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If you’re curious about improving your acne and skin tone, then you’ve probably searched the Internet millions of times for tips and tricks to improve your condition. Well, you are not alone.
Chances are, you’ve come across many different ingredients that seem strange at first and so unrelated to acne. And you’ve probably wondered: How could this ever have any effect on my acne?
But after researching a while (and improving your knowledge on various subjects), you’ve decided to try it out for yourself and see how it goes. This compound called diinodolymethane (DIM for short) is a prime example of that. But what is it really?
For starters, we must explain what DIM is exactly. Basically, it’s a compound found in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, kale, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli. Scientists also claim that these vegetables help protect the body from breast, colorectal and uterine cancer.
This particular substance contains a myriad of benefits both for the skin and overall health, and it plays a significant role in regulating estrogen levels.
You can either take DIM supplements or eat more DIM-rich food, depending on what your goal is. DIM has become very famous as an acne-fighting compound within the online acne community, especially for women who have higher levels of estrogen.
Let’s see how it affects acne and what its other main benefits are.
So, how should you use DIM for acne?
DIM can treat both the causes and the symptoms of acne. It’s especially beneficial for those who suffer from hormonal acne, due to puberty or menopause.
Androgens are the hormones often referred to as male hormones, the imbalance of which can lead to an increased sebum production, which, in turn, can lead to more acne. Even though they’re called male hormones, women also have them. Since DIM has antiandrogen benefits, it works as a great acne treatment. It also prevents bad estrogen pathways to form and provides a balanced level of estrogen and testosterone.
Another benefit of this component is the fact that it can inhibit the production of mTORC, which can cause hormonal acne.
While we’re on the subject of hormonal acne, it’s important to distinguish this specific type of acne from the rest in order to make your diagnosis easier. Hormonal acne typically appears around the same time each month, a week before you get your period or during. They’re usually located around the jaw, chin, and cheeks. And, most importantly, they aren’t your typical pimples that happen every now and then, but they’re usually painful, deep and cystic.
Sounds familiar? Then you might be experiencing hormonal acne and you could potentially benefit from DIM supplements.
DIM is declared a substance that’s likely safe for children, pregnant women, and women who are breastfeeding, when consumed in small amounts.
When it comes to adult acne, research has shown that it can have a positive effect on both men and women.
These work as a natural estrogen blocker, which makes it appropriate for those that are looking for higher dosages on a daily basis.
In addition, due to its extra strength formula, it also contains Vitamin E and BioPerine which enhance its bioavailability, making it easier for them to be absorbed properly in the body.
They’re vegan and vegetarian-friendly, as well as gluten and GMO-free.
This DIM supplement contains 300 mg of DIM per capsule. What’s more, it has a couple of other ingredients, like black pepper and BioPerine which increase its bioavailability and lead to better absorption.
These capsules are appropriate for vegetarians.
Probably one of the best supplements out there, Smoky Mountain’s DIM all-natural estrogen-free version will keep your hormones at bay while also helping your body absorb all the goodness DIM has to offer, thanks to the other added ingredients like BioPerine and vitamin E.
It’s vegan-friendly, soy and GMO-free and it’s appropriate for both men and women. The supply will typically last you for two months. The only problem with this supplement is that some customers have complained from headaches, bloating and gas, probably due to the veggies it’s derived from.
This particular supplement is unique because although its dosage is low, its DIM quality and purity are off the charts. It’s primarily aimed at women who’re going through menopause.
One capsule contains 100 mg of DIM.
Note: this product isn’t vegetarian or vegan since the capsules contain gelatin.
It’s targeted to those to want a supplement that has a lower, but highly pure dosage.
One thing consumers mind about these capsules is their smell. Supposedly, the smell and taste of these are pretty nasty, so you might want to reach for a glass of juice instead of water to swallow them down.
this kind is best for people who want pure DIM and nothing else added to the ingredient list. It contains 100 mg per capsule, without any added ingredients.
Its downside is that because the capsule is made from gelatin, it’s not appropriate for vegans or vegetarians.
Zhou DIM Active supplements contain 250 mg of DIM, which makes it a great option for those who want something with more potency. On top of DIM, it also contains broccoli seed extract, vitamin E and vitamin, which provide additional nutritional benefits.
Opt for this kind if you want more vitamins and better absorption of DIM. If you want something that contains pure DIM, however, then this might not be the best option for you, so go with some of the ones mentioned above.
