26 replies to this topic

[fml-]

So I`ve started taking the Tri-Cyclen BCP in my hopes of curing acne...and it seemed to help very minorly in terms of minimizing some oil to shrink some pores (not too much yet tho). I`m on my third week now... BUT a few days ago i got a huge cyst on my jawline and notice another bump coming on the other side. I got cystic acne normally before the pill...but not as deep/painful as these!

My whole reason for taking this pill was to get rid of acne...specifically cystic to reduce scarring. but now it's looking like it might cause more scarring?.... Has anyone else had this happen on this pill??? DOES IT GET BETTER or worse with time??
I still have to take this pill for another month before I am supposed to reschedual an appointment w/ the doctor to talk about other options...aka accutane.

What are you're experiences?

thanks in advance for responses!

[27inLA]

I think 3 weeks is not long enough to be seeing any results from starting the pill. You should know in more like 6 weeks if it is even helping.

I'm sure there are women who are helped simply by the pill but usually it's best to use something else with it. Hormonal acne is tough to deal with.

What are you using on your skin? What have you tried?

Also if the pill doesnt work there are PLENTY of other options ((including topicals, antibiotics and hormone treatments like spiro)) that you should try before Accutane. I think that there are hundreds of members on this site who the pill alone didnt clear up their acne. Although some women see an improvement its not a guaranteed acne treatment, and not made for this purpose.

[fml-]

I think 3 weeks is not long enough to be seeing any results from starting the pill. You should know in more like 6 weeks if it is even helping.

I'm sure there are women who are helped simply by the pill but usually it's best to use something else with it. Hormonal acne is tough to deal with.

What are you using on your skin? What have you tried?

Also if the pill doesnt work there are PLENTY of other options ((including topicals, antibiotics and hormone treatments like spiro)) that you should try before Accutane. I think that there are hundreds of members on this site who the pill alone didnt clear up their acne. Although some women see an improvement its not a guaranteed acne treatment, and not made for this purpose.

Oh I probably should have mentioned I have tried nearly everything...all the topicals, eating healthy, etc. accutane is deffinately a last resort.

well that`s good to know that 3 weeks isnt long enough. although i am kinda worried that this new, worse cystic acne might continue to worsen and leave more scarring...I am also aware that bc is only a temporary treatment for acne. i am just willing to try anything at this point. thanks for ur response.

any one else have this experience? pleaseee share!

[Jessicauofw]

3 weeks definitely isn't enough time to tell if it's going to work or not. I'd give it anywhere from 3-5 months too see results........if it's still bad around the 3 month point, I'd try switching to something else (there's tons of pills out there).
I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen for 3 years and the first 2 years were great as far as my skin goes.........the last year was HORRIBLE. Bad breakouts, horrible acne, depression, etc........I'm not sure what happened but it went all down hill for me. I switched to Demulen 1/30 3 weeks ago and have been feeling great on that! My skin is a bit better, not 100% clear though.........but it does take 3 months so I'm gonna give it that much time and see what happens.
A lot of people on here have luck with spiro too but I've never tried that. Yasmin and Yaz both contain drospirenone which is a progestin unique to ONLY these two pills.......it's a derivative of spiro and is equivalent to a 25mg dose of spiro. It's also a diuretic so it'll help with weight gain/water retention/bloating. I've never personally tried Yasmin but I've had three friends who have and of those three only one had problems with it. The ratings aren't that great though. Remember too........people who post negative remarks on this site about a specific pill have likely had REALLY BAD results.......there are a ton of people who don't have problems so therefore don't feel the need to post.
Good Luck! I hope it gets better for you!

