Oral Contraceptive
Efficacy
63%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Improvement significantly increases after 24 weeks.
Oral Contraceptive
Acne.org’s Real World Take
All oral contraceptives appear to clear the skin about the same amount. Some people report cessation of acne symptoms and others see partial relief. However, messing with hormones is messing with hormones and it’s best to proceed with caution. But if you’re looking to take the birth control pill anyway, one of the benefits is clearer skin.
Oral Contraceptive
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Drospirenone (Yasmin®, Yaz®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
April 11, 2024
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Probably for mild acne
It helps a tiny bit combined with Spironolactone. I have severe acne.
March 25, 2020
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
SECOND MONTH - ACNE WORSE
Hi! I am an Italian girl and I have been suffering from hormonal acne (especially on my chin) for almost 1 year beacuse of my PCOS. I tried different therapies with topical medication and antibiotics but nothing seems to work 
So, my doctor prescribed me Yasmin. I started to take this pill almost 2 months ago: the first month nothing changed (I just had normal breakouts especially before my period), but the second month has been awful, my face is a mess with lot of red and itcy bumps on my chin and even on my neck (where I usually don't have pimples). I called my dermatologist who told me that during the first 3 months skin can get worse (hormones need time to stabilize), so I should stick with it for at least another month to start seeing some improvements. I am very afraid, but if my skin is getting worse before it gets better, I will stick with it! Did any of you experience initial breakout before noticing skin improvements?
February 8, 2017
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
HORRIBLE BREAKOUT WHEN YOU STOP TAKING IT.
I started taking Yaz when I was 18 strictly for contraception purposes. I never really had acne before I started taking the pill, maybe a few pimples here and there but nothing like what I'm experiencing now. I took the pill for 5 years and the only real side effect I had was it completely eliminated my sex drive. I didn't realize this until I got off of it 8 months ago, and my libido came back full force. My body's making up for lost time I'd imagine hahah. While I was on it, my skin was pretty much immaculate so that was nice... Plus I never got pregnant so it served it's purpose. After being on it for 5 years I think my body got used to it. I started spotting in between periods, or having periods that lasted for 20-30 days.. NOT FUN. My boyfriend and I decided that after 5 years of artificial hormones, my body needed a break so I stopped taking them. My skin was okay for 2 months, it just got increasingly oily until around the 3 month mark and then BAM. ACNE. LOTS OF IT. MORE THAN I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. On my cheeks too, which I've never experienced before. 8 months later and I'm still trying to tame this beast, unfortunately it seems to be getting worse. I now have acne on my cheeks (primarily the right side), jaw, and chin. I've tried everything from oil cleansing to antibiotics. Moral of the story is... Yaz works wonderfully for some people while they're on it. But if you ever decide to go off of it you better buckle up, because it seems to be a long ride back to clear skin. I'm praying this pill hasn't caused irreversible damage to my hormones because it's already caused some scarring on my skin. Beware. The the risks do not (in my opinion) outweigh the benefits long term. If my 18 year old self had known what would happen, I would have chosen another route of birth control.
February 17, 2017
I had almost the identical experience. Tried alysena after the initial severe breakout, and it helped but I'm still constantly broken out. Started Yaz again today, and am now considering Accutane as a permanent solution. Good luck to anyone with a similar situation :)
May 10, 2016
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Bad initial breakout
I'm on my 3rd month and still breaking out really badly! Anyone know how long it will take to work? Its actually made my acne a whole lot worse so i'm loosing hope :(
June 11, 2016
Can take up to 6 months, hang in there
May 1, 2016
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Doesn't work in the long run
I started taking these pills and switched over brands, all with Drospirenone for about 8 years (Jasmin, Jasminiq, Femelle and Yaxibelle). It was only for birth control, I got some black or whiteheads from time to time but nothing serious. After I stopped taking them I had an adult acne, awful and painful, product of the prolonged use of this type of pills (my gyn told me so). I would say that as long as you take them your skin and hair would look great, it's an amazing contraceptive but after you stop taking the pill all hell can break loose... Now I've tried many natural remedies (vitamins, masks, etc), and finally decided to try another contraceptives with another component diferent than Drospirenone, so I don't have the same reaction when I want to be off the pill. Obviously, it depends on each person, but it quite a common issue with drospirenone, so if you're taking this and want to check, talk to your doctor. If you have any questions send me a message, I'm starting the log for the new pills....
