Din, I did have some hair loss but not too baldy. My worst problem when coming off was the acne. It was just terrible - face, neck, back, chest, arms - even on my stomach and hands. I stayed off the dianette for a few years and it never settled so I was forced back on it. This seems to happen a lot. I also had other symptoms like hair growth and dandruff (and others) but the acne was the worst for me.

I agree about possibly trying an antiandrogen to tackle the hair loss. Find a good endo who will prescribe spironolactone or a different anti androgen. I'm not sure which one is best for hair loss, but I do think an AA could help you.

dp

omg im soooooooooooooo happy i found this thread!!! my GP prescribed me diane 35 for my light acne and i was just about to pop my first pill this morning!!!! this thread saved me from a disaster 6 months down the line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you all for your honesty about this pill.!

Perfect timing then Jaynine! I wish I'd had the internet when I was prescribed it aged 16 for light acne!!

Jaynine, Good for you staying away. This will only cause you problems.

Darlin,

How long did you have the hair loss for?? and how soon after stopping did you start losing hair?

I don't understand what is going on. I had beautiful hair all my life, now I have nothing. It has thinned out so much. All from the Diane. I don't have PCOS and I think my male hormones were very low even before taking the Diane. I never had bad acne. I just had a few breakouts here and then and that is why I took the Diane. Big mistake. Now I am paying the price. Is this going to be forever? I do not want to take any ani androgen drugs now. Like I said, my male hormines is very low.. below normal. Mayeb I just need to sit this out till it stops??

You know............I don't know how to react to this pill because obviously everyone is different. There are people who have no side effects and others that experience a good majority. I had none. There are others who experience no initial breakout and others like myself, have the breakout from hell. I have yet to see clear skin. I wonder if that really exists? LOL

This is my 5th week on Diane 35, I have 3 new scabs b/c I picked and a whole bunch of little pimples on my cheeks and chin. I would rather however have little pimples then big, ugly cysts but it's my fault with the scabs. I can't help touching my face. I'm like a little kid. Anyways, does anyone know a good cream that can help to get rid of scars? Any imput is sooo appreciated.

Check out Civiant Skin Care. Best in the market so far.

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie. I had acne on and off from my 17 to now.

Using Diane 35 is great for your skin, however, once you have stopped, acne comes back and even worse. So I think we'll have to choose, live with acne or live with Diane 35 or other medicine.

I had it twice. The 1st time no initial breakout but so much weight gain, which was not bad bcoz I was skinny. Things went smoothly, I could see the result in a month or 2, maybe bcoz my acne condition was just light. 2nd time there was a minor breakout and it took longer for the skin to become clear. I'm so disappointed that no medicine can cure acne completely. I even tried Isotretinoin twice. Acne disappeared very fast, maybe half a month and no initial breakout happened. My skin looked great while I was on it, even better than Diane. But the same thing happened when I stopped taking it. My derm said that was bcoz I didn't take enough. Now I'm on Isotretinoin again but suffering from severe headache everyday, insomnia, nausea, migraine and depression which I have never experienced b4. Guess I have to stop but dont know what to do with my future. Little hope and loss of confidence.

Ok so today is day 3 on Diane 35. After sitting here reading pages and pages of horror stories about coming off the pill, I am no longer going to take this pill. I cannot believe this is happening to people!!! I am having a hard time dealing with acne as it is. I can only imagine how I would feel coming off the pill and it becoming worse than it even was when i started taking the pill... I am having a panic attack thinking about all of this!!! I am going back to Alesse starting tomorrow. Hopefully the 3 days on Diane 35 don't cause me too much grief.

Hi

I've been using Diane 35 for 6 weeks because i don't have a normal menstruation. My doctor recommend me to use Diane 35.

I just had a normal menstruation.

But my pimples got worst. Pimples are growing fast but i am still patient because i know it takes time for it to take effect.

I gain weight because i always have good appetite every second.

So far i don't see any good effect except normal menstrual.

I hope my pimples will be gone very soon :c

I was on Diane 35 and it made me an emotional mess who would overreact over the smallest things and just feel terrible all the time. I finally linked it to my pill after reading all the reviews on here. So I decided to quit Diane 35.