[fml-]

3 weeks definitely isn't enough time to tell if it's going to work or not. I'd give it anywhere from 3-5 months too see results........if it's still bad around the 3 month point, I'd try switching to something else (there's tons of pills out there).
I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen for 3 years and the first 2 years were great as far as my skin goes.........the last year was HORRIBLE. Bad breakouts, horrible acne, depression, etc........I'm not sure what happened but it went all down hill for me. I switched to Demulen 1/30 3 weeks ago and have been feeling great on that! My skin is a bit better, not 100% clear though.........but it does take 3 months so I'm gonna give it that much time and see what happens.
A lot of people on here have luck with spiro too but I've never tried that. Yasmin and Yaz both contain drospirenone which is a progestin unique to ONLY these two pills.......it's a derivative of spiro and is equivalent to a 25mg dose of spiro. It's also a diuretic so it'll help with weight gain/water retention/bloating. I've never personally tried Yasmin but I've had three friends who have and of those three only one had problems with it. The ratings aren't that great though. Remember too........people who post negative remarks on this site about a specific pill have likely had REALLY BAD results.......there are a ton of people who don't have problems so therefore don't feel the need to post.
Good Luck! I hope it gets better for you!

first of all, Thanks so much for the reply....any at all help a little.
I know that it takes time for results....But i am just a little worried at how bad it is getting...It is a lot worse then when i started and i have only been on it for 3 weeks.

when you went on OTC did u get huge painful cysts the first month using it if you recall? or anything unusual that went away with time?
I am just freaking out at this point because these are what will scar and i went on this pill for hopes of not scaring any more. but this might create even worse scarring then i already have.

My doctor had said to try this for 2/3 months and then if there was no improvement i would go to accutane. I honestly wanted to first....cuz this is what i was afraid would happen.

I know this pill works for some people. I am really curious if anyone had this problem but then it got better?

[Jessicauofw]

I can give you a bit of my back ground in regards to my skin and maybe you can see if it matches how you are....I know everyone responds differently to the pill though.
I had flawless skin all threw my teen years until I turned 21 (I'm 25 now). When I hit 21 I started breaking out on my forehead and all over my chin area.......kind of in the cystic acne you are describing. I was beyond depressed and actually pretty suicidal over it. I got on Ortho Tri Cyclen in the Fall (October) of 2006. I didn't really notice any drastic changes in the first month. It didn't get any worse though but it sort of stayed the same. By the second month was when things started to improve. And by April of 2007 (6 months after starting) I was 150% clear (I remember this specifically because I had my University graduation then and was so happy to have nice skin in my pictures). I remember my skin was so clear I would literally go months without any spots, no white heads, no black heads, not even a tiny red dot........perfect skin. Then, about a year ago things totally went down hill........it's like I became immune to Ortho or something, it just no longer worked for me. Sometimes I think our bodies just become too adjusted to something after we've been on it for so long.........and at that point it's time to switch things up. As far as Ortho goes I had no real other side effects.........at first I had a few headaches but with time that went away. Towards the end too before I switched off it I was getting allergic reactions to things I was never allergic to before.............and now that I'm off it, those allergies are gone, so who knows. I had no weight gain on it though, no mood swings, nothing like that. I'd give it more than 3 months even..........it does take time to work. If you do decide to come off............I would look at trying another pill before Accutane. Accutane is a very very strong medication and should be used as only a last resort type thing. The side effects can be horrifying..........I have a girlfriend who was on it at 26 years old and had a heart attack. It also slowly stops the liver and kidneys from functioning properly so it makes you much more susceptible to toxins and infections. I'm def an anti-accutane girl although I do know it can work wonders for people.
Maybe look into Diane 35 and/or spiro. Sometimes adding spiro to a birth control regime can work wonders as well. Another good pill for acne is Demulen (what I switched to) and some people also have luck with Desogen and Brevicon. There are sooo many out there. Maybe looking at getting a referral to a gynocologist might be a good idea too, they specialize in "girl stuff" including the pill and hormonal imbalances.

[tree23]

When I first went to the gyno I asked specifically for a birth control that would help my acne, and she prescribed orth tricyclen lo. She told me to give it at least 2 or 3 MONTHS before deciding if it was helping my acne, so hang in there! 3 weeks is definitely too soon, you have to go through a few full cycles before you 'adjust' to the birth control. Also, if you started 3 weeks ago, and you started near your period, you should be approaching another one right? Maybe its just that time.

