Dr. Pamela Frank, Naturopathic Doctor from Forces of Nature

07/25/2025

Androgens, Acne and How PCOS Impacts Your Skin

Do you ever feel like you’re still breaking out like a teenager, even though you’re 30?
It's probably your PCOS talking.

PCOS often comes with high androgens or male hormones like testosterone, DHEAs, or dihydrotestosterone.
These increase sebum production and make your skin more prone to clogged pores, inflammation, and cystic acne.
That’s why breakouts often show up along the jawline, chin, neck, and back.

Bonus fact: Even people with “normal” bloodwork can still have skin symptoms if their tissues are more sensitive to androgens OR the effects of insulin.



✋ So if your acne isn’t responding to typical treatments, it might be hormonal.
🧴 Skin solutions start on the inside.
👇 Save this, share with a friend, and follow for evidence-based tips on hormonal acne & PCOS.

07/23/2025

It’s not just a cosmetic issue → PCOS has much more serious implications for your short-term health, mental and physical well-being, and your long-term health.

Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AgxRV

07/23/2025

PCOS and Mental Health: What the Research Says
If you have PCOS and feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed - you’re not imagining it.

Research shows that people with PCOS are three times more likely to experience anxiety and up to five times more likely to have depression.
Why? It’s a mix of factors:

Hormones like high androgens and insulin resistance disrupt brain chemistry

Irregular periods, hair loss, acne and fertility concerns add chronic stress

Body image issues and medical gaslighting don’t help

And these mental health impacts can happen even if you don’t meet the classic PCOS “look” or symptoms.

So if your moods are all over the place - it’s not “just in your head.”
It’s in your hormones. And you deserve care that addresses both.
Follow for evidence-informed support & strategies for PCOS that don’t ignore mental health.

07/19/2025

PCOS Myth #1: If You’re Thin, You Can’t Have PCOS

🚫 Myth: People with PCOS are all overweight.
✅ Truth: PCOS doesn’t discriminate by body size.

Many women with PCOS are lean, or even underweight. These cases are often underdiagnosed because doctors don’t “see” beyond the stereotype.

The truth? PCOS is a hormone and ovulation disorder, not a weight disorder. And many lean women with PCOS still struggle with:

Irregular cycles
Acne or hair thinning
Insulin resistance
Fertility challenges
You deserve better care, regardless of your BMI. If you are being dismissed because of your body size, continue to ask questions.

PCOS doesn’t always look how you expect. If you're being dismissed because of your body size, keep asking questions.

You deserve better care—regardless of your BMI.

TRUTH: PCOS Affects People of Every Size

📌 Save this to revisit
PCOS doesn’t always look how you expect. If you're being dismissed because of your body size, continue to ask questions.
🎁 Free resource: The Period Health Checklist - Link in Bio

07/18/2025

The Link Between Insulin Resistance & PCOS

Those extra male hormones? They interfere with ovulation, and that’s what creates the signs of hormonal imbalance we see in PCOS.

Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb glucose from your blood.
But when your body becomes resistant to insulin, it has to pump out even more of it just to get the job done.

And here’s where it connects to PCOS:
High insulin levels stimulate your ovaries to produce more testosterone, and/or more Dihydrotestosterone and/or your adrenal glands to make more DHEAs.

With the right diet, exercise, and targeted strategies, it is possible to reduce insulin levels and take control of your hormones.PCOS.

So if you’re struggling with symptoms like:

Belly weight gain

Cravings, especially for carbs and sugar

Fatigue after meals

Acne or irregular periods

…it could be insulin resistance driving the entire process.

Here’s the good news:
You can improve insulin resistance.

With the right diet, movement, and targeted strategies, it is possible to decrease insulin and take control of your hormones.

Want to know how? That’s what I help my patients do every day.

07/16/2025

This PCOS type includes all three core features: hyperandrogenism (high male hormones), oligo-anovulation (irregular or no ovulation), and polycystic ovarian morphology (cysts on the ovaries on ultrasound).

Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/Agf9a

07/16/2025

Do you need cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS? Spoiler alert - NO.

