Hormonal Therapy
Reviews
3.3
2743 Reviews
Hormonal Therapy
Efficacy
63%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Improvement significantly increases after 24 weeks.
Hormonal Therapy
Side Effects
High
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.
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:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
February 5, 2008

Pros:

Less acne, not pregnant

Cons:

still some acne, migraines

My acne got a lot better but didn't go away all the way. When taken regularly, my moods were good (unless I missed a pill!). I started getting migraines with this pill, which is a risk in all bc pills. Not horrible ones, but more than before i went on it.
January 28, 2008

Pros:

kept my acne away, didn't get pregnat, regulated period.

Cons:

cost

I've been on Yasmin for about two years now. My dermatologist recommended it too me because i had a severe acne problem. Nowadays though it seems like the acne is comming back, like my body got use to the pill, the same thing happened to me with Ortho- Tryciclin.
January 16, 2008

Pros:

Shorter periods

Cons:

Yasmin for me was 3 months of depression and severe mood swings, sleepless nights, gave me cysitc acne (never had prior), gave me IBS which went away after stopping, etc.

Yasmin did not agree with my body at all, it was awful. From week 3 and on it's was a downhill battle. The awful symptoms it gave me never subsided until I discontinued using it.
January 13, 2008

Pros:

my acne has cleared up heaps. yasminem i saw results in 1 month. i dont wake up with a new zit every mornining and an adiniional pro, my boobs are bigger!

Cons:

mood swings, outburst, very emotional, a feeling of discontent.

it is pricey but it has made my skin so much better, and i hate to say it but id rather be more moody and have CLEARER skin. too me havin acne just really crushd my selfeesteem (a strong point in my personality). and made me more intrevert to not goin out. in compareson i am much happier now that i dont have to hide my face anymore and crawl up in ball. im looking forward to seeing the results in a few months time :P
December 18, 2007

Pros:

Not Pregnant, Cheaper than Orthro Evra,

Cons:

Moody, Emotional, Bloated, Pimples, blackheads and whiteheads (NEVER AN ISSUE BEFORE & nausea

It's birth control. It's preventing pregnancy which is the only reason why I began taking it. The crying has subsided and my moods are more stable. However, I'm not a fan of the acne that seems to come along with this pill, in my case. I've always had clear skin but am now noticing an appearance of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. I'm also suffering from nausea. I've only been taking this stuff for 2 months and if by month 4 there are no changes, I will DEFINITELY get off of it.
December 17, 2007

Pros:

made me get my period. that's about it.

Cons:

didn't do crap for my acne. in fact it probably made me worse. i can't go anywhere without feeling self concious of my skin, i can't stand to look people in the face. it made me moody, and irritable, and i cry easily. this product blows.

don't waste your money, for every 100 consumers only like ONE will have good results. the rest of us are screwed.
November 24, 2007

Pros:

no pain, dont feel sick during period and acne improved heaps.

Cons:

headaches, weight gain.

i have been using yasmin for about 2 months now. my body has coped with it well, had no pain or vomiting during my period which i usually do get. my acne has improved right from the first pack i was taking. it has worked great for me. so happy iv finally found something thats works for me.
November 21, 2007

Pros:

Some skin clearing, up a cup size, regular periods, pregnancy protection, lack of weight gain

Cons:

Breaking out at first, bloating and heavy bleeding, cramps

Only birth control i've used but it seems to be good
November 15, 2007

Pros:

no mood swings, no cramps, bigger boobs!

Cons:

have to take it every day, same hour

this is my first time on the pill yasmine and so far its going great. before i got really sick during my periods, but now i feel like i dont even have it! i did notice my boobs getting bigger. but for me thats not bad at all!
November 6, 2007

Pros:

Regulated periods, lighter periods, preevent pregnancy

Cons:

didn't clear up acne like i was told it would but didn't make it worse either...

i was on ortho tri-cyclen for a year before i switched, i have switched 3 times since then and i think i'm going to decide to go back to ortho again. i dont recall having any mood swings or crying spells with it at all, i felt normal. i was disappointed that it didn't clear up my skin but was thankful it didn't make it worse either. withe other pils i have tried, they did increase my breast size a small bit, ortho did not do that, something i'm not looking forward to is my breasts decreasing in size once i go back to ortho....

Finding a Doctor

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:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.