[PSA] If you (and/or your Dermatologist) suspect your acne is hormonal, visit a Gynecologist or Endocrinologist and test for it.

Beauty Tips For Body Care
I feel like this is a very 'no duh' thing to post about but up until 3 weeks ago, despite struggling with severe acne for 9 years, I had never actually been tested for hormonal acne. I've also been on this sub for years and have seen a lot of people post about hormonal acne but rarely how they confirmed or diagnosed it. So I'll just post about my experience here.Over the years, my dermatologist and I have tried to combat acne with a mix of strong topicals and oral medications (isotretinoin/accutane). Results never lasted. We both concluded my acne was hormonal but didn't do tests to confirm it, just tried another round of oral medication and even stronger topicals.After the second round failed, I finally visited a gynecologist specializing in endocrinology gynecology, who confirmed that, not only do I have hormonal acne, but I also have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).I had to take two blood tests to observe my hormones and rule out other issues that may cause acne such as a thyroid disease. Then I had abdominal and trans-vaginal (or trans-rectal) ultrasounds to check for polycystic ovaries and rule out liver and other organ damage. During the whole process, I was worried the tests were an expensive overkill to diagnose something I already knew I had (based off of the visuals of my acne and its resistance to medication). It wasn't until the gynecologist gave a diagnosis and options such as spiro and birth control, that I realized I had done the right thing. I didn't realize there was a small part of me that was worried i was a hypochondriac and overreacting about the severity of my acne. I'm not sure if this will fix my issues but it is a step in a new direction.I know there are a lot of posts on this sub asking people to confirm whether their acne is fungal, bacterial or hormonal but visiting an expert for confirmation will always provide you the most peace of mind. It is one thing to suspect you have an issue based on how well you fit the symptoms online and another to have the paperwork from multiple tests in your hands and verbal confirmation from a doctor specializing in hormones.
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by RobinHoodin