There are a lot more symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) than just missed periods. Of course, there’s a lot of chaos that comes from erratic menstrual cycles, but PCOS is a chronic condition that affects almost all parts of a woman’s body.
Other symptoms women with PCOS deal with include weight gain, hair loss, mood swings, excessive hair growth on the body and face, infertility, sleep disturbances, headaches, and even skin problems! That last one is the one I’m focusing on today. Acne, skin tags, and skin darkening (AKA hyperpigmentation).
What is the link between PCOS and skin issues? And, how can you fix it??? I’ve got some answers for you today. Here’s what you need to know about PCOS and your skin.
All About PCOS Skin Darkening, Acne, and Skin Tags
Can PCOS Cause Darkening of the Skin and Other Skin Conditions?
ABSOLUTELY! Remember, the skin is an organ, so when our body is experiencing a lot of internal turmoil, it makes sense that your skin would start to show signs of those issues. This is why a couple common symptoms of PCOS are acne, skin darkening (acanthosis nigricans), and skin tags!
There are two main culprits of skin problems for Cysters: hormone imbalances and insulin resistance. Below, I’ll break down each PCOS skin issue and why they happen.
PCOS Skin Problems or Issues: What They Are and Where They Come From
Insulin Resistance Hyperpigmentation
Insulin resistance is when the cells don’t respond properly to glucose. Since the body can’t process sugar and turn it into energy efficiently, the pancreas releases more insulin to stabilize blood sugar. The thing is, insulin isn’t just a blood sugar hormone. It also acts like a growth factor.
It activates IGF-1 growth receptors, encourages skin cells to multiply, and triggers fibroblast activity. Fibroblasts are what create structure for our cells and help with healing when we’re hurt. High insulin also stimulates melanocytes, which are protective cells that shield your body from UV radiation, oxidative stress, and injury—they also happen to be pigment-producing cells.
PCOS and Dark Spots
The result of all this excess stimulation? Overactive fibroblasts, melanocytes, and other growth factors create thick, velvety, dark patches of skin on the body. These usually appear on the neck, armpits, inner thighs, groin, and under-breast area. This is because those areas of the body are naturally more sensitive to insulin. The name of this skin condition stemming from insulin resistance is acanthosis nigricans.
PCOS Skin Discoloration
If you have skin discoloration but it’s not dark or rough, you may be experiencing something called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Many women with PCOS have chronic, low-grade inflammation, which makes the immune system overactive. When the immune system is activated, it sends chemical messengers to the skin’s protective cells (melanocytes), signaling them to produce more melanin.
This type of discoloration is usually flat, not velvety, and appears brown, reddish, or gray. It often follows the pattern of past breakouts or irritation where the skin was once inflamed. You’ll usually see PIH on the face, inner thighs, bikini line, underarms, neck, chest, back, legs, knees, and elbows.
PCOS and Dry Skin
Our skin’s oil production relies heavily on hormones. Hormones act as messengers, telling oil glands when to produce more or less sebum (natural oil). When hormones are imbalanced, proper oil production can be disrupted.
Estrogen, for example, is essential for collagen production, moisture retention, and overall skin hydration. When estrogen is low (which is common with PCOS), the skin loses water more easily and becomes more prone to irritation. Additionally, insulin resistance and inflammation can hinder proper cell renewal, weaken the skin barrier, and prevent the skin from holding moisture. This can all lead to dry, tight-feeling skin.
PCOS and Skin Tags
Skin tags (also called acrochordons) are small, non-cancerous growths on the skin. They form when skin cells grow more than they should in one spot. They’re made of skin cells, collagen, and small blood vessels. Skin tags usually develop in skin folds or areas that experience friction, such as the neck, armpits, under-breast area, groin, inner thighs, and eyelids.
They’re harmless, but cosmetically, no one loves them. They can also snag easily on clothing or jewelry and may become sore or bleed. Skin tags are common with PCOS because the condition is linked to elevated insulin and growth signaling. Insulin resistance continues to prompt excess cell multiplication and skin thickening, which can lead to skin tags.
PCOS Skin Rash or Acne
We’ve already talked about how hormones affect oil production. While low estrogen can contribute to dry skin, high androgens can make skin greasy. These male sex hormones stimulate oil glands and can increase the thickness and volume of sebum.
This makes pores more likely to clog and triggers acne or skin rashes. On top of that, chronic inflammation can weaken the skin barrier and trigger immune responses within clogged pores, leading to more bumps, pimples, and irritation. This type of hormonal acne usually appears on the lower face and tends to be deep, cystic, and persistent—even after using topical treatments.
