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 26, 2010
Cons:
1. Very very moody and emotional
2. Gained weight
3. uncontrollable appetite
4. Didn't really help acne
I changed from Yasmin to Ortho because my insurance wouldn't cover the Yasmin. What a mistake! I felt awful on the Ortho. I was an absolute emotional wreck for about a week around my period. Constantly crying, pretty much couldn't function. I usually don't have any symptoms at all so that was really abnormal. I also couldn't stop eating everything in site. It was like i was never full. So needless to say i gained a few pounds. I'd rather pay for the Yasmin then deal with this for another month.
March 15, 2010
Pros:
i never got pregnant by accident!
Cons:
did nothing for acne, gained weight, extremely decreased libido
i took tricyclen for 15 years because it was the only hormonal acne treatment on the market until yaz and the like came out. well, it did nothing for my acne whatsoever but i stayed on it for the BC effects. after going off it before switching to yaz, my breasts were firmer, i actually had a sex drive, and i lost about 13lbs.
March 31, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
completely cleared acne
lighter period
protected from pregnancy
no mood swings
no cramps
Cons:
major weight gain
horrible cravings
decreased libido
i am a 17 year old female who has been on yaz for 6 months since this review was written. within those 6 months i have been steadily gaining weight (15 lbs in total), which is pretty drastic considering i was a very small, petite girl prior to starting this pill. the weight gain is not physically noticeable, but definitely noticeable once you step foot onto a scale. my appetite has sky rocketed and the cravings are nearly unbearable. the good news is i have signed up for a gym membership and have decided to start watching what i eat, which will hopefully put me back down to my 100lb self. as for the acne (which is what the main concern is), it's completely gone. i used to get horrible cystic hormonal acne, mostly on my cheeks. they stood out like red stop signs all over my face and were impossible to get rid of. now, i will get a small zit once in a blue moon but i'm almost positive it isn't hormone-related, so it looks like the yaz is doing what ive asked it to do; clear my face up. the completely reduced acne definitely outweighs the weight gain. whereas acne was not something i could control, my weight is - and i can get it back down to normal with a healthier lifestyle.
October 30, 2009
Pros:
Not pregnant, seriously cleared up my acne (no more cysts or painful whiteheads), bigger breasts
Cons:
i believe i am a bit more moodier towards the end of the pack but nothing too drastic!
try it. won't hurt!
September 29, 2009
Pros:
I have been on Ortho Tri Cyclen for 5 years, and opposite from many of the reviews above, there has been nothing but positives for me. Clear skin, no cramps or back aches, super light periods...and as for birth control...100% effective.
Cons:
I've only ever felt slightly nauseous when I had to take two pills at once....never have I been sick. I have slight mood swings a few days prior to my period, which I contribute to the sudden drop in hormones from not taking the pill for 7 days
Tri Cyclen has offered nothing but benefits...two thumbs up all the way. I Truly have 100 % faith in this birth control (given you are responsible and take if on a consistent basis). My boyfriend and I never use condoms, and I have never had any issues.
August 8, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Helps acne, eventually. Predictable periods.
Cons:
I remember this from the last time I was on Yasmin - it can take awhile for the acne to go away and will often worsen before that.
I was on Yasmin for 3 years before getting pregnant and it worked wonders for my adult acne. Now that I am getting back on it, I am remembering that it takes awhile to work. I am on the second pill pack and my acne is TERRIBLE. However, I hold out hope that it will improve soon like it did the last time I was on it. Anyone else with similar experiences?
July 28, 2015
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Works for me 😊
I am a 24 year old woman & suffer from horrible hormonal break outs. I get sore, swollen, cystic spots around my chin area & they can last weeks & weeks. I was prescribed duac a few years ago & this worked fine for me until about 9 months ago when it stopped working (antibiotics can become less effective after long use) so I went back to my doctors & was told about yasmin. I decided to give it a go despite the mixed reviews, & I am so glad I did! My skin is so much better! I got one large spot a couple of weeks into starting Yasmin, but this was normal for me as this is when I would get all these aggressive spots. However the spot went within a few days which is really quick for me, & I can honestly say I haven't had another cystic spot since. I get the odd little one sometimes, but they're so small you can barely see them! I used to be on microgynon30 before I changed to yasmin, & I have had no weight changes, nothing has really changed other than much better, less oily skin. I do get a bit of a headache as im coming off my period, but this is quite normal. I also feel a little different down below, I know it sounds strange but I smell a little different, not in a bad way, ive just noticed a slight change. This is obviously just because my hormones have changed 😊 I would definitely give this a go :) I didn't suffer an initial break out but I know some women can, so give it time to work. I noticed better skin after about 4 weeks on yasmin, & my skin is still clear today.. Good luck! Acne is such a horrible thing to live with! X
February 9, 2016
Since taking Yasmin the first week did you also got any downsides, such a more pimples?? Or did it immediately improved
August 5, 2013
At the end of the 5th pack---Skin is completely clear
Pros:
Helps cramps a little, doesn't eliminate them.
No weight gain.
Cleared acne after 3 and a half months.
Cons:
bad initial breakout in the second pack, last 3 weeks.
Nausea in first week of each new pack.
Periods not any shorter or lighter.
I just finished my 5th pack on this pill, and I must echo others and say you gotta give it a little time! I had literally NO breakouts in high school (I'm 25 now), but a couple years ago, I started getting one or two big pimples a month around ovulation. It's gotten worse over time, where I would get a few big, painful pimples around my mouth--a small breakout. I would classify my pre-OTC acne as very mild to mild. I went on this pill to get rid of that. In the second pack of OTC, I got two bad breakouts---worse than I've ever had in my whole life--big, painful, inflamed, horrible acne. I was really sad because I was convinced it was a sign this pill wasn't going to work. BUT I stuck it out, and by the end of the 3rd pack, my skin began to clear. I haven't had a pimple since. I just use cetaphil in the morning and when I go to bed with Aveeno moisturizer, and that's it! No spot treatments or anything needed. I hope it keeps up this way. See my gallery for pictures of the improvement over time!
March 24, 2012
Pros:
--Clearer skin, less breakouts
--Less oily skin
--Predictable cycle
--No pregnancies
Cons:
--Initial breakout
I just finished my third month on Ortho, and I am finally having more clear days a month than days with acne. I did get a pretty bad initial breakout the third week in during my first month, but after that cleared I haven't got a horrible breakout since. I do get a few pimples the week before my period, but my skin is usually breakout free the rest of the time. My boyfriend has been complimenting me on my skin lately, so I can tell it's working. Also, I've noticed that my skin is less oily throughout the day which is nice because I don't have to reapply powder as much.
I didn't have any side effects that the other girls on here seemed to have trouble with. No nausea, bad cramps, headaches, weight gain, etc...
I am a little disappointed my boobs didn't get bigger, but oh well, at least my skin is looking nice :)
March 13, 2012
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared most acne within 3 weeks
Bigger boobs
Cons:
Vomiting
Constant anxiety and nausea
Horrible panic attacks
I can't explain how TERRIBLE this medicine made me feel. I'm on Welbutrin and Prozac, which have been successful in helping with my anxiety disorder and depression. I was prescribed Yaz after being diagnosed with PCOS to help with acne and excess hair. After staying up ALL NIGHT vomiting during the third week of taking the pill, however, I had to stop taking it. For a month after stopping, I had the worst panic attacks I've ever had in my life. I was suicidal and felt like I was never going to feel normal again. After a month I started feeling better, but if you have a history of anxiety or depression, be prepared just in case! From what I can tell, these are fairly common side effects.
Pros:
1. No babies
2. Skin less oily