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
February 7, 2012
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
--never full, always hungry
--more emotional
--very expensive
i was somewhat worried to start this birth control after reading reviews online, but everyone's body is different and it has completely worked for me. i would recommend yaz to any woman who has been struggling with mid-20s acne to give it a try. i use yaz in combination with aczone and my face is almost perfect now.
January 12, 2012
Pros:
no pregnancy
less acne
slight mood swings
no weight gain
Cons:
slight mood swings
headaches
I have been on this pill for a month and absolutely love it. I am on this pill for acne and have already noticed a difference! I have noticed less acne on my forehead and chin. I do have some on my jaw line and neck but it is slowly but surely going away with face washing regimen and benzyl peroxide use as well. I would definitely recommend this BC because I have not gained weight (but I do work out regularly) and not many mood swings. I have noticed that I am a little bit more sensitive to some things but overall its great!
January 8, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Got rid of my acne on my face in one month
Got rid of my acne on my back in 4months
Cons:
I do occasionally get one or two spots on my back
My period got shorter and less heavier which appears to me not natural
I have been on the pill since May/June (now is Jan 2012) and it really helped me. However I want to stop using and see if can control the acne without the pill. One thing I have to say is that because it worked so quickly and previous treatment did not help one bit (eg herbs, antibiotics, healthy diet, exercise, drinking plenty of water, using topical creams). It has restored a certain level of happiness for me because I was so stressed seeing the scars and constant battle with the acne.
November 12, 2011
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
*Acne improved quickly, 3 months in, NO breakouts.
*Cleared back acne also
*Shorter, lighter periods
*No weight gain
Cons:
*Pricey
I now only have to use regular face wash and have zero breakouts, also my oil production went way down and my pores are much smaller. It is expensive, but I was spending so much on creams and treaments before, and having no results.
October 5, 2011
Pros:
Pregnancy Prevention
Clear skin
No more cramping
Light, short periods (mine last 3-4 days)
Crazy sex drive
Super reliable
No weight gain
Predictable periods
Cons:
Taking it once a day (tend to forget) Although forgetting a pill has never failed me.
This birth control pill is perfect for me. I've been taking it for over a year now. I've tried other kinds that just don't cut it. Trinessa is the exact same if you have that.
Never once failed me even if I forgot a day or two. Cleared my acne. Took away my tear inducing cramps. Made my periods lighter and shorter; about 3 days long. I have a crazy sex drive that I fulfill once a day, or maybe I'm just young and horny, who knows. :) Either way, it keeps my boyfriend happy.
It may not work for you, just keep exploring your options. Everyone is different.
August 25, 2011
Pros:
Lighter periods
Pregnancy prevention
Cons:
Horrible cystic acne break-outs
Breat tenderness
Headaches
Mood swings
I would definitely not recommend this product!!! My doctor specifically prescribed this birth control to also help with my hormonal acne. However, within two weeks of taking this my face, especially my chin area, was covered in painful cystic acne. I was told to continue taking it and be patient; that the acne would probably get worse before it got better. I stuck with it for a little over a month but couldn't take it anymore because my skin was in so much pain and completely covered in blemishes. I quit taking it about a week ago and my skin, while still very red and covered in acne, is noticeably better. The combination of symptoms, especially the acne and mood swings, made the month or so I was on this birth control an absolute emotional roller-coaster.
June 8, 2011
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
made my boobs HUGE
Cons:
gave me acne
i went off it because of acne. boobs have now shrunk-sniff.
November 24, 2010
Pros:
- Went up about half a cup size
- Light and precisely timed periods
Cons:
- Made my mild acne much worse!
- Made me extremely lethargic (feeling exhausted even after 10 hours of sleep)
I went on this as a potential treatment for PCOS and to regulate my incredibly painful periods, hoping it would help my mild acne too. I'm 19 and always had light to moderate acne on my forehead and occasionally my nose. After starting this, the acne spread to my cheeks and chin, where I've literally never had acne before, in addition to making my forehead slightly worse. I went from having skin that was 70% clear to pimples ALL over my face. I was told to give it a few months to "adjust", which I have - no improvement. This may work for some people but unfortunately didn't work for me. I will be switching to a new brand next month.
September 19, 2010
Pros:
birth control, sorted out moodiness from my previous pills, weight loss (i think), decreased massive appetite & heartburn from previous pills, cleared up not being able to drink alcohol (sounds weird but i couldn't on Alesse, I got violently ill)
Cons:
a couple painful pimples so far, severe breast & nipple tenderness & huge amount of breast growth (went from B to D in 3 weeks... really rough)
I switched to Ortho Tri-Cyclen from Alesse 3 weeks ago, and i think so far it may be improving my issues I had with Alesse. I have some acne now, but it could still be from Alesse which gave me SEVERE extremely painful acne. The worst thing i have noticed is the effects on my breasts, I went up 2 full cup sizes in 3 weeks.. which unfortunately resulted in some stretch marks. I also am very sore from under my armpit around to my nipples, it actually hurts a bit to even move my arms, hopefully it goes away..
June 7, 2010
Pros:
-make my boobs significantly bigger with minor weight gain otherwise. Obvious growth occurs in the first week of the pill cycle, I now have to alternate between bras of different sizes depending on where I am in my cycle
Cons:
-lots of breast pain from constant growth
-my skin has become extremely sensitive to the sun, including heat rash and a burn even when using 45SPF (70 works on the other hand), I suppose the resulting tan could be a pro
-my acne hasn't gotten any better and arguably has gotten worse but not significantly so
As I'm using this for birth control it's doing it's job and while there are some side effects they are not so bad I'd consider switching because of them. It's a gamble, there will be side effects from any birth control pill and if they're not so bad you may as well settle.
Best way to decide whether the side effects are bearable or not is to take a pill for 3 cycles before making up your mind.
Pros:
--lighter, shorter periods
--cramps less painful
--has almost completely cleared acne in three months use