PCOS and Skin Conditions: Conclusion
So, yeah! Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can definitely cause a variety of skin issues. Insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances unfortunately work together in a vicious cycle. Elevated androgens in the body can prompt you to develop insulin resistance, interfering with the signaling in the body in a way that prevents your cells from processing sugar appropriately. Then, insulin resistance can trigger your ovaries to produce more androgens. These two things wrestle back and forth, creating most of your PCOS symptoms.
Luckily, since these two issues are linked and both to blame for your PCOS skin issues, fixing just two things can help you see a ton of relief! Plus, you can do it naturally without birth control pills or weight loss drugs. Here are some things you can bring to your doctor when it’s time to discuss a treatment plan for your PCOS skin concerns:
How to Treat PCOS Skin Pigmentation, Acne, and Skin Tags
Maintain a balanced diet.
One of the best ways to get a handle on your PCOS skin issues is to first look at your diet. Eating a balanced diet isn’t just about losing weight, especially not with PCOS! Getting to a healthy weight and fueling your body properly can improve and even reverse your symptoms in every category, including skin health.
Going with an anti-inflammatory nutrition plan is best for Cysters. Inflammation can trigger insulin resistance and hormone imbalances as your body fights “perceived” threats like gluten and dairy. I recommend trying to go gluten- and dairy-free for 30 days to see if it reduces inflammation if you have PCOS!
Beyond the anti-inflammatory benefits, choosing healthier food options can lower your blood sugar and help your body develop insulin sensitivity. Remember, insulin resistance and hormone imbalances are linked, so usually when you fix one, the other naturally follows!
You can learn more here about balanced eating with PCOS. But, you can also download The Cysterhood app, for delicious meal plans catered specifically to your PCOS body! It can be a game changer for all of your symptoms, including your skin tags, acne, and hyperpigmentation! Here’s one of my favorites from The Cysterhood App, Crispy Coconut Chicken Tenders!
Stay hydrated.
It’s no secret that your skin needs hydration! Water helps transport hormones throughout the body, so that’s definitely a plus for hormone balance and the reduction of hormone-related skin problems!
Beyond that, a hydrated body will also flush out toxins easier, which can reduce inflammation. And, proper hydration keeps your skin soft, healthy, and ready to filter out environmental toxins from entering your body. I think it’s safe to say water can have a big impact on your health, Cysters! Let’s get sipping!
Protect your skin from UV rays.
If you’ve been hanging around for a while, you know I am ALL about getting out in nature. Spending time outside is great for your sleep hygiene, mental health, and general well-being. However, as much as I love the sun, I don’t love the damaging UV rays!
Sunscreen is your best friend for hyperpigmentation and acne. UV rays can actually trigger melanin production and worsen skin darkening. Plus, the damage from the sun can leave your skin dry, irritated, exposed, and acne-prone. Make sure sunscreen is part of your skincare routine!
Exercise regularly.
Working out is great for every part of your body, even your skin. Exercise can help detoxify your skin, increase blood flow to your cells, balance hormones, and decrease insulin resistance. All of this is great for strong, healthy skin! Chronic issues with hyperpigmentation, skin tags, acne, dryness, dullness, and more can be alleviated using exercise!
But, “exercise” is pretty vague, right? The best exercises for PCOS are low-impact workouts like slow weighted workouts, yoga, swimming, walking, pilates, etc. Just make sure you’re not doing anything that’s really getting your heart rate going and making your body produce a lot of adrenaline and cortisol (that’ll just send us right back into that insulin resistant and hormone imbalance cycle.)
You can find a library of slow weighted workouts in The Cysterhood app that are specialized for your PCOS body!
Update your skincare routine.
Speaking of skincare routine—you need to have one. I waited too long to get down a really good skincare routine, and I totally regret not doing it earlier. It’s essential for managing skin darkening and acne.
You need a glycolic or hyaluronic acid cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen in that order. Plus, you should be gently exfoliating once a week to remove dead skin cells, encourage cell turnover, and brighten darkened skin. For more specific guidance, listen to my episode of A Cyster and Her Mister all about PCOS skincare!
Drink hormonal balancing tea.