[sick of cystic acne]

I think you should give it some more time - I know from experience how horrible cystic zits are and how much scarring sucks, but try to stick with it a few more weeks at least. And really really really do your research on accutane and make 100% sure that it's a last resort. I actually considered it briefly here and there, but I run away every time. I think it might leave you with even worse things to deal with. Good luck, I hope it works out for you

[fml-]

I can give you a bit of my back ground in regards to my skin and maybe you can see if it matches how you are....I know everyone responds differently to the pill though.
I had flawless skin all threw my teen years until I turned 21 (I'm 25 now). When I hit 21 I started breaking out on my forehead and all over my chin area.......kind of in the cystic acne you are describing. I was beyond depressed and actually pretty suicidal over it. I got on Ortho Tri Cyclen in the Fall (October) of 2006. I didn't really notice any drastic changes in the first month. It didn't get any worse though but it sort of stayed the same. By the second month was when things started to improve. And by April of 2007 (6 months after starting) I was 150% clear (I remember this specifically because I had my University graduation then and was so happy to have nice skin in my pictures). I remember my skin was so clear I would literally go months without any spots, no white heads, no black heads, not even a tiny red dot........perfect skin. Then, about a year ago things totally went down hill........it's like I became immune to Ortho or something, it just no longer worked for me. Sometimes I think our bodies just become too adjusted to something after we've been on it for so long.........and at that point it's time to switch things up. As far as Ortho goes I had no real other side effects.........at first I had a few headaches but with time that went away. Towards the end too before I switched off it I was getting allergic reactions to things I was never allergic to before.............and now that I'm off it, those allergies are gone, so who knows. I had no weight gain on it though, no mood swings, nothing like that. I'd give it more than 3 months even..........it does take time to work. If you do decide to come off............I would look at trying another pill before Accutane. Accutane is a very very strong medication and should be used as only a last resort type thing. The side effects can be horrifying..........I have a girlfriend who was on it at 26 years old and had a heart attack. It also slowly stops the liver and kidneys from functioning properly so it makes you much more susceptible to toxins and infections. I'm def an anti-accutane girl although I do know it can work wonders for people.
Maybe look into Diane 35 and/or spiro. Sometimes adding spiro to a birth control regime can work wonders as well. Another good pill for acne is Demulen (what I switched to) and some people also have luck with Desogen and Brevicon. There are sooo many out there. Maybe looking at getting a referral to a gynocologist might be a good idea too, they specialize in "girl stuff" including the pill and hormonal imbalances.

thanks soo much for your reply/time.

my case isn't really like yours in terms of having acne pop up out of nowhere.
I started getting acne around the age 13 I believe...and it was pretty minor or i guess managable...then about 2 or 3 laters it persistently got worse/cystic. now it is at its all time worse...pretty much where you were/suicidal or depressed almost every day.

but you say when you went on the pill it didn't really get worse? I am the total opposite then.
I am willing to stick this out till the 2 month mark...but if it doesn't improve and keeps getting worse I don't think I can handle it.

I would agree to trying other pills before accutane if I could handle this better...but I've already tried so many things that i have just hit a point where i don't want to do anything until this is cured.
I have done a lot of research on accutane...and i don't really feel like it is as horrible as some people see it. I know 3 people myself who have taken it. and all three people had amazing results. one of those people being my brother. everyone reacts differently tho, i understand. but for me I will take any risks..

and i keep reading that this ortho tri cylen works for like 2 years or so and then people start breaking out again...argh. i guess if this does end up working...and the same thing happens to me...i will postpone my possible last resort being accutane.

[fml-]

When I first went to the gyno I asked specifically for a birth control that would help my acne, and she prescribed orth tricyclen lo. She told me to give it at least 2 or 3 MONTHS before deciding if it was helping my acne, so hang in there! 3 weeks is definitely too soon, you have to go through a few full cycles before you 'adjust' to the birth control. Also, if you started 3 weeks ago, and you started near your period, you should be approaching another one right? Maybe its just that time.

yeah, i realise now that going through at least a couple cycles is the only way to see if there will be results. soo i will have to tough this out...ugh.

i started the pill right after my period...since i was told i could start it whenever since i am only taking them strictly for birth control...so this breaking out is before/during my period. however, it is still way worse then any other time off the pill. hopefully that is the adjusting.

thanks for the reply

[fml-]

I think you should give it some more time - I know from experience how horrible cystic zits are and how much scarring sucks, but try to stick with it a few more weeks at least. And really really really do your research on accutane and make 100% sure that it's a last resort. I actually considered it briefly here and there, but I run away every time. I think it might leave you with even worse things to deal with. Good luck, I hope it works out for you

