Laser hair removal is the most common treatment sought by sufferers of PCOS

Ahead of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) Awareness Month in September, London clinic group Pulse Light Clinic conducted an exclusive survey for Aesthetic Medicine among its patient base who suffer with the condition.

Aiming to gain insight into the most common symptoms and how aesthetic treatments can help – and to spread this awareness to other sufferers – the survey was answered by 54 women.

Excess facial and body hair was identified as the most common symptom, with 78% of respondents giving this answer. Next was weight gain (57%), irregular periods (56%), thinning hair or hair loss (33%) and severe acne (18%).

65% said they had sought aesthetic treatments to help with their symptoms, with laser hair removal the most popular – 74% of respondents said they’d had the treatment. Food intolerance tests and laser facials were among the other answers given.

70% of respondents said these treatments helped ease their symptoms, and 81% said they had helped with their confidence.

Laser hair removal can permanently remove excess hair caused by PCOS without the skin irritation of other hair removal methods.

Excess hair can often appear on the jawline, sides of the face, chin, neck, upper lip and bikini line in PCOS sufferers.

Medical aesthetician Benisha Williams talks about treating patients with PCOS in clinic.