2 replies to this topic

[tishtashtosh]

Hi there,

I'm 17 and was put on dianette for my mild annoying acne.
I've heard many bad things about Dianette. Particularly, that it may clear your skin very well, but after the acne can return WORSE, as your hormones are going to have to re-adjust.
I've been on them for about 2 months (almost finished my 3rd pack). Do you think thats long enough for my acne to get worse when I stop? As I've had an "initial" breakout, occuring around my chin and mouth area FROM the pill. I never had it there before, so that shows its due to the hormonal change. I know this will get better as my body adjusts to the pill, but why wait?
I don't really want to have the clearest skin ever, after being overloaded with hormones and then to stop, causing the worse acne I had to begin with..

ANY advice/comments given would be SO greatly appreciated.
Please.

Thanks.

[katelib86]

I think the intial breakout around the mouth and chin area is normal because I've noticed a hell of a lot of people commenting on the same thing, which seemed to appear a few weeks into treatment. The good news is, it doesn't last long and clears up within two weeks of developing it. I think you are right about it being an initial reaction to the pill itself, which does make sense.

In terms of your worry that the acne/spots will return once you have stopped treatment, we've all had the same worries as well and from what I have read it really seems to depend on the person - for some people the acne has returned after treatement, for others they have remained clear years on. One theory I do have though, after reading all of the other posts, is that for those whose acne reappears, it may well be because they began this treatment in adolescence - an age where their hormones were haywire anyway - which as a result could be aggravated all the more by the use of Dianette - this is because the body hasn't really been given a lot of opportunity to right itself naturally. If your body becomes dependent on Dianette so early it may have a hard time reajusting once that person becomes an adult.

I agree with you that the shorter you stay on it the less problems it can cause after, so perhaps it is a wise idea to consider coming off Dianette, and just see how it goes. You may find that there is an intial reaction, where you seem to breakout, but this could then start going down once your body has had a chance to right itself again and repair the acne itself.
I share the completely same view that Dianette may actually do more harm than good, which is how you seem to feel. It's entirely up to you, but you could also see it through up until 3 months worth of treatment perhaps as this isn't too long, as this may even kill two birds with one stone - clear the skin completely, but without major hormone adjustment.

[alicealicealice]

I was on Dianette for about 10 months and it was actually only around the 8th month that the awful breakouts on my top lip and on my chin stopped happening. Thing is, the breakout then migrated to my cheeks (which had always been very clear pre Dianette) so I came off it and have been using Cilest for a month. So far so good, I've got a couple of spots on my top lip which I think is possibly due to a slight hormonal readjustment but if anything my skin is actually heaps better. Plus I'm not feeling sick constantly and less of my hair is falling out each time I wash it!

If your acne is, as you say, mild, then I don't think it's a good idea to fiddle about with your hormones when there are other treatments available. I think this particular pill is quite a gamble to be honest, its effectiveness seems to really be 50/50 and I don't think the majority of doctors prescribe it correctly.