Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
Reviews
3.3
2743 Reviews
Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
Efficacy
63%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Improvement significantly increases after 24 weeks.
Oral Contraceptives
Hormonal Therapy
Side Effects
High
Oral Contraceptives
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.
Oral Contraceptives
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.
Read All About Oral Contraceptives
Compare To Other Treatments
5
19.7%
4
30.4%
3
21.8%
2
16%
1
12%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

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June 19, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

It seems to have really helped my skin as I have had moderate-severe acne for the last 3 years!! Shorter periods!!

Cons:

My cramps seemed worse on my first period on the pill, even though I took the amount of Motrin my doctor told me too..

For me it has been working already very well for the skin!
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June 15, 2009

Pros:

No weight gain! :D Free from local planned parenthood!

Cons:

Very emotional. Cried a lot!

I was on this pill for 2 months. I was so excited b/c i never gained any weight and thought i was keeping my emotions in check. (B/c i've heard horror stories about this pill and crying, anger etc..) I've been off of it for a couple months now and feel... normal =] The reason i got off of the pill was just because i no longer needed it as a birth control method! If i need to get back on the pill, i will probably give Orth Tri Cyclen Lo another try.
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June 7, 2009

Pros:

None

Cons:

Gained 20 lbs in a few months because of increased appetite. Have breakthrough bleeding for three out of four weeks. Keeps the babies away. I love kids but have a three and a one year old and my family insisted I slow down / stop.

This medication might work for you............ I found YAZ to have minimal side effect, but still the breakthrough bleeding 3/4 weeks but not the starving situation with eating all the time.
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June 2, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

I love this birth control!!! I had taken it for 6 years after I had my first son and I had lighter periods, mild cramps and CLEAR Skin!! I just started it up again after my 2nd child...no new symptoms so far...

Cons:

After I stopped the pills to have a baby I got bad acne I couldn't wait to get back on my pills!

I Absolutley LOVE yasmin! I recommend it to all my friends, in fact I have 1 friend that switched to it and loves it! I took it for 6 years, went off to have a baby and now im back on it. I went back for a reason! It did me great :)
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May 18, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Really cleared up my skin; I didn't have to use anything else.

Cons:

Gave me a blood clot, and now I'm off it.

If you're under 30 and have moderate acne, it can work wonders. However, it's one of the worst BCPs for causing blood clots, so if you smoke or are overweight, it may not be the best choice.
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May 8, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

No mood swings

Cons:

Difficultly in remembering to take it

I used to use antibiotics when I had acne flare up and oxytetracycline used to work well but now I think I have become immune to it. I haven't had acne for many years but suddenly in the last few months I started to get so many spots on my forehead and right cheek. I went to the doctors and she suggested using Yasmin because antibitotics were not working anymore. I have used it for nearly a month and I haven't seen any improvements yet. I was just wondering how long I have to wait to see at least some kind of improvement. I really want my skin clear for summer because there is nothing worse than having to apply layers of makeup when it is hot.
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April 22, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up acne, periods were regular, no weight gain, no cramps or PMS, 2-3 day periods

Cons:

Got pregnant

I thought this was a wonderful product until I found out I was pregnant. :( Side effects might have not affected me because I always took at night? Now that my son is born, I am getting back on it to regulate my periods. Got it from a Family Planning Clinic and never had to pay for it.
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April 16, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

My period is predictable

Cons:

I haven't had a break out this bad since puberty, occasional nausea which can be avoided if I take it at night.

I'm about a month and a half into using Yasmin and am getting hit hard by the whole "getting worse before it gets better" breakouts. I'm determined to stick it out but I have to admit, I would love nothing more than to hide out for the next month or two for all this purging to pass. I'm doing this only to improve my acne, I would gladly take on more side effects if this actually yields results. We'll see how it goes, in the meantime if anyone else out there has Yasmin success stories as far as clearing up acne is concerned, I'd LOVE to hear more of them; I need all the motivation I can get right now. ps- ratings/recommendation subject to change...
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April 13, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Yaz has almost completely cleared my skin. I have only been on it for three months so far, and I am seeing great improvements. (:

Cons:

Typical birth control side effects.

I would reccomend. (: Worked for me. YAY!
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April 13, 2009

Pros:

Didn't get pregnant

Cons:

Went from occasional to moderate acne. Major mood swings. Angry all the time. Depressed. Frustrated. Sore boobs. Cravings.

I don't think I've ever had something break me out so bad. I am 27 y.o and still suffer from the occasional hormonal breakouts. Well I went on regular Ortho with the hope that it would help with my hormonal acne. WRONG! The left side of my face has about 8 under the skin cysts, and my chin and cheeks have about 20 small, flesh colored bumps..clogged pores I guess. I went from working on the marks left from old breakouts, to dealing with a lot of pimples again! I am so frustrated. OH yeah and did I mention I turned into a psycho! My poor boyfriend threw away the pills because he couldn't handle the pill turning me into someone he didn't know anymore. So sad! No more chemicals for me, I will take the inconvienence of condoms for now on.
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The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

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