I have been taking 50mg of extended-release methylphenidate (aka Ritalin) for about 6 weeks now, with 1-3 days off each week. Ever since, I started getting acne (after a long time going without it in my life), embarrassingly concentrated on my forehead region. I started washing my face with various products twice a day, but the acne did not improve these past 2-3 weeks.
I suspect that adrenal fatigue may underlie this occurrence. But the research I have done online has given me a lot of mixed messages. I have even heard that adrenal fatigue isn't really possible, but people do talk about HPA axis imbalances.
For starters, I'm fairly certain that my acne is related to using Ritalin. But how it is related and what I can do about it, is a major source of confusion.
On the one hand, I have read that the increased dopamine from Ritalin affects prolactan, which in turn increases testosterone and therefore acne (source). Research relating to the adrenal glands points to many different things influencing acne, such as epinephrine, DHEA, and cortisol. Ritalin increases all of these.
I was thinking to buy some licorice root tomorrow to see if it could correct (and in the future, prevent) my suspected adrenal fatigue. However, it seems that DHEA is not governed by a "feedback loop" like other hormones, where the amount of it is decreased when there's too much (source). In light of this, I don't know whether it will be a good idea to take licorice root, which does increase DHEA production.
It is confusing whether elevated levels of DHEA (and/or possibly other hormones) underlie the acne, stress, and fatigue (when not on Ritalin) that I have been experiencing, or whether their overproduction has led to adrenal insufficiency, resulting in lower-than-normal levels (this is adrenal fatigue as I understand it).
A big concern is whether I may be able to take adrenal supplements without messing anything up. Given my dilemma, is there anything I can take to prevent adrenal fatigue and/or to correct it?
I still have a lot of research ahead of me tomorrow, but I decided to compose this post so that perhaps some of my confusion can be eliminated and that I may get some insight into this issue, any direction or research points, and advice on supplements. Anything would certainly be helpful and greatly appreciated.
For some background, I have a healthy diet and I daily supplement fish oil, magnesium, zinc, Bacopa (adaptogen), methyl-b12, and pantothenic acid.
I suspect that adrenal fatigue may underlie this occurrence. But the research I have done online has given me a lot of mixed messages. I have even heard that adrenal fatigue isn't really possible, but people do talk about HPA axis imbalances.
For starters, I'm fairly certain that my acne is related to using Ritalin. But how it is related and what I can do about it, is a major source of confusion.
On the one hand, I have read that the increased dopamine from Ritalin affects prolactan, which in turn increases testosterone and therefore acne (source). Research relating to the adrenal glands points to many different things influencing acne, such as epinephrine, DHEA, and cortisol. Ritalin increases all of these.
I was thinking to buy some licorice root tomorrow to see if it could correct (and in the future, prevent) my suspected adrenal fatigue. However, it seems that DHEA is not governed by a "feedback loop" like other hormones, where the amount of it is decreased when there's too much (source). In light of this, I don't know whether it will be a good idea to take licorice root, which does increase DHEA production.
It is confusing whether elevated levels of DHEA (and/or possibly other hormones) underlie the acne, stress, and fatigue (when not on Ritalin) that I have been experiencing, or whether their overproduction has led to adrenal insufficiency, resulting in lower-than-normal levels (this is adrenal fatigue as I understand it).
A big concern is whether I may be able to take adrenal supplements without messing anything up. Given my dilemma, is there anything I can take to prevent adrenal fatigue and/or to correct it?
I still have a lot of research ahead of me tomorrow, but I decided to compose this post so that perhaps some of my confusion can be eliminated and that I may get some insight into this issue, any direction or research points, and advice on supplements. Anything would certainly be helpful and greatly appreciated.
For some background, I have a healthy diet and I daily supplement fish oil, magnesium, zinc, Bacopa (adaptogen), methyl-b12, and pantothenic acid.
