30 October 2017 Tweet
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and Skin and Hair Care
Skin care is important for all equally, but those girls dealing with Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) need to put in a little bit of an extra effort for obvious reasons. PCOS is a hormonal disorder which can cause serious health and cosmetic problems. Most girls have irregular menses, and are at a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Effects of hormonal imbalance on the skin and hair can range from acne to excessive facial hair growth to thinning of hair and darkening or skin on neck, underarms, undereyes, and mouth areas. These changes may start as early as 10 years of age (or around puberty) and worsen with each passing year.
PCOS is a lifestyle disorder, which is a common hormonal condition characterised by increased levels of androgen and insulin. The insulin resistance causes abnormal handling of glucose by the body and results in weight gain. Other than genetic factors, lifestyle issues like daily stress, lack of exercise, junk diet are among the major contributing factors for PCOS.
Every girl has different kind of skin and hair and the extent of hormonal imbalance varies from person to person, hence each one presents differently in PCOS. It’s important to go through a thorough check-up with your dermatologist not only to find out your skin type but to know more about PCOS. Very often, females with PCOS undergo repeated treatments for acne, hair thinning and excessive hairgrowth, with poor resonse to treatment.
For a young girl on the threshold of her future, the cosmetic problems of PCOS often cause depression and lack of confidence. Their management at an early stage goes a long way in helping them.
So, let’s see the key factors to treat PCOS and skin and hair related changes:
Diet and exercise: These are the first things to address when trying to manage PCOS symptoms. For women who are overweight, losing some weight can help balance hormone levels. Try limiting your intake of processed and refined foods and eat a healthy, varied, low Glycaemic Index (GI) diet combined with exercise. High GI foods raise insulin levels which, in turn, could increase the amount of sebum produced in the skin and lead to acne.
Hydration: Drinking plenty of water is essential to hydrate the skin and keep it healthy. Eating anti-inflammatory foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, such as plenty of fruit and vegetables, salmon, walnuts and chia seeds, can also help.Have beta-carotene rich foods such as include carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, yellow and red peppers. Vitamin E is another anti-oxidant important for skin health and food sources include olive oil, apples, carrots, healthy nuts and seeds, and whole grains.
Looking after your emotional health: Having hirsutism or acne can be understandably upsetting and distressing. It can negatively impact your confidence, make you worry about your appearance and be frustrating having to constantly keep on top of managing your symptoms.Also weight loss can be very difficult for them and this adds to the frustration. Talking to your doctor and understanding more about PCOS definitely goes a long way to correct the situation.
Dairy & Acne: Some research has found that milk impacts insulin levels and is linked to acne . Hence it is better to keep the consumption of milk and milk products as less as possible.
Hair removal: We all know the list - shaving, waxing, threading, plucking are some ways of removing unwanted hair. You could also undergo laser hair reduction, with an experienced dermatologist to treat unwanted hair, especially on the chin, upper lip and sidelocks.
Acne and skin pigmentation: These improve dramatically with the above mentioned lifestyle changes, if followed religiously. However, your dermatologist will prescribe oral medications and creams and gels for these concerns to improve skin quality, texture and tone.
Hair thinning: There are a lot of treatments for these with your dermatologist, who is a true trichologist, in the form of vitamin supplements, hair growth lotions, mesotherapy, microneedling and Pltelet rich plasma (PRP).
Medications for PCOS: Your doctor may need to prescribe you various hormonal and non-hormonal medications to treat the hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance, along with above lifestyle changes.