im really scared to get off the pill
gosh

Oh my gosh. You ladies have no idea how releaving it was to find this site. My story is the same I was on Yasmin for about 6yrs. We decieded to try for a baby this past Aug, so I have
been off BC since.

For the first month or two after being off I noticed I was getting big zits,( I normally just get a small whitehead now and then) that would get really red and hang around for quite awhile. I would allways get a zit or two every now and then on my back nothing to be embarressed about. Well as of right now I have a cluster of them on my cheek ;Where I never used to get zits ever! My back,well I have to say it is embarrising point now. I thought it was of because my getting off BC pills, but kept it in the back of my mind until last night I googled acne after BC and found this site.

I eat healthy, I don't drink soft drinks , I excersie at least 4 times a week, and obviously I wash my face and use a cleanser. I am gonna add some vitamins to the mix and see.

These pharmaceutical companies need to to put a disclamier or whatever its called saying somehting to the effects of

While studies show that taking (insert pill name) may reduce your acne while on the pill, studies have also shown that once you choose to stop taking the pill a percent of women have experienced severe to moderate acne.

I would have asked more questions ( I hope) by the way I am 28. It just would have been nice to know. Anyway thanks for the posts it is nice to know that I was not iimagining this

omg so pretty much im screwed once i get off..that is so not fair

i dont think birth control is the way to go then..u suffer either way..
why cant there be something to control hormones besides BC?????????????????????

My derm told me that it's pretty inevitable that almost all women will break out after stopping birth control after being on it for a number of years. It's a disruption in the hormone balance. I've been on the pill for 10 years (I'm 28 now). I've tried Mircette, Estrostrep, and Seasonalle, which broke me out TERRIBLY. They made my skin worse instead of better. This was many years ago. FInally, I found Yasmin, which helps a lot in keeping my skin clear, but doesn't completely prevent breakouts. But at least it doesn't make my skin worse.

But I've already decided, that I'm only going off Yasmin, IMMEDIATELY before my husband and I try for a baby, and will go back on it right after I give birth. Hopefully I'd get pregnant right away, so I can avoid all that crap. But then again, I have all the pregnancy hormones to look forward to, lol. I've had friends that broke out horribly during pregnancy, and other friends that had the best skin of their lives during pregnancy.

wow...i think for me i wont get off it till im ready for babies..ive already been on them since iwas 16 and im 29 now...
scary

I can handle a break-out, just not a huge horrible one that has no end in sight! its so frustrating.... that's what happened to me when I first went off BCP. my body has to start getting used to making its own hormones, and not be so estrogen-dominant from the BCP.

anyway, I'm still popping the Vitex here (1 week in)--I just have to make sure I take it with food. weird, but I think I'm more sensitive to caffeine right now (could be going off BCP or the Vitex? don't know. Vitex isn't a stimulant though). I have a ton of extra energy this week!

Same issue here.

I was on Depo Provera since I was 16. Now 14 years later my doctor told me no more Depo. Apparently after being on it for so long will cause serious birth defects in babies. Not that I care since I do not plan on having children...ever.

So then my doctor put me on Implanon. Its this birth control that is implanted under your arm which lasts 3 years.

Since I was taken off Depo my skin went crazy. I never had a break out up until I stopped taking Depo.
Now I am breaking out around my chin, blackheads on my nose and breakouts on my forehead!!!

I tried all sorts of products but nothing worked. Had facials every month but still nothing worked!

I then called my Derm who just put me on Differin and Clyndomicine. I don't know if this will help me but I am desperate! I look a mess!

Hi,
I have experienced the exact same thing. I'm 30 and my husband and I decided we wanted to try for a baby. I was on the pill for ~10 years. I used to get a rare pimple on the pill (which I thought was bad! who knew what I was in for...), so I also used differin gel while on the pill. I had beautiful clear skin. After stopping differin and the pill, I got moderate acne worse on my forehead and my chin with really sore cysts. My derm prescribed topical clindamycin which worked well for about 6 months (took about 6-8 weeks to work). I was clear until I got pregnant and switched to topical erythromycin (better safety profile in pregnancy). Unfortunately, I had an early miscarriage and my skin got worse. I got pregnant again 6 months later, only to have another miscarriage at 8 weeks. During that pregnancy and miscarriage, my skin got much worse with many sore painful cysts worse around my chin and jawline.

