According to the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Association (PCOS), affects over 10 million women worldwide. That’s more than the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus combined. It affects women of all races and while there are treatments that can help ease the symptoms of PCOS, there is no cure. Besides infertility, low sex drive, bloating and sleep apnea. PCOS can also contribute to problems on the skin. Keep reading to learn more about those problems and treatment options.

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive- age women, affecting 5-20% of the population. It is a clinical syndrome that consists of a collection of signs and symptoms that can start as early as puberty. According to Dr. Joy’El Ballard, MD, FACOG a Board-Certified Gynecologist in Annapolis, MD 

“PCOS is a multitude of dysregulation of elevated androgens, estrogen, and insulin levels. Basically, there is miscommunication between centers in the brain and the ovary that causes an imbalance of certain hormones in the female body,” says Dr. Ballard.  The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but genetics and environmental factors are believed to be at it’s core. It is frequently underdiagnosed and is misunderstood by many physicians.

Impacts on The Skin

PCOS affects the skin mainly in three ways. Firstly, extra body hair on the face.  Secondly, acne on the face, back or chest and Thirdly, acanthosis nigricans (patches of dark skin on the back of the neck or other areas where the skin folds). Hypoandrogenemia is the excess of androgens like Testosterone that causes hirsutism (increase in hair growth). In PCOS, the ovaries are over stimulated to increase secretion of more androgens and intra-abdominal adipose tissue also stimulates an increase in the production of testosterone.  PCOS is also associated with elevated insulin (the hormone that controls your blood sugar) which subsequently decreases a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). A decrease in SHBG causes testosterone to roam free in your system thereby increasing testosterone levels further. Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands, making them produce more skin oil, or sebum. This excess sebum clogs the pores and makes good food for acne causing bacteria.

Treatment

Many women with PCOS find that standard topical acne therapies or even oral antibiotics are not very effective in treating their acne. Since it is due to an imbalance of hormones Ballard recommends hormonal therapy as the first line of treatment. It is a known fact that Tea Tree oil is one of the most impactful ingredients in treating PCOS. YELLE’s toner is power packed with just enough tea tree oil to help you get in control of your breakouts while reviving and maintaining healthy skin.. YELLE’s Awakening Milk andHoney moisturizing cleanser and Brightening Serum are two products you definitely want to have while treating your PCOS.  

Plan A Date Night With Index Cards

Serious question: have you secured Valentine’s Day plans? I know it’s tough … it’s in the middle of the week, life is lifing, but sis –you need to get to planning, and fellas we need you to show out, too! 

If you’re still on the struggle bus with plans, we got you. 

Keeping the spice in your love life can be tough, especially during colder months where you don’t necessarily get out as much. Nonetheless, it’s important to keep dating your partner. When we saw the new TikTok trend about the #IndexCardChallenge we knew we wanted to join in on the fun and so should you.

What is the Index Card Challenge? 

Simply put it’s a playful and fun game that allows couples to explore new things with each other outside of the norm. Whoever is planning date night will write out a few suggestions on an index card, making it even so that your partner can pick which card he or she wants to choose from. 

Once you write out those cards, bring them along for the entire date and continuously let your partner pick from two cards to determine what you all are doing next. 

Here’s where it gets fun: not everything should be romantic; some items can be pure comedy, and others can be super sentimental. Having a variety of options makes things fun for the duration of the challenge. Here are some of our favorite card commands: 

Card One: Starbucks vs Cook Breakfast From Scratch

Card Two: Movie Date vs Road Trip

Card Three: Spa Day In with YELLE Skin Care vs Private Chef

Card Four: Bubble Bath vs Go To Sleep Early

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. It’s up to you to put your spin on the date night experience and create cards that cater to your special person’s wishes. 