I will be giving it more time. i've nearly finished a month now and the horrible painful cysts havn't got worse...but still havn't got better. just kinda have come then stuck around for what seems like forever. hopefully it will get better within the next month or so...at least some improvement so i can see if this pill is worth staying on.

and trust me I have done a ton of research on accutane. plus know a few people who took it. I think if this pill doesn't show slight improvement within the next month (or 2) if i can wait that long...then that is where i will go.

thanks for the support/input

[Jessicauofw]

Try to see if your GP will couple your OTC script with an antibiotic..........see if that works. Everyone responds differently............OTC just might not be the pill for you. Diane 35 is one that people seem to like but it comes with it's own specific set of cautions and dangers.

[persuadedflower]

I think it takes some time for your body to get used to the added hormones that your it is receiving from the birth control. Stick it out. You should see results. I'm about to take it and my body will probably freak out a bit too. No worries. It's great stuff for hormonal acne!

[Boston50]

OTC made my daughter break out badly. She quit after 5 months and took accutane after that. Which made it worse :\

[fml-]

I think it takes some time for your body to get used to the added hormones that your it is receiving from the birth control. Stick it out. You should see results. I'm about to take it and my body will probably freak out a bit too. No worries. It's great stuff for hormonal acne!

yeah, i think that after the third month mark if there isn't any improvement then I will know. the added hormones probably require a few cycles before any good results can happen.

It's slowly getting better after i had that huge cystic breakout...my whole face hurt. it was horrible. but now they seem to be slowly fading. and nothing too terrible has been popping up.

i've been using neutrogenas clear pore face cleanser/mask. it has helped lots i think.

seems like the only way to keep the oil away to get clearer..w/ the pill.

my whole face seems to be getting smoother...which is just crazy. but i won't jinx it.

so luckily it is getting slowly easier to stick out.

you said you are about to take it? have you taken it before?

[fml-]

OTC made my daughter break out badly. She quit after 5 months and took accutane after that. Which made it worse :\

accutane made it worse? how long did she take it for?
and what was the severity of her acne? if you don't mind me asking.

thanks in advance

[Boston50]

OTC made my daughter break out badly. She quit after 5 months and took accutane after that. Which made it worse :\

accutane made it worse? how long did she take it for?
and what was the severity of her acne? if you don't mind me asking.

thanks in advance

Ya know what. I'm gonna PM you so look for that.

[grazy]

hi there! ive started on my 3rd week with tri-cyclen and got no super bad side effects aside from ACNE...my acne got worst! was into the 3 in 1 clinique acne solution(around last week of april) due to my small zits aound my forehead and jawline and i guess clinique did a great job on that..I finally decided to take the tri-cyclen (started it 2wks ago, im now on my 3rd week) and it did a horrible thing on my face..my cheeks started to have big red to dark ACNE bumps ..this really made my self confidence really low to the point of isolationg myself to the public..do u think, i should wait for another month or so to see the results? (my pharmacist friend told me to wait for a few more weeks coz my body is still adjusting to the pills)...pls advise.thanks

[grazy]

hi there! ive started on my 3rd week with tri-cyclen and got no super bad side effects aside from ACNE...my acne got worst! was into the 3 in 1 clinique acne solution(around last week of april) due to my small zits aound my forehead and jawline and i guess clinique did a great job on that..I finally decided to take the tri-cyclen (started it 2wks ago, im now on my 3rd week) and it did a horrible thing on my face..my cheeks started to have big red to dark ACNE bumps ..this really made my self confidence really low to the point of isolationg myself to the public..do u think, i should wait for another month or so to see the results? (my pharmacist friend told me to wait for a few more weeks coz my body is still adjusting to the pills)...pls advise.thanks

[californiaEstie]

I have had acne since 13 as well. I can see a marked improvement with birth control. I used to have acne ALL OVER my face. Now it's much better. But OTC is definitely not going to cure your acne right away. You should be using it in conjunction with topicals or something else. I'm sure it will take awhile to see really noticeable results, so I wouldn't rely on it by itself. But please don't stop taking it as I'm sure it will help eventually. It's helped me, but it's not going to be super fast or anything. I think it's worth it.