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How to treat PCOS Acne?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is quite difficult on the female body as it is plus the issues it comes with only makes it harder. Acne is one such issue that tags along with PCOS. Fear not, there are ways to deal with it efficiently, but before knowing the medicine one needs to know the cause of the acne.  

How does PCOS trigger acne?

PCOS is a condition of hormonal imbalance, and one such hormone which is very important to the human body is the pituitary gland. Your body depends on signals from your pituitary gland to produce the right amounts of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. PCOS disrupts these signals.

Without the right signals from the pituitary gland, your estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and your testosterone and androgen levels increase. Androgens play an important role in the development of acne. They cause the glands in the skin to produce excess of an oily substance called sebum.

Acne occurs when sebum and dead skin cells build up inside hair follicles, trapping bacteria beneath the skin. This leads to inflammation and the formation of PCOS pimples.

All that being said, acne caused due to PCOS can be treated. Here are a few ways to help you with that. 

How to cure PCOS acne?

Let’s start this course of treatment with the most natural method which is, food choices. Simple fact being that some foods aggregate PCOS acne, and some foods will contribute in effectively dealing with the acne.

A few foods to avoid if you are dealing with acne are:

• Red Meats
• White Bread
• White Potatoes
• Sugary Desserts
• Alcohol
• White Rice
• Corn
• Dairy (increases testosterone, giving fire to your acne)

On the flip side there are some foods that will prove to be your saving grace in terms of helping you deal with acne due to PCOS. These foods are naturally anti-inflammatory hence helping in the process of cooling down the skin. These foods include:

• Tomatoes
• Kale
• Spinach
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Olive Oil
• Berries
• Salmon
• Turmeric
• Garlic 
• Root vegetables (beet roots, turnips, rutabagas, parsnips, and carrots)

In general it is advisable to prefer diets which are high in nutrients, anti-oxidants, and gut nourishing fibre. A healthy gut lowers generalized inflammation, which in turn lowers circulating testosterone and DHEA levels, which then reduces inflammation in the skin and improves acne. But if you can absolutely not do without non-veg then go ahead and include organic eggs and chicken into your diet.

Other methods for PCOS acne treatment

Over-the-counter (OTC) acne medications typically rely on benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and Sulphur to help treat acne. Although these ingredients can help with mild breakouts, they usually aren’t enough to treat hormonal acne.

Treating the underlying hormonal imbalance is the only way to clear PCOS-related acne. If you think your acne is related to PCOS, consult your doctor or dermatologist. They may prescribe one or more of the following medications.

• Oral contraceptives:

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are sometimes used to treat hormonal acne. However, not just any birth control pill will do. Combination pills are the only birth control pills that will help stabilize your hormone levels throughout your entire menstrual cycle.

Birth control pills aren’t suggested to everyone. One shouldn’t consume the pill if you’re over age 35 or have a history of breast cancer, blood clots, high blood pressure (hypertension) and smoking.

• Anti-androgen drugs: 

Anti-androgen drugs are prescription medications that decrease testosterone levels. Although androgens are classified as “male” hormones, women have naturally occurring androgens too. The difference is that women have lower amounts. Not everyone with hormonal acne has high androgen levels, your blood samples will be required by your doctor to determine these levels.

• Retinoids:

OTC retinoids are traditionally used to fill in the appearance of wrinkles and help with uneven skin tone. Some formulas are also used for acne, but these are most often targeted toward teens.

If you have acne due to PCOS, skip the OTC retinoids and see a dermatologist about prescription-strength options. They can be taken orally or applied as a topical cream or gel.

The oral retinoid isotretinoin (Accutane) is the most popular option. Retinoids make your skin extremely sensitive to the UV rays, so it is of utmost importance to apply sunscreen liberally throughout the day if this is the one prescribed for you. If your skin is left unprotected, your risk for hyperpigmentation and even skin cancer will increase.

If you opt for topical retinoids, you should only apply them in the evening. Applying them during the day can increase your risk for UV related side effects. Topical retinoids may also be drying at first. You might need to start by using the gel or cream every other day and gradually working your way up to the recommended dosage.

All these are different forms of treatment methods to help ease your PCOS acne, but the best medical expert for you, is you! This means that so much of what happens to your body is in your hands, even though the root cause may not be your actions. Self-care and giving importance to yourself is of value. Eating well, staying active and maintaining a healthy life will help with your PCOS symptoms overall. Some tips to help you with this process are:

• Wash your face at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser, mild soap or oil free face wash.
• Following the wash, try to use oil-free moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated but non-oily at the same time.
• Try your best to keep your hands off the acne and not pick on it. Picking on it or squeezing it will only aggravate the problem.
• Use water based make-up which are labelled non-comedogenic (not causing black heads and white heads) and non- acnegenic (quite obviously, not causing acne)

The most important thing to remember is that acne is natural with or without PCOS, and it is nothing to be embarrassed about. How your skin looks should not determine how you feel, you are trying to cure it solely for health purposes and nothing else, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 

But remember that what we eat reflects on own skin, what we dont eat also reflects on our skin. We have all tried market serums and creams that dont work, because healing acne requires an internal solution. So what is the real solution? With no side-effects, creams, no harm?

&Me AntiAcne Collagen Drink helps not just hide or dry the acne, but detoxes the blood, removes impurities, balances oil levels due to hormonal changes and reduces inflammation to REALLY reduce acne. It also build collagen to give you a true acne free glowing face. It has 25 natural ingredients that are age old remedies and scientifically tested to give you an acne free glowing skin. best part – No preservatives, No added sugar, Nothing artificial for your skin. Dermatologically Tested!

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