Now I am on Marvelon that has much less Oestrogen in it and my moods have improved a lot. I did get some pimples first when I switched but now it's just as good as on Diane and it will be easier to get off Marvelon without the horrible side effects of Diane 35. I didn't get any hair loss or any other horrible side effects. I also took Evening primrose oil which helps with acne and balancing hormones. Write to me if you have any questions.

I'm in my late 20's and within the last year started noticing a problem with acne.

I never experienced it as a teenager so its been hard to cope with and I have tried EVERYTHING.

Home remedies, different cleansing/make up routines, over the counter products from dirt cheap to extremely high end and finally I just broke down and went to the doctor.

Not only did my face break out but my shoulders and chest did as well. It was painful and it really killed my self esteem.

i joined this site to document my success/failures with clearing up acne because ive spent so much time reading up on everyone elses reviews

My acne was severe and it spread quickly so my doctor started me out on micocycline which on its own showed little to no improvement in a month and a half but i recently started taking Diane 35 with the micocycline and my skin is clearing up really quickly.

All the infection is gone and the spots are clearing - there is definitely hope!

also... I was really worried about all the crazy side effects but so far there have been none.

My hair isnt falling out, I still have a sex drive and my acne definitely didnt get worse.

i would certainly suggest this route but ... everyone reacts differently so everything unfortunately is trial and error.

I have a close friend who is also experiencing adult acne and she is on acutane which has cleared the acne but caused painful eczema on her hands and face.

I cant imagine going through that and she is constantly stressed about her appearance still.

My doctor explained that acutane would be a last resort but I hope I never have to go that route.

Acne is painful but its mostly the psycological effect that is draining.

I am happy to report that i will be off micocycline in another month and off Diane 35 in another 42 days.... i'll keep ya's posted. So far so good

Also.... my face was extremely oily before Diane 35 and that has completely changed

Best of luck to everyone suffering through this...

Hi, i am about to start using diane 35 this week. My doctor prescribe me this pills because my period is irregular. I don't have acne problems, my skin is fine, but not really fair toned due to some scars. What i am worried about is that, the side effects after taking the pill. Most comments on the reviews says that it will cause you more acne once you stop using it. Is this really true? I need your help. I am only advise to take it 3-6 months but im planning to take it only for 3 months. I hope you can give me some advise. Thank you.

My acne problems started after I had my second son. I had never had to deal with it before, not even in my teenage years so when it started getting this cystic acne I was too embarrassed to bring it up to the doctor for years, I just didn't know how to deal with it. My confidience went down the drain. After 6 years of dealing with it I finally spoke with my doctor about it and she suggested Diane 35. I just started my second pack of and I have to say my acne is still bad and just as painful. I hope it starts to clear up soon, I'm so tired of it!!! (

hello.. just wanna ask how you have been since off from diane 35??

Ive used Yaz pills for 3months and my face was a total mess...I went to a gyne and prescribed me with diane35...Im on my 2nd week now... I'm a bit scared thinking about the future when time comes that ill stop using this pill... thanks

I took doxy for about 8 months and it worked wonderfully on my skin. I was 98% clear, and my skin was smooth and soft, and it worked almost instantaneously. The only bad thing left was my numerous acne scars, which almost all went away after a couple months. I honestly thought I found the solution to my skin problem and I was so mad at myself for not trying this sooner. Unfortunately literally right when summer started my skin started to breakout. At first it was just really small bumps all over the top of my cheeks, around my eyes. I could handle that, I was disappointed but it wasn't that bad. After starting to realize my doxy wasn't working anymore I had an extremely horrible breakout on my left cheek, jawline and around my mouth. They were all cystic acne and HUGE. I was devastated, and made an appointment with my doctor. He informed me that you do not become immune to antibiotics but instead just don't react as strongly to them. He's now put me on Diane35 and strongly added, and I quote "This WILL work!" I sure hope he's right.