If you’re interested in a Spa Day with YELLE products, Here’s a rundown of what you need to have fun: 

THE AWAKENING COMPLETE 5 PIECE SYSTEM

• Awakening Milk & Honey Cleanser 4oz.
• Awakening Milk & Honey Toner 4oz.
• Awakening Daily Moisturizer 2oz.
• A-Dream Brightening Eye Cream 1oz.
• And One (1) Treatment Serum 1oz. 

Believe it or not, your facial skin will tell you A LOT about your overall health. The term Facial Mapping correlates the location of your skin concerns to a corresponding internal organ and an underlying health issue. 

According to face mapping, acne and facial blemishes develop in specific zones because of internal issues, which may include high blood pressure, dehydration, and digestive wellbeing, or even as a complaint from another organ in the body, such as the ‘angry’ liver. 

So let’s dive into what your acne spots may be trying to tell you. Keep in mind this is not scientifically backed, but thanks to modern research techniques, we can make assessments on why and how acne happens.

Your Hairline. Forehead acne is mainly caused by hair and hair care products. If your hair is unwashed, the oil deposits on the forehead and clogs the pores there. 

Your Cheeks. This area is mainly attributed by your lifestyle.  Dirty bed sheets and pillowcases also store bacteria that may affect the skin on your cheeks, so washing them more often may help alleviate spots. Your cellphone can also be a huge concern as it is the location where it rests as you talk on the phone. Research has shown that even though 95% of people said they washed their hands with soap, 92% of phones and 82% of hands had bacteria on them.

Your Nose. There are two different types of nose acne: vulgaris and rosacea. Acne vulgaris is more common and related to blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts. It is also likely to appear on other parts of the body. This is caused by clogged pores from an overproduction of sebum and trapped bacteria. Digestive troubles are often associated with acne on the tip of the nose, which is why it’s worth doing an elimination test.

Your Chin and Jawline. Blemishes that appear on the lower third of the face, the chin and jawline, are known as hormonal acne. Women are more likely to get breakouts in this area than men. This is due to an increase in male hormones – androgens – that stimulate the oil glands. 

On the flip side of that is evaluating the kind of breakout you’re having because all acne is NOT created equal. 

It’s hard to figure out just exactly what is going on with your skin. Those small raised bumps - could it be fungal acne or whiteheads? What is that and what really is the difference?

Whiteheads are a closed comedone aka. a closed pore that has sebum trapped under a thin layer of skin. When the oil mingles with dead skin and the pore is not open, this can cause a small white bump (aka those pesky whiteheads!) on your skin. You can identify whiteheads because they are ‘poppable’, which means they are extractable. The most common reason why you might experience whiteheads is due to excessive sebum production. This happens when dead skin cells build on top of the pores and blocks the oil from being released resulting in whiteheads. Another cause for whiteheads might be that your skin is too dry or that you are using a product that is heavier or greasier than what your skin needs.

Milia is when skin protein is trapped under your skin. It isn’t related to your pores or sebum, but is actually a keratin overgrowth issue! This might sound scary, but this condition is actually not harmful to your skin. It often happens around the most delicate parts of your skin such as the eye area. It’s usually pretty easy to spot because it has a pearly, white sphere appearance.

Now fungal acne, is the most harmful. It is a yeast overgrowth or infection. Fungal acne can be pretty tricky to self diagnose, but it is usually associated with itchiness! These bumps are often seen in a cluster and are typically uniform in size.

The yeast that causes fungal acne often grows in a warm, humid climate. Because this yeast enjoys an occlusive environment, fungal acne can be exacerbated by sweat and sebum. Although all of these skin conditions might look similar at first glance, we hope this guide helps you identify what you might be experiencing and how to treat it.

If you’re having trouble identifying your skin concerns and how to treat it, visit our website and take our new Skin Quiz. In a short questionnaire it will walk you through your skin history so that it can identify products that would work well for you. 

We know … some old habits are hard to break; but listen to us loud and clear: BREAK UP with the washcloth on your face! Here’s why:

It is well known that physically irritating the skin can lead to more acne. 

Since washcloths physically irritate the skin, they should be avoided if you have acne.

