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
December 1, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
i had facial hair and mustash
i had acne on jaw line and check
October 20, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Yaz has cleared up my skin, shortened my period, made my boobs bigger, and has not made me gain weight.
Right now, Yaz is the only birth control with a patented ingredient that prevents women from experiencing PMS and that helps with your mood more than any other pill. Because so many women love it, the other companies are slandering it because they can't use its key ingredient. In a few years, when they are able to make a generic brand for Yaz, television and the internet will glorify it again. Ask your doctor. It is the number one recommended birth control pill by doctors but the other birth control companies don't like how well it is doing.
July 17, 2009
Pros:
Cleared Up Acne quickly!!!!!
Cons:
none so far
This has worked extremely well for my skin, i dont wear any makeup now and i used to never leave home without it. I feel great and would really recommend this product!
July 22, 2008
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Bigger bust (a whole cup size), periods so light all I need is a panty liner and it only lasts about a day, my face is COMPLETELY clear (i've had acne for about 10 years), no spotting, no mood swings, no weight gain, NOTHING NEGATIVE!!
Cons:
The only real con is the price, but if you have insurance, it's affordable and worth the price. It took about 5 months to clear my skin completely, so be patient!
Yaz is amazing, depending on the person. For me, it's been a complete dream. For some people, it's complete hell. People can't go around saying "DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!!!!" because everyone is different. If I had listened to the people like that, I would have never tried Yaz. I recommend people at least give it a try if they have been thinking about it. If it works for you, great! If it doesn't, just stop taking it. You've got nothing to lose!
January 20, 2016
Thankful:)
Hey guys, I posted some forums about a year ago about my acne and about going on BCP. Short acne background description is I had pretty clear skin up until I turned 22 and all of the sudden started getting cystic acne on my cheeks (which never broke out before, it was always my T zone). I started taking Ortho Tri Cyclen about a year and 3 months ago and I was told that it might take about 3 months for the hormones to regulate and for me to start seeing a difference. It honestly was like a day or two after the three month mark that I started noticing that I wasn't getting any new spots. A year later after my skin started clearing up, my skin has remained clear except for the leftover dark marks, which I can say have continually faded. I still get mild acne, but when I say that I mean a pimple on my chin very few and far between and most of the time they are not cystic, also it 95% of the time is because I start picking/messing with a spot and could've prevented it. I am SO happy that OTC has cleared up my skin. My only fear is when I get off of it, my skin will freak out and that scares me like crazy. But for now, I am thankful!
January 16, 2016
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Miracle for me, but cannot go off
I'm 31 and have battled acne for 16 years. I have literally tried everything except selling my soul to Satan to rid myself of the cystic acne I get around my chin, cheeks, and jawline. Two Accutane courses, antibiotics, topicals, Spiro, supplements, peels, lasers.... I had tried BCP's in my late teens/early twenties but I don't remember seeing the results I have now.
I've been on Yaz for 6 months now. I started clearing up within the first 2 weeks. I now have the clearest skin I have ever had. The problem is when I stop taking it, even for the period days (white sugar pill) I will break out. After researching I have found that I can just continue on the pink pills and have a period every 2-3 months, which is what I've been doing now. I will still breakout when I go off- but I finally have control over when that will happen.
I gave this 5 stars- it is not perfect but it has given me control again! My skin finally has a chance to heal from the scaring. I also haven't had any serious side effects.
December 18, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Completely cleared skin
Less oily hair and skin
Softer hair
Softer skin
Free (unlike BP)
No weight gain
No side effects after first few months
Bigger boobs
Regular periods
Cons:
Side effects in the first month - headaches, mood swings, nausea, increased period pain.
STICK AT IT FOR A FEW MONTHS! I saw no improvement at all in the first few months, and then suddenly all the side effects disappeared, I stopped getting new spots, and now have completely clear skin.
I had used BP for almost 6 months beforehand (exactly as instructed) and saw no improvement, just consistently oily, flaky skin.
For me, this was the wonder drug.
Background info: I've had acne since I was 8 years old, plus irregular periods, a bit of excess hair etc, so there was probably a hormonal issue that Yasmin fixed. If you're similar, Yasmin could help you :)
February 19, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Clear Skin - once over initial few months!
Painless Periods
Regular Cycle
Better Moods
All over has worked for me!!
Cons:
Nausea when I first started taking it (a few months)
Takes at least 4 months to work
Skin gets worse over first 4 months
This pill worked wonders for me.
Before I started taking, I had irregular, heavy painful periods and mild - medium acne on my chin and lower face area.
I had painful sore and very noticable spots all around my mouth and chin which was very distressing having never suffered with spots ever before. I've been taking Yasmin since May 2011 and Since September 2011 I have had crystal clear skin! I still get the very very occasional spot around my period but overall my skin is perfect. I was 25 when I started taking yasmin. My skin initially got much much worse to the point that it was so sore and painful, the spots were impossible to cover with make-up. During the initial few months I combined yasmin with Isotrexin gel, which is a combination of isotretionin & antibiotics used to treat acne. This gel helped manage the bad few months I had, but now I dont need to use it. Do not suffer with your acne, please try Yasmin, it has worked for me and its hard going but you have to stick it out (be patient)!! Oh and now my periods last for 1 day and are painfree and light! Bonus!
January 18, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
NONE THAT COULD EVER OUTWEIGH THE CONS
Cons:
you know how real fast at the end of the commercial they say may cause blood clots, heart attack and stroke... well you never think that can happen to a 24 year old right? Yasmin was prescribed to me at age 16 to help regulate my period and 8 years later I found myself in the ICU and had a foot long DVT that i had to have surgically removed. I warn women please research the drugs you are given. Yaz/Yasmin need to be taken off the market.
Had someone made me aware that studies have been done and found that yaz/yasmin had replaced the estrogen hormone with another hormone that makes this birth control 6-10 times more likely to kill a woman under 30 than any other birth control on the market?? I may have asked for another pill. Please be aware of the risks of things you put in your body. I was not and i will forever be burdened with blood clots and far more symptoms than I would ever want anyone to have to live with,
December 20, 2011
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
NONE
Cons:
THIS PILL IS UNDER REVIEW IN US - Apparently the percentage of people forming Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is VERY high
I ended up with DVT and when I got out of hospital my doctor advised me that this pill was under review in the US. I have been using Yasmin for over 8 years. Obviously I am no longer on it!!!
Pros:
i had bid sictic acne for long time i didn't get help from yasmin