Hormonal acne is hard. After being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, I was left wondering how this has affected my skin all these years. There are so many intrinsic and extrinsic factors that play a role with acne, but hormones are one of the biggest. Honestly, I feel like PCOS is not discussed enough! I want to provide awareness on the symptoms I have experienced in relation to my skin. So, let’s dive into some PCOS skincare products and how to start treating your concerns.
What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?
TL;DR: “complex hormonal, metabolic and reproductive disorder that affects up to 15% of women” (source)
Although you may not have heard of this condition before, it is quite common, being seen in 1 in 10 women (source)! It is a condition of the ovaries that affects women of child-bearing age. With unbalanced hormones and an excess of male androgens in the body, you can imagine how this would cause a whole body reaction. Unfortunately, this condition often goes undiagnosed which leads to delayed treatment (source). And contrary to the name, not everyone with Polycycstic Ovarian Disorder actually have cysts on their ovaries. A thorough investigation of one’s medical history is necessary to get a diagnosis and to start appropriate treatment. Symptoms of PCOS include excess hair growth, male pattern hair loss, missed or irregular periods, acne, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, and weight gain.
PCOS & the Skin
Since PCOS women can have an excess of men’s hormones, DHEA, and insulin (source), this presents as more oiliness and persistent, cystic acne. We have talked before about the difference between men and women’s skin which can explain how the increase of male hormones affect women’s skin with PCOS.
According to OB/GYN Dr. Felice Gersh, women with PCOS have three things that cause acne: high levels of androgen, systemic inflammation, and a deficiency of estradiol.
source
Most doctors suggest fighting the root cause combined with topical treatments in order to get control of PCOS related acne. This acne differs from typical hormonal breakouts that come and go. They are often more deep, painful and long-lasting.
My Experience with PCOS
Symptoms that affect my skin have involved excess hair growth, persistent breakouts along the jaw line, oilier skin and dark patches. I am lucky enough to not have experienced severe, cystic acne. When I do get breakouts, though, they are more often than not a painful closed comedone.
My number one skin issue that I experience with PCOS is excessive hair growth and ingrown hairs. This has led to constant redness and breakouts along the jawline and sides of the chin. This does not get better or worse throughout the month (in relation to my cycle) but will change in inflammation. I attached some pictures below to show how my skin typically looks every day around my chin and jawline.
Because I have excessive hair growth, I get frequent ingrown hairs around my jaw line. I typically use a face shaver in these areas but I don’t recommend using that if you have active acne as it can spread bacteria. Plucking hairs can make the problem worse too by increasing inflammation. I apply products for redness and breakouts and when my skin clears I will try hair removal- but it grows quickly. I will frequently exfoliate my body to avoid ingrown hairs there as well.
It can be hard to deal with excessive hair growth, but it doesn’t make you any less of a woman to grow more hair. If hair removal works for you, then you can try those options, but it is up to you completely.
PCOS Skincare Routine
Overall, everyone experiences this condition differently. When it comes to cystic or hormonal acne, though, there are some preferred skincare ingredients to look for. Here’s some of my favorite products to check out for PCOS skincare:
Cleansers
First, I suggest you start double cleansing. In order to control acne, you should be properly cleansing before applying your treatments to get the most out of your ingredients.
Cleansing balms:
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm, $38 3.17 fl oz – this removes all traces of makeup, dirt and sunscreen. It is super creamy and uses hydrating oils to not strip the skin before your second cleanse.
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm, $34 3.4 oz – This is a cult favorite first cleanse that spreads really easily. It uses papaya enzymes to naturally exfoliate the pores.
Elf Holy Hydrating Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, $10 – This affordable option removes all traces of makeup. It also uses hyaluronic acid and other hydrators to refresh the skin.
Cleansers:
Farmacy Whipped Greens Oil-free Foaming Cleanser, $28 5 fl oz – a foaming cleanser is great for oilier skin types but many can be too stripping. This one never leaves me feeling tight after I am feeling more greasy than normal. It is so refreshing and the texture is lovely!
Be Plain Greenful pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam, $14 2.7 oz- another gentle foaming option to really clean the skin. I love this when I have a lot of breakouts. It does not leave my skin feeling tight at all.
Peace Out Blemish Balm, $22 3.6 oz – if exfoliating cleansers are your thing then I highly recommend checking this out. It is a solid cleansing balm that you add water to to emulsify on the face. It has acne fighting ingredients to gently exfoliate the skin and clear pores.
Inkey List Fulvic Acid Cleanser, $11 5 oz – gel cleansers are also great options for oily and combo skin types. This cleanser uses fulvic acid to gently exfoliate and brighten the skin. I love this one in the evening to help remove sunscreen, or in the morning to brighten and refresh.
Versed Gentle Cycle, $15 5 fl oz – if your skin barrier is damaged, extra dry or just feeling unbalanced, always revert to a gentle cleanser. This creamy cleanser gently washes the skin bu also adds non-greasy hydration. It smells like oats too!
Face Masks
These are my two recent favorite masks for very different reasons. Elevate your PCOS skincare routine with a weekly mask:
Dr. Roebuck’s Uluru Purifying Mask, $28 1.7 oz – purifying masks can be so beneficial for all types of acne. Using them 1-3 times a week can help reduce inflammation and prevent spreading bacteria. This mask uses a blend of clays to detoxify the skin. It can also be used a wash-off spot treatment!
