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
March 20, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
headaches, backaches, stomach pain, nausea, weight gain, mood swings, no periods AT ALLLLLLLLL
i would advise no one to use it
March 10, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
- cleared up acne (thought not as well as an antibiotic like Doxycycline). I still get occasional pimples, but my skin is generally clear
Cons:
- Immediate weight gain (literally gained a cup size in a week) Impossible to lose weight; always hungry
-SUN SENSITIVITY! So so bad for a lifeguard
- EXTREME nausea when not taken with food for the first month or so (would throw up within 10 m
In the end I didn't think it was worth it. I accepted the weight gain and even the occasional nausea (which has thankfully gone away with time), but the fact that it makes me burn is NOT ok. I've been on it for 4 months, and it did its job in terms of acne control.. but other than that it's not so great. The weirdest thing is it gave me BO that I never had before. I get a strange smell between my breasts that never existed (have to be so careful with deodorant, and I'm not generally a smelly person) If you want birth control & acne control, this is a great pill. If you're worried about your weight, this is NOT. It's expensive generally, but my healthcare (MassHealth) covers it 100%, so it is free for me
March 4, 2009
Pros:
Clears up skin a bit
Cons:
Nausea
I have been on this pill for 5 years and I still get nauseas sometimes. I take the pill at night before bed and I dont get sick. This definitely keeps my skin at bay but does not completely clear up my skin- I am actually going to start to take Sironolactone with BC and hopefully that will clear up my skin
March 2, 2009
Pros:
no mood swings
Cons:
EXTREME NAUSEA, Weight Gain, Water Retention, Major Acne Breakouts, Extreme Breat Tenderness.
The Nausea was so bad I had to stop taking them. the only thing I liked about the pill was I had no mood swings. "the pill" works differently on everyone so it may work for someone else... this wasn't for me.
February 28, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
My period come RIGHT on time. Light period. Skin is better than before.
Cons:
I was on Diane 35 for about 7 months. And I gained about 10-15 pounds. And it helped my skin, but I wanted to see if Yasmin 28 could be better. Yasmin also made me gain/stay the same weight. But Yasmin is helping with my skin. It is not TOTALLY clear
I like this product. And will most likely stay on it because I hate switching pills. Works well for my skin. And keeps my breakouts to a minimum ( although I do still get breakouts now and then).
February 28, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
less acne,less mood swings,less bloating(only 2 months into treatment)
Cons:
none so far:)
one of the best i've tried so far!
February 27, 2009
Pros:
You dont get pregnant
Cons:
LONG PERIODS....
I started taking this borth control this month. I have had my period now for two weeks and that is not normal at all. I have gained about 2-3 pounds, but am watching my eating habits now.
February 19, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Weight Loss, Birth Control, eventually cleared up my face
Cons:
loss of ability to become physically aroused, not a loss of libido, just dryness. increased blood pressure.
When in high school, I had maybe the occasional breakout. not completely clear, but never the problems other girls suffered from. My skin type was oily. After my first month on Yaz, my complexion became terrible. terrible cystic acne, very little blackheads/whiteheads, but again TERRIBLE cystic acne which left ugly scars. I noticed, however, that it was not because my skin was oily, in fact, it was dry and flaky. went to the derm, prescribed differin. cleared up immediatly. now I never have a single breakout. ever. don't even have to wash my face if I don't want to. I also lost a lot of weight. I was 5'3 and 125 lbs. could never drop below 120 since puberty. on Yaz, I dropped to between 110-115 and grew an inch. Love the pill, but would have extreme irritation and even bleeding after sex due to dryness. Apparently the estrogen in Yaz is a diuretic. I went on the pill for contraception, and asked my gyno to switch me. I am starting Mircette. hope to get my sex life back.
February 16, 2009
Pros:
boobs grew...and after a year on it still growing a little :), cleared acne, has still done its job of preventing preg., predictable periods...although one time not to long ago it came early and threw me off but they are short periods
Cons:
i had a little weight gain ( a couple pounds), irritability, emotional
overall, great. just have to watch out for the irritability. i get 3 packs for 20 bucks so its worth it
February 16, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Obviously this pill is very different for me. I have lost a lot of weight. was 125 now almost 100. My mood is pretty much the same.
Cons:
It hasn't done anything for my skin, which is why I started taking it.
It's supposed to help clear my skin and hasn't...yet.
Just makes my periods normal.
Pros:
prevents prego, controlled acne