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Hormonal imbalances…an underlying cause of your hair & skin woes

By FoRM Health | June 17, 2020

Your skin and hair are trying to tell you something about your hormones!

Paying attention to changes and/or chronic symptoms affecting the health and appearance of your skin and hair can give you insight into the health of your hormones.

Here’s an introductory guideline to better understand what’s going on beneath the surface.

  1. Cystic acne around the jawline- painful, deep pimples affecting the lower half of the face, jaw, & neck typically indicates an excess of our androgen hormones: testosterone and/or DHEA. Other symptoms may include shedding or thinning hair. This acne affects men and women, especially women with PCOS.
  2. Acne & congested skin around the mouth- again this symptoms could mean an excess of androgenic hormones and/or excess estrogen or too low of progesterone. This type of acne, tends to be cyclical, often flaring 1-2 weeks before a women’s period.
  3. Acne along the sides of the face/ around eyebrows- this indicates a sluggish liver, which is struggling to properly detoxify hormones, leading to excess circulating hormones, congested pores and propensity towards breakouts around the sides of the face and brows.
  4. Thinning frontal hairline and eyebrows- thinning hair could be mean many things; but with regards to hormones, it could indicate low thyroid function. We especially suspect this if someone is also struggling with fatigue, excess weight, depression, constipation, and dry skin.
  5. Oily skin, enlarged pores, and breakouts of your mid-face- overactive adrenals, the glands which regulate cortisol, our primary stress hormone, can manifest as skin problems around the mid-face and cheeks. High stress = excess cortisol => oily skin and clogged, enlarged pores.
  6. Hyperpigmentation- patches of darker, brownish pigmentation, especially above the upper lip and often affecting the forehead, can indicate an excess of estrogen. This is a common manifestation for women on the birth control pill and/or women going through peri-menopause.
  7. Fine lines & wrinkles- a decrease in moisture and general thinning of the epidermis (top layer of skin), lead to the formation of fine lines, creases, wrinkles, and overall unfavorable changes in skin texture and an aging complexion. This often suggests too low of sex hormones, estrogen & progesterone, which decline during menopausal transition. Chronic stress and hormonal birth control can also cause impede sex hormone production, leading to prematurely aging skin.

If you struggle with any of these symptoms, get your hormones checked out! Addressing hormonal imbalances can help stop the underlying cause of many of these problems. But we can also address the issues on the surface. FoRM Health offers many skincare options and natural aesthetic procedures which can get your skin and hair back on track. For best results, I (Dr. Kai), recommend addressing surface and underlying cause concurrently.

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Feeling run down, vulnerable to every bug going ar Feeling run down, vulnerable to every bug going around, or just wanting a proactive boost?

💉 Our IV Wellness Boosts deliver targeted nutrients to boost your immune system — fast.

Think:
⚡ Vitamin C
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✔️ Post-illness recovery
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Allergies are the WORST. 🤧 But there are a few Allergies are the WORST. 🤧 But there are a few simple solutions to help your sinuses feel way better. We love using NeilMed Sinus Rinse at FoRM! Couldn’t be easier to use. If you need whole body allergy season care — come see us. We’ll take care of your immune system, clear your sinuses, & get you feeling ready to play outside! 

📍Portland Based | Functionally Focused
📞Call us at 503-232-5356 for more info 
🔗Schedule with link in bio
What if your immune system wasn’t “weak”… What if your immune system wasn’t “weak”… but confused?🤔 

Autoimmune conditions happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own tissues.

Instead of just fighting off a foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria, it sees you as the threat.

Common root triggers include:

🚨 Gut imbalances (leaky gut, SIBO)
🌫️ Environmental toxins (like mold)
🍽️ Inflammatory foods
😫 Chronic stress & hormone imbalance

The good news? You can help mellow out an overactive immune system by addressing the underlying immune offenders listed above. It’s not a process that happens over night but takes time, with a step-by-step approach.

A food place to start? With nutrition and functional foods! 🥦

👩‍⚕️ Learn how to support your immune health naturally in our latest blog:

👉 Eat Your Way to a Healthy Immune System (link to blog in our bio)

📍Portland-based, functionally focused. Let’s heal at the root.

