Does PCOS cause acne? How to reduce it?

Note on the name: in May 2026, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was formally renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), following a global consensus process. The old name was inaccurate — the condition affects multiple hormone and metabolic systems, not just the ovaries, and "polycystic" wrongly implies ovarian cysts. Nothing about the condition, its diagnosis or its treatment has changed. Both names will be used side by side for the next few years, and we use PCOS below since that is the term most people know.

Yes. Raised androgens stimulate the oil glands in the skin, which is why PCOS-related acne characteristically affects the jawline, chin and neck rather than the forehead, and often persists past the teenage years. What helps, roughly in order of evidence. Addressing insulin resistance through diet and exercise reduces androgen production at source and helps the skin along with everything else, though it works slowly. Topical treatments — retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid — are the mainstay and are worth getting proper dermatological advice on. Combined hormonal contraception reduces circulating androgens and is often effective where it is suitable for you. Anti-androgen medication is used in some cases. Two cautions. Do not use prescription acne medications informally — isotretinoin in particular is seriously harmful in pregnancy and requires proper contraception and monitoring. And be patient: hormonal acne treatments typically take three to six months to show their full effect, and many people give up at six weeks. A dermatologist and gynaecologist working together tends to give better results than either alone.