDL.

I didn’t mention stress yet, but yes… stress can play a big role as well

I know this answer might raise a lot of new questions. Feel free to ask!

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[Daniel]

Hey @Annie

There are protein powders you could use. I like the protein powders from Designs for Health. You can find their products also on Fullscript (just click here!)where you can order them with a discount. I often use them when I’m doing a detox program. I like the way they saturate me as well.

Although flavour is very personal, I like the vanilla and chocolate options. If compliance is a problem, flavour often becomes an important factor. Vanilla is easy because you can change the taste more easily. You could for example make a protein smoothie with banana, blueberries and coconut water to make the taste more palatable.

Is there any specific reason why your son has trouble with getting more protein? Perhaps knowing what his problem is will help us give better advice.

[Daniel]

Hey @iryna_klevetenko ,

In the symptom dictionary, you can find a list of recommendations. Just click here.

Gout is caused by elevations of uric acid in the blood that form urate crystals in the joint(s). Uric acid levels can rise for various reasons. A diet high in purines could for example be the cause (see symptom dictionary for examples of foods). Alcoholic beverages are also a source of purines. Some alcohol (beer for example) is worse because, on top of the alcohol, the beverage itself can be a direct source of purines.

Sugary foods are a source of fructose and fructose, just like alcohol can cause uric acid to elevate.

Vitamin C can protect the body from the effects of high uric acid levels in the body. Vitamin C from foods would be best, but a supplement can help you as well. Available research shows that 500 milligrams of vitamin C per day may be beneficial for the prevention of gout.

Since gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis an anti-inflammatory lifestyle will help:

• Remove processed carbohydrates (like white flour, and sugary foods) and processed foods (like processed meats)
• Prioritize sleep and avoid stress
• Add in anti-inflammatory foods like olive oil, certain berries, fruit, vegetables, and spices. Be careful with fish though since fish can be a source of purines
• Consider anti-inflammatory supplements like curcumin and purified, molecularly distilled fish oil

I hope this answer helps!

Daniel

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[Daniel]

Hey @LAK ,

Many factors could play into the advice your friend has been given, so it’s hard to reply to that part. I can however clarify the relationship between the MTHFR mutation – or SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism).

Elevations in homocysteine are considered as a risk factor for clotting. Homocysteine is normally broken down to Methionine and can be measured by doctors. Common causes for elevated homocysteine are a deficiency in vitamin B12 and/or folate. Other vitamins play a part as well. For example, vitamins B6 and B2 play a role as well.

People with the MTHFR mutation have an extra challenge: they can’t convert folate as effectively into the bioactive form methyl-folate. This could cause a deficiency in methyl-folate causing homocysteine to rise. But not necessarily! A lot of people with the MTHFR mutation have balanced levels of homocysteine. Nutrition and lifestyle play a part as well.

As to the second part of your question, I’m not sure what toxic gas the FP was referring to. Perhaps you could provide us with more details on this topic so we might be able to help you better!

[Daniel]

Hey @healthyliving99

First of all, exciting news! Congratulations!

Since your pregnant you have to share your nutrients with your new family member. It is quite normal for ferritin (the storage form of iron) to drop during the third trimester in regular pregnancies. For a good interpertation of lab values it’s important to know the reference ranges provided by the lab that examined your blood.

That we don’t have them, doesn’t mean we can’t give you some answers, but if you like to have a deeper dive on what is happens with these lab values during pregnancy you can look in table 2 of this research paper.

Since you are sharing your iron, it is common for pregnant women to see a drop in hemoglobin, iron and ferritin. If you’re already experiencing anemia in the beginning of the pregnancy it is important to get your iron markers up and have good quality en quantity of red blood cells. It are the red blood cells that transport oxygen and make metabolism possible.

Choosing to work with injecting iron is the fastest way to get iron up. Maybe you are worried about the fact that your Hb remained the same in the third trimester, but it is quite common for Hb, iron and feritin to drop in the third trimester. Your Hb remaining the same is actually good news. You’ve even managed to get your ferritin up.

I do challenge you to dive a little deeper into investigating why your iron was low in the first place?

• Was iron in your food? (for example: are you on a plant based diet?)
• Is iron being well absorbed?
  • We need strong stomach acid production and enzymes to cut out the iron from foods. These enzymes in the stomach need vitamin C to do their job
  • A lingering simmering infection can cause the body to choose to sequester iron away from the bloodstream since bacteria and viruses both need iron to reproduce
• Was your copper measured (this is usually not examined in traditional medicine)? Copper deficiency can mimic iron deficiency.
• Do you have heavy blood loss during your cycle and did you start with low(-ish) iron before pregnancy?

If you would like to learn more about what could cause iron deficiency, check out this video as well.
Another thing to consider is the form of iron in your supplements. We have a video explaining what to look for in your supplements. Bernadette explains it well in this video

The change in numbers is quite good considering the pregnancy and considering you were dealing with an iron deficiency. Symptoms however are leading: we aren’t treating numbers, but symptoms. If you feel better, you’re on the right track!

I hope this answers your questions!

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Page not available - PMC

[Daniel]

Hey @Inga-55

I like the products of Thorne since they are third-party tested and don’t use binders and fillers in their supplements. This prenatal vitamin is from them. Best would be to consume this multivitamin with food.

Ginger can help with nauseau in some pregnant women. Unfortunatelly not with everyone. You should at least have consumed it a few days in a row before the best effects though. Did your daughter tried that?