#FormHealthPDX #AutoimmuneSupport #RootCauseMedicine #ImmuneHealth #AntiInflammatoryDiet #FunctionalMedicine #PortlandWellness #feelbetter #formhealth #sellwoodmoreland #naturopathicdoctor #naaturopathicmedicine #ivtherapy
Exposing offenders that may be hijacking your immu Exposing offenders that may be hijacking your immune system 🦠

You’re doing “everything right,” but you still feels off and your dealing with chronic symptoms…

👀 Brain fog
😴 Low energy
🤪Worsening hormonal symptoms
🤧 Allergies or weird sensitivities
💥Joint pain
💢 Autoimmune flares

⚠️ It could be more than stress or seasonal changes.

At FoRM, we often see these chronic immune offenders at the root of chronic, recurring symptoms:

🦠 Chronic infections (like Epstein-Barr, Lyme, or C*vid)
🌫️ Mold exposure – especially from homes or workplaces
🦠 Gut imbalance – which can weaken your frontline defenses

These aren’t always obvious — and they’re often missed by conventional testing. But they can quietly keep your immune system stuck in fight mode.

Read the latest blog (link in bio) to learn more about chronic fatigue and a possible underlying cause: Chronic infections

🔍 At FoRM Health, we help you uncover hidden triggers and restore function of our vital systems!

📞 Book a new naturopathic medicine visit today — feel better, sooner!

#FormHealthPDX #ImmuneHealth #ChronicIllness #MoldToxicity #moldillness #chronicinfection # #RootCauseHealing #FunctionalMedicine #PortlandWellness #feelbetter
LOW HISTAMINE RECIPE: Chicken Mango Cabbage Wrap 🥬🥭🍗
- access full recipe using link in bio!

🤔 Ever feel like you have mysterious symptoms such as headaches 🤕, random reactions to food🤢, fatigue 😴 or sudden anxiety 😰? 
You might be dealing with a histamine overload problem, which occurs when your body makes too much and/or can’t break down histamine fast enough. 

Too much histamine can trigger reactions all over the body, often affecting your skin, heart, brain, circulation, gut and more!

Common signs to watch for include:
* 🤕 Headaches or migraines
* 🤢 Digestive issues (bloating, gas, diarrhea)
* 🤧 Itchy skin, rashes
* 😴 Fatigue or brain fog
* 😰 Anxiety or mood swings

Since these symptoms overlap with manage other conditions, it’s easy to assume it’s “just an allergy” or something else. 

That’s where FoRM Health can help! 

Our naturopathic doctors and functional nutritionist can help recognize a histamine overload picture and recommend a low histamine diet, along with additional functional labs and helpful therapies.

Don’t suffer in silence. 💜 FoRM Health is here to help you identify and manage histamine intolerance with a plan just for YOU!

#HistamineIntolerance #Allergies #GutHealth #Wellness #FunctionalMedicine #FoRMHealth #HealthTips #feelbetter #lowhistaminediet #functionalnutrition
It’s that time of year again 😣 🤧 Seasonal It’s that time of year again 😣

🤧 Seasonal allergies aren’t just annoying — they’re a sign your immune system is easily triggered.

When you come into contact with allergens like pollen or pet dander, your body releases histamine — a natural chemical that kicks off an inflammatory reaction:

🔁 Sneezing
🔁 Congestion
🔁 Itchy eyes
🔁 Fatigue
🔁 Brain fog

For some, that histamine response is dialed way too high — and it can be made worse when:

✔️ Your gut is out of balance
✔️ Your liver detox pathways are slow
✔️ Hormones are out of whack and stress high

💡Here at FoRM Health, we go beyond allergy meds. 
We dig deeper to understand why your body is reacting — and how to calm the chaos long-term.

📍 Portland’s premier integrative & functional medicine clinic
📞 Book online or call us to start your personalized plan

#FormHealthPDX #Allergies #HistamineHealth #FunctionalMedicine #SpringAllergies #formhealth #PortlandWellness #RootCauseHealing #feelbetter
✨ QUIZ TIME! ✨ What can Platelet-Rich Therapi ✨ QUIZ TIME! ✨

What can Platelet-Rich Therapies (PRP & PRF) be used for…?

A) Smoother + healthier skin ✨
B) Hair regrowth + stronger strands 💇‍♀️
C) Faster recovery from injuries 
D) Joint & Pelvic Floor Pain Relief💪
F) All of the Above
What’s your guess? Drop it in the comments! 👇

Platelet-Rich therapies are one of the most powerful regenerative treatments out there, harnessing your body’s own healing factors to restore, rejuvenate, and repair—naturally!

📍 Interested in Regenerative Medicine for Pain relief + Aesthetics?
Book a consultation at Form Health today! Visit the link in bio for more info.