Herbs aren’t just for seasoning—many of them have research-backed health benefits! When you drink herbal tea regularly as part of your PCOS healing protocol, you can support big changes in your body. Now, there are a LOT of herbal teas out there that are beneficial, but you can’t drink 20+ cups of tea a day, right? So, instead, get a hormone-balancing tea blend like my Testosterone Relief Tea, which includes plenty of herbs known for helping reduce inflammation and balance androgens to improve many symptoms of PCOS—including the skin problems!
Reduce stress.
Managing stress is essential for getting control of your hormone levels and insulin resistance. Excess cortisol can prompt lots of imbalances and reactions that trigger PCOS symptoms, including skin problems. (I don’t think you need a reminder that stress can cause acne, but now you know it can contribute to skin tags and skin darkening too!)
I know, I know, reducing stress is super hard. Whether you’re a Cyster with a career, family, busy schedule, or all of the above, removing the mental load off your shoulders is TOUGH. I recommend spending time in nature, exercising, doing things you love, and getting lots of sleep!
Take the right vitamins and supplements.
Even with a great diet and all the right lifestyle changes, our bodies still won’t have everything they need to thrive. Having PCOS strips you of essential nutrients because chronic inflammation makes it harder to absorb these nutrients!
Some of these vitamins and nutrients help SO MUCH with skin health (among lots of other PCOS benefits.) And, the best part? You can get all the supplements listed below from Ovafit! All supplements in my line are NSF-certified, hypoallergenic, PCOS-diet friendly, and specialized to a Cyster’s unique needs.
Supplements designed and curated with PCOS in mind??? YEP! That’s exactly what we’ve got at Ovafit. Here are the nutrients in the Metabolism Plus bundle and Inositol Complete 40:1 that will give your skin a much-needed boost:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C in recent years has basically become legendary for being fantastic for the skin! It helps stimulate collagen production, reduce hyperpigmentation, and protect your skin from UV damage. It’s also anti-inflammatory, which is huge for acne and skin redness!
Vitamin E
Vitamin E can also help with your PCOS skin issues! Studies show it can help ease and repair hyperpigmentation while moisturizing, nourishing, and protecting the skin. All of this is a bonus for reversing acne and skin tags too!
Zinc
Zinc has amazing benefits for hormone balance. Aside from being anti-inflammatory, zinc can balance your excess androgens and help get your testosterone back to normal levels when combined with other hormone balancing treatments on this list. Once you’ve got hormones under control, you can break free from insulin resistance and see plenty of improvements in your hyperpigmentation, acne, and skin tags.
Omega-3
Omega-3 is another supplement that’ll aid in inflammation relief! This is awesome for acne, but omega-3 fatty acids can help with hyperpigmentation and skin tags by maintaining your skin’s natural barrier and keeping you hydrated!
Inositol Complete 40:1
Inositol Complete 40:1 is one of my FAVORITE supplements for PCOS because of its incredible hormone balancing abilities! If you remember, PCOS is a hormonal condition, so regulating hormones can help you totally reverse your symptoms and heal your PCOS naturally! As inositol balances your hormones, you’ll likely see your skin clear up and brighten! Bye-bye darkened skin and acne!!!
How to Get Rid of Dark Marks Between Your Legs
Dark marks between the legs are really common with PCOS—and super frustrating. It happens for a variety of reasons, mostly insulin resistance and inflammation. All the friction and chafing, along with irritation from consistent hair removal, can cause that velvety, dark skin we’ve been talking about.
Sometimes, in response to PCOS issues like excess hair growth, menstrual pain, or skin problems, doctors will suggest hormonal birth control or laser hair removal. However, those options just mask the symptoms—they don’t treat the root cause. When you apply all the lifestyle changes above to your daily routine, you’ll likely experience relief from many symptoms. This includes improvements in skin texture and tone all around—even between the legs!
One additional thing that must be done is reducing friction. If you don’t, irritation and therefore inflammation will persist, keeping your skin dark and rough. To reduce friction, try these solutions:
- Apply anti-chafe balm or body glide
- Use moisturizing lotions with slip (not dry powders)
- Switch to breathable bottoms and underwear like cotton or modal
- Wear well-fitted shorts or bike shorts under dresses
The only way to treat PCOS skin is to get to the root of the problem!
The root of your PCOS skin issues is inflammation, hormone imbalance, and insulin resistance. All three of those things are in a tug-of-war with each other, and your whole body is experiencing symptoms because of it. It’s time to be done with acne, skin tags, and dark skin patches caused by PCOS.
Try these helpful tips and talk to your doctor about Ovafit supplements to start taking control of your life and gaining your confidence back with clear, refreshed, and glowing skin despite PCOS. You can do it!