My husband and I decided we needed an emotional break from the miscarriages and trying to get pregnant, so I decided to go back on the pill for 6-8 months. My derm put me on doxycycline for 6 weeks while I started the pill. My acne didn't get any better.

Given that I was back on the pill (Yasmin) anyway, he suggested Accutane. I started it last week so we'll see. He seems to think I'll get good results with it and my acne would improve and have a low chance of coming back when I decide to go off the pill in the fall.

I have two friends that were on accutane when they were in their 20's - they both have gorgeous skin and during their pregnancies (and when they stopped the pill), they had beautiful skin. I'm hoping for the best!

I'll let you know how the accutane goes. I really wish I didn't have to go on it but given that I'm back on the pill anyway, I thought I'd try it. I'm really hoping for success especially for when I try again to have a baby in the future.

So far, I've been on it for a week (60 mg) - I have a few more pimples and 2 painful cysts. I don't know it it's the initial breakout but I'm hoping it goes away in a few weeks. I'm using DDF skincare 10% glycolic acid treatment daily and cetaphil cream. My lips aren't that dry however, I apply lip balm very couple hours so maybe I'm just getting to it before it can get too bad.

Take care and good luck with trying to conceive.

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site (new in terms of posting, I have been reading and looking a lot over the past few weeks!) and thought I'd share my story relating to bcp.

I was on Marvelon for 5 years, from the age of 17 and decided to stop last october when I went travelling for 4 months, mainly to give my body a bit of a break. Now just to get things clear, when I went on it at 17, I had been battling acne already but when I went on the pill it did help a LOT, still got the odd few spots but nothing like how it was before I went on it (I'd describe my acne as mild-moderate before I went on the pill).

Anyway when I went off it last October the strangest thing was that after a month or so of stopping it my skin was pretty much immaculate, I'm talking better than it was than when I was even on it. I was so happy thinking that if I don't go back on it, my skin will stay perfect as it is.

I was SO wrong. I had a week or so of this lovely skin and then it slowly, and then more faster, went on the decline. I was breaking out on my forehead and chin, as well as my chest and back. I hadn't even had it on my chest and back when I was a teenager! My skin was mainly closed comedones and incredibly bumpy.

Now as I write this my skin is worse than it ever was before I went on the pill and it's making me feel really down. The spots have mainly gone from my chest, but are still on my back. As for my face it is worse than a month or so ago. I have very angry red spots and some are large and headless and just don't budge.

So everyone knows, I have now started Marvelon again. My doctor says it should take a couple of months for me to see an improvement in my skin and I'm just praying that it will improve a lot. I really do wish I hadn't even gone off it at all. It's sad my body has to depend on these artificial hormones but my skin is so repulsive right now I couldn't see any other way out, especially since the bill helped before.

It just added more insult to injury that it temporarily cleared up all together when I first came off bcp! Has anyone else had a similar experience to mine? (sorry this has been so long!)

Hi!
I had been on BCP for many years as well and went off of it recently to take a break.

My skin before BCP was also mild to moderate acne. At first my BCP didn't affect my acne, and then I started on Nuvo ring. My theory is that, because I was never good at taking my pills exactly correctly, it didn't even out my hormone levels enough to clear my skin. With the ring and using the BP gel from this site, my skin became very clear.

When I went off of BC (to give my body a break, like you), my skin became much worse. I stayed off for about 9 months, and my skin did not recover, although it did improve very slightly from what it was immediately after going off BC. Once I went back on, it took several months for my skin to clear, and because I am prone to dark spots, freckles, etc, I have dark spots left that are taking months and months to go away. Having battled my skin all my life, I am taking this in stride. At least, as a woman, I can cover the spots with makeup! Hopefully the ones on my chest and back will clear up before summer...

Recently I was late starting my next dose, and guess what? I broke out! So, clearly, I need to be very careful about taking it consistently.

It may seem discouraging to think that you have to remain on BCP to keep your skin clear, but I personally am just grateful to know what I can do to keep my skin clear. I'm more worried about what I will have to go through in a few years when I want to get pregnant and will have to go off BC for a longer period of time!

