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
April 13, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
I just finished my first full month on YAZ. I went on it just to make my face clear. WELL it has now made my face the worst it has ever been in my life! : ( And now instead of a period that lasted two days like normal, my period lasted 12 days!
I don't know if this just takes a long time to work or what...but if it doesn't get better in a month or so I am getting off of it. I cry for absolutely no reason, not just around when my period comes either like it used to be. It has not helped my face, it has made it 100 times worse! I have cystic acne around my chin which I hardly ever had before. I also have a lot of little tiny bumps all over my face that I really had never got before starting this. My face looks absolutely horrible, so much so I don't even like going outside anymore :( That is how bad! And my period lasted for 12 days. It usually it only 2 to 3 days at max. And I even had cramps for the first half of the period too. I wouldn't recommend this birth control for any reason.
April 10, 2009
Pros:
Cleared up acne that was very painful! Sooo thankful!
Cons:
slight weight gain for awhile
I had very bad breakouts all over my face and back, it took about three months and Ortho clear my face up! I rarely breakout and when I do it doesn't last long and its gone!
March 20, 2009
Pros:
Boobs grew, no break-through bleeding (like otc-lo)
Cons:
Weight gain, IRRITABILITY, nausea
The product worked, but i became a monster and gained 20 pounds, too many hormones for me. Switched to a lower hormonal dosage pill and couldnt be happier
March 16, 2009
Pros:
no babies, cheap!
Cons:
moodiness!
i have been on ortho tri cyclen 3 months now. before i went on bc i had light acne, but like everyone i wanted no acne... my breakouts were usually about a week before my period so i expected bc to clear everything up... nope. it has had absolutely no effect on anything. i honestly had better results of clearing my acne when i was just being really careful about what i was eating and drinking, water is the key! but yea i haven't been careful about my eating habits these last couple months, so perhaps i'll just have to take up drinking ridiculous amounts of water again. and on top of not meeting my expectations on acne control, it has turned me into a cry baby! before birth control i had impeccable control over my emotions, but now.... no way. i cry at the drop of a hat, and it is incredibly annoying. i've cried more in the last 3 months than i have in the last 3 years combined, absolutely unnecessarily too.
March 13, 2009
Pros:
Regulated Period
Cons:
Wait Gain, Increased hunger, worse acne, depression/mood swings, fatigue
I went on the pill to regulate my periods because I have PCOS and to clear up my acne. When I went on the pill I had mild acne, and since then it has changed to moderate-moderate severe with cystic ance, which I have not had for a few years. I also noticed an increased appetite, and IMMEDIATE weight gain, (before the hunger kicked in). As well, I have been fighting bouts of depressive moods, and mood swings of anger, frustration, and sadness. Also, every once in awhile I will become fatigued and completely run-down. I don't know if it is related or not, but within the last 3 months I have been taking the pill I have become sick 3 times. Has only regulated my period, best thing (but maybe worst?) thing I can say.
March 13, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
none to light period..
Cons:
Acne on head, face, thighs, lower abdomon pain,sick to my stomach, depression, sadness, anger, emotional, low to now sex drive, weight gain
My uterous is now twice the size it should be, and i might have some type of tumors! I go for an ultra sound next week! THIS PRODUCT IS HORRIBLE! Do not let your doctor change your BCP ladies, "if it aint broke, dont fix it"
March 12, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared up skin, helped A LOT with PMDD. Prevents pregnancy too...duh!
Cons:
If you stop taking it for longer than 4 days you're off the pill, you're acne sometimes comes back.
Everyone is different!! There wasn't a single drug store/department store/OTC treatment that could help keep my skin clear for more than a few weeks. Yaz is for PMDD which is worse than PMS...like I couldn't leave my bed for days and would pass out from my cramps. It's for more moderate/severe acne too...be careful because you're getting different horomones over a longer period of time, which for some people can be too much of a good thing. READ THE INFO PAMPHLET! Using Yaz, along with Murad's Energizing Pomegrante Cleanser (not the acne treatment which is way harsh), and an occasional steam facial is the only way to keep my from breaking out. Chances are for most people it's not going to be a one step quick fix, you're going to have to find a combo of treatments to help clear up your skin!
March 5, 2009
Pros:
Affordable, extremely light periods, prevents pregnancy!
Cons:
Gained a little weight, break outs.
I have always have clear skin. In fact, I would get complimented on it almost daily. I think because of the hormones my skin has started to break out. By break out I mean 2-4 pimples showing up after the other ones are cleared out. And they are leaving their marks! This has never happened to me, I probably had only 5 pimples my entire life. Anyway, like the comment below, I hope it makes my skin clearer after this. I have been on it for exactly one month.
February 27, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
didn'r get pregnant, no weight gain, relatively light period
Cons:
Skin didn't really clear up all that much; was very moody near my period, i was very anxious, and irritable.
Pretty good pill. does it's job. I didn't notice major, abnormal mood swings. However, didn't clear up my skin completely.
February 4, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
? i didn't notice any change in my pms symptoms.
Cons:
I had so much break through, that i wasn't sure that it prevented pregnancy. i have a 4 month old daughter now. at first i thought it was me, that did something wrong, until my friend told me this morning that she's pregnant.
Maybe i didn't take it long enough, but i got pregnant on Yaz. I swithced from Yasmine to Yaz, because of the intoxicating commercial. lol. there was really no reason for me to stop taking yasmine. My girlfriend did the same thing, switch because the commercial sounded cool, and now, she's currently one month pregnant.
Pros:
NONE