First Aid Beauty Arnica Relief & Rescue Mask, $32 3.4 oz – since acne is inflammation of the skin, we need to be sure to apply skin-soothing products to calm the redness and irritation. This is a thick, lotion consistency that provides hydration along with the skin-healing properties..
Toners
Toners are super beneficial add-ons to anyone’s routine. You can choose either a hydrating or exfoliating option depending on the rest of your routine! Check out my full blog on toners to learn more about my recommendations to improve your PCOS skincare routine.
Exfoliants
Many women with PCOS can benefit from using prescription strength retinoids to treat the painful breakouts. If your acne is especially persistent and has not responded to other treatments, definitely seek out a dermatologist to find the right retinoid for your skin.
Some over the counter exfoliating serum options:
Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum, $22 1 fl oz – this is perfect for a beginner to retinol. You always want to start slow and work your way up with potency. This helps current cystic acne and prevents them from coming back.
Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum, $17 1 fl oz – another great beginner retinol option especially for those with discoloration. Cystic acne often leaves scarring and dark spots that this treatment can help to heal over time.
Peace Out Acne Serum, $34 1 oz – salicylic acid is one of the best options in treating acne and this serum incorporates 2% of it! Don’t use this on active pimples but instead on closed comedones. This also has niacinamide which can regulate oil production.
I have more acne treatment suggestions here
Hydrating Serums
PCOS skincare routines for acne can often be thought of as drying and stripping. Be sure to always moisturize and add in a light weight serum to calm and protect the skin from any strong acne treatments.
Iunik Beta-Glucan Power Moisture Serum, $17 1.7 fl oz – this is a pumped up version of hyaluronic acid that can provide powerful moisture to oily skin. I love this serum mixed with my moisturizer, or applied on damp skin on nights I don’t use retinol.
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum, $42 1 fl oz – this serum is the key to repairing a damaged skin barrier. If you have especially angry, red skin then you can also apply this as needed to soothe and calm. I like pairing this with my retinol to keep the skin balanced.
Be Plain Cicaful Ampoule, $19 1 fl oz – cica is a powerful ingredient used to calm angry, irritated skin. It also provides moisture without feeling heavy on oily skin types.
Moisturizers & Facial Oils
PCOS skincare routines should always include daily moisture and hopefully a soothing face oil too! When dealing with hormonal breakouts and persistent acne, skipping the moisturizer may seem like a good idea but this can actually make the problem worse.
Moisturizers
Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream 5%, $20 1.7 oz – this cream uses ingredients to balance the skin, improve the look of pores, and provide light weight hydration for oily skin types. I recommend this in the AM + SPF, and a different moisturizer at night.
Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer, $24 1.7 oz – the perfect daily moisturizer to provide a good amount of hydration without clogging the pores. This also uses oat which can calm and soothe redness and irritation.
Cocokind Texture Smoothing Cream, $20 1.7 oz – another lightweight option that provides essential nutrients and moisture to the skin. Can be used twice daily (with spf) to help minimize the appearance of pores, control shine and smoothe texture.
Oils
Versed Sunday Morning Antioxidant Oil-Serum, $20 1 fl oz – this is a unique oil-serum hybrid that makes the skin so soft, plump and bright. I like using this as my last step of my PM routine. Does not clog the pores or feel heavy.
Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Oil, $72 1.7 oz – a facial oil can be so beneficial for oily and acne prone skin types. This one uses blue tansy oily to heal current breakouts and also balance oil production. I like using this around my jawline to heal current breakouts.
Not Pot CBD Glow Oil, $42 1 fl oz – CBD can be so beneficial for calming inflammation. This really improves my redness and irritation, provides a nice glow and moisture at the end of my routine! This oil can also be ingested as a CBD tincture. (use my affiliate link– save 20%!)
Getting Help and Managing Hormones
One of the most difficult aspects of PCOS is that your hormones are out of whack and getting them under control can be quite difficult. Excess cortisol can also cause PCOS inflammation and lead to worsening acne. Seeking help from doctors, dermatologists and OB/GYNs is an important first step. I also suggest seeking out a therapist, health coach, or an herbalist as I appreciate a whole mind + body approach to PCOS and its symptoms. For me, working on a better relationship with my body, food and relaxation techniques have helped improve many of my symptoms and my skin. This is an ongoing process for me, and I am not looking toward an end result but instead small improvements over time.
For my skin, following an intuitive routine helped me greatly. Check out my blog here for tips on how to listen better to your skin!
PCOS Skincare Wrap-Up
Finding out I have PCOS definitely changed my life. It is affecting my skin daily, and I have learned what products work to heal my concerns as best as I can. But- my skin is not perfect. It never completely clears up. And that’s okay! This post is intended to provide some relief to anyone suffering from hormonal skin concerns, but remember that you will have to do quite a bit of work internally to achieve long-term goals.
I am on a continuous health journey. I have learned so much along the way, but I have a lot more to learn. Even sharing those photos on my chin completely unedited is a big step for me. I want to spread awareness and also remind you to be confident in your skin no matter what.
Sources:
https://theklog.co/skin-symptoms-of-pcos/
https://www.businessinsider.com/pcos-acne-skin-care-products
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-and-the-skin-2021042922502
This was such an eye opening blog!! Congratulations to you for your honesty!!! I am sure this will help a lot of people 💜
I am so happy to be spreading awareness on this!!