Polycystic ovarian syndrome, commonly referred to as PCOS, is a condition caused by an imbalance in a woman’s hormones, including raised levels of testosterone. Women who suffer from PCOS can show a variety of symptoms due to this hormonal imbalance.

The symptoms include irregular periods and potential infertility or difficulty falling pregnant.  Other symptoms which can cause a huge impact on a woman’s self-esteem are weight gain, acne, and excessive hair growth in places such as the face, chest and back due to the increased levels of testosterone.

Many women who suffer from PCOS also experience depression as a result of the symptoms of the condition and unfortunately at the present time of writing medical experts are still unsure of what exactly causes PCOS. Because of this, treatments won’t cure PCOS but they can manage the symptoms and help you feel like yourself again.

 Acne and PCOS

One of the common symptoms of PCOS is acne, with research suggesting that around one quarter of PCOS sufferers will experience acne. Because of the cause of PCOS is unknown the best thing women suffering from it can do is manage their symptoms. There are many ways women can do this and doctors recommend a healthy lifestyle and diet as being one of the best ways to combat PCOS.

This in turn will help you manage your testosterone levels and reduce your symptoms. High levels of testosterone cause our bodies sebaceous glands to produce oily sebum which is used to waterproof and lubricate the skin.

However if our bodies produce too much, it can result in acne and acne can also be very painful for PCOS sufferers due to their increased likelihood of being prone to skin inflammation. While acne is relatively harmless it can still be painful, stressful and embarrassing for PCOS sufferers to have to deal with, but thankfully it can be combatted.

Treating Acne

There are a few ways to treat acne naturally and artificially; the natural option is a healthy diet and regular exercise. The artificial option includes certain types of the contraceptive pill.

There is also the option of taking supplements to give your body a natural boost. This is a great way to ensure your body is getting the ingredients needed without having to spend hours in the kitchen preparing meal plans! We all lead busy and stressful lives and it is not always practical to plan 3 meals per day packed full of the necessary ingredients.