Hair loss is every woman’s worst nightmare, and incessant acne outbreaks are probably a close second. Unfortunately, over a 100 million Indian women are forced to confront this very nightmare because of a condition that is becoming increasingly common. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is a chronic condition that strikes women who are in their reproductive age, causing a variety of unpleasant symptoms and greatly increases the risk of infertility. However, PCOS hair loss and acne can be easily dealt with if you know what to do.
Why PCOS Causes Hair Fall & Acne
“In PCOS, due to insulin resistance, the male hormone or androgen levels rise, causing hair thinning, hair loss, & severe acne outbreaks”
PCOS is an endocrinal disorder, which means that it affects the function of insulin, a hormone that regulates the uptake of glucose in the body, resulting in insulin resistance. This in turn leads to production of higher-than-normal levels of androgens in the body, causing hair thinning and hair loss in women with PCOS.
Similarly, these hormonal imbalances also cause severe acne outbreaks, as a result of sensitivity to the male hormones – androgen. In fact, persistent acne after the age of 25 is regarded as a warning sign of PCOS.
How to Beat Acne & Keep Your Hair Healthy!
As acne and hair loss in PCOS afflicted women is caused by hormonal imbalances, for a permanent solution, you need to address the underlying cause. This means treating PCOS specifically with medications, diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. However, in the meantime, you can also use herbal and natural extracts to address PCOS-related acne and hair fall.
Natural Treatments For Acne
Aloe Vera: Perhaps the most popular of all medicinal herbs, aloe is widely known as a remedy for a variety of health conditions. In the case of acne, these claims have stood up to close scrutiny, with several studies suggesting that including aloe in acne skin treatments can enhance treatment efficacy and reduce inflammatory lesions.
Cucumber: We tend to regard cucumbers as nothing more than a refreshing summer food, but they are also great for treating PCOS acne. Cucumbers contain antioxidants and flavonoids with anti-inflammatory properties, as well as bioactive compounds like lutein, cucurbitacins, and cucumerin. These unique properties make it effective for dealing with PCOS acne.
Neem: Neem tree is ascribed with almost divine properties because of its tremendous medicinal value, which has been used in Ayurveda and South Indian Siddha medicine. Research that appeared in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine highlights its effect on chronic skin conditions. Researchers state that conditions like acne and psoriasis clear quickly with the application of neem oil.
Natural Treatments For Hair Loss
Coconut Oil: Undoubtedly, the most popular hair oil across large swathes of India, coconut oil is a triglyceride of lauric acid, with an affinity for hair protein and ability to penetrate hair shafts. A study in the Journal of Cosmetic Science found that application of coconut oil to hair significantly reduced protein loss in both damaged and undamaged hair.
Almond Oil: With its high nutritional value, almond oil is particularly nourishing for the scalp and helps to strengthen your hair. The oil contains a variety of nutrients that are essential for healthy hair growth, such as omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, vitamin E, and magnesium.
Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil is popular hair oil because of its content of essential hair vitamins like B-complex vitamins and vitamin E, as well as zinc and protein. It is believed to help nourish the hair, while also giving it added protection because of its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Herbal Cures For Acne & Hair Loss
Although natural oils and herbal extracts can be extremely helpful in dealing with PCOS symptoms like hair fall and recurring acne, the best results can be obtained through creating your own blend of natural ingredients. This is because certain ingredients enhance the efficacy of others, giving you even better results. Keeping this in mind, it may be good idea to use an herbal product like Moha Herbal Face-wash. This face-wash contains a blend of ingredients like aloe, cucumber, neem, and rose water, making it the perfect acne treatment, providing quick relief and with no risk of side effects.
When it comes to treating hair loss, Moha 5-in-1 Hair Oil is one of the best products as it contains a mixture of the best hair oils, including coconut, jojoba, and argan oil, among others. In addition to preventing hair loss, this blend of oils also stimulates hair growth, prevents premature greying, and helps to treat dandruff. Remember, that when using natural remedies and herbal products, you need to be consistent in your practice and patient.
The Health Orange has partnered with Dr. Charak help you overcome and cope with the symptoms of PCOS
