Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) or Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition characterised by multiple cysts – small sacs filled with fluid in the ovaries. These cysts are not harmful but lead to hormonal imbalances. Patients with PCOD have abnormal levels of hormones that result in irregular menses, infertility and certain masculine changes in the body.
Early diagnosis and treatment can help control the symptoms and prevent long-term problems. The most common ones include – acne, weight gain, extra hair on the face and body, thinning hair on the scalp, irregular periods, fertility problems, and depression. There has been a marked increase in the percentage of women suffering from PCOD – from 20 per cent to about 35-40 per cent affected by this disorder. Many of the women affected are mostly unaware as they do not pay attention to problems like hair loss and hair thinning, bouts of resistant acne, dry skin, excessive growth of hair on face or other areas of the body, hyper pigmentation prominently seen on the face, and in some cases weight gain, puffiness due to water retention and darkness around the folds of the skin like neck and underarms.
The culprit for this imbalance cannot always be determined, but insulin resistance is often recognised as a leading cause. Insulin resistance occurs when the body has elevated amounts of insulin and glucose. Because the endocrine system is so sensitive, this imbalance can lead to other imbalances. When it leads to a higher than normal level of androgens in a female, it is said to be PCOD.
Some medicines can be used to help control reproductive hormone or insulin levels. These include combination of estrogen and progestin hormones in birth control pills, vaginal rings, or skin patches. These hormones correct irregular menstrual bleeding or absent menstrual cycles. They may also improve androgen-related acne problems, male-type hair growth, and male-pattern hair loss. Androgen lowering spironolactone is used with estrogen-progestin therapy. This reduces hair loss, acne, and abnormal hair growth on the face and body. Metformin is a newer PCOD treatment for controlling insulin, blood sugar levels, and androgen levels. Eflornithine is a skin cream that slows hair growth.
PCOD is managed by a dermatologist, OBGyn and Endocrinologist. The moment you start seeing any of the signs of PCD consult your dermatologist right away as prevention is easier.
The author is a celebrity cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Kosmoderma Clinics