Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a type of endocrine disorder that is denoted by the presence of cysts on your ovaries. While the exact cause of PCOS isn’t very well understood, one thing is for certain: The presence of an elevated amount of male hormones in your body, known as “androgens”. This is the culpable for all the unwanted side effects associated with this condition, especially acne. ❌
When your body’s androgen levels rise, it starts to signal to your body that it’s time to kick sebum production into overdrive. While sebum is necessary to help give your skin a healthy glow and keep it protected from outside moisture, if your body starts to produce too much of this oil, it can start to lead to clogged pores and congestion. To add to that, elevated androgen levels can also increase a process called “keratinization.” This means that not only are your pores now teeming with excessive amounts of sebum, but there are also more skin cells joining the party, causing those pores to get blocked. Throw in a sprinkle of C. acnes (the bacteria that causes acne vulgaris), and you’ve got the perfect recipe for acne. 😩
We know this can seem a bit overwhelming, so let’s go ahead and break down all the known information about PCOS together. 🩵 Comment BLOG to receive our full PCOS and Acne Explained article.