Diane-35 : Oral Contraceptive

I am going to stick with it for a few months. i just need to get through this wedding!

Ok so, I've just gone back on Diane 35 after having a 7 month break and I'm currently on my second pack and my skin is psycho!! However, thankfully people are talking about this because I actually didn't know that it got worse before it got better. I started Diane when I was in school around 17 years old for acne, but I don't remember my skin getting worse before it got better. However, I'm now 27 so I probably don't even remember that far back or took much notice anyway. But Diane never really cleared my skin completely like it did a lot of other people. I still got some pretty bad skin only on my chin/mouth area, but it was bad enough that I was put on Accutane twice, even though I was on Diane and it had already kicked in. However, my skin eventually broke out after both Accutane treatments (one when I was 18, the other when I was 19), which led me to believe that there is no cure for my acne, the only thing I can do is manage it. So I thought what could I do do get rid of these crappy break outs I keep getting as Diane only took the edge off. Well, I started using Proactiv, and I have to say it worked a treat. Combining Diane with Proactiv was like a god send, and I didn't get 1 hint of a pimple in like 4 years. Then I got all cocky and forgot what it was like to have bad skin, so I stopped using both. Anyway, I've had shocking skin for the past 2 years now because I was mis-diagnosed with 'perioral dermatitis' instead of adult acne which meant I couldn't just go on proactiv again, no skincare at all. Then I was thinking what if the pill made me get dermatitis?? But long story short I never had dermatitis, I had acne all along and Diane helped, but stopping Proactiv was the wrong thing to do. So there you have it. I've now been using Proactiv + for a while and love it. It can't stop those horrible hormonal acnes from coming up but it does help a lot. And the only reason my skin is so horrible now is because I've just started Diane again and thankfully have read other peoples experiences and realised that it's because of Diane that I am breaking out. I"m hoping once it kicks in and combining the pill's benefits to Proactiv that I'm already using, my skin should go back to its former glory. The key is to use a formula like Proactiv that has a small dose of BP, but that is a light exfoliator to get off the dead skin cells and get down into the dermis and clean it out, preventing potential pimples. Also, Salicylic acid helps a lot, and the new Proactiv formula has that in its moisteriser. I just wish I could fast forward time and bypass this whole crazy break out period from Diane!!!

I've done differin gel, retin-a cream, antibiotics, proactiv, you name it. Diane-35 is my acne wonder drug. Whenever I'm on it my face looks great and my skin isn't excessively oily like a slice of pizza. Only when I'm on the pill does my skin normally respond to a good face regime like the benzoyl peroxide and salycic acid washes from brands like Neutrogena and Clean & Clear. Otherwise, it's a losing battle just using a facial topical regime alone. HOWEVER, due to the side effects of spider veins and leg circulation issues, it's not something I can use for more than the recommended 6mth time otherwise the side effects get worse. That disappoints me because within a few mths of stopping the pill my face breaks out HORRIBLY. I've been searching forever for a more natural way to battle acne, but until that comes along, Diane-35 is really my go to drug for good skin. Just remember to still keep that face clean and limit your sugar intake. Doesn't help the face.

I've had cystic acne since I was 13 and started to take Diane 35 when I was 14. I stayed on it until I was 18 (19 now) and decided to try other alternatives. To say the least, Diane is the only prescription that will prevent my acne. I have currently been off of it for ~7 months, and am on minocyclin with topical clindamycin, but while it is wonderful at clearing up acne it is not so great at preventing it and I still break out through it often. Pro-activ did not help at all. Since it is strong it is crucial to take it properly or it will make you sick. When I first started taking it I noticed results within 4 weeks and hopefully will have the same luck this time around. It works great and definitely recommend it to anyone who is struggling with acne, but as with anything, please be mindful of symptoms that can indicate a problem!

Works well,

Great for the skin, I used to have terrible acne and it cleared it right up within 5-6 months. My skin was beautiful, smooth, even, etc. I actually got compliments on my skin! But after 7 years of being on Diane-35 (started when I was 16) I went off of it because of the high hormone intake was seriously affecting my mood and making me depressed, and I was told that maybe my acne would be permanently gone now that I was 23 years old. However, once going off of it, my skin broke out worse than before, so I decided to go back on it again, but it didn't work for me anymore. I was told that once you go off a birth control pill, it may lose its effect even if you try to go back on it. My friends are all on Diane-35 and have had the same experience as myself, both the pros and the cons.

My skin was so bad at one point, that i woke up every morning with new friends on my face and they were painfull. After 3 months of using Diane, my skin is so much better but every few weeks, I'll get a pimple. I've been using it for 3 years now and im pretty happy with it... The only problems I have with Diane is the weight gain and the low libido.

Yes its got a few negatives but give me a little weight gain(which is not hard to lose thank god) and moodiness for clear skin and no more painful periods any day. If you dont need something to clear your skin their are cheaper possibly better alternatives for you though.

I started using diane 35 when I was 18 and continued using it until I was 22. I decided to go off it since my face had cleared up, but a couple months later my acne came back in FULL FORCE! (even worse then before I started). I have been off diane for a year now and my acne is getting better since using cetaphil cleanser, I dont have sever acne just the big ones that hurt on my forehead and alot on my chin. I recently went to the doctor to get a perscription for diane because I just loved my skin when I was on it, and had so much more self confidence when I had clear skin. Hopefully it works just as good the second time around. Just waiting to start it on the first day of my period! I totally recommend diane to anyone that suffers from acne. I LOVED it !

i was advised its use for pcod induced acne and it actually helped me, but yes breast tenderness is there.