The findings in this study are probably not news to you if you have PCOS, but it's nice to see your emotional PCOS finally validated with a scientific study.
480 women with PCOS participated in the psychological evaluation portion of this study.
Women who were not menstruating were more likely to have lower self-esteem, and to have a greater fear of being negatively viewed with regard to their appearance. These women also appeared to have an earlier onset of maturity.
High androgen levels and acne were associated with poorer body satisfaction. The greater the degree of hirsutism and BMI (body size), the lower the scores on psychological tests.
The obvious social explanations for these findings have been covered elsewhere. I believe that hormones have a huge part to play in these tendencies…I've worked in eating disorders and I've seen literally thousands of women lose the weight and remove the hair…and STILL be unhappy. Women with PCOS need help in understanding how hormones affect mood (and that hormones ARE mood) and to have access to qualified professionals who can help with that aspect of PCOS.
It's why I'm so happy Gretchen Kubacky and Anna Ahlborn are in the inCYST Network. They are here to help us better understand these conditions and what can be done to minimize any potentially negative influence they may have on your quality of life.: )
de Niet JE, de Koning CM, Pastoor H, Duivenvoorden HJ, Valkenburg O, Ramakers MJ, Passchier J, de Klerk C, Laven JS. Psychological well-being and sexarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2010 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print]
I recently wrote about how much more attention horses get with regards to nutrition's importance in fertility than we humans do. Since so many of my inCYST friends also seem to be cat lovers, I thought I'd share some pertinent wisdom from the feline world.
You may already know my friend Kate, whose blog http://www.moderncat.net/ is famous world-wide for its information about stylish kitty accessories.
Today Kate has posted some information about handmade pottery dishes for cats. If you've ever had a cat with acne, you've probably been told to switch from plastic dishes to clay ones. The reason for this is that acne-causeing bacteria can grow on the plastic dishes.
Humans don't do so well with plastic, either. Not only is there a risk for bacteria, but some plastics can mimic estrogens. They're not really the kind of estrogen our body likes to use, and it confuses our feedback systems to have the wrong kind of estrogen floating around the body.
As it gets warmer, and we tend to carry water bottles around to stay hydrated, we have to be aware of how we transport that water. Plastic bottles left in purses, cars, etc, are simply not a good idea. Be sure you look for a metal bottle. You can find them in most stores these days, but if you're having trouble in your area, here's one I found at amazon.com: Eco-Friendly Wide Mouth 25 oz, 750 ml Stainless Steel Sports Water Bottle — BPA Free
Now you can keep kitty healthy, yourself healthy, and by keeping all those plastics out of landfills, you are keeping our planet healthy as well. A great and easy way to celebrate Earth Month!
I recently purchased a Clarisonic and it seems to be helping my acne. What do you think about Clarisonic for PCOS-related acne?
Dr. Van Dyke's answer:
It would be great, it doesn't spin so you don't get"abraded". It oscillates causing vibration that drives the cleanser into the pores to clean them out. I like using a glycolic cleanser with it (Vivite is good).
Dr. Van Dyke
************************************************************************************ If you're not familiar with Clarisonic, cllick here for more information.
Have a skin question? Send it along and we'll get Dr. Van Dyke's perspective!
Our own Dr. Susan Van Dyke, in this video, demonstrates Fraxel, a type of laser treatment that is helpful for acne scars and skin discoloration, issues many of you readers face with your PCOS.
Dr. Van Dyke's office is located in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
In my part of the world, winter is citrus time. The trees in my neighborhood are loaded down with grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, limes, and lemons…to the point where people give them away because they simply cannot use them all.
Family and friends have filled an entire shelf of my refrigerator with lemons, which of all of the above, is the hardest to use in large quantities.
So I started Googling to see what I could do with lemon juice. Turns out, it is really great for skin! It is especially helpful for acne scars and helping to fade discolored skin. It's high in glycolic acid, which is a key ingredient in many facial peel products.
I've simply been putting the lemon juice on my skin for about an hour in the morning…a few times, after reading more, I've even gone to sleep with it still on my face. You'll feel a tingle at first, and it's best to keep it away from your eyes.
I've been doing this for about two weeks and am noticing a healthier glow to my skin and even a little bit of reduction of fine lines. I'm not promising miracles, and I don't think it's going to completely erase the marks of time, but I do feel it's doing something invigorating on several different levels.
