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
November 24, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
Was on Dianette, great drug! had 2 come off it coz docotor said been on it for too long. 3 tablets & I can feel like my skin is going to flare up. I can feel large spots coming through. Will b really ticked off if I break out wedding 2 attend in 2wk
Will give it to the end of the week, then Docs in trouble!
November 20, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Larger breasts. Effective in preventing pregnancy.
Cons:
I never had acne and now my skin is breaking out. My face always feels hot and itchy. Im a very cheerful person but now feel a bit depressed. Even if my breasts augmented in size they hurt all the time.
Yaz is about the 5th brand I try. All have given me very unpleasant side effects from nausea to spotting, to feeling completely emotionally unbalanced and unhapp, to acne breakouts and chest pains...Im getting discouraged.
November 11, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
i didnt get pregnant
Cons:
didnt clear up acne, still got period for 7 days, still got horrible cramps, still had mood swings.
It didnt work for me. No wonder its being DISCONTINUED!!!
August 27, 2009
Pros:
none
Cons:
tiny bumps everywhere...Literally!! Acne at its worse
Didnt help my acne, just made it worse then before. There's not one clear spot on my face.. Time to go to a Derm rather then listening to a GYN doc for acne!!! Ortho cyclen which is same as orth tri no good for me
July 19, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Weight Loss, Better mood, lighter period
Cons:
...none yet.. : )
With my insurance it's only a dollar, it's NC healthchoice. I've lost about 7lbs... : )
July 15, 2009
Pros:
Less oily skin, bigger boobs
Cons:
Did not work, weight gain
I use Yaz. I saw a big difference in how oily my skin was during the first week of use. However, my acne has not gotten any better and my skin is just as oily as it was before. In fact, I find myself breaking out a bit during the month and by the time the pack runs out and my period comes, I break out worse than I did before I was even on birth control. I haven't tried any other prescription acne medications but I am seeing a dermatologist soon and getting rid of birth control (however good it is for other reasons besides acne!). I just don't think it's worth it. However, everybody reacts differently to birth control... so these reviews must be all over the place.
June 24, 2009
Pros:
clear skin, predictable and light period, no menstrual cramps
Cons:
Nothing for the first 4 years of use.
The bottom line is, OTC was a really good BCP for me for the first 4 years while I was on it. I did not suffer from any problems, my skin was free of pimples, and everything was just dandy. However, the pill seems to be losing its power to keep my skin under control. My skin is now breaking out and is REALLY oily (this never happened prior taking BCP), and I am also experiencing chronic yeast infection that keeps coming back every month. Furthermore, this pill also made me emotionally unstable. I was on OTC before, now I am currently taking OTC-Lo, in hopes that less hormone in my body will fix some of the problems.
June 14, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Clear Skin,no cramps,bigger boobs, no pregnancy
Cons:
strange pain in legs, increased appetite
I love this birth control!!! =)
June 14, 2009
Pros:
Breast got bigger, and no babies.
Cons:
sever acne, mood swings, depression, weight gain
I am 20 years old and i have used this pill for 3 months now. I have never had a problem with acne before and now i have sever acne on my face, chest, and back. I feel embarrassed just to walk outside. I am very moody and i feel very depressed all the time. I have gained a little bit of weight but not more than my other birth control (loestrin fe) did. I started talking this pill because it was cheaper but i think i will pay the extra to make this acne go away!
June 10, 2009
Pros:
Prevents pregnancy, lighter shorter periods, cleared skin until period starts, decreased breast tenderness and cramps.
Cons:
KILLS YOUR SEX DRIVE!!! Moodiness, irritability, depression, fatigue, weight gain, more emotional and sensitive to everything, lack of passion for anything.
I'm 32 years old and I've been on Ortho Tri Cyclen for 10 years and initially gained 5 pounds right off the bat and now 10 years later I'm 85 lb. overweight. I have never really changed my eating or exercise habits. Also, at first I loved it and it does work (preventing pregnancy) but it seems like the longer I'm on it the worse my side effects are. I used to want to have sex with my husband and now the thought of having it feels like a chore. It most definitely kills your sex drive and also I just have this BLAH attitude all the time now. I used to be so happy and smiley. I was such a sweet friendly person and now I'm such a b*tch on it. My poor husband doesn't know what to do with me. I'm on my last pack right now and I think I'm going off of it for awhile and see if I can lose some weight and get my sex drive and myself back.
Pros:
Don't know yet!