Edit- Sorry, I meant for this to be in the Hormonal Acne forum... I reposted it there and I don't want to cross-post, but I don't seem to be able to delete.
Hi everyone,
My acne: Mild/Moderate, adult-onset, mainly on sides of nose and between eyebrows, with a ton of closed comedones on my cheeks. Occasional painful large pimples on cheeks from those comedones. 28 years old.
I have finally accepted that I need to give birth control a fair shot for my acne. I have been told by more than one dematologist that my adult-onset acne is due to hormones, and topicals will only help so much until I go on birth control. After a year of using retinoids (Epiduo, Differin .3, Veltin, Retin-A Micro .4) my skin is only WORSE and more congested with comedones.
I just finished my third week of Ortho-Cyclen. I chose this BCP for these reasons:
-I am very succeptible to side effects from BC... I've been through many and had to discontinue early to intolerable side effects, from horrible acne to depression to blood sugar issues. I was on Ortho-Cyclen for 2 years from 15-17 (I'm 28 now, so that was a long time ago, and before I had acne) and I don't remember any unmanageable side effects because slight weight gain and larger breasts.
-I know that the noregestimate in this pill is low-androgenic. I chose Cyclen instead of Tri-Cyclen because the fluctuations of triphasic pills tend to make me really moody. However, I included Tri-Cyclen in this because it's a similar formulation.
-I found that the newer, low-dose pills are worse for my acne.
The first week I got excited because my pimples looked like they were clearing up. Now the comedones in my cheeks are turning to painful large pimples, and I have at least 1 or 2 at a time. I feel discouraged. I am looking for people's success stories or input. Has anyone had IBs on these birth controls, or seen success from them? How long did it take? I have searched through these forums, which has been helpful, but i am looking for more answers. I know I "need to wait 3 months" but I feel like I've been battling this for so long with no success. Professionals don't seem to be very helpful.
Thank you SO much. Long time lurker on this site
When I first started Ortho Tri-Cyclen I broke out in cystic acne every time it was around my period for 6 months. With each period slowly but surely the cystic/hormonal acne lessened and now I don't break out in cysts/hormonal. The only hormonal acne I get around my period is one or two pimples, nothing too serious
Thank you for your replies!
I have had such bad luck with birth controls in the past. I am trying to stick through three months to see, but I will feel like I'm wasting all this time if it's only going to make my skin worse. However, if my hormones are merely adjusting, I guess I can stick it out and cling to the light at the end of the tunnel 
. Those painful, cystic pimples are just the worst, though. They ruin my entire day.