171 replies to this topic

[217106]

i was on diane for years and it worked great for me.

hope it does for you too!

i was just wondering how long did it take you to see results? and did you suffer from initial breakouts?? i am in my second month and i have a cyst on my chin that refuses to go away. it wont even come to a head!

[gEeperz]

im on my 5th week now..and have 5 new big and painful visitors on my face..when will this end..ehe..

is diane + dalacin c recomended?..

any other regimen that i can use to lessen the occurence of my acnes?..ehe..tnx..

[finally clearing]

Hi...I have been on Diane 35 for almost 2 years...while the good thing is that i did not get acne while i was on it, the acne came back in full swing. I don't think its a good idea to take this pill. Honestly, its just a short-term solution. Once you decide to get pregnant, you will have to leave it anyway. Plus, the side effects include brown patches on the skin if used for a long period of time. I tried retin a after going off Diane and cleared up completely...however, i stopped using it and acne came back...now i am trying to get pregnant so i cannot use retin a for a long time..so i'm trying dan's regimen now...i think its working...

[217106]

i have been on diane 35 for three months now. i am still continuing to get cystic breakouts on my chin. i was just wondering if this was normal and if suddenly acne starts to clear? and how long is expected. i know that everyone is different but i am getting impatient... the more acne i get and the longer this continues the worse scarring i have. i just want clear skin.

[Ky22]

Prior to using Diane 35 ED or Brenda I was on Trifeme until October 2004 I was getting some break outs around my chin. Then I went to the doctors who prescribed me Diane 35 and it worked wonders for me, however now being in Canada I wasnt too sure if they provided this pill here. So I discontinued using it in August 2008, so in October 2008 I started to break out with pimples around my chin. So a combination of stress and hormones too.

I never experienced weight gain with using Diane 35 but everyone is different but my sex drive definetly affected. It is a good BCP but I never wanted to be on the pill forever. I do have another supply in my bag, from when I did go back to Oz for a holiday and to see my mum and family. So I thought okay if it gets out of control I will hop back on them. I just thought I will try and fight the pimple problem with vitamins first before going back on the pill

[olivia88]

i have been on diane 35 for three months now. i am still continuing to get cystic breakouts on my chin. i was just wondering if this was normal and if suddenly acne starts to clear? and how long is expected. i know that everyone is different but i am getting impatient... the more acne i get and the longer this continues the worse scarring i have. i just want clear skin.

Im nearing 3 months of being on Diane and my skin still isnt completley clear. im jsut wondering if you have seen im provments after using the pill for more then 3 months

[gizophrenia]

People... I'm on my 4th year of taking diane and i must say that my skin has been super great the past years~ some breakouts occassionally... but i've had way less oil production. i've had acne all over my forehead before I went onto the pill. I'm wanting to come off it because I came to realize that I couldn't take this pill forever... Although the doctors say that diane is safe to take as on a long term basis, I'm constantly feeling that I'm putting my health at risk...

I want to come off of it!! However............ I'm also super reluctant to come off it because I've read MANY previous diane users who have shared their stories of having MAJOR BREAKOUTS.... I really don't know what to do.... After the second year of taking this pill, I noticed my emotions went to a low level.... i rarely feel those lovey dovey emotions.... for example around guys~~ and i haven't fallen in love ever after being on this pill...! i'm blaming diane because i don't know what else to blame for this~ i didn't figure this out until a few months ago, which made me wanna come off it ever more. I feel horrible because I don't know who to go to for help... I fear the major breakout when i come off it...

Can anyone direct me to any websites or sources which give advice for people quitting the pill? What exactly are causing the major breakouts? The offset hormones I believe...?? Will balancing hormones during the quitting stage work to relieve the side effects of stopping the pill?

PLEASE I NEED HELP BECAUSE I'VE STRUGGLED WITH THIS FOREVER........................