For those of you whose PCOS has affected your skin's appearance, it's another inexpensive and simple tool for you to have to help you feel and look better.
Hello from beautiful Vermont! I'm here at Green Mountain at Fox Run Resort for their first-ever PCOS program. Today we discussed healthy skin. I used Carmina McGee's recent interview on PCOS Challenge for the basis of our discussion. You can listen to the entire interview at PCOS Challenge…but for starters, here are her top tips for improving your skin from the inside out.
1. Get enough sleep. 2. Reduce your stress. 3. Eat regularly--don't skip meals. 4. Limit your intake of processed foods. 5. Moderate your alcohol intake. 6. Don't smoke. 7. Get plenty of physical activity. 8. Be sure to make time for yourself that does not include taking care of others. 9. Be part of some kind of community to decrease your sense of aloneness. 10. Have some sort of spiritual path.
Marsha Hudnall, owner of Green Mountain at Fox Run, added this one to the list:
11. Laugh!
We've been so busy, I haven't posted much about what we're doing. I have been taking photos, though, so check back for more details.
I can tell by looking at this blog's visitation statistics that a very high percentage of its visitors are looking for help with an immediate problem that has"hit them where it hurts", so to speak. You may have acne. Or want a child. Or be looking for a successful weight loss plan.
The fact is, however, that sitting in my seat, it is equally important to offer insight and solutions for those problems as it is to educate about the big picture.
The fact is, 10% of women with PCOS will be diabetic by age 40.
The fact is, PCOS increases your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
And…since diabetes is increasingly being associated with Alzheimer's disease, the fact is, you may end up being at risk for that as well if you're on this blog looking for help with your acne.
Fortunately, you don't have to do one thing for your fertility, another for your acne, and another to prevent Alzheimer's. All the suggestions you see here work to help all organ systems function better.
And the fact is, there is a whole lot you can do to decrease your risk of having any of the problems mentioned above.
The fact is, you can't decrease your risk if you don't take action. That part of the solution is totally in your control.
In this particular study, the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)concentrations in fat tissue were evaluated in 1819 people. (ALA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed, flaxseed oil, soybeans, canola oil, and nuts, to name a few.)
Individuals with higher levels of ALA had a lower risk of heart attack.
The fact is…if you cook more often with canola oil, eat more nuts, put some edamame on your next salad, and/or add some ground flaxseed to your next bowl of oatmeal, you just might experience the same benefits as the people in this study.
If it can't hurt and it might help, there doesn't seem to be a reason not to try at least one of those things!
Campos H, Baylin A, Willett WC. Alpha-linolenic acid and risk of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 2008 Jul 22;118(4):339-45. Epub 2008 Jul 7.
As a skin care therapist I would often be the first one to recognize a serious hormonal imbalance based on the acne that a client might be struggling with. As nutritionist it’s clear that it’s an “inside-out” problem.
Women with PCOS often have elevated levels of free-testosterone, which is one of the markers of PCOS. When the body breaks down the testosterone, one of the by-products that can occur is DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). There are areas on our bodies that are particularly sensitive to the signals from DHT which are the face, neck, chest and back. The message is “make more oil!”.
We do need some oil on the skin in order to keep it protected and supple, but when it goes on overdrive, it literally backs up in the pore. The oil (sebum) we produce is very sticky so it doesn’t allow the dead skin cells to exfoliate easily so it becomes like have a tight lid on a pressure cooker.
The naturally occurring bacteria on the skin, along with dead skin cells and the oil end up creating a pretty nasty “stew” resulting in reddened, painful and pustular acne. If this material cannot get out of the skin, it can break the pore wall underneath the skin causing more acne (you might notice a little “family” of breakouts that always groups together). Most people, (men get it too for the same reason), focus only on trying to treat the skin externally — but the goal is to get the body back in balance.
Some basic strategies are as follows:
1. Try to eat organic and hormone free as much as possible, especially when it comes to dairy products. The hormones that the cows receive to keep them lactating as long as possible go right into the milk and it’s by-products (cheese, ice-cream etc.) which go right into you — creating a further hormonal imbalance.