OMG!!!!!!!! Girls! It is so sad! I read 4 pages of your comments! I just started to break out! It's been just 3 month of this horrible look of mine! I am so depressed now! Looks like there is no cure for it! And it won't just go away. I thought that i am just imagining that now my break outs is getting worth but looks like it does! I always had such an gorgeous skin. Always had compliment on my skin and now! I'm wearing just turtleneck sweaters or tees. I look like i have chicken pox. Pustules all ove my neck and chest and back and my face. It feels so disgusting just to wash my face and feel all this bumps (( It is so sad! My doc gave me antibiotics it really helped first, but by 10th day of taking it my bladder hurts so bad. But skin became almost clean. Now second week without antibiotics and third month without BC pills. All of a sudden i woke up with my neck chest shoulders and back in pustules again ((( I'm so sad. My husband trying to cheer me up, but i just don't feel myself any attractive at all. I mean I see my skin no one have to tell me. Thank you for your advices. I will try to cut on sweets and bread (though i hardly eat any sweets). Will see if diet will help!

I am so angry! No one of those manufacturers told us that there will be POST effect on your body after get off the BC pill. I would never try them!!! And i will never take BC anymore!!!!

Ladies your stories are very common. What you're starting to notice is the beginning stages of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is a hormone disorder that affects 1 out of 10 women in the US. Many women are born predisposed to the condition. However I think there is a significant population of women that develop this condition after stopping BCPs.

I know this was the case for me. I went on the pill in college and stopped taking it senior year. Things were fine for about 6 months and then I started to break out on my face and chest. I also noticed my periods were getting further and further apart. Gained weight around my middle too. After going to my gyno and an endo, neither one would diagnose me however they both offered to put me back on the pill.

At first I resisted going back on the pill and tried to sort things out through a healthy diet and supplements. But not much was making a dent with the acne and it was starting to hurt my self confidence.

I went back on the pill in December and have noticed a significant difference in my acne. I also take two 325mg capsules of saw palmetto in the morning. Saw palmetto helps reduce the amount of testosterone your body is creating. Excess testosterone will show up on your face - so apart from all the creams and face washes, it is important to curb the problem where it starts - on the inside.

I had good success with Dan's routine in the past. However I can't bring myself to do the BP cream at the moment. The whole bleaching of my clothes and having dry skin really bothers me. I just want to wake up in the morning with normal skin!!

If you think you might have PCOS, it is important that you work with your doctor to find a treatment that works for you. Not taking care of yourself with PCOS can lead to greater risk of heart disease and diabetes later in life. It can be hard to get a proper diagnosis. Many doctors want to just shove meds on you and get you out of their office. If you can afford it, blood tests can help show a more complete story with what's going on with your hormones and insulin levels. Best of luck to all - I know it can be very frustrating!

Well I'm just about to finish my first month back on bcp and my skin has kinda improved in some ways and not others...

My chest is almost clear, just a little bit of redness from previous blemishes. Though my back, neck and face still have quite a lot of spots. I wonder if part of it is that the spots have to develop from taking in the hormones again and then they'll clear up like they did when I used to be on it.

It's hard to tell but fingers crossed! Just glad I'm not going through this kind of thing alone

Same here, my story's pretty much the same. The ensuing hell after stopping isn't worth it. I never EVER had acne before taking Aviane and wish I had never gone on the pill in the first place.

I have the same story as everyone else here, was on the pill and now have acne even though before and after I was on the pill I had flawless skin.

.... I want to know if anyone has any SUCCESS stories?

Im taking fish oil and evening primrose oil, are there any supplements that are very helpful in getting my hormones back to its natural balance? I know people take vitex sometimes, but it seems to me thats more for if you have PMS and problems with your cycle coming off the pill.

SO: has anyone experienced a breakout after stopping the pill but their skin went back to normal? How long did it take and did you take anything to help the process? Would a liver cleanse help? Chaste berry? saw palmetto?

I have the same story as everyone else here, was on the pill and now have acne even though before and after I was on the pill I had flawless skin.

.... I want to know if anyone has any SUCCESS stories?

Im taking fish oil and evening primrose oil, are there any supplements that are very helpful in getting my hormones back to its natural balance? I know people take vitex sometimes, but it seems to me thats more for if you have PMS and problems with your cycle coming off the pill.