Here’s the truth:
And having cysts alone? Doesn’t mean you have PCOS either. You need to meet at least one of the Rotterdam criteria. out of three symptoms to qualify.

So even if your ovaries look completely normal on ultrasound, you can still have PCOS if you meet the other two criteria:

✅ Irregular ovulation or periods (which means irregular ovulation)
and
✅ Signs of high androgens — like acne, hair loss, or excess facial or body hair — or lab work that shows elevated male hormones.

That’s it.
No cysts required.

In fact, many people with PCOS may never have cysts picked up on ultrasound.

If you've been told you have PCOS, but only based on an ultrasound with no blood work, you need a thorough analysis to see if you do have it and if so, why. Knowing why provides the information needed to know what to do about it.

So if you’ve been dismissed because your ultrasound was ‘normal,’ but your cycles are irregular and your hormones are off? Keep asking questions.

Because diagnosing or ruling out PCOS is about thoroughly assessing a collection of symptoms, not just one.

07/15/2025

When these tiny, vital components of our cells don’t work properly, it’s called mitochondrial dysfunction.

Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AgdL5

07/14/2025

Dr. Pamela has a particular interest in assisting individuals with hormone-related concerns, such as PCOS, endometriosis, acne, hair loss, weight management, thyroid issues, and fertility.

Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AgaT0

There are several PCOS types or patterns. There isn't just one cause, & there are many misconceptions. Let's clear up some of the confusion.

07/12/2025

PCOS isn’t just a fertility issue.

Yes, PCOS is a leading cause of infertility—but that’s only one aspect of this disease.

Polycystic O***y Syndrome affects your entire hormonal ecosystem:
Mood and mental health
Metabolism and blood sugar regulation
Cardiovascular disease risk
Inflammation and immune function
Chronic disease risk
Bone density

Even if you’re not trying to conceive, unmanaged PCOS can increase your risk for:

Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Cholesterol issues
Endometrial hyperplasia
Anxiety and depression
Skin and hair symptoms that impact confidence and quality of life

You deserve care that goes beyond fertility treatments and birth control pills.
Because managing PCOS is about reclaiming your health today for your overall health now, and in the future.

✨ Want to know what to track monthly?
Grab my free Period Health Checklist at PCOS.ca

07/11/2025

How is PCOS diagnosed?
We use something called the Rotterdam Criteria, which is an international consensus used by doctors worldwide.

To be diagnosed with PCOS, you need to meet 2 out of the following 3 criteria:
1. Cysts on the ovaries (seen on ultrasound): This one can be confusing. Cysts can come and go, and not all cysts are the same. They’re not always in the classic "string of pearls" pattern often associated with PCOS. So, the presence or absence of cysts isn’t the full picture.
2. Irregular ovulation: Here’s the tricky part—most women don’t know if they ovulate unless they’re trying to conceive.
Period tracking apps are just guessing.
Ovulation predictor kits? They only show that your body is trying to ovulate—not whether it actually does.
Testing is essential, and so is the interpretation of the results. Four different androgens should be measured—not just testosterone. And we want to look at optimal levels, not just the lab’s “normal” range.

Want to learn how to track ovulation properly? I’ve got resources for that on NaturopathToronto.ca.

3. Androgen excess—either on bloodwork or visibly: This includes symptoms like acne, hair loss on the scalp, or excessive facial/body hair.
Testing is important, and so is how we interpret the results. Four different androgens should be measured—not just testosterone. And we want to look at optimal levels, not just the lab’s “normal” range.

👉 We’ll talk more about hormone testing in an upcoming video.

Here’s what trips people up:
You don’t need to have all 3 features. Just 2 out of 3.

That means:

You can have PCOS without cysts on your ovaries.
You can have regular periods but still not ovulate consistently.
Bottom line: You need a proper, thorough assessment to truly understand whether you have PCOS, what’s driving it, and how to manage it.

More on testing, hormones, and next steps—coming soon.

07/09/2025

PCOS 101 – Root Causes, PCOS Types & Misconceptions
▸ https://lttr.ai/AgO5Q