2. Stress is a huge trigger for increasing DHT — it is critical to create your own menu of"stress-busters" that can be used throughout the day and work for you! A simple one is to just stop for one to two minutes and do deep breathing. This short-circuits the stress hormone release response.
3. Acne in all forms is primarily an inflammatory disease. Fish oils, which are also beneficial for neurotransmitter balance, do double duty since they help tremendously with inflammation.
4. Eat inflammation quenching foods, rich in antioxidants — fruits and vegetables. Remember when fried foods were believed to cause acne? They may not do it directly, but indirectly they are highly inflammatory.
5. Getting hormones especially your estrogen to testosterone ratio back in balance is the key to getting to the source of the problem. Work closely with your In-Cyst trained expert toward this goal.
Next blog I’ll share information on strategies for dealing with the skin from the outside in.
Carmina McGee, MS, RD, LE Registered Dietitian/ Licensed Esthetician 805.816-1629 / Ventura, California www.CarminaMcGee.com Carmina@CarminaMcGee.com
You ever have one of those days where everything just seems to come together in the right way? Your hair looks good, your face is clear and bright, your outfit is colorful and flattering, and people are just responding to you in a good way. You’re looking good, and you know it! You FEEL good.
On the flip side, thought, PCOS is there to drag you down when it comes to appearance. We’ve got moustaches, partial and full beards, hair loss, hair in inappropriate places, excess weight (or sometimes not enough weight), acne, skin darkening, skin tags, and other cosmetic indignities galore. How on earth are you supposed to feel good in this body when it’s presenting you with these problems on a daily basis?! Moustaches and muffin tops, indeed!
And that’s just the external stuff. Inside, there are the imbalances that lead to mood swings, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. Insulin resistance, thyroid problems, and other health concerns lurk in the background. All of this can be physically and emotionally exhausting. And when you’re exhausted, it’s easy to give up on appearance. One thing I’ve learned about PCOS is that, although it threatens your physical appearance with masculinizing and unflattering characteristics, you can use positive attention to your appearance to lift your mood.
Part of what I always focus on with my clients is self-care. This may be emotional, spiritual, or physical in nature. I’ve observed that taking time to tend to your appearance as much as reasonably possible (because we don’t want the opposite problem of busting out your budget on shopping, or spending all of your play time at the salon!) results in feeling better. The American Cancer Society sponsors a program called “Look Good, Feel Better,” for women with cancer – it’s a day of make-up application instruction, wig and other hair tricks, and so on – sounds trivial in the face of cancer, but it’s miraculous in how the women respond.
PCOS isn’t cancer, to be sure, but the principles are the same – look good, feel better! I won’t go so far as to say that I “prescribe” pedicures, but maybe I should, and I have in fact recommended them, along with shopping days and other beauty services. Well-tended toes, a pretty top, or some dangly earrings will spark up the girly-girl in most women. For women with PCOS, this is a place that needs a little extra attention. You deserve it.
If there’s something you’ve been neglecting – a haircut, shopping for new bras (yes, you in the stretched out ultra-comfy bra that you haven’t replaced since last year – the one that isn’t doing your breasts any justice at all — I’m talking to you!), doing a wardrobe clean-out and ditching all the unflattering items – it’s a great time to do it. Right now, this very moment. Call your stylist, grab a bag to be filled and donated to Goodwill, or make a call to find out about laser hair removal in your area. Whatever it is, the action will make you feel better.
Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D. is a Health Psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles, California. She specializes in counseling women and couples who are coping with infertility, PCOS, and related endocrine disorders and chronic illnesses.
If you would like to learn more about Dr. HOUSE or her practice, or obtain referrals in the Los Angeles area, please visit her website at www.drhousemd.com, or e-mail her at Gretchen@drhousemd.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askdrhousemd.
Such exciting developments on the skin care front! You've likely seen Carmina McGee's posts here at inCYST. Carmina is a registered dietitian as well as a licensed esthetician, and she loves to teach about skin care from inside out. If you haven't heard her interview on PCOS Challenge, and you want to know more about everything from acne to acanthosis nigricans to skin tags…I highly recommend it.