I've been on Diane35 + my 100mg dosage of doxy for about a month now. I have noticed my skin is a lot drier because I used to have very oily skin and sometimes my makeup would make my face look wet, but definitely not anymore. After reading some people's reviews on Diane35 I noticed that a lot of people said they experienced really bad breakouts the first 2-3 months. I haven't had any really bad breakouts. Only a few pimples on the sides of my face & around my chin. Thankfully makeup does wonders and my face really doesn't look too bad. I haven't experienced any of the Diane35 side effects except for the increase in breast size. I've felt really sad lately but I think that is because my face is no longer clear like it was 2 months ago. It's really hard be okay when you honestly thought you found a solution but then realize you haven't. I am extremely scared that Diane35 will work so good that I will be too anxious to go off it. I plan on having kids, in the future, but I don't want me acne to come back.

I've had acne since I can remember, and I just want a solution. It doesn't have to be a permanent fix, but something that will control my acne. I just turned 19 and I am hoping I will grow out of my acne because it is hereditary from my dad's side and he grew out of it. If Diane35 doesn't work after the 5th or 6th month I am going on Accutane. I cannot live this neverending battle with acne forever.

Hey everyone. I stopped taking Diane 35 about 6 months ago. I had been on it for exactly a year and I can honestly say it was a miracle worker. I had pretty severe acne for about 5 years before that and NOTHING would clear it, i tried everything over the counter, and everything prescription until my doctor suggested Diane 35. After about 6 months of taking Diane 35, my skin took a huge turn and it seemed like my skin cleared instantly. The next 6 months after that were wonderful. My skin was PERFECT! I loved this treatment soooo much. Once i stopped Diane 35 because my acne was cleared, my doctor prescribed Retin A - micro gel to keep my acne away. It was about 3 months later that I noticed my acne returning. The Retin A - Micro did NOTHING. My acne was getting really bad again so I went back to my doctor to see if I could use Diane 35 again. I have recently started Diane 35 again and it has been a week, so obviously no improvement yet, but i am really looking forward to the future weeks and months. I truly believe in this product. I look forward to posting updates on my treatment!

I've been on Diane35 for 4 months and 2 weeks, and it's been working wonderfully! I still get some pimples here and there but it's such an improvement from how it was!

Hi guys,

Im halfway through my third month and had a terrible breakout a few days ago. Its seems awful because my skin looked like it was clearing right up, i take pictures every once and awhile to note progress and i cant believe how i can go from almost clear (well with light make-up on) to a total shit show seemingly overnight. wtf mate, really. So then obviously i run to the internet to try and find out if this is normal and all i do is scare myself. Im an idiot. The more i learn about different treatments and products the more hopeless and paranoid i get. i spent yesterday at home being miserable and just hating myself and im really tired of feeling like this.

I have to remind myself that this isnt my fault, im not a bad person and im not ugly. Why the hell should i suffer over something i cant control when im doing all i can for it. Honestly fuck you acne you piece of shit, your not taking anymore from me.

Im going to stick with this bcp for a bit longer because i should give it time to work and im really hoping it does. Good luck to everyone on this. Fingers crossed.

sarahm21

the first few months on Diane are up and down. it's like a little teaser. you'll be clear for a little bit then you'll break out insanely! but after like the 4th package or so it gets so much better, trust me. give the pills a chance! I am on the 7th package and my skin stays completely clear 98% of the time now.

Thanks so much Laura, its nice to hear something positive when you feel like its hopeless.

Onwards to clear skin! )

