Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has become a more wide spread condition in adult women over the last five years.
PCOS is caused by an imbalance in reproductive hormones that results in clusters of small cysts on the ovaries.
The condition is usally diagnosed by irregular periods, diffficulty getting pregnant, unexplained weight gain, higher levels of androgen (male hormones) shown in blood tests or an ultrasound exam of the ovaries.
There are also some symptoms that manifest on the skin which can also be telltale signs of PSOS.
Consultant dermatologist & venereologist Dr Eva Melegh highlights two of the post common skin signs that may indicate PCOS;
Folliculitis Acne
PCOS often causes an increase in body and facial hair (hirsutism) due to higher androgen levels caused by hormonal changes linked to PCOS.
An increase in facial and body hair growth can cause the hair follicle to become more easily blocked and inflamed, leading to folliculitis acne, which is when external bacteria get into the hair follicle and infects it.
Folliculitis acne linked to PCOS often appears on the face (especially along the jawline), on the navel, on the back and around the pubic area.
How to prevent it
Studies suggest that hormonal flux linked to PCOS may instigate changes in the skin’s microbiome (the bacteria living on the skin’s surface) and negatively influence the number of good bacteria living on the skin’s surface, with reductions in the diversity of these beneficial bacteria.
Therefore, replenishing good skin bacteria can be a good line of defence against folliculitis acne or adult acne caused by PCOS.
Clarol Silver Serum is a skin serum containing a targeted micronized silver ingredient that directly feeds good skin bacteria while repelling bad skin bacteria. This can quickly and effectively address this tendency towards bacterial imbalance in skin affected by PCOS.
Exfoliation is also an effective way to prevent folliculitis acne.
However, exfoliation of adult skin and in intimate areas must be gentle with a fine and natural exfoliant as the skin is more fragile and sensitive.
Exfoliants aimed at teen acne are too harsh for adult skin prone to PCOS and should also not be used in intimate areas.
Daily manual exfoliation with an acid exfoliation with AHA’s (do not use in intimate areas) once every three days is a good routine for skin prone to folliculitis acne and should keep hair follicles less congested and therefore preventing inflammation.
In between AHA exfoliation use a natural exfoliant for adult acne such as Clarol Silver & Birch Exfoliating Wash, which contains Nordic birch bark that has natural ingredients to dissolve contaminated sebum in the hair follicle.
Bacterial Vaginitis
More recent studies have found that PCOS can cause changes in vaginal flora leading to a higher incidence of bacterial vaginitis (BV), which is a common bacterial infection on the skin in and around the vagina caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria that disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria that live within the vagina.
The most common symptom of bacterial vaginosis is a fishy vaginal odour, even after washing.
How to prevent it
First course of action is to start using an un-perfumed vaginal wash that replenishes good bacteria in the vagina.
In2mate Natural Wash is a natural wash that contains vaginal prebiotics to replenish good vaginal bacteria and also helps re-balance vaginal pH as well as reduces itching and discomfort.
If BV is accompanied by dryness and/or irritation around the entrance to the vagina then apply In2mate Lubricant twice daily, which is a daily lubricant (not just for sex) with vaginal prebiotics and wound healing properties to repair microdamage to the internal skin of the vagina, increase good vaginal bacteria and re-balance vaginal pH. This lubricant can also help protect against BV from sex.
It’s also advisable in order to help prevent recurrent BV infections to wear cotton underwear, avoid any perfumed intimate products or lubricants and wash off sweat from the vaginal area straight after sport or at the end of the day.
If BV persists it may mean a trip to the GP for a short course of antibiotics.
