The Connection Between PCOS And Dark Skin Patches

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that people often associate with irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, excessive hair growth, polycystic ovaries, and weight gain. However, the list of PCOS symptoms is LONG due to the fact that hormonal dysregulation can domino throughout the body, wreaking havoc on multiple body functions. Some unusual, but not uncommon, symptoms of PCOS are hair loss, sleeping problems, brain fog, and skin darkening.  

Yes, Cysters, those dark patches of skin may be due to your PCOS! We often aren’t taught about this connection when we are diagnosed, so we may not be sure how to improve hyperpigmentation and restore skin health. But, that’s what I’m here for! Today, I’m going to explain how polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can cause skin darkening and what you can do about it.

The Connection Between PCOS And Dark Skin Patches 

So yes, there is a link between PCOS and darkening skin. Remember, the skin is actually an organ, meaning internal root issues can damage all organs, including the skin. But, that also means improving your condition can naturally restore your skin’s tone and texture.  

How Does PCOS Cause Dark Skin Patches?

Up to 80% of women with PCOS also have insulin resistance. This is where your body doesn’t effectively process glucose. So, instead of converting sugar to energy, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream and stored as fat. Not only does this contribute to high blood sugar levels and weight gain, but it can even contribute to changes in sex hormone levels like testosterone. 

Insulin resistance has been shown to trigger a condition called PCOS skin or acanthosis nigricans, which is where dark, velvety patches form on the skin. They’re often in folds and creases on the body. (You may have also heard of PCOS dark inner thighs.) This happens because the excess insulin binds to skin cells and stimulates the rapid multiplication of skin cells . . . thus triggering skin darkening and even skin tags. 

Plus, those high androgen levels from insulin resistance and other hormonal dysregulation, can prompt acne. This hormonal acne can be tricky to fix if you’re unsure of the root cause. But, now that you know it comes from the root issues of PCOS, you can start naturally healing your body, including your beautiful skin! 

Yes, many women are prescribed birth control pills to improve acne and other skin conditions, but this doesn’t get to the root problem and often causes as many side effects as it masks the symptom! So, I instead recommend these natural ways of not only managing your condition but actually reversing your symptoms! 

How To Get Rid Of Dark Patches Of Skin Due To PCOS

Try a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet. 

PCOS treatment planning should always start with diet! Both the insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance can be improved naturally with intentional eating habits. I recommend you try going gluten- and dairy-free and opt for anti-inflammatory whole foods for 30 days to see how you feel and how your symptoms respond. Reducing sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods can also be super helpful for increasing your insulin sensitivity, regulating your hormones, and reversing your symptoms! 

Don’t worry about this diet being restrictive either! You can still eat things like pizza, desserts, and plenty of your favorite snacks and meals when you find PCOS-friendly alternatives for the ingredients that typically trigger your symptoms. Find PCOS-friendly meal plans and recipes on The Cysterhood app. 

Do regular slow-weighted exercises. 

When you download The Cysterhood app, you’ll probably notice our full body workout videos, too! Exercise is one of THE best ways to reduce insulin resistance and improve hormone dysregulation naturally. However, not all exercises will get you there. I recommend slow-weighted, low impact workouts that will work out your whole body but won’t spike your already chronically high cortisol and adrenaline levels, which could actually worsen hormone balance and insulin sensitivity. Be sure to take breaks in between your different exercises (at least 1 minute) so that you also five time for your cortisol levels to go down. You can find all the best exercises for PCOS on the app! 

Drink plenty of water. 

For our skin to be healthy, we need to drink plenty of water. This goes for anyone! However, this is especially important for women with PCOS, because water helps transport hormones through the body, helping to keep your endocrine system working at its best. So, for the hormonal side of skin darkening, hydration is key! 

Wear sunscreen and protect your skin. 

Being outside is great for your sleep hygiene, mental health, and overall well-being. Getting sunlight is great for vitamin D (which we Cysters are often deficient in), but overexposure can be damaging to our skin. Damaging UV rays trigger melanin production which, like insulin resistance, can worsen skin darkening! So, always wear sunscreen (yes, even in winter or when you can’t visibly see the sun) to protect yourself and reach your skincare goals. 

Review and update your skincare routine. 

A consistent skincare routine with clean ingredients is also a helpful way to manage skin darkening and acne from PCOS. Here is a routine you can try: glycolic or hyaluronic acid cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. I also recommend gently exfoliating once a week, because it’ll help remove dead skin cells, encourage cell turnover, and brighten darkened skin. You can hear more on this in the episode of A Cyster and Her Mister all about PCOS skincare!   

Practice stress management.  

Stress is terrible for your body. Not only does it make you feel anxious, but an increase in stress means an increase in cortisol levels, which triggers other hormonal dysregulation and worsens insulin resistance. This can worsen skin darkening and acne, so find what your go-to routine is to reduce stress. Meditating, box breathing, getting out in nature, embracing your hobbies, putting away your screens . . . whatever you need to do to feel well! Stress management is essential for healing many symptoms of PCOS! 

Take the right vitamins and supplements.

PCOS supplements that focus on insulin resistance and hormone dysregulation can also be super helpful for improving dark skin patches! Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, zinc, chromium, omega-3, and Ovasitol can all work wonders for your skin and other PCOS symptoms. You can find all of these in the high-quality, PCOS-friendly supplement line Ovafit! 

Improve your sleep routine to get better sleep. 

Good quality sleep helps your body a TON with hormone balance and insulin sensitivity. When you don’t sleep well, important cycles and processes don’t happen like they’re supposed to, leading to hormonal dysregulation, insulin resistance, inflammation, and more, of course. Because of this, creating a wind-down routine that can help you get better sleep can be great for your skin and overall PCOS health

Insulin resistance from PCOS can lead to skin darkening, but it can be reversed!

All the symptoms of PCOS can be overwhelming, and symptoms that impact your appearance can be particularly difficult to deal with both mentally and physically. 

Just remember that you are BEAUTIFUL and you can reverse your PCOS symptoms, including skin darkening with some intentional lifestyle changes. Just take it one step at a time, keep learning, trying what works for you, join The Cysterhood community, and believe that there’s life beyond PCOS! Trust the process and we can thrive with PCOS together!