PCOS-related acne is a frustrating problem that can have a huge impact on your self-esteem. If you have PCOS, chances are that you’re already dealing with a lot of other symptoms, like hair loss and weight gain. But acne can be incredibly demoralizing, especially when it’s cystic acne—the kind that forms painful, pus-filled bumps that take longer to heal than regular acne.
The good news is that there are treatments for PCOS-related acne that can help keep your skin clear and prevent new breakouts from happening. The first step is knowing what causes cystic acne in women with PCOS, so let’s get started!
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects your hormone levels. It can cause irregular periods, excess hair growth, and acne as well as a list of other issues.
PCOS is caused by high androgen levels. Androgens are male sex hormones that can make your body produce too much testosterone or other androgens. These hormones can lead to problems with your menstrual cycle and cause acne on your face, back, chest, and upper arms.
The symptoms of PCOS vary from person to person. Some women experience facial hair growth or acne breakouts; others might have trouble conceiving due to irregular ovulation cycles or thinning hair on their heads (or both!). But whatever symptoms you’re experiencing right now—we’re here for you!
PCOS Acne Pattern
It turns out that PCOS-related acne can show up anywhere on your body, but if you’re prone to it, chances are good that it will appear in areas where there are high levels of androgens (male hormones) in the body.
Androgens can cause excess oil production and inflammation, which can lead to acne breakouts in these areas:
- Your Face (around the jawline and lower cheek area is a common sign of PCOS)
- The back of your neck
- Your armpits
- Under your arms
- On your chest/breasts
- On your back
What Does PCOS Acne Look Like?
Many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome experience acne because of the hormonal imbalance that causes their skin to produce more oil and secrete more sebum. The two types of acne that PCOS causes are either pustular or cystic acne because it involves pustules and/or cysts.
Pustules are caused when bacteria gets trapped under the skin, causing inflammation and pus to form. This can lead to clogged pores and the formation of whiteheads, blackheads, or inflamed pimples. While cysts are deeper and often times larger red pimples that tend to be painful when you touch them.
Women with PCOS may also be more susceptible to developing cystic acne, which is characterized by large, painful bumps that appear deep within the skin and are often accompanied by scarring. Because PCOS is a hormone-related condition, it’s important to talk with your doctor about how hormonal treatments can help manage your symptoms—including acne—and help prevent scarring from developing.
The bright side is that there are effective treatments for both PCOS and acne that can help you manage these conditions and improve your quality of life.
How To Treat PCOS Acne
For women with PCOS, acne can be a real struggle. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that there are certain foods that cause acne, but really, it’s more complicated than that. If you have PCOS, your ovaries may produce more male hormones than normal, which can lead to acne breakouts. PCOS also causes menstrual irregularities and weight gain, but these symptoms are not necessarily a given in all women with the condition.
There are treatments available to help manage your symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term complications such as infertility or diabetes. You may need to try several different options before finding one that works best for your needs.
If you want to treat PCOS-related acne, you’ll need to address both the hormonal imbalance and the excess oil production. Here’s how:
Reduce stress.
Did you know that reducing stress can help fight your acne?
When we’re stressed, our bodies produce more hormones—male hormones—which can cause acne. And when you reduce stress, you reduce inflammation—inflammation that may cause male hormones to rise in women with PCOS. This hormonal imbalance is the cause of acne for many women with PCOS.
But when you reduce stress, you also help your body work better overall—which means better hormone levels and fewer breakouts! More on the link between stress and hormonal imbalance HERE.
Consider cutting gluten and dairy.
Cutting gluten and dairy from your diet may help you treat your PCOS-related acne.
Why? Because these two things are known to cause inflammation in the body, which can exacerbate acne symptoms. Inflammation has long been linked to acne, and it’s estimated that up to 50% of people with PCOS have increased inflammation in their bodies.
To reduce your intake of gluten and dairy, consider eating more foods like nuts, seeds, legumes (beans), and whole grains. These foods are naturally gluten-free and tend not to contain as many hormones as dairy products do. That said, if you’re looking for ways to get extra nutrients from these foods while they’re still on your diet plan—like a boost of protein or iron—you might want to consider taking supplements instead of relying solely on them for nutrition!
Use benzoyl peroxide products.
Benzoyl peroxide is an effective treatment for acne, and it’s also safe to use on your face if you have PCOS. As opposed to other products that potentially contain harsh chemicals that could throw off your hormonal balance or your skin’s pH.
Some people may experience some side effects from benzoyl peroxide, like dry skin and irritation. But these are usually mild and temporary. If you start to notice that the side effects of using benzoyl peroxide are bothering you too much, try switching to another acne treatment or giving yourself a break from using it for a few days.
Try eating a diet rich in antioxidants.
Acne is a pain. But it’s also a sign that you’re possibly not eating a healthy and balance diet. In fact, eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help treat acne caused by PCOS.
Antioxidants are substances found in many foods that prevent oxidation and aging. When your body is exposed to environmental toxins like pollution or cigarette smoke, it creates free radicals—and these free radicals can cause damage to your skin cells and DNA. Antioxidants fight free radicals, helping to keep your body healthy and young-looking.
Blueberries are one of the best sources of antioxidants around: one cup contains about 5 grams of antioxidants! They’re great for fighting inflammation—another cause of acne—and they also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in your body.
Try blue light therapy.
Blue light therapy has been shown to be effective at reducing inflammation, which can lead to an improved complexion. It also helps reduce excess oil production in pores and improve overall skin tone.
The best part? Blue light therapy doesn’t require any chemicals or prescription medications—it’s all done with natural light! You can find blue light therapy devices at any beauty store or online retailer.
Check out Cyster and Mister’s advice on dealing with PCOS acne above!
If you’ve tried every imaginable cure to fix your acne and nothing has worked, this episode is for you! On this episode of A Cyster & Her Mister, we focus on PCOS Acne and helping you find the best solutions so you know how to treat your acne the right way!
We cover medications that are usually prescribed by doctors like Accutane & Spironolactone, as well as natural options including diet, supplements, creams, treatments, and more!
Tallene explains her journey dealing with her acne and her routine to maintain her skin every day! Like always…we read a message from a fellow Cyster who’s been losing weight and managing her PCOS like a boss!
There are many reasons why you may have PCOS acne and our podcast goes over the different causes to explain why you are breaking out and how to stop it from the root finally!
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