Progesterone Cream

[Mermaid]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has had experience with a specially compounded progesterone cream applied topically.

I have a fantastic compounding pharmacist and he's always trying to educate himself about rosacea which I find admirable. Usually he follows the instructions I give him (2% licorice root etc) but when I went to pick up my last batch, he told me that he had done a little research for me. He had no idea if it would be useful, so I'll throw it out there and see if anyone can shed some light.

He printed me the relevant text so I shall copy from that.

Progesterone may help ease the symptoms of rosacea although no one knows for certain, by what mechanism this is achieved. Progesterone appears to aid repair and hydration of the skin when applied very sparingly even to very sensitive skin as shown in rosacea patients.

To affect maximum absorption and pass the skin barrier, natural progesterone should be carried in an oil/water emulsion that contains the same fatty acid composition as the skin. Do not use Mineral Oil.

There is a wide varitation in dosage available. Topical cream should contain at least 400-600mg of natuaral progesterone per ounce. To get the physiologic dose, women would commonly apply 20mg a day, while men can apply 10mg a day.

I am told that I need to get a prescription from my doctor if I want to try this. Studies have shown that many commonly used topical commercial progesterone formulations contain less than 15mg of progesterone per ounce and some as little as 2mg per ounce hence rendering them completely ineffective in the majority of cases.

Does anyone have an opinion or experience to share? I'm trying to attack my rosacea from as many angles as possible but don't want to create any new problems either.

Thanks for all that respond.

Mermaid

[Kelli]

When I was pregnant, I was put on progesterone suppositories - twice a day. Man I hated those things, but they more than likely saved my baby's life.

So, while I was glad that my baby was viable and healthy (this was after a miscarriage), I was also noticing that the longe I used the progesterone, the worse my face got. I used it for my first trimester, and I looked horrid. I have P&P rosacea, so I broke out horribly!

I don't know if it makes a difference that mine were suppositories, and you're speaking of creams, or if it was something all together different. I jsut know that I was on extremely high doses of the stuff, as well as what my body was trying to produce naturally.

Maybe Dr. Nase can shed some light on this?

[Bihbicat]

This is really interesting. Kelly -- I suspect that the high doses may have had something to do with your reaction. I started on natural progesterone cream (taking it 2 weeks before my period) for the management of PMS, which for me had been pretty bad. It's the only thing that helps so I had already been on it a few years before the rosacea kicked in. I continue to use it for the same reason but I don't know too much about its possible application re: rosacea. Here's one thing that confuses me. When a woman goes through menopause she often experiences hot flushes similar to those we with rosacea get. My understanding is that this is due to the dropping levels of oestrogen. Why then would progesterone be good for rosasea? I'm not saying it isn't -- just wondering how all this works. One thing I know for sure is that hormones and their impact on our health are baffling and hard to figure out. Mermaid -- do you mean that the suggestion by your chemist was to maybe use it on our facial skin? I've always been told to rub it into thin skinned areas such as chest and inner thigh and have never tried it on my face.

[Mermaid]

Hi B,

I'm really lost when it comes to this subject matter and it was my pharmacist who planted the seed. I'm as confused as you are about this one B and the pharmacist couldn't enlighten me either. It may have something to do with the correct estrogen/progesterone levels required by our bodies.

Yes B, my pharmacist said to apply it very sparingly onto the surface of the face unlike the areas you mentioned which are the traditional areas to apply NPC. He mentioned that women in particular noticed a difference in the colour, texture and refinement of the skin in general when used on facial skin.

One to ponder.

Mermaid