Hi! Sorry if this isn't allowed. Although I don't think there is a rule against it, I can remove it if it is a problem!
My (literal) skin craves tiddy skittles. Endocrine systems are very complex, but TBIs + dry skin to the point of bleeding a little bit does generally point to not enough E being produced. Please do not tell me to visit a doctor, especially about the physical head trauma... There is no treatment to speak of, other than mitigating neuroinflammation, which I did do (over two years ago), when the last head bonk happened. I am safe meow, but not having a baja blast, tbh.
I'm not a "still cis tho" AMAB, trying to avoid hormones, since they're for trans folk. I lost shits to give about my presenting gender a long time ago, and consider myself agender or enby, or any expression in that vein, basically.
That said, I am pretty garbage at talking to new ppl, online or not, and also didn't want to pm a poor unexpecting soul, asking where to obtain E. "Controversial" or not, a quick test and some pills would almost definitely improve my wellbeing in multiple ways. Help finding an affordable tester and source for estrogen, or at least resources that have a trusted list would be appreciated greatly, even if they are not replies to this long-winded post.
(Thank you mods/hosters for keeping this place alive and safe, really. I am/was a lurker for a while, and this instance has been comfy af.)
tldr: I wish to obtain E, and would like a safe starting point, or a source for testing and pills.
EDIT: I just found out that Pueraria Mirifica exists... o.o Now I feel kinda dumb for posting this, but oh well. A plant with some phytoestrorogens in it seems like a saner option for dabbling in self-treatment of this type of stuff.
That is a 100% fair assement of almost all of the supplement industry. A lot of it is people selling vitrually useless chemicals/plants, and is set up to prey on people who desire/need an end result. The seller/distributers will tell you anything to get you buy their products.
I do think there are some sparse, but notable exceptions to the useless nature of them though. Like kratom for opiod withdrawal, or chamomile tea to aid relaxation. The main issue is that even both of those are abused by the industry. "Kratom is totally 100% safe, not addictive at all, and removes all pain!" or "Chamomile will treat insomnia!" come to mind as how a lot of companies market these plants. Both of these claims are false and dangerous to spread as having validity.
Management of expectation is not easy, especially if you are in pain, or cannot sleep, and just want to feel better. It is pretty gross that almost all supplement companies do this. I've seen even seen "B12 energy unlock" types of products a lot, and hate it. I am B12 deficient (according to blood tests a doctor ordered and talked with me about after), and that is the ONLY context in which you feel more "energized" from taking it... by not having enough B12 in your body.
That said, I do think that I need to read a couple more peer-reviewed studies on this specific plant, before personally tossing the idea into the "exclusively a grift" pile. It definitely is not hormone replacement therapy, or going to treat dysphoria, which I understand. I don't experience dysphoria (at least the gender kind -.-), and do not neccesarily have the desire to transition at the moment, or the means to do so with my current fixed income.
The primary result I want is to not go bankrupt buying moisturizer, while still bleeding from my hands. I haven't found/read enough info to know if that is possible with Pueraria Mirifica. Hell, even the "fact" that the cause is low E is only based on knowledge that a head injury can disrupt the endocrine system, and low E can cause dry skin.
Thank you for the warning tho. The plant in question definitely is not for transitioning, and is sold by a lot of grifters. At least none seem to claim it is for transfems, or transitioning, that I have seen. I imagine it could be a massive disaster to take it while doing HRT, since it affects hormones in some way.
the dry, cracking skin on hands thing can be worsened significantly by using bad (read: most) hand soap, in my personal experience at least
Yeah :< I can't use any soap that doesn't have moisterizer of some kind in it. I wish it was localized to just my hands too, but they def get some of the worst of the dryness over all.