Want to Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally? Things to Try Before Birth Control

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Acne, Balancing Your Hormones, Post-Birth Control Acne Leave a Comment

If you make an appointment to see your doctor about hormonal acne, chances are you’ll leave with a prescription for birth control. Hormonal birth control is a go-to for hormonal acne, but the truth is that it comes with its own set of side effects and it doesn’t always work.. I often get requests from patients, readers and social media …

Gut Health and Your Menstrual Cycle: What Women Need to Know

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Digestion, Leaky Gut, Menstrual Cycle Leave a Comment

Your microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in your body, mostly in your large intestine and skin. These guests (and their genes) play a huge role all throughout the body, including digestion, immunity, and even your mood. Your gut microbiome takes cues from your hormones and can even influence your menstrual cycles. What Does Your …

Keto for Women: The Risks, Benefits, and How It Impacts Hormones

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Balancing Your Hormones, Food, Perimenopause/ Menopause, Thyroid, What to Eat Leave a Comment

Questions about the keto diet fill my inbox and DMs daily, so it’s time to get the facts straight. The ketogenic (keto) diet is a high-fat, very-low-carb diet that shifts the body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where the body uses fat instead of carbs for energy. If you follow the research, the health benefits of keto are pretty …

How to Address Hormonal Acne With Changes to Your Diet

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Acne, Sex Hormones Leave a Comment

Many women deal with hormonal acne caused by changes in the body’s hormonal balance. While common, I know it can be incredibly frustrating and impact your self-esteem and confidence. There are many treatments for acne, but I’ve found that a few diet changes can significantly improve symptoms. The food we eat directly impacts our hormones, including those that trigger acne. …

Toxic Shock Syndrome: What You Need to Know

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Menstrual Cycle Leave a Comment

If you were taught never to leave your tampon in for too long, it’s because of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Toxic shock is a bacterial infection that can be life-threatening. It’s linked to period products, although it can happen for other reasons too. Even though it’s rare, understanding why TSS happens is important, and I think more education is needed. …

What Is a Menstrual Cup and How to Use One

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Menstrual Cycle, Period Leave a Comment

At first glance, menstrual cups may seem daunting. While this period product still falls behind tampons and pads in popularity, many people are starting to see the benefits of switching to a menstrual cup.  Menstrual cups can be worn longer than either tampons or pads, and can be reused for up to 10 years, making them a convenient, cost effective, …

The Effects of Addison’s Disease on Your Period

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Autoimmune Disease, Menstrual Cycle, Period Leave a Comment

Addison’s disease is a rare autoimmune condition that causes damage to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands play a critical role in hormones like cortisol and aldosterone necessary for everyday functions.  Addison’s is also called adrenal insufficiency or adrenal failure, but it’s important not to confuse this diagnosis with HPA axis dysregulation, or what some people call adrenal fatigue. HPA …

Period Flu – What You Need to Know

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Period Leave a Comment

Everyone has heard of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), the constellation of physical and mental symptoms that happens when you are about to get your period. But have you ever heard of period flu?  While not technically a medical term and less well-understood than PMS, period flu is real to many women. As the name indicates, period flu symptoms mimic the real …