10 replies to this topic

[melmel87]

I'm curious which birth control pill females have had success with for combating acne? I'm wanting to change mine because I believe mine actually is making mine worse. I'm on loestrin fe 1/20 (2 years), which from reading through some other posts seems it can make acne worse! I only breakout near my jawline and chin. I could go without washing my face and still wouldn't break out on my forehead or cheeks, which makes me think my acne really is just hormonal. I used YAZ when I was 17 but my mom had me change it because of all the lawsuits that were happening. I see my doctor on tuesday so just wanted some opinions prior to seeing her.

Edited by melmel87, 01 February 2013 - 06:52 AM.

[aze]

I'd like to know the answer to this too! I just started yaz less than a few weeks ago (which apparently is supposed to help acne...) but has given me a serious breakout instead! And my skin wasn't too bad to begin with... did this happen to you when you first started taking yaz? Did you notice any other side effects?

[melmel87]

I'd like to know the answer to this too! I just started yaz less than a few weeks ago (which apparently is supposed to help acne...) but has given me a serious breakout instead! And my skin wasn't too bad to begin with... did this happen to you when you first started taking yaz? Did you notice any other side effects?

 

I took it for quite some time and it didn't end up making my acne better or worse, but it can affect everyone differently. Breakouts are common when starting a pill, have to wait till like 4th month to know if it's going to help!

[Green Gables]

Loestrin uses norethindrone which is a medium andorgenic progestin, meaning it can increase acne. I believe the particular formulation you are using, 1/20, is also lower on the estrogen side, which doesn't help acne either.

 

Please see the list below in my signature.

[Shannanigunz]

I'm curious which birth control pill females have had success with for combating acne? I'm wanting to change mine because I believe mine actually is making mine worse. I'm on loestrin fe 1/20 (2 years), which from reading through some other posts seems it can make acne worse! I only breakout near my jawline and chin. I could go without washing my face and still wouldn't break out on my forehead or cheeks, which makes me think my acne really is just hormonal. I used YAZ when I was 17 but my mom had me change it because of all the lawsuits t that were happening. I see my doctor on tuesday so just wanted some opinions prior to seeing her.

 

You are describing EXACTLY what I went through on Ortho Tri Cyclen BCPs. My skin is still trying to recover from breaking out all along my jaw and lower cheeks. Yet nothing anywhere else on my face. I know it's hormonal. I didn't even really have bad acne before starting the pill. Now I'm about to start my 5th month, just gotta get through this week...you know, hah. My skin does look better, but is still very sensitive. I do believe it is finally starting to clear though. It took a few months, and it happens slowly.

 

I started using salycilic acid acne medications (cleansers, toners), as opposed to benzoyl peroxide (except for spot treatments), and I noticed my skin liked that more. It used to be the other way around but my body chemistry has completely changed over the last few months.

[RJT623]

I am 32 and have been on Orthotricyclen or Orthotricyclen Lo since I was 19, only stopping when I wanted to get pregnant, then going right back on. I think it helped my skin when I was younger, but since my later 20's, I have been having stubborn and pretty severe acne all over my chin, sometimes my jawline too. I read that a monophasic pill might be better for hormonal acne...the same level of hormone throughout the month, versus a triphasic pill, where you're given a different level of hormone each week. I see my doc tomorrow and it's the first thing on my list to talk about. My fear is that she'll say to go off the pill altogether...she says you should be off 10 years prior to perimenopause, in case you have to go back on hormones for that...

[melmel87]

I'm curious which birth control pill females have had success with for combating acne? I'm wanting to change mine because I believe mine actually is making mine worse. I'm on loestrin fe 1/20 (2 years), which from reading through some other posts seems it can make acne worse! I only breakout near my jawline and chin. I could go without washing my face and still wouldn't break out on my forehead or cheeks, which makes me think my acne really is just hormonal. I used YAZ when I was 17 but my mom had me change it because of all the lawsuits t that were happening. I see my doctor on tuesday so just wanted some opinions prior to seeing her.

