About 6 months ago I had posted on here about my experience with Spironolactone, and how it caused me to have hair loss. I was also on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo with it, as prescribed by my dermatologist. After 2 months of stopping Spiro, my hair loss completely stopped and I was feeling great. I was also continuing with the birth control. Unfortunately, it's 6 months later and my acne is back, and actually seems worse. It's all over my chin and above my lip. It started as one cyst on my chin, then one after another progressed into a circle around my mouth. It's so embarrassing. I'm going back to see my dermatologist in about 2 weeks, thank goodness. But i have no idea how this problem is going to be solved, considering Spiro might be off limits for me now.

All in all, my actual question is, can birth control cause cystic acne? As a teenager (I'm 21 now), I had typical acne, but nothing like this. I was put on Emoquette when I was about 17 and that seems to be around the same time my acne got crazy. I went to my doctor and complained about the acne, so she switched me to Lutera, and claimed it would help. I was on that for about 3 years, and suffered from acne throughout that time. Finally my dermatologist put me on Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo about 1 year and a half ago, and I've been on it since, and now without the Spiro. Would switching to Ortho Tri Cyclen be any different in regards to acne? Should I try Spiro again at a lower dose (I was at 200 mg a day)? I'm kind of at a loss right now!