Hi,
i also want to come off diane 35. i've been on it for a lil over a year now, and it cleared up my minor acne almost immediately. i'm also worried of what the side effects will be if i come off of it. but i was wondering if anyone ever experienced weird, non-itchy surface rashes on their arms/legs when on diane? i noticed it about 3-4 weeks after going on it, and it comes and goes but is almost always present right after i take a shower. anyways i notice them alot when i go out in the sun in the summer so it got to the point where i coudln't even go tanning last summer! i really miss going out tanning, but i don't wanna break out over the summer either. plus im really wary of all the long-term effects of diane 35. anyways, please let me know if any of you have ever experienced a non-itchy rash while on diane....

Hi, I've been recently prescribed by my doctor to take Diane 35. I started taking it last week. Days have passed and I recently developed non-itchy rashes on arms and legs. Medical groups aren't of much help on what this is until I read that another user has experienced this.

I want to know if I should stop taking it or if continuing it is just fine. Will the rash go away eventually? What causes it?

Thanks! I do hope that anyone can help.

[hopeful42day]

Hey guys... I just started on Diane 35, it's been about a week now and I'm sure it's far too soon to be expecting results but I did notice that I haven't gotten any new breakouts. Whereas, a few weeks ago, I would wake up to a new zit waiting to greet me every morning. I'm praying that this helps, but based on the reviews... I don't want it to come back when I stop taking it because I don't want to rely on it forever.. *sigh* the things we're willing to do for clear skin huh ?

Also, it's been giving me migraines and making me super nautious!!! Anyone else experience this?

[Kat84]

I was on Diane35 2 times before, I'm on my 3rd round of this stuff. (1st time 1.5 years, 2nd time 1.5 years, 3rd time 1 month so far) The 1st time, it was about 5 months before I saw results, I did get some really horrible cystic acne in unusual places but I got cystic acne anyways so I don't know if it was the drug doing this.

2nd time...i saw results in about 3 months. An increased number of breakouts initially, and in different places than usual (forehead, side of face below ear) but nothing too bad.

3rd time...a few small hard zits that go away in about 3 days if I leave them alone and no new cystic acne which is a really big thing for me.

I quit taking Diane 35 during my 2 pregnancies and almost a year afterwards, then I thought that I could go without it. Unfortunately, the acne would not go away, I would have 5 or 6 huge cysts on my face, that would take weeks, sometimes months to go away. I started to scar really bad and it was so embarrasing so I am back on Diane and already am seeing a difference. I also had trouble with my periods being really long and hair growth on my face (I know there is a name for that condition but the doctor didn't diagnose me with anything!!!) I also find that reducing my sugar intake helps my acne situation.

If I don't take Diane 35 with food (oatmeal, soda crackers), sometimes I feel nausea. The 2nd time I took it I thought it decreased my sex drive, made me kinda dry, also had a few mood swings, however, there was a lot of other stuff going on (new baby, job stress) and I didn't drink enough water. So far, this time around I have no problems, I make sure to drink lots of water, and if anything my sex drive is increasing because my confidence increases with better skin.

Diane 35 is worth a try, it might help depending on what is causing your acne. Hang in there!

[hopeful42day]

I was on Diane35 2 times before, I'm on my 3rd round of this stuff. (1st time 1.5 years, 2nd time 1.5 years, 3rd time 1 month so far) The 1st time, it was about 5 months before I saw results, I did get some really horrible cystic acne in unusual places but I got cystic acne anyways so I don't know if it was the drug doing this.

2nd time...i saw results in about 3 months. An increased number of breakouts initially, and in different places than usual (forehead, side of face below ear) but nothing too bad.

3rd time...a few small hard zits that go away in about 3 days if I leave them alone and no new cystic acne which is a really big thing for me.

I quit taking Diane 35 during my 2 pregnancies and almost a year afterwards, then I thought that I could go without it. Unfortunately, the acne would not go away, I would have 5 or 6 huge cysts on my face, that would take weeks, sometimes months to go away. I started to scar really bad and it was so embarrasing so I am back on Diane and already am seeing a difference. I also had trouble with my periods being really long and hair growth on my face (I know there is a name for that condition but the doctor didn't diagnose me with anything!!!) I also find that reducing my sugar intake helps my acne situation.

