In keeping with this week’s focus on PCOS, today we’re discussing the connection between PCOS and one of its common and bothersome (and not to mention very visible) symptoms – acne.
Acne occurs when debris, oil and dead skin cells become trapped within a hair follicle. Pimples, whiteheads and blackheads are examples of non-inflamed acne. Bacteria can invade the clogged follicle and cause redness, swelling and inflammation. This is known as an inflamed breakout. While non-inflamed acne is quite common, inflammation does not occur in every case of acne.
PCOS is associated with hormonal imbalance, namely an increase in androgen (testosterone) production. High levels of androgens are known to increase the amount of oil produced by sebaceous glands, which contributes to acne.
Women with undiagnosed PCOS can experience troublesome cases of acne that often won’t clear up even with the help of topical medications, creams, and harsh drying lotions. The underlying problem here – excess androgens caused by faulty hormonal balance inherent to PCOS – can throw your entire system off, wreaking havoc on your skin as one of the more visible side effects, and as we’ve learned already this week, often attacking other less noticeable areas of your body as well.
So, what’s a girl to do? PCOS = androgens = excess oil = acne. Treatment options depend on whether you’re trying to conceive, as birth control pills are a fairly common treatment for women with PCOS related acne.
Click here to read more about acne treatment options for women with PCOS.
Stay tuned tomorrow for our Wednesday edition, which will focus on PCOS’s connection with “insulin resistance.”
