Dianette : Oral Contraceptive

It works soo well but it's only a quick fix. It took months to start working and now after 6 months I have to come off it. So was it really worth it? I am tempted to go back to the docter and talk him into prescribing me some more but I know in however many months time I'll only be faced with the same problem again, so it isn't really worth it. You're better off looking for a long-term solution.

First went on Dianette when I was 18 as had tried various lotions and antibitoics from doctors since I was 13 and nothing had worked. I went on Dianette and within 2 months my spots had almost completely cleared up. After 6 months my doctor put my on to Cilest but this made my acne come back so I went back on Dianette. Again, my skin cleared up and I stayed on it for the next 4 years. However, within 3 months of coming off the pill my acne came back really badly so I went back on Dianette and was on this again for another 3 years. I came off it a few months ago as I wanted to see what my skin was like without it, and surprise surprise my acne came back to the horrible state it was when I was 14. The doctor wanted to try me on Yasmin but I decided not to take it, and instead have been taking evening primrose oil and using Quinoderm cream, and now its been about 3 weeks since my acne returned, and I have no spots on my face (a few on my neck and back). Basically, I think going on the pill and then coming off it was always going to make my acne come back. It just messes with your hormones and its my hormones that have been giving me acne since I was 13 so I decided the pill isn't for me. I was glad I took it when I was a teenager because I was really self conscious about my acne, and it does work but the massive downside is my acen returned every time I came off it. I would recommend it if nothing else has worked but be aware that your skin may flare up when you come off it. Also, some doctors (clearly not mine) don't like you being on Dianette for long periods of time because of increased risk of blood clots, but as long as you get your blood pressure checked regularly you should be fine.

I have suffered from acne since I was 14, so for 12 years now. It shaped me as a person, and although I didn't let anyone know, it made me feel so self conscious, and if it was really bad, I wouldn't go out. After trying a few things the doctor put me on Dianette, as I had been on it before and knew it worked. I took the drug for a little over a year, and the results were fantastic. I felt relaxed, and cheerful when I woke up, rather than anxiously feeling my skin for new spots. I knew I couldn't stay on long term though, and eventually the docs would take me off. This really scared me, cos when I came off Di before i'm afraid that my acne got much worse. Three weeks ago, cramps started waking me up, and my legs would seize up. I knew that DVT is a serious side affect, so stopped taking the pill immediately. I expressed my anxiety that my acne would come back, and my doctor was really kind. She pointed out that when I came off Dianette last time, I had not taken anything else. This time I have been given the pill Yasmin, and a gel called Duac. I was very sceptical, believing nothing would work like Dianette. BUT touch wood some weeks on, and I haven't had any problems. If anything the Duac is really amazing, and has made my skin even better than when on Di. Also you can take both of these drugs for the foreseeable future. Also neither of the drugs have the potential to damage foetus', so when the day comes for some of us ladies, that is not something to worry about (lots of the acne drugs can be dangerous to unborn babies). I used to read this discussion board when I was on Di, and got so scared as many posts said how acne comes back, sometimes worse when you come off. So don't worry, make sure your doc works with you to find better long term options.

I was put on Dianette when I was 14 or 15, and regretted it for the next 2 years of my life. Although it did clear my skin, I lost my confidence in so many different ways. I literally gained more than 1 stone and it made me really really unhappy. I also found that when I leant on one leg it would really hurt my joints, and that stopped as soon as I came off this pill. I'm on Microgynon now for contraceptive reasons (as its not particularly affective for acne I don't think) and I haven't gained any weight at all. I don't know whether Dianette affective me because I was so young (I'm now 21) and still had puppy fat or whatever, but even though my skin is bad these days I would NEVER result to going back on that pill. Ever.

I took dianette for 2 years and my acne cleared up but then I took a break with the advice of my GP let's just say it was a big mistake. My acne is back and worse than before. Now looking for a more permanent solution :(

I'm on my 6th week of taking Dianette, I have so far seen no visible improvement on my face although my back and chest are starting to clear up. I am hoping my face will follow as it seems to have gotten slightly worse which is now affecting my job as it's too painful to put on make up and go out of the door. I have also had no desire to eat, I have not put on any weight, I have infact lost alot of weight and when I am only 7 stones (100lbs or 45kilos) its not good because I feel I'm going to become extremely ill if I lose anymore weight. I'm going to stick it out to maybe see an improvemnt on the face acne since my back and chest have started to clear up. This medication does sound a nightmare but I haven't found it as bad as I thought I would from reading the other stories here.

I am now 25 and used to have horrific facial acne. I have taken Dianette on and off since I was 15, and it is the best acne treatement. It is wonderful!! Many of my friends have taken it and we all think it is brilliant. Antibiotics do not work and can make things worse. Benzoyl peroxide burns the skin, and Retin A is terrible. Dianette is the best treatment, and it should be used in combination with products containing Salicylic Acid. Origins do an amazing face mask containing this that is well worth its price tag!! Also cream washes containing the above acid, used twice daily, with a good (unfragranced) moisturiser are also essential. Avoid moisturiser at night. Cream washes ensure your face isnt dried out so this can be done.

So i started Dianette about 2 months ago. Looking back at my skin before i started taking it, it really wasn't that bad. But now i have got two majour breakouts. Unable to leave the house during these. At the moment, im on my seven day break after two packets. My skin has been less shiney. I went back to my doctor after the second breakout, and was told it was to get worse before better. So i got a topical cream to clear up the breakout and has been working great the past days. Only problem is, i have red marks from the breakout which look like spots and arent dissapearing. I tried using scar cream for a week but made no difference. Reading what other people wrote, im going to continue using dianette for another two months and hopefully i will see a bigger improvement.

I started taking Dianette for moderate acne after semi successfully using antibiotics and topical treatments. While I was taking the pill my acne completely disapeared and my skin was much, much clearer. I took this medication for about a year and a half at least, in which time it was very succesful. However as you're not meant to be on this pill for extended lengths of time (usually only about one year I think) I changed to Yasmine as my doctor thought this would also help prevent acne. When I switched to Yasmine after about 4 months the odd spot started to come up on my face every now and again. This gradually got to be about 3-5 spots on my face 6 months after switching to Yasmine. I stopped taking Yasmine after 7 months because it wasn't preventing my acne and it didn't controll my periods properly (e.g. sometimes they would come on very lightly, but while I was still in the pill taking weeks). After stopping this prescription my acne came back gradually, and after 5 months of stopping the Yasmine (1 year of stopping the dianette) I had severe acne. It was far more inflamed than acne I've had before and moved to different parts of my face, mainly around my cheeks and temples. In my opinion Dianette works, but is not a long term solution. And Yasmine didn't work for me as an acne treatment. I'm now on a course on Accutane.... lets see how that goes.

Dianette is great for clearing up acne, it helped me alot. But i gave gained quite alot of weight from the pill which makes me unhappy, but i still have clear sking almost flawless with makeup. But im stopping dianette because today in the newspaper i read that a 17yr old girl died from a bloodclot which is believed to be caused by dianette, she isnt the only woman to die from a blood clot who was on dianette, therefore im stopping, i was highly considering too anyway because of so much weight gain. I have been on Duanette for 8 months and my skin starting to really improve around the 4 month mark, it helps so much but the side affects are just not worth the risk. I recommended it yes because it does do the job of clearing acne, atleast it did for me, but be sure of weight gain.