If I don't take Diane 35 with food (oatmeal, soda crackers), sometimes I feel nausea. The 2nd time I took it I thought it decreased my sex drive, made me kinda dry, also had a few mood swings, however, there was a lot of other stuff going on (new baby, job stress) and I didn't drink enough water. So far, this time around I have no problems, I make sure to drink lots of water, and if anything my sex drive is increasing because my confidence increases with better skin.

Diane 35 is worth a try, it might help depending on what is causing your acne. Hang in there!

Thanks for that... I usually don't eat anything when I take the pill, maybe that's what's causing my nausea. Which, I think is decreasing as I get used to the pill! I wasn't one to get cystic acne before, but I'm getting it now since I started this pill my whole face hurts... I hate this!!!

[nikki1337]

Im glad to hear im not the only one who broke out when starting diane 35. ive just finished my firts pack..so 3 weeks and not only have i not improved im worse than ive ever been. before the pills i had a lot ALOT of small bumps all over sides of face and forehead. but after the pills ive gotten red big pimples and i keep getting them, i always have about 5 or 6. i dont know if i should stop taking the pills or is it normal for it to get worse at first? can the pills cause acne to worsen for some people and they shouldnt take it? how much time does is generally take to see some improvement? after this its accutane...i was on it before and it worked perfectly. but my doctor said its a bigger deal and to try the bc pills first for a few months

Oh man thats me exactly. I make excuses to not hang out with people because i feel gross. Im into my 2nd week on diane 35 and im breaking out with cystic acne. I have NEVER had that before. and its not like one or two pimples, its like both sides of my cheeks... im not sure i can handle 3 months of hell, there goes my summer

[hopeful42day]

Im glad to hear im not the only one who broke out when starting diane 35. ive just finished my firts pack..so 3 weeks and not only have i not improved im worse than ive ever been. before the pills i had a lot ALOT of small bumps all over sides of face and forehead. but after the pills ive gotten red big pimples and i keep getting them, i always have about 5 or 6. i dont know if i should stop taking the pills or is it normal for it to get worse at first? can the pills cause acne to worsen for some people and they shouldnt take it? how much time does is generally take to see some improvement? after this its accutane...i was on it before and it worked perfectly. but my doctor said its a bigger deal and to try the bc pills first for a few months

Oh man thats me exactly. I make excuses to not hang out with people because i feel gross. Im into my 2nd week on diane 35 and im breaking out with cystic acne. I have NEVER had that before. and its not like one or two pimples, its like both sides of my cheeks... im not sure i can handle 3 months of hell, there goes my summer

Yup I did the same thing for almost 3 months... avoided every social situation I could, my whole face used to hurt

I just started my second cycle of Diane, which, like most people caused me to break out even MORE than before. I went to the derm who prescribed me 200mg of apo-doxy in the morning and said to continue taking Diane in the evening. I've been doing this for about a month now and as of this week.... my face is CRYSTAL CLEAR . The clearest it's been since I can remember, thank God! Because it was Accutane for me after this.

So now I'm just battling the dreadful scars left behind from my massive breakouts... but nothing a little- or a lot of make-up can't handle! I'm also using a topical to help fade the scars, no significant improvements there tho.

Just wanted to share.. hope this helps someone!!

[hopeful42day]

So after being on Diane and Apo-Doxy simultaneously, I found that my face was improving but I was still getting minor breakouts. So when my second cycle of Diane ended, I decideed to stop using it all together and just use the Apo-Doxy and I haven't had a breakout since, even when it comes close to my menstrual cycle... NOTHING

For now, I'm battling the nasty scars left behind but thank God for make up!
Just wanted to share... hope this helps someone else the same way that it has helped me

[candycane28]

I used it for half a year and gained a lot of weight. It took me a year to get back in my old clothes (from S to L)
Get off it as soon as you can and start a detox

[hormonalacne666]

Im glad to hear im not the only one who broke out when starting diane 35. ive just finished my firts pack..so 3 weeks and not only have i not improved im worse than ive ever been. before the pills i had a lot ALOT of small bumps all over sides of face and forehead. but after the pills ive gotten red big pimples and i keep getting them, i always have about 5 or 6. i dont know if i should stop taking the pills or is it normal for it to get worse at first? can the pills cause acne to worsen for some people and they shouldnt take it? how much time does is generally take to see some improvement? after this its accutane...i was on it before and it worked perfectly. but my doctor said its a bigger deal and to try the bc pills first for a few months

