Can I really have clear, beautiful skin and PCOS? You bet!

Whether you’re looking at the constant stream of selfies on your Facebook feed or famous cover models on your favorite magazine cover, one thing is for sure—it seems that every woman around you has perfect, beautiful skin. Everyone, but you.

At least that’s what it feels like if you’re suffering from PCOS and acne. And it’s hard not to compare yourself to these women—friends and strangers alike—and wonder why they got so lucky to have clear, beautiful skin while you got a face full of painful, red pimples.

Please know that you are no alone.

Today it’s estimated that about 5 million teenage girls and adult women suffer from PCOS, and many of those women also have a severe type of acne called cystic acne. According to the Mayo Clinic, causes of acne may include excess oil produced by the skin, clogged pores, hormonal imbalances, select medications, and poor diet. (Stress, while not a cause of acne, worsens it.)

Some of the most common treatments for acne include topical ointments and creams, oral antibiotics, contraceptives, and chemical peels. While these standard treatments do help most women and teenage girls clear up their acne, I worry about the long-term side effects of antibiotics and the Pill on the body (read my thoughts about PCOS and the Pill here).

I also believe that while external treatments including ointments, creams, and peels may provide relief from acne, they don’t actually help heal the body from the inside out. Since acne begins under the skin, that’s also where the solution lies.

And the solution is food, and specifically a PCOS-friendly diet and lifestyle.

I can say confidently that by changing my diet to incorporate PCOS-friendly foods, I’ve been able to clear my skin completely of unsightly and painful cystic pimples, and no longer have embarrassing breakouts and flare ups that last for upwards of two weeks.

Today, you’d never be able to tell that I suffered from acne, which is great, but unfortunately it took me too many years to figure out that PCOS-friendly foods were the simple and natural remedy I needed to end my cystic acne for good.

I can help you, too. As a Health Coach and a woman living with PCOS, my goal is to help women just like you start feeling better today so that you don’t have to struggle with PCOS-related symptoms for years like I did. I truly believe that with diet and lifestyle changes you can feel more confident in your own skin again!

I hope this post has inspired you to start seeking freedom from your PCOS symptoms. For more of my PCOS tips, sign up below. And, if you know someone with PCOS who could benefit from this post, please share it with them.