November 17, 2014
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
NOT worth it
I initially went on Yaz after trying a few other birth controls to help control my ovarian cysts. Yaz is the only bc that doesn't make me nauseous, gain weight, or emotional which is great! Downside: HORRIBLE acne. I am 22 years old and I have never had acne this bad. I'm talking 6-7 cysts at a time, black heads, whiteheads, pustules, hyper-pigmentation and scars. The first 3 months were hell on earth. I went to my derm and got on Solodyn, retinol and BP. My acne only kept getting worse. Now it has been 3 months and it's starting to calm down. The only reason I stayed on it is because my doctor said I will really throw my hormones out of whack if I go off so soon. I will do 6 months more and then slowly get off it. My skin is getting better. It's really true what they say about the 3 month mark, like magic it started to disappear. I ordered The Regimen, I drink green tea and I take 60mg of zinc every day. If you take Yaz you NEEEEEEEEED to take zinc supplements. They have really helped. Overall, I do not recommend going on Yaz and I will be getting an IUD soon!
December 14, 2013
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Mixed feelings
Cons:
I experienced severe nausea and bloating
Became lethargic
Is a little pricey (in Australia)
After years of painful hormonal acne and trying all the creams in the world I went to my doctor and she prescribed Yaz (my first BCP).
Within the first 3-4 weeks of use my skin already had begun to clear up and calm down with less angry breakouts and pimples that weren't as deep under the skin.
The only thing is that my body did not like it one bit! I had severe nausea the whole time I was on Yaz (only a month). And when I say "severe", I mean SEVERE. I also started to feel quite lethargic since starting it. It was so bad that I have now changed pill. I don't know if this will happen with everyone or if it was just too strong for me. Despite this, it did wonders for my skin :) I would recommend this for those with severe to moderate acne but side effects always vary between women. If the side effects such as nausea, tiredness and any emotional changes (no emotional changes for me so far) are too much to deal with, it is so not worth staying on. Get on a different one!
July 19, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Skin is less oily, pimples remain the same or just a little less
Cons:
Moody, Tired, fatigue,insomnia,sleepy,migraines,feel lousy all the time, energy level low,low sex drive, vomiting
Ive only been taking this pill for 8 days now so maybe its too early to tell what the outcome will and should be but the side effects are getting the best of me. I went to the gym yesterday vomit like crazy(brought everything I had for lunch) I am really wondering if this is all temporary I plan to finish the pack and see if I fell any better. I tired of sleeping on the job maybe because I take the pills in the morning I was advised to try taking it at nights
March 9, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Hair is thicker
Skin not as oily
Cons:
Horrible breakout
Moody sometimes
I'm actually on Month 2 so I'm experiencing the horrible initial breakout that comes with the pill. I'm hoping by Month 4 (May) that at least some improvement will be shown as it will be my 21st birthday. I've always suffered from acne for almost 10 years now but it was slightly mild to moderate. Around puberty, I started to develop more pimples on my cheeks. Now I have pimples everywhere. forehead and cheeks and now my chin and even above my lip. I will send in an update around May. I pray that everything works out tho.
November 22, 2011
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
sore breast (might be growth)
no weight gain
Cons:
acne
tiredness
low sex drive
i got this pill because i heard that its one of the best,its ment to help your acne clear (my acne was very light, 1/2 pimples) + in some cases make your breast grow (which i loved). i was originally on the microgynon, but came off it because i was not sexually active, then heard about the yasmin pill from a friend. 2 weeks into taking the pill, my skin had broken out horribly! i thought it would only be a short side effect, but it didnt get better, i looked up on how to help clear acne,
my acne has cleared up much better after using a flannel to wash my face day + night along with a antiseptic soap. then i would use bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) after, only at night & leave it there for up to a hour & wash off with cold water( this closes the pores). my best achievement was buying "ultra clear acne cream" on ebay, this product has been used only for 3 days + my skin in much smoother + pimples are shrunk over night. (this is used night and day). my only problem now is the scarring ive got from previous pimples. im on the hunt for a cure :D, i have decided to go back to microgynon when i have finished my 21 days on yasmin.
Pros:
Can see change within first month
Clears skin quite quickly