Hi everyone! My name is Hailey and I am 20 years old, in September of 2012 I stopped taking my birth control (ortho tri cylin-lo) which I had been on for about 3-3 1/2 years just because I was lazy and would often to forget to take my pill or would miss a few days. In the beginning of October I began to break all over and did not make the connection between stopping birth control and breaking out. Around the middle of October I decided to get back on birth control (same brand) but made the mistake of taking my pills the week I was supposed to start my period (my boyfriend and I had just started dating and I didn't want to get my period yet haha) and my face broke out like CRAZY. I got off the birth control about a week after so I could have a normal period and hoped this would stop the acne. Unfortunately, things did not get better and about 2 weeks later after having my period and seeing no improvement I got back on birth control. All throughout November even while on birth control I began to continuously break out. Around Christmas time things started to clear up but soon enough I began to break out again. It is now March and I have just started my 5th pack of birth control but I am still struggling with breakouts. I notice it gets a lot worse the week before my period but my face has not been completely clear since the breakouts started in October. My doctor prescribed doxycyclin but I chose not to take it because of the horrible things I read about on Acne.org and how it is just a quick fix. I have no seen a dermatologist because I have also heard bad thing about them and am nervous about using any of the things they would prescribe for me as I have very sensitive skin.
I also want to add that I have never had trouble with acne and have always had perfectly clear skin all my life. I am a little OCD with my skin and never go to bed without washing my face and have been especially on top of it since I started breaking out. My question is, is this for sure a hormonal issue that will be balanced out by the birth control? Or could there be something else going on? If anyone has any insight it would be greatly appreciated.
I have had acne prone skin since I was 13. I went on birth control (Diane 35) when I was about 18 and that definitely helped clear my skin. Althought it only lasted for about 10 months then I started breaking out again, not as bad as before, but definitely enough to make me feel self conscious.
I recently just started Dan's regimen and it has helped a lot! I am still on the Diane 35, but that is just to regulate my period now.
Maybe you can switch birth control pills? I used a different brand before Diane 35 and it didn't do anything to help my acne.