Keke Palmer shares her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis with fans

Keke Palmer has shared that she suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), posting on Instagram about her battle with the common condition. She shared an album of photos of her facial acne, with the caption “You’re not alone.”

The Hustlers actress and singer, 24, explains that her acne has been, “so bad that people in my field offered to pay for me to get it fixed.” While acne is a visible symptom of PCOS, Keke acknowledged, ‘the least harmful thing PCOS can bring is acne.’

She posted, “Hey, you guys, for some of you this may be TMI, but for me my platform has always been used for things much greater than me. Polycystic Ovarian syndrome has been attacking me from the inside out my entire life, and I had no idea.”

PCOS is estimated to affect up to 1 in 10 women across the UK

Sufferers experience a number of symptoms, including irregular periods, excess androgen (a male hormone that can cause excess body and facial hair), and enlarged ovaries that contain multiple fluid-filled sacs.

In her post, Keke continued, “My acne has been so bad that people in my field offered to pay for me to get it fixed. I tried EVERYTHING. I did Accutane TWICE. People say drink water, have a better diet, but I did all that, I ate all the “right” things, my blood tests were fine.”

“But it took ME taking a personal look into my family that has a history of diabetes and obesity, to understand what was ACTUALLY happening with me. And unfortunately, doctors are people and if you don’t “look the part” they may not think that’s your problem. They may not even suggest it if you “look healthy” whatever that means! I came to a doctor in tears once, and all they offered was a measles vaccine… Exactly.”

Keke voiced the frustration that so many women experience when dealing with health problems that aren’t being taken seriously by medical professionals

“I’m posting this to say that it’s okay and we can help ourselves. My skin has made me sad many nights, but I do not give up on myself. I know this is not me, and my body has been looking for help. I do not have a medical degree, but I did the research and took what I learned to a doctor and that led them to a proper diagnosis.”

She advises that sufferers shouldn’t rush to diagnose themselves, but acknowledges that heading to Dr Google can be a necessary evil. “I’m not saying trust Web MD for everything haha, but what I am saying is no one can help us like we can help ourselves.”

“This especially makes me sad because my family struggled for years and no doctor could help them, they actually mislead them and just took their money. It’s only because of what my family sacrificed that allows me to even have the resources to share the information I’m sharing with you!”

She finished her post, “pray for me on this journey and I will pray for you too. I’m not afraid to show myself to the world, and you shouldn’t be either.”

Do you suffer from PCOS? If so, what do you think about Keke’s post – did it make you feel seen and help you feel less alone? Do you wish more celebrities would speak up about PCOS? We want to hear your thoughts at mystory@ivfbabble.com