Often, the skin can be a window to what is occurring inside your body. For women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, this this may mean acne, hair loss, excessive facial or body hair growth, dark patches on the skin, or any combination of these issues.
Some women struggle with the physical symptoms of PCOS, such as weight gain, hair growth, and acne. Cosmetic treatments, such as electrolysis and laser hair removal, may help you feel better about your appearance. Talk with your health care provider about the best ways to treat the symptoms that bother you.
Because hormonal imbalances cause acne in people with PCOS, doctors often prescribe treatments that act on hormones. Oral contraceptive pills and medications called spironolactone and flutamide can treat acne caused by PCOS, though the FDA have not approved the latter two for this use.
PCOS cystic acne is typical in appearance, presenting as large, red, and deep breakouts on your skin-a a severe form of acne resulting from hormonal imbalance. PCOS-related acne tends to be concentrated in “hormonally sensitive,” areas-especially the lower one-third part of the face.
If a woman with PCOS has harsh acne problems, the acne will take 1 to 2 years to clear and also leaves acne scars, blemishes on the face. So, it is always recommended for a woman with an acute acne problem in PCOS to see a doctor for the right diagnosis of the acne problem.
Appearance and Location
It can occur anywhere, but PCOS acne usually appears on the lower face, such as: Jawline. Chin.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. There's evidence that genetics play a role. Several other factors, most importantly obesity, also play a role in causing PCOS: Higher levels of male hormones called androgens: High androgen levels prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs, which causes irregular menstrual cycles.
Because the underlying causes for acne related to PCOS are imbalances in hormone levels, PCOS-related acne tends to occur in areas that are more sensitive to the effects of hormones. These include the lower portion of the face, including the lower cheeks and jawline. The back and chest can also be affected.
Myth #2: If You Lose Weight, You Can Get Rid of PCOS
Unfortunately, there is no cure for PCOS, but overweight and obese women can help balance their hormone levels by losing weight. Otherwise, treatment is aimed at managing symptoms. A wide range of treatment options can help prevent any potential problems.
Thyroid Disease
When there is either too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism), these functions can be thrown into chaos, leading to symptoms that are strikingly similar to PCOS.
However, their PCOS hormonal imbalance does not change with age, so they may continue to have symptoms of PCOS. Also, the risks of PCOS-related health problems, such as diabetes, stroke, and heart attack, increase with age. These risks may be higher in women with PCOS than those without.
PCOS affects 8–13% of reproductive age women, with around 21% of Indigenous women affected. “Obtaining a timely PCOS diagnosis is challenging for women, with many experiencing significant delays with multiple different doctors involved,” as Teede and colleagues have recently published from women around the world..
To receive a diagnosis of PCOS, you must meet two of the following criteria: irregular ovulation, which is usually indicated by an irregular menstrual cycle or a lack of a cycle. signs of increased androgen levels or a blood test confirming you have increased levels. multiple small cysts on the ovaries.
But the condition doesn't just affect your reproductive health. Many women notice appearance changes — from weight gain to facial hair growth — that may severely impact their self-esteem. It's not clear exactly what causes PCOS, but it's linked to high androgen and insulin levels, along with genetic factors.
Eating too much added sugar can worsen insulin resistance, raise testosterone levels, cause gut dysbiosis, and worsen your PCOS acne. The biggest sources of added sugars in the American diet are sugar-sweetened beverages, baked goods, desserts, and other sweets.
And while PCOS doesn't have a clear hereditary pattern, per the Genetics Home Reference, there does seem to be some sort of family association—an estimated 20%–40% of those with PCOS have an affected family member, usually a mother or sister.
Women of every race and ethnicity can have PCOS. It's common for women to find out they have PCOS when they have trouble getting pregnant, but it often begins soon after the first menstrual period, as young as age 11 or 12. It can also develop in the 20s or 30s.
If you have a PCOS acne problem, forgo OTC retinoids and seek a gynecologist consultation about prescription-strength treatments. They can be consumed or administered topically as a cream or gel. Isotretinoin (Accutane), an oral retinoid, is the most preferred choice.
However, this differs from the hormonal acne many women experience during their menstrual cycles, in that the levels of androgens don't really dip back down again. What this means for those with PCOS is a much more prolonged period of breakouts and blemishes that aren't carried away with the monthly cycle.
"Patients with PCOS tend to get acne that involves more tender knots under the skin, rather than fine surface bumps, and will sometimes report that lesions in that area tend to flare before their menstrual period," Schlosser says. "They take time to go away."