Two Articles about Women’s Health That Give Support and Information

​Have you been belittled for having an invisible chronic illness, and have you tried treatment after treatment for adult acne? I said yes to both and read two articles this month that were both reassuring and informative.

The first, from the March issue of Women’s Health, profiles eight women with chronic illnesses, including polycystic ovary syndrome and fibromyalgia, and their self-advocacy. “Owning It,” by Alison Goldman, can be read here: https://www.alisonmgoldman.com/womens-health-march-2020-owning-it

The second is better if skimmed because it’s a medical journal article. However, it’s full of facts about diagnosing and treating, both with pharmaceuticals and with complementary (nondrug) approaches, acne in women. The article by Drs. Tan, Schlosser, and Paller can be read here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5986265/

We stand to gain much if we advocate for ourselves and make informed decisions about our own health care.

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Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.