Oral Contraceptives
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Oral contraceptives, otherwise known as birth control pills, are also approved to treat acne. They work by regulating male hormones in the female body. Less male hormones normally lead to less acne. 

Oral contraceptives contain an estrogen component (ethinyl estradiol) that is combined with progestin hormones, such as drospirenone (Yasmin® or Yaz®), norgestimate (Ortho Tri-Cyclen®) or norethindrone (Estrostep®). 

Oral contraceptives are taken once a day with a meal. Make sure to take the pill at the same time every day.

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November 23, 2011
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

-Brought my moderately severe acne completely under control
- I don't experience cramps during my period anymore
- I get the generic brand from my pharmacy, which makes it really inexpensive
- Decreases facial hair (I used to have to get my upper lip and chin waxed once or twice a month and no longer grow any hair on my face- I think it must be the estrogen)

Cons:

-Decreases sex drive
-Under my insurance plan, the name brand prescription is very expensive

My dermatologist prescribed this after the birth control my gynecologist prescribed, Ortho Tri Cyclen, failed to improve my acne at all. This product, when combined with usage of Retin A-Micro, has made the absolute biggest overall difference in my skin. I used to get really large cystic acne, and since beginning this prescription, I don't experience any acne at all. Under some insurance plans, YAZ can be really expensive, but the generic equivalent is just as effective. I highly recommend this to any women struggling with cystic acne. Best of luck, everyone!
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July 13, 2011
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

-After IB, kept my skin clear
-Worry free for the year the I was on it
-Rarely needed foundation
-Consistent period
-Bigger boobs
-No bacne
-no cystic acne

Cons:

-Initial breakout lasts about 3 months
-Hair loss
-Gained 5-10 pounds
-Expensive if you have no insurance (70ish at walmart)
-still had annoying tiny bumps on forehead
-My doctor thought the Yasmin may have been linked to why I had been sick so often

I really loved how clear my skin was while i was taking Yasmin! I never thought about cysts, although I did still get the little bumps on my forehead, which I should have got a cream to take care of. My bacne was gone; for the first time in my life i could wear swimming suits without being self conscious. Also, my boobs were quite big on Yasmin. I ran out of Yasmin and 6 months after discontinued use, everything went back to normal. I lost the 5-10 pounds of weight, my bacne started to appear, and acne started creeping all over my face. It's almost been a year off the Yasmin, and my face is pretty bad... Why do I not go back on it? Well the other thing that returned back to normal is my hair stopped falling out. My hair used to fall out like crazy! I would sob about it. Six months off yasmin and that changed. I am currently trying retina a and duac. I may try another BC again. Bottom line is, if you don't get the hair loss side effect, I recommend Yasmin.
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November 23, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Cleared acne up - it did take 4.5 months tho!
Did not gain weight

Cons:

Breast tenderness - only in 1st month
Took 4.5 for acne to clear - but now is clear
Moodiness/emotional in the first few months but totally fine now

I have been on YAZ for 6months now...I am one week away from finishing the 6th month, about to start my 7th month. I wanted to wait for at least 4-5 months before I made comments on Yaz. I did have some side effects light breast tenderness and feeling emotional in the first few months. However because my acne was so bad (I am almost 30!! should not have acne!) I decided to "ride it out" and to see how it went. After about 4 months my acne started to go down. However it still fluctuated. When I thought it was clear for good, I would wake up with another few cystic acne bumps. After 4.5/5 months the acne was completely gone including the deep red scars! Now that I am almost at 6 months I have clear skin and feel great. I still tend to get a small spot around that time of month but its nothing serious and instantly goes away when that time is finished. The moodiness and tenderness was apparent in the first few months but has completely stopped. I find YAZ quite expensive but I think its worth it for the clear skin I have it. It glows and I don't have to wear make up anymore - yay. I also have not gained any weight. I have kept a weight log and it has stayed the same. I have continued daily exercise and have not increased my eating. I have had cravings at that time (which I have always had) and i just make sure i exercise it off! If you have cystic painful acne like I did, to the point where it bleeds and is so painful then give it a go. I decided to ride through some of the negative side affects and for me they all went away. I couldn't be happier - I was so depressed having such bad acne but now I don't.
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November 14, 2010