SO: has anyone experienced a breakout after stopping the pill but their skin went back to normal? How long did it take and did you take anything to help the process? Would a liver cleanse help? Chaste berry? saw palmetto?

Well, I have mostly been on the pill since I was 21. I never wanted children. Then I got married for the first time when I was 38. We decided that we would like to get pregnant. To make a long story short, I was diagnoised with PCOS. I have cysts, infertility, acne, and all of the other lovliness that comes with this. So after trying for 2 years to get pregnant through pills and injections, we decided we were happy just being us. About 4 months ago, I decided that I shouldn't have to be on the pill anymore. Wow, was I wrong! My cystic acne came back with a vengence. I went to the derm and got put on RETIN-A MICRO and Neo Benz Micro. After 2 months my cysts were so bad that I had to have them injected. Friday, I finally went back to my gyno. She told me that I probably would not be free of this until my mid 50's! As long as my body produces estrogen I will have acne. Besides being on the pill for acne, in my case, I need to be on it for hormonal reasons. I ended up with a pre cancerous condition due to not being regular. I was never regular and none of my doctors questioned me not having a period for 4-6 months at a time! Well at least I know what I have to do to have clear skin! This time I am on Yaz.

I've had clear skin and a "normal" cycle since going off BCP and taking Vitex. Believe me, I had the worst skin of my life when I went off BCP 2 years ago. I also really didn't get a period for the first month, and had very irregular and light ones after that.

It's amazes me how Vitex has worked so well this time around. I did break out with a few white heads the first few weeks (nothing major though). I haven't broken out since (knock on wood!).

I also eat an extremely healthy diet, and still use topical meds on my face (it helps keep pores clean). I've always used topicals on my face though, even when on BCP.

The problems with going off BCP is that your body has trouble making the hormones right away, since they were suppressed for so long. Vitex helps that way, since I think that the post-BCP acne is caused by a hormonal imbalance, in many cases. Like, for example, it can take a long time for many women to get a period after going off. However, each body is different! I can post some info on Vitex if you're interested. Good luck!

hi, i'm 39 going on 40. i had adult acne since mid 20's, on expensive products, then antibiotics and finally BC diane 35. i had clear skin most of my 30's until i stopped BC for almost two years. mid of 08, i find my face getting oily and occasional breakouts. i should have got on BC again. before i could do that, i became pregant and i had an operation TOP. afterthat, the hormones just have to do its thing. i had the worst cystic acne!! i'm battling it for the 5th month now with accutane and it does not seems to end!!

I almost feel bad saying "I'm glad I'm not alone," as I wouldn't wish any type of acne on anyone as the emotional scars can be deeper than the physical ones.

But it is a relief to know that I can now pinpoint the cause to my current flare-up with acne since stopping the pill (Yasmin).

I had minor/moderate acne while on the pill, but it was localized to my jawline. This acne consisted of medium to large cysts and nodules that would take weeks to heal and would always leave behind discolored skin and scar tissue. Often I'd have to go into my doctors office to have Cortisone injected into them so they would go down. Even the day before my wedding!

I quit taking the pill in late December because my husband and I were talking about starting a family and I heard it could take a while for your body to get back into it's usual rhythm. Almost immediately my face broke out worse than before in it's usual spots. As the following months progressed, the acne spread to my forehead and cheeks. Most surprisingly, my whole back and chest broke out as well. My once dry and flaky face has now become one big oil slick.

Now I haven't had any of the huge cysts I'd had before, but my acne transformed into almost a rash-like breakout. A lot of it is discoloration of the skin, almost like a sunburn. Even in places where I'm not breaking out. Very strange.

I've gone through the spectrum of emotions since dealing with my acne. Some days I don't feel confident enough to leave the house. Some days I feel my make-up does an OK job at covering my flare up. Some days I wake-up extra early to put on my foundation so my husband doesn't see how bad it's gotten. He constantly tells me that he doesn't even notice it. He always tells me that I'm beautiful. But it's hard to feel that way looking the way that I do. It is especially hard to become intimate with the intentions of starting a family when you don't want your significant other to see your broken out back and chest. I've almost given up and thought about starting the pill again. But what would that do to prevent this from happening again? Absolutely nothing.