While a washcloth can help remove dead skin cells and invigorate the live cells on your face; it can also cause more harm than good. Here are some factors that play into it: 

Your laundry detergent and fabric softener may cause more harm than good. You may have a sensitivity to the laundry products you use on your towels that in terms will irritate your skin causing more flare ups and outbreaks in the end. 

Old fashioned washcloths hold moisture. This means, somewhere down the line you could be exposing your skin to MOLD (yuck!)

Allergens are lingering between the cotton thread count. Think about it, you store towels (clean and dirty) in a laundry closet usually, right? When’s the last time you’ve dusted your laundry closet. Now your skin is exposed to thousands of allergens from just sitting on a shelf waiting to be used. 

The chances of you over scrubbing is too likely. We don’t realize how rough we can be when we are in a rush. Using a cotton washcloth against your skin could cause too much friction and will result in a breakout or skin irritation in the long run. 

In general, the best option is to stay far away from old fashioned cotton washcloths. If you feel the need to use a cloth, grab a microfiber one as they tend to be antimicrobial, meaning that the growth of organisms like bacteria is less likely and slower to happen. You can also set your notifications and WAIT on YELLE because our Boss Lady, Yandy Smith is working on creating the perfect product to replace your old faithful wash rag! Of course with it being a YELLE product it will be gentle enough for you to use without harming the health of your skin and practically for everyday use! Subscribe to our emails because you don’t want to miss this! Stay Tuned!!! 

Vitamin C is a firm favorite in the beauty industry, thanks to its brightening and tightening properties. The ingredient is frequently recommended by dermatologists as it harnesses multiple skincare benefits, and is safe to use on all skin types. 

Want to see what vitamin C can do for you? Let’s break it all the way down!

For starters … what really IS Vitamin C? I know that sounds pretty basic, but we really need to break down the compounds and components to fully understand how it works in our melanated-magical skin!

Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid on ingredient lists) is a water-soluble vitamin that has antioxidant benefits for the skin when applied topically (think: fading hyperpigmentation) and immune-boosting benefits when ingested. “It’s important to get adequate vitamin C in your diet and vitamin C levels are correlated to eating fresh fruit and vegetables,” says Humphrey. She suggests pairing dietary vitamin C with topical applications to yield the best results.

Vitamin C has long been considered a skincare staple because it’s not just a one-trick pony—it has multiple skin benefits when used properly. Vitamin C protects the skin from UV damage, it suppresses pigmentation (goodbye, dark spots!) and it also preserves the integrity of collagen and elastic fibers and even promotes synthesis of collagen. Because it is such a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is able to help minimize sun damage and inhibits melanogenesis, which is the process of pigment formation in the skin.

So if you’re still wandering through your ingredient lists or wondering if you still need it, the answer simply put is YES. 

The key to all of this is making sure you know the correct formula of Vitamin C for your skin. This means, how much is the perfect amount for you? You should look for stable 10% to 20% L-ascorbic acid (a specific form of the vitamin) mixed with vitamin E for better absorption.

While Vitamin C can be recommended to use at night, it’s usually recommended for daytime use because of its free radical protection, something your skin generally needs more of during the day due to pollution and UV rays.

Now let’s break down the YELLE ingredient lists that contains Vitamin C and why they are so POWERFUL for your skin. 

The YELLE Awakening Hydrating Serum for Dry Skin –This serum is a concentrated active Vitamin C for a beautiful radiant glow while plumping skin’s firmness and restoring.

The YELLE Awakening Peptide Boosting Serum for Normal Skin –  Includes a  powerful peptide boosting serum for normal skin. A healthy overdose of Vitamin C, an antioxidant that stimulates collagen and minimize signs of aging.

Vitamin C is truly the beauty secret to repairing and restoring the state of your healthy melanated skin. Keep in mind that it can take two to four weeks of daily usage to see results, so keep a close watch on your skin. If it starts looking brighter, that’s a sure sign your vitamin C products are working.