 

You are describing EXACTLY what I went through on Ortho Tri Cyclen BCPs. My skin is still trying to recover from breaking out all along my jaw and lower cheeks. Yet nothing anywhere else on my face. I know it's hormonal. I didn't even really have bad acne before starting the pill. Now I'm about to start my 5th month, just gotta get through this week...you know, hah. My skin does look better, but is still very sensitive. I do believe it is finally starting to clear though. It took a few months, and it happens slowly.

 

I started using salycilic acid acne medications (cleansers, toners), as opposed to benzoyl peroxide (except for spot treatments), and I noticed my skin liked that more. It used to be the other way around but my body chemistry has completely changed over the last few months.

 

 

I remember trying ortho tri cyclen for about 2 weeks in high school and freaked out when my face started breaking out more, so my doctor put me on YAZ at my suggestion (which did not help, it may have controlled the cystic acne though), then I switched to mircette and then to my curent loestrin, none of them really helped my skin. I am super sensitive to hormones though, I was one of those babies born with acne on my cheeks from the surge of hormones from my mom... anyways, I am going to see my doctor tomorrow and have her do some testing and see what she suggests. My skin is great besides this breaking out around my chin and jaw! BP seems to be the only thing my skin can tolerate. Hopefully your BCP clears up your skin!

 

 

I am 32 and have been on Orthotricyclen or Orthotricyclen Lo since I was 19, only stopping when I wanted to get pregnant, then going right back on. I think it helped my skin when I was younger, but since my later 20's, I have been having stubborn and pretty severe acne all over my chin, sometimes my jawline too. I read that a monophasic pill might be better for hormonal acne...the same level of hormone throughout the month, versus a triphasic pill, where you're given a different level of hormone each week. I see my doc tomorrow and it's the first thing on my list to talk about. My fear is that she'll say to go off the pill altogether...she says you should be off 10 years prior to perimenopause, in case you have to go back on hormones for that...

 

Did your face break out a lot when you were pregnant? That's one of my fears lol. Yeah I see my doctor tomorrow too so hopefully they can figure this out!

[RJT623]

I broke out when I first became pregnant...that first month, when hormones are going CRAZY. It wasn't horrible, but my skin was oilier than normal, so was my hair. Then it cleared up by the second month or so, and I actually had the best skin of my life during both of my pregancies! I even went without makeup in the hospital, my skin looked great. I guess my skin does well with pregnancy, once it gets over that first hurdle! Good luck with your appt tomorrow!

[michi31]

Hey melmel you are just like me. I only break out around my chin. Never anywhere else on my my whole face. Birth control has made things worse for me in the past. Have you had your hormones tested? I broke out bad the first trimester of my pregnancy. Not as bad in the second . And i was the clearest of my life in the third. It was amazing for a few months

Edited by michi31, 06 February 2013 - 07:19 PM.

[melmel87]

Hey melmel you are just like me. I only break out around my chin. Never anywhere else on my my whole face. Birth control has made things worse for me in the past. Have you had your hormones tested? I broke out bad the first trimester of my pregnancy. Not as bad in the second . And i was the clearest of my life in the third. It was amazing for a few months

 

I don't know if my birth control really makes my acne better or worse, cause I will go for quite awhile without any major skin issues then I'l randomly explode on my chin. I do notice the more stressed I get, the worse my skin gets, so then I become more stressed, hah!  I've only had my thyroid checked and it's always within the normal range. When I asked my dermatologist why I only break out in this area she said, "that's just where most adults get acne." lol.

[LillyRose7]

i break out a lot on my chin as well, but cheeks too. I think BCP pills generally clear you up depending on what you are on. I take this pill (belara) it compares studies with other pills - www.belara.com/fileadmin/user_upload/publications/Detail_Aid.pdf

 

I duno if its good, or not good, i broke out badly during my first month on it. But i dont know if its because i was playing around with topicals. Have since stopped.  I was also really stressed. If that was my initial breakout, i would be happy because it wasn't too bad. I heard it takes 6-8 weeks to see results, but its ok and settling down so i hope it will clear. I took it a while back and never got a pimple my skin was so good, smooth like a baby. I just wish i had stayed on it because it would have stopped this scarring issue i have now. Not too bad but lots of red mark  !!