I am SO sorry I took Diane 35. Seriously, I was so happy that it did help my skin. HOWEVER, the harm it has done to me does NOT outweigh the pros! I am not in the "high risk' group for DVT, EXCEPT that I have taken this drug!!! If you don't know what a DVT is, I'm SO happy for you. If you are thinking about Diane, and don't know what a DVT is, just skip the idea of going on this drug, and move on. A DVT is a BLOOD CLOT! My doctor (and the nurses at the hospital where I wound up at, and the ones who cared for me while I COULD NOT WALK!!) were astounded at my YOUNG AGE because I got a DVT. It was completely caused by my Diane usage!! Imagine that! I am much too young & much too healthy for a bog clot, but another clot).I got it. Oh, and wow...has my life changed since. Firstly, I can NEVER take hormone pills again (lest I get another clot). PLUS, I could not EVEN WALK for weeks. After that, I was reliant on a cane. (yep...at my age). But guess what?!! I'm LUCKY because I am alive!! We caight the clot in time. We were fortunate beyond that....even though I was under close watch there, the clot still could have moved (it happens SO quickly) to my heart or lungs! yep, it's not just being unable to walk or stand on your own...it is actually LIFE threathening. Yep, I'm lucky. Thank goodness. Imagine how scared I was those first days in the hospital, knowing that at any point in the day or night, the clot could move to my lungs, KILLING ME!! (the DVT was from my left calf into my torso...heck of a blockage). 6 months later, I know the clot isn't gone (pain in my leg, which is disfigured....plus I've been on a constant doage on blood thinners this whole time, and suddenly I've had to up my dosage...MY BLOOD IS LITERALLY TOO THICK TO BE SAFE!!! That's 6 months AFTER my hospitalization from the clot!!). Is it worth it? Clear skin, or significat and potentially FATAL side effects? Nope....never again (not like I have the choice...no more BC pills for me ever!!). I have two children...imagine if I had died and they werer alone in the world without their mother? Just because I was frustrated that my skin wasn't perfect?!!! it should be a crime that they can still sell this item to people. The risks are not even close to worth the benefits. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!! NOT EVER!! YOU DESERVE BETTER!!!

I've been on Diane for a year now and it's not keeping me clear, only with spiro it did. Why isn't it clearing me like it should? What does that say about my hormone problem? If Diane isn't keeping me clear (lots and lots of bumps all over my face with a few decent big pimples) all the time. obliviously I'm scared to go off it :/

Hi there! I just like to share my experience in using Diane 35.

Before I started using Diane 35, I had a bad acne problem. I tried different sorts of topical ointments, creams and the likes, to no avail. I used to go a lot to a dermatologist and she prescribed me with their "anti-acne kits" which cost me a lot of money. But no good result had come out of it.

Finally, I decided to switch dermatologists and then I opted for injection for pustules (they inject a solution that dries up pimples overnight!). It was great because my large pimples instantly dries up a day after the injection. I go back to the derma almost every wk for an injection (two to three pimples per visit) Until eventually she told me that I cannot use this procedure for long term because sooner or later, my body will get immune to it and won't work as well anymore.

She then suggested that perhaps I have hormonal imbalance and asked if I tried using Diane 35 before, and I said no. She said I should try it, since all else failed.

I did.

After just a month of using it, I've already seen my skin improved a lot! I used to have very oily skin, that when I wake up in the morning, you can like fry an egg or something on my face. (yes, it was THAT oily!) I've tried toners and water-based moisturizers to control my oily face, but no result.

But since using Diane 35, I noticed that not only did my acne clear up, my skin is not oily anymore! I don't even use moisturizer anymore since using Diane 35, and my skin still looked hydrated. (I only get occasional patches of dry skin during extreme weather conditions).

I used Diane 35 for more than two years. And then August last year, I stopped taking it. For a month or so, my skin was still fine, until acne starts appearing again!

My acne problem was not as bad as it was before, but still not the ordinary one or two pimples a girl gets during her period.

I started using Diane 35 again by December, but this time, it took longer than the first time I tried, for my pimples to clear up, but they still did.

So far, I haven't experienced any side effects, except that when I take the pill continuously, I notice I have better appetite. (Good for skinny girls like me, but I guess not so good for girls who want to manage their weight, in this case, please try asking your derma or OB about "JASMINE")

I've done my research as well and didn't find any long-term side effects from using Diane 35.

But please, please read the leaflet in the box before using Diane. There is such a thing as "CONTRAINDICATIONS". And people who has them (please see the leaflet), should NOT use Diane 35.

And of course, if you notice ANY unusual and bad symptoms when taking Diane 35, consult your doctor right away and stop using it. And also, I think there are certain medications that SHOULD NOT be taken with Diane 35.

So girls, please be careful!

I know acne is a major problem for us girls, but if Diane 35 doesn't work for you, I'm sure there are other ways. (i.e. eat MORE fruits and veggies and of course, drink lots of water!)