Oh man thats me exactly. I make excuses to not hang out with people because i feel gross. Im into my 2nd week on diane 35 and im breaking out with cystic acne. I have NEVER had that before. and its not like one or two pimples, its like both sides of my cheeks... im not sure i can handle 3 months of hell, there goes my summer

I've been on Diane 35 for 2 weeks and have 3 new painful cysts on my chin, I know exactly how you're feeling, "there goes my summer". While my acne had been getting worst with whiteheads and about one cyst per week, it's never been this bad. How long should we continue like this.......and how am I going to brush my teeth with this kind of pain.

[Elle81]

Hi,

i just joined this org so i could comment and share my diane experience. I had been on diane for 13 years. I am now 28.

I originally went on due to skin concerns. My skin was pretty good the whole time i was on it, so it does its job well. I did however get migraines approx once a month when on the sugar tablets. I also noticed that my hair quality decreased slowly whilst on it (this however could be unrelated).

I tried to go off of it when i was 24 and didn't get a period for 9 months and had very bad (and very sore!!) cystic acne. It was soooo painful (and hideous) i ended up going back on diane.

Fast forward 4 years and I really wanted to try to go off of it again. Armed with what i learnt last time, i went and saw a doc who specialises in women's hormones and naturopathy to help with the transition. I have only had one appointment so far and all she has done is taken me off dairy (as apparently that can aggravate skin conditions) I will be going back in a couple of weeks to get results of tests.

I have been off for 3 months, got my first period sans diane about 3 weeks ago and my skin is not great (but no where near as bad as last time). Its oily and feels a little irritated, a few pimples, also complexion isnt great, but im hoping that this will all balance out after a while....

Positives though are....

I feel amazing! Sounds really silly but i swear diane made my emotions a little numb, never get really angry, got sad but never really knew why. Now my body and my emotions are far more in sync, and i don't feel as tired.

In a nut shell i feel way more like me than i have ever before, more alert and more in tune. I think thats worth a few pimples... oh, and i have lost a bit of weight (bonus!) if only i gained a cup size it would be perfect!

Also, i monitoring my hair quality now that im off, but its too early to comment yet.

Hope this helps someone!

Cheers

[ginni]

a great cream for acne scars is skin doctors gamma hydroxy forte, I personally swear by it and it reduces pores too

[Xandrine]

I read a lot about this is this some sort of birth control pills or what is it?

Can males go on it or just women?

designed for women, but.. men can also take it.. ONLY if you are ready to give up some of your male hormones. these drugs are also taken by some men wanting to look more feminine (less hair growth, gynecomastia, etc)

[meow_]

Omggg when will my skin start to become beautiful?

I'm nearing the end of my 2nd month... I've gained 5kg in that time plus my moods are weird.
I've got pimples probably more stubborn than before going on the pill. Like massive pimples. Only 3 right now. But big and inflamed and right in the middle of my cheek. Great.

Any motivational words?

[fapattac]

It's interesting to see how many women are being prescribed diane-35 without being tested for polycystic ovarian syndrome.
I have been on Diane 35 for over ten years now. That plus 10 mg Androcur and 25 mg Spironolactone. It is the only thing that keeps the acne at bay, as well as my ovaries fom turning into bubbled monsters . I am a healthy 32 year old otherwise. The first 3 months of this pill made me emotionally nuts, however I am lucky enough to have a very understanding and patient husband......The emotions settle down, so does the skin. I also use epiduo at night, and pure unrefined shea butter cream during the day ( this is the only moisture that works for me in the winter). I am of normal weight (127 lbs, 5'8"). I recently quit most dairy products and my skin got even better and I lost two kilos.
I have no intention of conceiving. I don't smoke. I plan to stay on this regime as long as my health allows. I do not break for periods....I take the pill straight through - pausing meant bloatiness, acne, grumpiness, and cramps without end, and no bleeding anyway, my doctor agreed it was silly to put my body through the extra stress.
It would be nice to hear from others who have a similar story......