#PRPtherapy #FormHealth #PRF #PRPhairrestoration #PRFhairrestoration #PRPforHealing #NaturalRejuvenation #PortlandAesthetics #sportsmedicine #RegenerativeMedicine #LookBetterFeelBetter #TopForm
GloW Up: 💡 Did you know we can make you glow??? GloW Up:
💡 Did you know we can make you glow???
If you want brighter, firmer, more even-toned skin, this is the ultimate glow-boosting package. Perfect for events, self-care, or just feeling like your best self!

🌟 What’s included?
✔ Custom Facial – Smooth, Hydrate + Tone your skin with this advance aesthetic facial made just for you!
✔ LED Light Therapy – Improve skin barrier health, stimulate cellular renewal + GLoW!
✔ Bonus Discounts on Skincare + Botox® – Maximize your glow with clinical skincare routine + optional anti-wrinkle treatment

Get camera-ready skin that’s dewy, smooth, and fresh—no filters needed.
📲 Ready to glow? Book today using link in bio!

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📣 Tuesday Testimonial 📣 Our certified advan 📣 Tuesday Testimonial 📣

Our certified advance aesthetician — O’Brien Kersten — will make you feel seen + heard while providing excellent care for your skin health! With a wonderful intersection of customized facials & craniosacral — you’ll instantly look AND feel better. 🧖‍♀️ ✨
Repost from @constant_balance_acupuncture • In T Repost from @constant_balance_acupuncture
•
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your skin’s health is deeply connected to the health of your Lungs and Liver : 

💨 The Lungs rule the skin
In TCM, your lungs control the skin and pores. If they’re weak or dry, you might see dryness, dullness, or eczema flare-ups.
👉 Nourish your lungs with:
• White foods like pears, almonds, radish
• Hydrating herbs like lily bulb and tremella mushroom
• Deep breathing + fresh air (ditch the screens, take a walk!)

🌿 The Liver controls the flow of Qi and blood
A stagnant liver can lead to breakouts, redness, hormonal acne, and a tired-looking complexion.
👉 Support your liver with:
• Leafy greens (dandelion, spinach, chrysanthemum)
• Sour foods like lemon or hawthorn
• Stress relief! Try journaling, movement, or acupuncture

💧 Bonus tip: Drink warm water with goji berries + chrysanthemum to hydrate the skin, soothe the liver, and clear heat.

#skinrejuvenation #tcmskincare #holisticskincare
#facialrejuvenation #lookbetterfeelbetter #lookbetter #formhealth
✨ New to Aesthetics at FoRM? Start Here….✨ ✨ New to Aesthetics at FoRM? Start Here….✨

Here’s a sneak peek into the Custom Combo experience at FoRM! 

The Custom Combo is a fan favorite for its versatility + value — it combines 4-5 advanced aesthetic techniques, which would individually cost $150/treatment, for $225. Not to mention the relaxation factor with the bonus addition of craniosacral therapy. 

This comprehensive session begins with a detailed skin assessment, followed by a tailored blend of aesthetic therapies designed to address your unique skin goals and adapt to seasonal changes.

Whether you’re aiming to rejuvenate, hydrate, or refresh, the Custom Combo offers a curated experience to meet your needs. 

It’s also the cornerstone of our Look Better Memberships, providing consistent, customized care for lasting transformation.

Ready to embark on your skincare journey? 

Book your Custom Combo today and discover the FoRM difference.

#FoRMHealth #CustomCombo #biotherapeutics #skinbetter #LookBetterMembership #AestheticJourney #SkinCare #PortlandAesthetics #GlowUp #Skinrehab #agedefy#PersonalizedSkinCare #SeasonalSkinCare #RadiantSkin
💖 Happy Gut = Happy Skin! 💖 📣 We can’t 💖 Happy Gut = Happy Skin! 💖

📣 We can’t stress enough how important the gut-skin axis is!! 

🦠A balanced gut-microbiome makes metabolites like short-chain fatty acids that calm inflammation, energize our cells, & support your skin barrier. 

💥 An out of balance gut microbiome means more inflammation, inflam-aging of the skin, & flare ups like we see in acne, eczema, or psoriasis. 

Keep your gut happy! Research shows
😃 probiotics,
😃 fermented foods,
😃 fiber-rich foods, 
😃 colorful foods,
😃 hydrating
😃 & lowering sugar, processed foods, + dairy (for some) consumption can take care of your gut so it takes care of your skin. 

Nutrition + functional medicine can truly help you glow from within! ✨ ✨

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