How did you realise you had DVT?

I was on my second pack of Diane 35 and I felt a constant chest pain in the right side of my chest, and shortness of breath. I read online that it is symptoms of blood clots. By then I was in my 7 day rest period. So I went to the GP and got myself prescription for Yasmin as it has a lower dosage than Diane 35. I am on my first pack of Yasmin for 2 weeks now. My chest pain now seems to be pretty much gone, but sometimes I feel like my heart seem to pump faster. The GP took my blood pressure and listened to my heart and said it seems normal. How do I test for DVT?

I am SO sorry I took Diane 35. Seriously, I was so happy that it did help my skin. HOWEVER, the harm it has done to me does NOT outweigh the pros! I am not in the "high risk' group for DVT, EXCEPT that I have taken this drug!!! If you don't know what a DVT is, I'm SO happy for you. If you are thinking about Diane, and don't know what a DVT is, just skip the idea of going on this drug, and move on. A DVT is a BLOOD CLOT! My doctor (and the nurses at the hospital where I wound up at, and the ones who cared for me while I COULD NOT WALK!!) were astounded at my YOUNG AGE because I got a DVT. It was completely caused by my Diane usage!! Imagine that! I am much too young & much too healthy for a bog clot, but another clot).I got it. Oh, and wow...has my life changed since. Firstly, I can NEVER take hormone pills again (lest I get another clot). PLUS, I could not EVEN WALK for weeks. After that, I was reliant on a cane. (yep...at my age). But guess what?!! I'm LUCKY because I am alive!! We caight the clot in time. We were fortunate beyond that....even though I was under close watch there, the clot still could have moved (it happens SO quickly) to my heart or lungs! yep, it's not just being unable to walk or stand on your own...it is actually LIFE threathening. Yep, I'm lucky. Thank goodness. Imagine how scared I was those first days in the hospital, knowing that at any point in the day or night, the clot could move to my lungs, KILLING ME!! (the DVT was from my left calf into my torso...heck of a blockage). 6 months later, I know the clot isn't gone (pain in my leg, which is disfigured....plus I've been on a constant doage on blood thinners this whole time, and suddenly I've had to up my dosage...MY BLOOD IS LITERALLY TOO THICK TO BE SAFE!!! That's 6 months AFTER my hospitalization from the clot!!). Is it worth it? Clear skin, or significat and potentially FATAL side effects? Nope....never again (not like I have the choice...no more BC pills for me ever!!). I have two children...imagine if I had died and they werer alone in the world without their mother? Just because I was frustrated that my skin wasn't perfect?!!! it should be a crime that they can still sell this item to people. The risks are not even close to worth the benefits. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!! NOT EVER!! YOU DESERVE BETTER!!!

 

Here is my experience of Diane 35:

During the second week on my first pack, I noticed it takes a longer time for my skin to get very oily. My friend also noticed that. However my skin is still very oily if I don't blot often. But bear in mind I have extremely oily skin, oilier than anyone I know.

I didn't experience any initial breakout stage or huge weight gain. However at the end of the second pack during my 7 day rest period, I experienced constant chest pain in the right chest and shortness of breath. I read online it is symptom of a blood clot, which is associated with Diane. I went to the GP and switched to Yasmin, which is supposed to have a lower dosage. I am on the first pack of Yasmin still, it is now the second week.I noticed my chest pain in the right have gone mostly. I hope this is a good sign.However I feel like I do get shortness of breath sometimes.

Yasmin is less effective for oily skin, for me.

I was on Dianette (UK equivalent) for a year and it helped the severity of my severe/moderate acne loads. In the first few months of taking it, there were times when I was almost practically clear, minus the odd pimple here and there half way through my cycle. As time went on my body seemed to get used to it and it got a little worse again but it was still loads better than not on it. I'm on a different pill now though because my doctor said it's not good to be on it for too long. If this one doesn't work out I'll be asking to go back on Dianette. I would say give it at least 3 months before you make your mind up about it, unless you have bad reactions. It will take quite a while to clear, but stick at it.