Over the years, I've tried everything not even to cure, but just to maintain my acne. I've tried all the usual over-the-counter suspects such as ProActive, TriClear, Neutrogena, Clearasil, Mary Kay etc. with no luck. I've tried many prescribed medicines such as Differin, Clindamycin gel, Tetracycline, Retin-A, etc. with no luck. I've even wasted thousands of dollars on the high end skin care lines such as IS Clinical, Mario Badescu, SkinCeuticals, Phytoceane, MD Forte, etc. And NOTHING works.

I'm not looking for some miracle cure that will vanish my acne forever. Yes, it would be nice, but I accept that it isn't realistic.

The products that I'm using now are the best I've found for the time being. They don't make my acne any worse, which is a good thing. But they don't completely cure it either.

I use ONLY oil-free and hypoallergenic products in both my make-up and my skin care products.

I've been using the following every morning:
Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser
Aveeno Clear Complexion Moisturizer with SPF 15
Maybelline Superstay Silky Foundation
Maybelline Mineral Powder Natural Perfecting Concealer

I've been using the following every night:
Pond's Clean Sweep Moist Wipes to remove make-up
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer

Having a sensitive face, Aveeno seems to be the only product I've found so far that doesn't irritate it further. Even after all the products I've used...the over-the-counter, the prescribed, the cheap, the expensive...I'll only use Aveeno for now.

I'm so glad I found this message board. It's been bittersweet to read everyone's stories. Sad that other's are having the same problem I am, but glad that I'm not alone.

Hope everyone has a good day today. Take care!

-Charlie

Hi Everyone - I've been reading all of the stories posted and feel really sad that so many of us are going through the same things. I've been on the pill for nearly 10 years and recently decided to stop (it's been 2 weeks!).

I was on Diane for 8 years and my doctor put me on it when I was 17 for acne issues. I would say that my acne was a little more severe than moderate but the Diane really helped to clear my skin over time. This is why I've been on it for so long - fear that my acne would come back. After hearing about the risks of Diane, and nagging from my Doctor, I finally got off Diane a year ago and went on Yasmin. I was terrified that this transition would cause my skin to break out but it didn't. My skin was actually much nicer on Yasmin than Diane.

I am now 27 years old and recently got off the pill. I had enough of always feeling blah, vaginal dryness and did I mention lack of libido! I'm only 27 and I'm no longer enjoying sex. I feel menopausal! I've also started to experience pain during intercourse a few years ago and I'm convinced that it's the BCPs.

Two weeks ago I finally came off the pill. I am generally a healthy person - I eat well and practice yoga and pilates 5 times a week. I felt like ingesting synthetic hormones was completely undoing all of the good I was trying to do for my body. I hated that I didn't have a sex drive anymore.

Before comming off the pill, I went do see a Naturopathic doctor for natural remedies to balance my hormones during the transition period. Hopefully by making efforts to balance my hormones, I will be able to ease the break outs. On a more optimistic note, I'm hoping that I've outgrown acne since I'm now 27. I guess time will tell. Being on the pill for so long has actually made me forget that I have bad skin.

Here is a list of what my naturopathic doctor suggested:

Iron supplements (two times a day - natural)
Vitamin D drops (once a day)
Vitamin B50 and B6 (once da day - our bodies are depleted of vitamin Bs from BCP)
Silica Complex (once a day - for the skin)
Cod fish oil (2 capsules a day)
Evening Primrose Oil (2 capsules a day - helps to regulate hormones)
A mixture of Dong Quai and Chaste Berry (2 table spoons a day - helps to regulate female hormones)

I also use the proactive repairing lotion and toner, and spectro gel cleanser

I drink tons of water through out the day

Excercie 5 times a week

I am also undergoing blue light therapy once every two months which helps to kill the acne bacteria underneath the skin. It's a safe and effective way to prevent break outs or treat current break outs

And, I stay away from sugar and dairy

So far I am feeling good with no break outs. I do feel that my skin is a little more oily but I've recently purchased the deslick mattifying rice powder from Urban Decay. It's a little expensive but it has definately helped to reduce the amount of oil on my face (what a great product!). You can find it at Sephora. So far so good. I also feel much happier - perhaps it's the Dong Quai but I'm soooooo glad to finally be off the pill. Never again!

Okay, I know I've just provided a lot of detail with my daily routine but I think it's important that we support each other and share products and remedies to combat the break outs and hormonal imbalance.

Good luck