Are you up to date with the latest treatments that could help?
As someone that was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) at 19, I know all too well the many ways it can affect both your physical and mental health. It currently affects one in ten women of child-bearing age in the UK and is characterised by a hormonal imbalance, with the ovaries often being covered with numerous small cysts.
Common symptoms include unwanted facial and body hair, unexplained weight gain, hair thinning, irregular periods, and challenges conceiving. But, for me it’s my breakout-prone skin that I struggle with the most.
Here, I’m going to take a deeper dive into some of the ways PCOS can affect the body and discuss some helpful treatments that can alleviate the symptoms.
1) PCOS and Acne
Arguably one of the most discussed PCOS symptoms, acne is often a result of elevated androgen levels — male sex hormones — which are known to stimulate sebum production in the skin. Excess sebum in combination with dead skin cells create a blockage in the pores, creating an optimal environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive.
When it comes to managing acne, some take hormonal contraception such as the pill or IUD, while others prefer a more ‘natural' method with herbs such as vitex or sipping on spearmint tea. Regular exfoliation (think retinoids and ingredients such as salicylic and mandelic acids) comes in handy for buffing away any dead skin. As for the bacteria, regular blue light LED use will have you waving farewell to those breakouts. CurrentBody’s Anti-Blemish LED Face Mask utilises blue light at a wavelength of 415nm which is clinically proven to destroy acne-causing bacteria. The device also features red light (633nm) with its effective inflammation and redness-reducing properties.
2) PCOS and Hair loss
Many women with PCOS experience hair loss and growth in equal measure — thinning on the scalp, yet growth on the face and body. The former, known as androgenetic alopecia, is linked to raised male sex hormones, specifically dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT can disrupt normal hair growth cycles and make the hair follicle smaller, resulting in your locks growing thinner, shorter and prone to falling out.
When most people picture alopecia, baldness or losing hair in large clumps is the first thing that comes to mind. In the case of androgenetic alopecia, hair thins out starting from the crown or at the hairline. It may not be a complete hair loss, but the result is significantly thinner hair that leaves the scalp visible.
For some it’s about trying clinical options such as minoxidil and platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP), a treatment that involves drawing one’s blood to extract platelets for their hair-restoring and healing benefits, and are then injected into the scalp.
The most effective strategies combine multiple treatments; cue red light therapy, a welcome addition to your hair growth arsenal. The science is that it increases blood flow, flooding the hair follicles with oxygen and essential nutrients to stimulate hair growth and delay the production of DHT. CurrentBody’s LED Hair Growth Helmet in particular has been proven to increase hair count by 31% in just 16 weeks, with 96% of customers in a study having felt an improvement in hair strength and thickness.
3) PCOS and Hair Growth
Also known as hirsutism, this is yet another concern that we can blame on those pesky androgens. Where an excess in these hormones trigger hair loss on the scalp, it can conversely stimulate hair growth in other parts of the body — the chin, upper lip, abdomen and chest to name a few. Hair also tends to be thicker and darker because these hormones attach to proteins on the surface of hair follicles that act as androgen receptors. This adds another layer to the issue, making it a challenge to remove.
On the topic of hair removal, many women with PCOS aren't thrilled with the cost that goes along with its upkeep. Whether you opt for in-clinic laser hair removal, waxing, epilation or shaving, you're bound to cough up a pretty penny. That’s where cost efficient solutions like at-home laser hair removal come in handy. For instance, CurrentBody’s Laser Hair Removal Device has a large enough surface treatment area that allows you to treat key spots including the legs, bikini and underarms in just 15 minutes compared to the usual hour or more it would take at a clinic, not only giving you more bang for your buck but also giving your time back.
Find out more:
Is laser hair removal the right method for you?
Everything you need to know about female hair loss
Can blue light LED therapy really help with blemishes and acne?
