Acne.org Products
Hormonal Therapy
Efficacy
63%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Improvement significantly increases after 24 weeks.
Hormonal Therapy
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Any brand of oral contraceptive appears to clear the skin about the same amount, regardless of whether it is officially approved for acne treatment. Some people report complete clearing of acne symptoms and others see partial relief. However, artificially controlling your hormones is a serious decision, so it’s best to proceed with caution.
Hormonal Therapy
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 Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
October 28, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
Awful Acne, mood swings, loss of sex drive
For the last year that I have been taking Yasmin & Ocella (I am 30 and never had issues with acne before including when I was a teen) my acne has become unbearable. It is along my cheeks and hairline. For a while I thought it had to be something other than birth control pills (chemicals in hair shampoo, lotion, face soap, etc). I kept getting acne in the exact same locations causing awful scarring. I went off Yasmin this month and my skin already feels a million times better and is starting to feel like it is going back to normal. I know everyone's hormones are different but I have been on the pill (different types) since I was 16 and I know this reaction is not normal. I will never use this crap again and plan on letting my Dr. know about my experiment (getting off it to see if my skin cleared up).
October 22, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
weight loss 5 lbs, decreased appetite
Cons:
severe cystic acne to cheeks and near hairline (hardly experienced acne to cheeks)
I have been on Yasmin for 2 complete months now. I got on it to improve my acne but it seems as if its gotten worse. My MD states it takes a while to work and it might get worse before it gets better. I don't think I can take it getting any worse than now. I don't just get 1 pimple its a cluster of 3-4 in an area. Did anyone experince the same problem? Has it resolved?
October 19, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared up my acne, no weight gain
Cons:
Have lost my sex drive / making it difficult with my boyfriend as he does not understand
This pill is great..... I have been on Yasmin for 4 months and it has completely cleared up my acne and changed my life! I have not experienced any weight gain either which i did with other pills. However my sex drive has been reduced, which is making my partner very confused as to how the pill has this affect on me! I guess is clear skin is your PRIORITY which mine was then this is the pill for you!! (it does take a few months to get in your sstem though before you see the effects with you skin and acne). Be patient it will be worth the wait!!
October 17, 2008
Pros:
No Back and Chest Acne, No Headaches, Regulated Periods, Bigger Boobs, No side Effects, No Weight Gain
Cons:
Acne on Chin.
I have been on OTC Lo for about 6 months now. I had lots of back acne and chat acne. I used it primarily not to get pregnant and for my acne. On the 1st month, I lost my back an chest acne. Now its soft as a baby. My boobs grew a little bit smaller. Breast Soreness does not bother me. My periods are regulated. The only problem I have right now, after 6 months of using it, is my facial acne. It is bothering me. Mostly on the chin. I will try to observe it for a month or two. If it will not work, ill switch to OTC regular. Higher estrogen helps cure acne.
October 15, 2008
Pros:
Period predictability, clearness of complection, lighter/shorter periods, and no cramps.
Cons:
Headaces, sensitive boobs, nausea for a month and slowly dissapeared.
The first month and a half are ruff but then after the body adjusted to the pills it was great. (Some pills you don't have as many periods but if you have unprotected sex and missed a pill how would you know your pregnant?) OTC has lighter and predictable periods to give you some warning if you might be pregnant. Overall this product does its purpose of keeping one's hormones regular and preventing pregnancies. I would definitely recommend this product to women.
September 25, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
No pregnancy
Cons:
Acne, depression, weight gain, water retention, fatigue, mental fog.
I went on Yasmin after other birth control caused weight gain. Soon after I started using Yasmin acne like I haven't ever experienced in my life, and I had it bad as a teenager, landed and settled on my face and will not shift. I feel very low and hopeless. I quit my job. It's only now I'm thinking Yasmin has had something to do with this. Oh, and I've gained 10lbs. I only gained 5lbs on other BC. I have rated this as a 1 on the 1-5 affordability scale. Currently in the UK, we pay a fixed prescription charge for anything. If we had to start paying for our medication at the true cost of it, I wouldn't pay for this.
September 24, 2008
Pros:
no bebes, less acne, no noticeable weight gain or loss, the boobs were roughly the same size, maybe a smidgen more
Cons:
moodiness? can't tell if it was attributed to the pill or the new bf, as they both started at the same time.
i liked it. this is for tricyclen regular, not lo. Lo make me bleed for two weeks. Regular gave me a slightly longer period, a full week instead of the 5 days I used to have it, but there was no in between spotting and it wasn't that heavy. *my costs were extremely low because i had college insurance and then i got a year's worth for free at planned parenthood.
September 18, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
weight loss, cleared up my acne, very light periods
Cons:
nothing really.
its great!
September 13, 2008
Pros:
none
Cons:
I have taken Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo, but I don't think I ever took Othro-Tri-Cyclen regular. OTC Lo was bad!! I found it made me moody and caused me to break out!
I think the problem with OTC Lo is that the hormones are so low that it's enough to confuse your system--PLUS it's TRI-cyclen so the hormone levels are different for 3 different parts of the month in the pills, so you're not getting any regulation--it's like you're on a rollercoaster. I RECOMMEND PLAIN OLD ORTHO-CYCLEN!!! It's the one that existed way before orthro-tri & ortho-tri lo. it made my skin PERFECTLY CLEAR. It took a little while--maybe 2-3 months, but my skin was amazing on it. I stopped taking it and I wish i was back on it. I'm on Yaz now and my friend takes Yaz and said after 2 months, it got rid of her cystic acne, so I'm hoping that will happen to me too :)
September 11, 2008
Pros:
It keeps me and my boyfriend from having babies. Very light periods, usually last 3 days.
Cons:
Cystic acne, which is ugly and socially crippling to have. Moodiness, irritability, sleepless nights, and excessive sweating.
This is the only form of birth control i have ever tried. I have never switched because i guess i didnt think the cystic acne could be from my birth control, i simply thought i was too stressed out and get blessed with terrible genes. However, after reading some of your reviews i see that im not alone. Those of you who've had cystic ance know how embarrassing it can be, ive hibernated in my dorm room for weeks at a time until they started to disappear bc its that embarrassing. Do any of you have suggestions on what type of birth control i should try besides Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo . . .because this type is obviously not working for me.
Pros:
Did not get pregnant made my breasts lot bigger