Inflammatory acne
PCOS leads to inflammatory acne because it is a hyperandrogenic state and a lifestyle disorder where the androgen levels are raised. Dr Anil Ganjoo, Sr Consultant Dermatologist and Laser Surgeon, and Director, Skinnovation Clinics, says, “This happens due to a deranged ovarian activity, a genetic predisposition, and lifestyle problems such as obesity and lack of exercise. It is associated with a hyperandrogenic state – the androgen levels are raised, they stimulate the oil glands or sebaceous glands into hyperactivity, and a lot of sebum is produced.” Once the sebum is produced, there is a major possibility of infection occurring in the sebaceous glands and all this put together leads to development of acne. The infection is usually caused by the Propionibacterium acne, and this is how the inflammatory acne occurs.
Lifestyle has a role to play here. Dr Ami Shah, Dermatologist, Trichologist, Cosmetologist and Laser Expert, Shah Skin Cosmetic and Laser Centre, says, “If the patient is already obese, it could lead to PCOS or PCOS in turn leads to obesity. There could be a condition known as insulin resistance along with PCOS. Here, the insulin hormone is not able to work as receptors because of the initial resistance, thereby the level of insulin hormone increases and this results into more production of androgens and further aggravation of acne.” She terms it as “a syndrome, a complex which consists of insulin resistance, PCOS, obesity, and eventually resulting into more male hormonal imbalance, androgen excess resulting to acne.”