Other things she could try are aromatherapies with essential oils. Some women experience relief with essential oils like mint, lemon or orange. Vitamin B6 can also help. The multivitamin of Thorne contains a small amount and could be helpfull there as well.

If these things don’t help, studies have showed that acupressure and acupuncture can bring relief as well.

I hope she finds some relief soon!

us.fullscript.com

Fullscript

Fullscript

[Daniel]

Hey @Inga-55

Good question! Although it’s hard to evaluate every ingredient on the labels, I will help you understand some of them so you can make more educated choices! When choosing a good product I like to answer these two questions as well as possible:

1. Are there ingredients on the list that we know of that are harmful?

2. How well are the ingredients on the list chosen to fulfil the main goal of the product?

Body Wash (Brand Essentials, Pro Silk Body and Personal Care)
It’s a good start that this product doesn’t contain parabens or dyes. However, with question 1 in mind, some ingredients do pop out. The ingredient “fragrance” is not specified and can still contain ingredients that don’t serve your health as well. Methyl(chloro)isothiazolinone has been related to health problems like allergies, skin irritations and long irritations when inhaled. The Canadian government has even forbidden the use of this compound in cosmetic products and allows a very very tiny bit in rins-off products.

The main ingredient is Sodium Laureth Sulfate which is often used in shampoo and soaps because it dissolves fats. Unfortunately, because the skin barrier (which helps protect the skin) is fatty, this compound will also break down this skin layer. On top of that, this compound can cause irritated skin in some people.

Moisturizing Lotion (B Pure)
Ethylexyl palmitate is the main ingredient of this lotion. Although this lotion’s goal is to moisturize, the main ingredient is listed as a skin irritant on the website of the Environmental Working Group (If you like to, you can search for ingredients yourself on their website. Just navigate to: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/)

Hyaluronic Acid
Here we see the same ingredient coming back: Ethylexyl palmitate

Facial Serum
One of the top ingredients here is propylene glycol. We know you shouldn’t consume this compound because we expect it to be toxic to the organ system. Propylene glycol does however enhance skin absorption which means the skin gets more “open” so that other compounds can enter the body more easily, including propylene glycol itself. Therefore it wouldn’t be something I personally like in my skin care products.

If you like to explore safer options, we do have a handout that dives deeper in how to avoid toxins. Just click here!

ewg.org

Just a moment...

Just a moment...

[Daniel]

Hey @Annie
Like Bernadette mentioned: in some cases, some people don’t respond well to a certain supplement. We are all unique and sometimes what works for many people simply causes problems in another.

That being said…

Not all interactions between medications and supplements are well described. If he is taking this supplement together with his medications, he could try to take this supplement away from his medication and see if this resolves the problem!

[Daniel]

Hey @Annie ,

Could you tell us what kind of discomforts we are talking about? This will help us to determine what could be the problem. Other things that will help provide us with insight are:

– How fast after taking his supplement he experiences the discomfort

– What symptoms/disease is he trying to recover from? (If you wrote about this on another topic, a reference to this post will be enough. Since I’m still exploring the new functions of the new platform myself I’m not sure if I have missed this post)

– What other supplements/medications is he currently taking? This includes PPIs and other over-the-counter medications.

– How does his current diet look like?

Let us know and we can help you with a more detailed answer!

[Daniel]

Hey

Garlic contains a compound called alliin, which transforms into allicin when you crush the garlic (or chew it) under the influence of an enzyme. Allicin is a sulfur-containing molecule with many beneficial properties (think detoxification, it’s antimicrobial, helps lower cholesterol, and it’s been studied for other health benefits as well). Unfortunately, allicin can cause the typical ‘garlic breath’. In bigger dosages, it can be transported through the bloodstream and leave through the lungs and skin.

• With garlic breath, when allicin is not transported through the lungs, you can remove the breath by eating/chewing on parsley.
• Stainless steel can remove garlic smell from hands

Unfortunately I don’t know any trick (besides reducing the amount) that will help reduce skin odor. Mixing it with food might be something you could try, but this is based on personal experience, not on scientific research.

Good tips that help preserve fresh garlic is freezing:

• You can store the unpeeled whole cloves in the freezer
• Peel your cloves and then blend them in a food processor or blender with an oil. Because the oil won’t freeze completely, you can easily scrape some pureed garlic
  off for use in cooking.

Is there a special reason why you’re eating 1-2 fresh garlic gloves?

[Daniel]

@Annie Sye,

It would be easier to check if some symptoms he presents remind you of this condition. Symptoms usually present early in life (at the age before 10) or a little later in atypical cases. Symptoms you’re looking for are involuntary muscle movements, speech difficulties, trouble with walking, some people develop vision loss or personality changes. It’s very rare, but since the OAT test showed elevated vitamin B5 and there is evidence that schizophrenia is linked to neurodegeneration I felt like mentioning it.

A high intake of supplements can also cause the elevation of vitamin B5. But if he didn’t take a B5 supplement recently it’s hard to tell if this will show up on the test. I don’t know how long ago this was and how long he took the dose. Vitamin B5 leaves the body quickly, but I have no experience with these dosages. It is however a more common reason for higher levels of B5 in the body.

Vitamin B6 supplement
I often recommend my clients to use B vitamins in a B complex formula. The exception would be vitamin B12. Basic B from Thorne is a product I like. I usually recommend half a capsule per day to start with and see how people feel about that.

I hope this information helps you!