Just this past week, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) became polyendocrine metabolic syndrome (PMOS) – and Keke Palmer, the actor, podcaster and television host, was very happy to hear the news.
‘This, to me, feels more fitting,’ she said on a panel at the 3rd annual Women’s Health Lab on Monday.
In conversation with Gayle King, editor-at-large of Oprah Daily, Keke opened up about why PMOS is a much better descriptor for the condition. According to Keke, the original name placed emphasis on cysts in the ovaries, but plenty of women – herself included – don’t have any. The result: years of wondering what’s going on in your body while not receiving treatment for the very real symptoms people with the condition deal with every day. Now, the updated name encompasses the other systems affected by the condition, helping explain other common PMOS symptoms.
For Keke, the main symptom was always her skin.
She had ‘crippling’ and ‘unbearable’ acne, and the toll was both physical and mental. ‘It hurt emotionally in a way that you can’t describe,’ she said.
While she did her best to cope, Keke knew that her acne was on another level. ‘I had it all my life and it was a burden I learned to wear, but I didn’t want it,’ she said. Standard treatments – and all the common acne advice – just didn’t cut it. ‘It’s not just me needing to drink more water, because people kept saying that,’ she said. ‘I’m like, I’m drinking a lot. At this point I’m a fish.’
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Ultimately, it was the acne that drove Keke to search for more answers. ‘I remember reaching a point where I said, “I’ve got to solve this. I’ve got to fix this. This isn’t just acne; my body is telling me something more is going on,”’ she said.
So she turned to Google and learned about different causes of acne, including hormones. When she read about insulin resistance (a common symptom of PMOS) and connected the dots that she also had a family history of diabetes and thyroid problems, she asked doctors whether she might have PMOS, which was then called PCOS.
Doctors dismissed the idea because she didn’t have cysts.
‘I was telling doctors, y’all are wrong,’ Keke recalled. This situation is one of the main reasons the medical community updated the name to include both the endocrine and metabolic systems, rather than focusing solely on ovarian cysts: people were experiencing all the other signs and symptoms of PMOS and still not receiving a diagnosis.
Eventually, Keke turned to an endocrinologist for help. The doctor investigated her hormone levels through multiple blood tests. The results showed ‘extraordinarily high’ testosterone and androgen levels that were ‘all out of whack’. This caused another common symptom of PMOS: excess facial hair growth, which Keke described as having a ‘beard’.
The results also confirmed something she had long suspected – that she had PMOS.
Treatment for PMOS is lifelong, but Keke says she is now in a much better place
PMOS, particularly when it takes a long time to diagnose, can have a serious impact on mental health. ‘Everybody was on that glass skin and I’m over here with cracked glass,’ Keke said. ‘It is a very heavy thing on your mental health because [I felt like] if I do it right, I should have the results. I’m eating right. I’m doing the things. I’m exercising. I’m drinking water. Why is my body betraying me?’
PMOS treatment is highly individualised, since everyone experiences slightly different symptoms, and ongoing, as there is currently no cure. In addition to acne and excess body hair, other common symptoms include weight gain, fertility challenges and irregular periods.
Keke took medication to improve her acne (she previously revealed in 2020 that she had taken isotretinoin, often referred to as Accutane, twice), while also making lifestyle changes around diet and exercise. She also became much more aware of her menstrual cycle.
‘Not to be TMI – but this is a place to do it – I started getting really good with my cycle, meaning really measuring the timing, really on that sitting-by-the-moon vibe, really getting into my body,’ she said.
Even with those lifestyle changes, Keke credited doctors and medication with making a major difference.
‘As somebody that’s always tried to do things holistically, there is a reality where sometimes Western medicine is there to help you,’ she said. ‘There’s always going to be side effects and stuff, but sometimes that’s why science is there. I’m always going to have hormone dysfunction. Getting that diagnosis helped me understand that sometimes you need more help, girl, and there’s nothing wrong with going to doctors to get that help.’
The 3rd annual Women’s Health Lab was hosted by Hearst Magazines in partnership with Northwell’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health. Lilly served as title sponsor, with additional sponsors including Altra, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ipsen, L’Oréal Paris, Organic Valley and WaterWipes.
The 3rd annual Women’s Health Lab was hosted by Hearst Magazines in partnership with Northwell's Katz Institute for Women's Health. Lilly served as title sponsor, with additional sponsors including Altra, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ipsen, L’Oreal Paris, Organic Valley and WaterWipes.
Olivia Luppino is an associate editor at Women’s Health and a RRCA-certified run coach. She spends most of her time interviewing expert sources about the latest fitness trends, nutrition tips, and practical advice for living a healthier life. Olivia previously wrote for New York Magazine’s The Cut, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), and Salon, where she also did on-camera interviews with celebrity guests. She ran the New York City Marathon in 2025 and is training to run it again in 2026.
