Is PCOS Causing your acne?
What is PCOS & how is it linked to acne?
Many people who see me for holistic acne treatment want to identify and treat the underlying root issues contributing to their acne.
Seeing that skin health is a reflection of inner health is what makes my holistic skin practice unique. And, I seek to use science-based methods to address skin health directly and the underlying root factors of skin issues.
One of the common concerns that people with acne have is that they might have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). And, I love explaining to my patients what PCOS is, how it’s diagnosed, and how we can figure out if their acne is caused by PCOS or by something else!
So now you’re probably wondering: What is PCOS? How does it look like? Why does it cause acne? And, how could it be addressed with naturopathic medicine?
Let’s talk about all of that AND more in this blog post.
Disclaimer: This post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any medical conditions or disease; and is meant for educational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new OR schedule your appointment with me.
What is PCOS & how does it look like?
PCOS is seen in 15-20% of females, and it is a complex hormone-metabolic disruption that leads to chronic hormone imbalance issues.
People who experience PCOS can experience polycystic ovaries, irregular or absent menstrual periods, and/or symptoms of high testosterone, which can look like head hair loss, facial hair growth, and cystic acne. (Click here to learn how testosterone causes acne)
Metabolic issues that people with PCOS can experience include high blood pressure, blood sugar issues, high cholesterol, and increased weight.
PCOS is considered a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that other conditions that look like PCOS need to be rule-out first. (We’ll talk about this later on in this blog post)
In order to get the appropriate diagnosis, someone’s doctor will do an in-depth intake.
An in-depth intake means that the doctor will ask many questions to understand what is happening, do any pertinent physical exams, and order labs and imaging.
Because of the complexity of PCOS, people concerned about PCOS will need more than the regular 15-mintues that doctor visits typically are.
blood sugar issues & PCOS
In all honesty, science is still trying to figure out what the cause of PCOS is. But, scientists suggest that blood sugar issues commonly found in people with PCOS may trigger hormone imbalance symptoms seen in PCOS.
Scientists suggest that insulin resistance caused by high blood sugar issues in people with PCOS may trigger the body to overproduce testosterone, leading to head hair loss, facial hair growth, and cystic acne.
Stress & PCOS
Beyond blood sugar issues, scientists suggest that the stress-responding organs in the body may contribute to symptoms of PCOS. The adrenal glands are one of those stress-responding organs in the body.
The adrenal glands release hormones during states of stress. And, they release cortisol, DHEA, DHEA-S, neurotransmitters, and many more.
DHEA is a hormone that can be actively transformed into testosterone in ovarian cells, but it can also be transformed into DHEA-S within the adrenal gland itself. And, literature reveals that those with PCOS have higher levels of DHEA, DHEAS, and testosterone.
Other things that scientists suggest may contribute to PCOS include genetics, inflammation, and more!
So, to figure what could be contributing to someone’s PCOS symptoms, I assert the importance of seeing a doctor to get an in-depth intake and get labs and work-up.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
As noted earlier, PCOS is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. So, conditions that look like PCOS need to be ruled out first before PCOS can be considered as a diagnosis.
Once those conditions are ruled out, the Rotterdam Criteria is used to diagnose PCOS. So, let’s talk about the conditions that look like PCOS and the Rotterdam Criteria.
Conditions that look like PCOS that need to be ruled out include:
Hypothyroidism
Hyperprolactinemia
Non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Cushing’s syndrome
Hypogonadotopric hypogonadism
Androgen-secreting tumors
Since there are many conditions that can look like PCOS, a doctor asking the right questions can do the appropriate physical exams to understand what is causing someone’s symptoms.
All of the information collected in-office by the doctor will inform them what labs to order next.
Once all of those conditions are ruled out, and PCOS is being considered, diagnosis for PCOS is completed via the Rotterdam 2003 Criteria.
According to the Rotterdam 2003 Criteria, to be diagnosed with PCOS, people must have at least 2 of the following signs & symptoms:
Menstrual cycles: Cycles that are 35+ days long OR less than 9 menstrual cycles per year
Symptoms of high androgens (cystic acne, facial hair, scalp hair thinning) or labs showing high androgens
Ultrasound showing polycystic ovaries with 12+ ovarian follicles
What can be done for PCOS?
It should be noted that PCOS is considered a life-long condition, and there have yet to be studies that reveal that is it curable.
But, many natural/integrative/pharmaceutical interventions could manage symptoms and reduce the severity of symptoms.
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, that means I am trained in holistic & integrative medicine.
As noted earlier, holistic medicine means addressing the primary affected organ and addressing the underlying root issues affecting that primary organ.
And, integrative medicine means being trained in both pharmaceutical and science-based natural options.
For people experiencing PCOS, naturopathic treatment depends on what their goals are. Since people with PCOS can experiencing late or absent cycles, one of the goals that people with PCOS may have is to get pregnant. For others, their goals may just look like managing acne and the other symptoms of PCOS.
I want to speak about the latter and focus on what integrative and holistic options can look like if someone works with a licensed naturopathic doctor.
When someone sees a naturopathic doctor, they can get a blend of natural and pharmaceutical options that address symptoms and the underlying root issues of their symptoms. A naturopathic doctor will simultaneously focus on prevention, specifically preventing the complications of metabolic issues commonly seen in people with PCOS.
are there Natural options for pcos?
Natural options that a licensed naturopathic doctor could recommend include diet, lifestyle, herbal medicine, and supplements.
Diet & nutrition
Some dietary options that a licensed naturopathic doctor may support healthy blood sugar balance, support hormone imbalance symptoms.
There’s also science saying that combining specific types of exercise may support healthy blood sugar balance and support optimal levels of testosterone and DHEA.
Herbal medicine
Herbal medicine that a naturopathic doctor may recommend could focus on supporting healthy blood sugar balance as well.
There are also herbs that they may recommend that could support ovarian health and adrenal response.
VITAMINS, minerals, and more
Vitamins, minerals, and amino acid supplements that a naturopathic doctor may recommend will vary depending on what they suspect your underlying root issues to be or what labs have shown.
There are also certain supplements that they may recommend that could support ovarian health and blood sugar balance.
Other natural and integrative options
Other than diet, lifestyle, herbal medicine, and supplements, other natural options that a licensed naturopathic doctor may recommend include: bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, acupuncture, and more.
Pharmaceutical options that might be recommended to someone with PCOS can include hormonal birth control and spironolactone to address androgen hormone imbalances and help support regular menstruation.
To address blood sugar and insulin issues in people with PCOS, a common medication used is metformin.
So, there are many options that a provider could recommend to someone with PCOS depending on their preferences, their goals, what they’ve done in the past, and how severe symptoms are.
Listen to the holistic beauty podcast:
Dr. Marilyn Merola, ND & I chatted with Dr. Fiona Mcculloch, ND, one of the leading naturopathic PCOS experts in North America, about holistic options for PCOS.
What if you want to manage PCOS naturally?
The answer is simple: Work with a licensed naturopathic provider. As mentioned earlier, licensed naturopathic providers are experts in holistic and integrative medicine.
As integrative medicine experts, we are trained in both natural and conventional options. So, you will be able to capture a vast array of treatment options to help you achieve your skin goals when you work with a licensed naturoapthic doctor.
If you want to see me, I see patients in-person and virtually. The only caveat is that since I am only licensed in the state of California, I can only see patients who are physically in the state of California (especially for telehealth patients).
If you are outside the state a California, a great resource to find a licensed naturoapthic doctor in your state is the Institute for Natural Medicine’s directory: https://naturemed.org/find-an-nd/.
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