Speaking of skin, we're soon to have a new inCYST member with some great new information for you! Dr. Susan Van Dyke is a board certified dermatologist in Paradise Valley (near Phoenix), Arizona, who has a special interest in PCOS. She's got a great new laser technique called Duet LightSheer Laser, which is only available in select locations in the United States. You can read about Dr. Van Dyke and her procedure at this link, and you can join her Facebook group at"Van Dyke Laser and Skin".
I am learning from all of you how important it is to understand the emotional issues surrounding the appearance changes PCOS induces, and it's important to me that we provide support for you in those areas as well as in areas where we're currently very actively discussing.
I love what Carmina is doing and I'm absolutely thrilled Dr. Van Dyke is joining our group. I hope it's only the beginning of new, helpful information and services we at inCYST can offer to our readers.
The last two clients I evaluated are struggling with acne. And recently, we were linked to an acne care website that is bringing in a whole new audience. So I thought it might be a good time to talk a little bit more about this topic.
First of all, thanks to Fran Kerr for linking to Susan Dopart's testimonial about flax and fish oil! It was a great way for our two organizations to become connected. I am going to put Fran's blog (http://www.highonhealth.org/) in our resource list because she has so much great information to offer. Not just on skin, but on living healthy in general.
Secondly, for those of you who are coming to us from Fran's blog/website, I'd like to ask you if you have ever heard about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It's the focus of this website, and many women find out they have it when they seek help for their acne. And…many women don't get that assessment. I actually had a dermatologist tell me she'd rather just give her patients birth control pills and end the appointment rather than get into it because it's such a complicated diagnosis.
A very common scenario is just that. A young girl goes to the dermatologist for her acne, gets birth control pills, takes them for 10 years or so, goes off them, tries to get pregnant…and can't. What happened was that the birth control pills treated the symptom…but essentially shoved the problem under the rug…where it continued to fester and create havoc elsewhere in the body.
So I want to take a moment to list the symptoms of PCOS for those of you who might have had this experience but either didn't have a doctor who wanted to deal with it, or who had a doctor who thought if you just"got your act together" you wouldn't have the problem.
Symptoms of PCOS include: A family history of infertility, irregular periods, or diabetes Being of an ethnic heritage that tends to have a high rate of diabetes A history of early puberty (first period at 11 years or younger) A history of taking medication for depression, bipolar disorder, seizure disorder, epilepsy, or migraine? A history of gestational diabetes in any of your pregnancies. An android ("apple shaped") body type (measure your waist to hip ratio; greater than.8) Irregular periods (or none at all) Dark velvety patches of skin on you neck, groin, or in your armpits Hair loss or male balding spots Difficulty losing weight Intense cravings for carbohydrates or sweets Problems conceiving Decreased sex drive Excess hair growth on your face, like a mustache or beard Excess hair on your chest or back Acne on your face, chest or back
If you see yourself painted in this symptom set, please print this out with your symptoms marked and show them to your physician. Ten percent of all women who have this syndrome will be diabetic by age 40, and with diabetes comes a whole other list of problems.
And keep checking back here. There are lots of ways to manage PCOS that do not involve medication, and we'd love to help you learn about them. In fact, the list of practitioners at the right is a list of registered dietitians who have taken the time to complete a 20 hour course in the management of PCOS. They are just waiting to hear from you.
For more information, please visit my web page on the topic: http://www.afterthediet.com/polycystic.htm
Have a wonderful week, it's a short one with the upcoming holiday!
This note comes from inCYST provider Carmina McGee, who in addition to being a registered dietitian is a licensed esthetician. Her computer has crashed so I'm posting on her behalf.
She is extending the offer to receive a special report on skin care and her recommended nutritional and natural therapies for skin problems related to PCOS.
In addition, she is offering a 10% discount on her skin care product line, which contains a patented ingredient from avocado pits that helps to slow down oil production--great for anyone with acne!
These offers are only good until July 15, so if you're interested, take action! Here's how.
1. Go to www.carminamcgee.com
2. Sign up for her newsletter
3. Check the"health, wellness, and PCOS" option.
That's all you have to do…don't just sit here on this blog post, go tell Carmina you want her free and discounted stuff!
If you missed the radio interview where these offers originally occurred, here is the link. But don't forget to visit Carmina first!
…you've got to hear Carmina McGee's interview she did today! It's packed full of information on everything from acne to acanthosis nigricans to facial hair and what to do about it.
