Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Acne: Relation and Treatment

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It is often characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and polycystic ovaries. Women with PCOS often experience dermatological manifestations of hyperandrogenism, including hirsutism, acne, and androgenetic alopecia.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that causes a woman's ovaries to expand more than usual, forming small cysts on the outer edge of the ovary.
In addition to affecting fertility, polycystic ovary syndrome can lead to a number of hormone-induced side effects including acne.
PCOS is a reproductive hormone disorder that occurs most commonly in women of childbearing age. According to one study with high confidence, up to 10% of women in this age group are suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome.
The human body depends on signals from the pituitary gland to produce reproductive hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Polycystic ovary syndrome disrupts this balance of hormones by affecting signals from the pituitary gland causing estrogen and progesterone levels to decrease while testosterone levels rise. This condition can lead to suppression of ovulation and cause a number of symptoms such as:
Irregular menstruation

Acne Thick hair on the face, back or chest Weight gain or difficulty losing weight Dark patches of skin appear on areas of the body especially the back of the neck

Polycystic ovary syndrome is just one of many risk factors for acne. In general, acne is the result of several factors:
Sweat glands produce too much sebum Dead skin cells get in and get stuck in the pores Bacteria, mainly Propionibacterium acnes Disturbances in the production of hormones Prolonged stress Hormonal changes such as during pregnancy or menopause in women. Due to certain medications, such as corticosteroids Some bad habits such as not washing your face regularly, not drinking enough water, using skin care products or makeup of unknown or unproven quality ....

One of the main consequences of polycystic ovary syndrome is increased levels of male hormones, also known as androgens. Doctors call this a condition of hyperandrogenism.
Androgen plays an important role in the development of acne. They cause sweat glands under the skin to overproduce sebum. Sebum, dead cells, bacteria and dirt accumulate inside the pores leading to inflammation and the formation of acne.
Some people with polycystic ovary syndrome can develop acne in many different areas, including:
Face Neck Chest Upper back

Some health problems that can increase the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome include:
Metabolic syndrome Obesity Impaired glucose absorption Type 2 diabetes Having heart related diseases pulse Prolonged stress Sleep apnea syndrome Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Medicines that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and sulfur can help treat acne. However, they are often not enough to treat acne caused by hormonal disorders.
Returning the hormonal balance is the only way to get rid of the acne associated with polycystic ovary syndrome. Here are some medications commonly prescribed by doctors to treat acne caused by polycystic ovary syndrome:
Birth control pills : Oral contraceptives are sometimes used to treat acne hormones in general and acne caused by polycystic ovary syndrome in particular. However, not all birth control pills work. Using a combination of new birth control pills can help stabilize hormone levels throughout the entire menstrual cycle. Birth control pills usually contain a mixture of ethinyl estradiol and one or more of the following:
Progestin norgestimate Drospirenone Norethindrone acetate Non-acne contraceptives can be used in all cases. Doctors do not recommend using birth control pills if you are over 35 years old or have a history of: Breast cancer Blood clots High blood pressure Smoking

Anti-androgen: An anti-androgen is a medication prescribed by a doctor that lowers testosterone levels. Although androgen is a male hormone, there is always a small amount of this hormone in the female body. Sometimes polycystic ovary syndrome or other hormonal problems can cause testosterone levels to rise, causing sweat glands to increase sebum production leading to acne. Not all cases of acne are related to androgen levels, so careful testing should be done before starting treatment.
Retinoids: The main use of retinoids is to limit the appearance of wrinkles and reduce uneven skin tone. In addition, retinoids can also be used to treat acne, often for teenagers going through puberty. If your acne is related to polycystic ovary syndrome, conventional retinoid skin care products may not help. You need to meet with a dermatologist in person to receive stronger treatment options orally or in the form of creams or gels applied directly. Oral retinoid isotretinoin is often the doctor's best choice.
However, retinoids make the skin extremely sensitive to UV rays in the sun, so it's important to use sunscreen regularly to protect your skin from the risk of pigmentation or even pigmentation. is skin cancer. In addition, experts also recommend taking retinoids at night instead of during the day.
The most important thing to know is that even with the best polycystic ovary syndrome acne treatments, it will be difficult to achieve results if not accompanied by a daily facial care routine. Be sure to wash your face at least twice a day, use creams or cosmetics suitable for your skin, avoid skin irritants....

Remember that acne is not the only symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome, so it is important to regularly talk to your doctor about your body condition so that treatment can be adjusted accordingly.
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Articles refer to sources: healthline.com, medicalnewstoday.com