I (19F) struggled with acne ever since I started puberty and about 3 years ago I started experiencing excessive body hair on my stomach, chest and jawline. I never considered that it could be due to hormonal imbalance since my periods were always regular. I noticed that whenever I stopped eating sugar for a few days, my face would immediately clear up.
My aunt suggested I visit a gynecologist and as it turns out, I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Apparently you can’t cure it, but the symptoms can be managed. I also have to do a test for insulin resistance. My doctor said that if it’s not treated it can cause infertility.
I’m very stressed and I got my period 2 weeks early, which almost never happens. All this information got dumped on me in one day and i’m not taking it that well as you can see.
I’m probably going to have to make big changes to my diet. I’m already a very picky eater and I went from 121lbs to 112 lbs in 3 months. I feel depressed, I’m skipping school like every other day because I can’t bring myself to get out of the house.
I highly recommend going on birth control if you haven’t already. I used to have horrible acne when I was a teen. I went on birth control to balance the PCOS and the acne immediately went away. I have none now. I’m 24 now and I’ve had minimal acne for years because of it. Pcos sucks big time. It can also make you super depressed. As I said, I highly recommend being on birth control or even anti depressants if you need them.
I got the same diagnosis, and was referred to an endocrinologist, who put me on spironolactone to help balance the hormones and I switched my birth control to an IUD. It has helped a lot, but the birth control Change I can’t recommend for everyone, but the medication helped greatly
I have pcos and see an endocrinologist. I recommend you see one to manage all of the metabolic and hormone symptoms. Mine also put me on medication for the acanthosis (spelling?, it’s the darker skin and hair).
I got the same diagnosis many years ago.
Was on meds, didn’t help.
Tried holistic and natural remedies to lessen the pain and other ‘symptoms’, helped a little but not nearly enough.
I changed my diet, fixed my life… Exercises, yoga.
And so on for about 15 years.
Changed 4 gynecologist in the meantime and all of them had only 2 prescriptions: hormonal therapy and getting pregnant (apparently, it solves all female reproductive system problems).
Then, after I got used to feeling like a sh.. Most of days, I discovered something.
Did you know that nail polish contains formaldehyde? Also phthalates, benzen, and other chemicals that can cause hormonal storms in the body?
(P.S. Formaldehyde is used in mortuaries, to preserve dead bodies). And I’ve been using nail polish for 20 or so years constantly.
After I stopped painting my nails (and getting gell too), it passed about 3 or 4 months before I didn’t faint from the pain during my period.
Then I went down the rabbit hole and excluded the products I used that contained any chemical that is suspected to be a hormonal disruptor.
Period pads and tampons also! That was a game changer for me. I started using organic cotton pads and tampons, being very careful about products not being bleeched with chlorine and that they don’t contain microplastic, petroleum derivatives, and parfumes.
And now 4 years in, I don’t get unbearable pains during my periods, I don’t faint.
Facial hair and generally body hair is kinda barely noticable,
My f. Skin cleared out almost completely. I don’t even get period acne. Very rarely.
And my mood swings! Oh heavens! I’m like a half new person. Brain fog is rarely there.
When I told my new doctor this, she was sceptical. I don’t think she will ever admit it wasn’t her therapy that helped me out (which I stopped using long ago on my own accord).
I’m not saying anyone should jump on board and do the same as I did.
I’m not saying I’m right. Or that it could help you too.
But sharing my experience with pocs, no matter how unusual it was, might help someone out there who’s been stuck like I was.
I still have scars on my ovaries. And my periods can get nasty. But like I said, my life changed tremendously after I stopped poisoning myself.
Best of health to everyone
Exercise daily and roses eat nutritious food and get good sleep
I was also recently diagnosed with PCOS after being on a BC pill for ~12 years. I’d always dealt with acne and it only got worse after stopping the pill. I completely understand how horrible it feels when your acne flares up, when body hair grows back literally a day after shaving, voice deepening, etc. and im so sorry you’re going through this too.
I would recommend talking to a dermatologist to see if any topical treatments alone can help reduce your acne, and if that doesn’t work, maybe ask about spironolactone (if you don’t want to go on a BC pill). Spiro has worked wonders for so many women with PCOS and it’s worth a shot.
PCOS can also cause severe mood swings. I was so depressed right before my period last week that I couldn’t get out of bed or eat. Maybe also check in with a therapist or psychiatrist to help you manage those, as well.
Lastly, you’re not alone. It may seem overwhelming now but I promise it’ll get better with time. Sending you love ❤️
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I think yoy need to ask to a doctor
– Hormonal birth control
– Diet & exercise
– Retinoids & electrolysis
Victoria Beckham has it, and is beautiful. It means you have to work a bit harder to make the best of yourself, but it’s not an impossible situation.
The only thing that helped was dropping sugar. I was already underweight and doing a lot of sport. But the acne only improved with reducing sugar. I still struggle..as I have a massive sweet tooth. And acne hasn’t completely gone. But it’s much better.
Periods are still not regular though..but everyone says that’s cause of low weight…and I’m not prepared to address that at this stage.
PCOS is a hormonal imbalance. You will want to see an endocrinologist and start some form of HRT. Bicalutamide + COC (the pill) is a good way to get a handle on it. There are many different medication combinations that can work, and some can take weeks to months to see results, so don’t be hasty to throw in the towel if something isn’t working.
While the primary focus of r/drwillpowers is trans healthcare it remains a place for discussion of all things hormonal, and would be a good place to go to seek more info about PCOS treatment options
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29211888/
This is what I do for my PCOS:
Medication:
I take Sprintec birth control, 150 mg of Spironolactone, 500 mg 2x Metformin
Supplements:
I take 4 Inositol pills a day (2 in the morning & 2 at night), multivitamin and Fenugreek 2 pills a day
Skin Care:
I use a gentle cleanser every day and night, vitamin C serum a moisturizer & sunscreen during the day and prescription retinoid and moisturizer at night
I do electrolysis to get rid of the body hair.
Nutrition:
I eat a low carb diet (30-60 net carbs a day), I eat vegetables and a fruit and some kind of animal protein . I avoid process foods. I do eat processed foods and sweets on special occasions.
Exercise:
I do weight training or/and walking at least 3 times a week. My goal is usually 5x a week.
I don’t have acne anymore, facial hair is gone, no PMS symptoms, reactive hypoglycemia had improved greatly, my weight is fine, my withdrawal bleeding (fake period from the birth control) happens exactly 28 days.
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Yeah the only way to properly deal with it is to lose weight. I used to be 280lbs and now I’m down to 155lbs. Like you said there is no cure, but the only for sure way to deal with it is weight loss and exercise.