One of the most popular supplements, Olympian Labs helps not only with skin and bone health but also with weight loss. One capsule contains 150mg DIM and other additional ingredients like rice flour, plant fiber, ascorbyl palmitate, and silicon diozoxide.
The capsules are vegetarian-friendly and have a pleasant taste of citrus.
Important note: since there’s a possibility of a cross-reaction, tell your doctor about all the medication or supplements you’re taking if you want to try this one out. In addition, some customers have complained about an increase in headaches as a result of taking them.
Another very popular supplement, DeFormula’s DIM has 100 mg of DIM per capsule. Since this dosage can be a little on the low side for some conditions, you’ll likely have to take more than one capsule a day.
In addition to the DIM, it also has BioPerine which helps the body absorb the supplement better.
This option is amazing for women! The supplement works by processing estrogen, which makes it ideal for women who want to use it in order to keep their premenstrual cycle at check as well as their skin.
One downside is that the dosage that’s in the capsule is particularly low, and unless you want to treat it for the reasons mentioned above, then you’ll be better off finding one that’s higher in DIM.
Other than pure DIM, it also has some veggie isolates from sources like cabbage, broccoli, and spinach.
One capsule of Solaray DIM Supreme contains 100 mg of DIM, which is slightly on the lower side. However, it contains other ingredients that can aid the absorption like broccoli seed extract and bioflavonoids.
This particular supplement is targeted towards women and its specific formulation helps to improve the function of estrogen in the body, as well as supporting breast health. It’s an amazing option for women who want to level out their estrogen levels as well as support their breast health.
Other than DIM, the formula contains lecithin derived from soybeans, vitamin E and BioPerine in order to maximize its absorption powers.
Not only does it have an alluring name, but this brand is also made with 100% natural ingredients. It balances out your hormone levels and helps with menopause.
In addition to DIM, this particular formula also contains BioPerine, so you get a better absorption as a result.
It’s vegan-friendly, GMO and gluten free.
The dosage of DIM depends on several different factors like your age, your medical history, and general health.
Unfortunately, there’s still not enough research to suggest a universal dosage.
When it comes to DIM-rich food, generally there’s no harm in eating a large number of veggies, but this too can be overdone. So keep it in a moderate range and make sure not to eat a lot in one sitting.
When it comes to taking supplements, make sure to follow the instructions on the label and closely follow the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Generally speaking, DIM supplements shouldn’t be taken on an empty stomach, since it will likely cause headaches and other symptoms that can easily be avoided by taking them on a full stomach.
A lot of people see results after the first doses, which is great for those who are impatient. Others might have to switch the dosage if they don’t notice any significant improvements over a longer period of time.
Consistency is crucial, so you should make taking supplements a habit - or start incorporating more veggies that contain this substance in your diet. Once you start doing this on a regular basis, the results will come on their own.
Many people give up on this treatment for this reason. They either forget to take it regularly or are too eager to see results so they give up on it.
Other than using DIM for acne, there other benefits that can come along with it. As more research is done on this topic, the list of benefits of this particular compound seems to only be increasing. Not only can it work as an excellent acne treatment, but DIM can also repair and aid many other processes in the body, such as:
DIM is considered harmless when consumed from food at around 100-200 mg per day. Even though DIM supplements are generally safe for consumption, high levels of diindolymethane or an improper dosage may lead to the following symptoms:
These symptoms can be taken as general symptoms for any detox. They are mostly harmless and short-lived. Since DIM acts as a natural detoxifier, they’re an important step in the whole process. So if you experience any of these symptoms you should talk to your doctor, but also have a little faith in the whole process.
Everybody could benefit from adding more veggies to their diet. Because there are many people who testify for the many benefits that come with increased consumption of DIM, I’d say it’s totally worth the try.
You can start slow by incorporating more DIM-rich food like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale in your diet. Be patient because those results won’t come overnight!
If you start seeing an improvement in your skin, you can consult your dermatologist about potentially including DIM for acne, as a part of your treatment.
However, be careful with the brand and type of DIM supplements you try, since not all of them have the same dosage and effect on your body.
Hormonal acne can be really nasty and painful. It may seem like it will never go away and like nothing could improve it. So giving diindolymethane a shot should be a no-brainer!
This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances, and its goal is to offer a general view of the subject. In case you are suffering from a severe case of acne, you should consult with a dermatologist or a certified medical professional.
