Learning to care for your PCOS acne-prone skin and scalp is the beginning of a healthy self-care practice.
What is PCOS?
PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which is an endocrine disorder. This disorder manifests around puberty and during the reproductive years of women. The root cause is unknown, but it’s thought to be “caused by insulin resistance, autoimmune disease, or after you stop taking birth control pills.” We tend to associate testosterone with men and progesterone and estrogen in women, but we all have a blend of hormones. Women with PCOS, on the other hand, have elevated levels of androgens, or “male” hormones.
It’s called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome directly affects the ovaries. In a normal cycle, a woman's ovaries produce eggs that should be released each month as part of the menstruation cycle. However, in women with PCOS, the egg is affected or it may not be released during ovulation. This can lead to cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs, in the ovaries. This results in a slew of health-related issues like infertility, infrequent or lack of menstruation, excess body and/or facial hair, as well as severe hormonal acne. Many women with PCOS also suffer from weight gain, especially around the stomach region. They can also suffer from high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes.
What types of skin issues are associated with PCOS?
PCOS has a lot of body-related issues, but for the skin, it can wreak havoc. Excess oil is the main culprit when it comes to acne. This level of overproduction can lead to puffiness, redness, clogged pores, inflammation, and painful pimples.
The difference between PCOS-related acne and typical hormonal acne is that hormonal acne usually shows up right before your period and clears up soon after. PCOS causes excessive hair growth and dark patches of skin.
In PCOS, since your hormones are constantly out of whack, you’re prone to more frequent and excessive acne. Besides oily, acne-prone skin,
Is acne treatment different for PCOS in comparison to other types of acne?
When it comes down to it, acne is acne, and it sucks. There is no particular product that works better on PCOS-related acne as opposed to regular forms. This means acne fighters like squalene oil, argan oil, and clean beauty works just as well on PCOS acne.
The main difference is that PCOS calls for a multi-layered approach. Besides investing in acne-fighting clean beauty products, lifestyle changes include:
- Healthy Balanced Diet
- Medication (if needed)
- PCOS Friendly Exercise
These four lifestyle changes are imperative to PCOS acne treatment. This is unlike regular acne which may go away with a self-care routine alone.
How should I treat PCOS-related acne?
For PCOS, you’ll want to stick with a gentle but effective skincare day and night routine that will get your skin and scalp in order. This doesn’t mean you should rush to your laptop or phone to purchase every product with a chemically free exfoliant in it. Instead, choose soothing, hydrating, natural goods that will repair inflamed skin and fight acne.
Share your PCOS journey with us via email at help@realmconceptmarket.com or DM us at @realmconceptmarket on IG, FB or Pinterest.
