Sorry that you're struggling Your situation sounds very similar to mine. Whenever I come off the pill my skin (and body) seems to go crazy and I feel very unbalanced. Yasmin was helpful for acne for me, but it gave me a lot of side effects. Many seem to do well on it, though. Zovia was a pill I really liked for a while, but recently I've been liking Belara much better for its anti-androgenic qualities.

Besides birth control, you can do other things to help your hormones even out. How is your diet? When I eat better I feel much more balanced overall.

Hey thanks Paigems! I actually was following your belera log. How is that working for you? I want to try Yasmin but I am so scared that my skin will go to hell. I tried spiro in the past just 25mg one time per day and by the third day got a cyst right on my chin. I was so freaked because in general I don't get cysts often you know. So I feel like the drsp might do the same and just make it all flare up in cysts. Also I am so sensitive with my skin like it literally bothers me into depression.

As far as my diet it's crappy. Prior to having acne I ate w.e and never affected my skin. I haven't been able to find a link to intolerances or foods that make me flare. I want to eliminate things like dairy but food unfortunately makes me feel better lol. So I'm like if I have these pimples at least let me eat.

Belara seems to be a good pill for me. It's not perfect. It doesn't completely clear up my acne and oily skin like yasmin did, but it does make my skin a lot better and it also seems to make the hair on my head thicker and the hair on my body more sparse/ slower growing.

Pimples take a lot longer than 3 days to form. I'd say the cyst and the spiro were probably not related. If you can tolerate spiro and/ or yasmin I'd definitely try those. Improvement is slow with all hormonal treatments, though.

If your diet is crappy, I think you might be able to see some improvements by making it better. Diet doesn't clear me up all the way, but it definitely helps. I understand the feeling of sort of resenting the fact that you might have to eat healthier because of your skin. I never ate really bad, but I used to hate the fact that I couldn't eat bread because of my skin. I got over that when I realized that it wasn't just for my skin, it was also for my health in general. You don't have to try cutting out everything at once. Maybe try reducing your dairy and sugar intake and then see if you can eventually cut them out.

I also find that what I put on my skin is really important. Even things that say they are non-comedogenic can clog me and cause very big pimples (including cysts). What type of stuff do you usually use on your skin? What cleanser, moisturizer, makeup, etc. ?

Yeah I am hoping that spiro and that cyst was unrelated because a little while ago I got a cyst. I will say when Im not taking these supplements my skin goes NUTS lol. And I start sweating like a woman going through menopause and Im 24 lol. But I went to my derm and oddly enough he said he doesn't prescribe bc pill...which was basically the purpose I went to him. He said based on all of my symptoms Yasmin probably would be the best choice for me. I know the pill can potentially wreck your hormones more but at this point Ive waited well over a year and my symptoms just kind of worsen. My period is so erratic and light now and its bizarre to me there is something definitely wrong with me . Im glad to hear Belera is working out for you! I remember you said you shed a lot on the other pills and if this one keeps your hair feeling full than great fit!

So as soon as I get my insurance sorted out I have to get blood work done and go to a gyn. And yes about the diet I will try for the sake of the whole PCOS I will try to avoid high glycemic foods. Although I have always been a major carb lover lol. And yes same for me Ive been trying to find a moisturizer that doesn't clog my pores and I cannot find one. Everything clogs my pores at this point because my skin is so incredibly oily. I use the Hourglass matte foundation and this thing is MATTE and yet on my face within 3-4 hours I already see shine coming through. As far and my regiment I wash with purpose in the morning BP 2.5%. I use a very small amount because it burns and itches sometimes(only the places that I used Taz on). At night I wash with purpose and apply DK moisturizer or the Neutrogena oil free moisturizer before Taz gel 1%. I think its unreal that Im using Taz gel 1% and still manage to breakout regularly. And I always have at least 10 if not more clogged pores in my face and they fluctuate. Some will turn to white heads/black heads others turn into pustules and on really crazy hormonal days its like all of them turn into papules which don't pop they kind of just peel thanks to Taz. Also I have pretty crappy chest and backnee nothing too dramatic right now but still I haven't worn a low cut anything in over a year. I wish I could take a pill and make it all better hope yasmin will be it.