Pros:

* Cramps are much more tolerable and only last the first day of my period if I have any at all. When I was not on Ortho (BC), my cramps were debilitating (servere) for the first one to two days of my period.
* Cleared up my skin beautifully. With Ortho (BC), I have very rare, infrequent, and minor breakouts. Without Ortho (BC), my breakouts were moderate to moderately severe and continual. I had large, cystic, painful acne on a regular basis.
* Helps heal ovarian cysts.
* Lighter, regul

Cons:

* Tanks your sex drive. (Loss of frequent intamacy with my spouse)
* Can make you very nauseated when you take the first one to two pills with each new pack. Possibly b/c the hormone dosage is high.
* In my opinion, mood swings were much less off the pill.

I recommend this brand of BC. Especially if you have painful, moderate to severe acne, heavy, irregular periods, moderate to severe cramps, or frequent ovarian cysts. It should help tremendously. Do your research, and talk to a doctor. It does help prevent pregnancy, of course, but I would only recommend it for the other reasons, unless you are married, as I do not condone premarital sex.
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April 15, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

As a birth control method

Cons:

-HAIR THINNING
-extreme exhaustion
-difficulty wearing contact lenses

At first I wasn't sure why my hair was thinning and though maybe my shampoo. However, after looking into my Yasmin, I found many many reviews from women who experienced the same thing. And then, after reading about the potential side effects, I realized exactly WHY I was experiencing the different things I was going through. I told my younger sister about it and she was like "THAT was the BC I was on last christmas - remember, when I was sleeping like 13 hrs a day!" Bottom Line? It isn't worth the side effects - particularly the hair thinning and difficulty wearing lenses. Yasmin truly should be recalled OR the side effects should include a more extensive list.
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March 27, 2010

Pros:

No babies =)
Know when my period will be

Cons:

Acne is worse. I used to only have light acne and now it's like it's spreading all over my face...
I've considered just getting rid of Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo and using condoms just to get my skin back!

I was on the generic for 2 months and it worked great with no side effects. At the Health Department I started getting the name brand and after a month, I started breaking out like crazy on my chin and felt absolutely HORRIBLE with mood swings and got depressed and ended up crying all the time. I'm on my 4th month of the regular Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo and I've started taking Zoloft and feel great, so the only side effect I can see is my ACNE!!! I'm going to keep testing it I guess and maybe see if the regular Ortho Tri Cyclen and not the Lo will do a better job
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June 18, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
I just purchased yaz and ive been on it for a month. My dermatoligist gave it to me for the treatement of acne. so far i have breakouts all over my jawline..They said the first month the acne will get worse before it gets better.. so all of you who are suffering dont get discouraged because hopefully mine will clear up in about a month... and also you are not the only one out there with acne.. hope i encouraged someone
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March 16, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)

Pros:

Cleared up 90% of my adult acne within four months, shortened my period to three days with a much lighter flow, and NO negative side effects - no weight gain, no nausea, no mood swings, nothing. And since it works from the inside out, you don't have

Cons:

It took a while to start seeing an improvement in my skin, but the wait was worth it.

It's a fact that most people who speak up about a product do so to complain, while the ones who are happy with it say nothing at all. That is why you read so many negative consumer comments, and why I felt compelled to write about my positive experience. Everybody reacts to any given drug differently, don't let the negative reviews discourage you from trying Yasmin. If you don't like it, stop taking it and try something else. I combine it with Retin-A and I now have better skin than most of my friends who have never suffered with adult acne. PS: I tried Yasmin at the recommendations of many friends who all had the same positive reaction to it - whether they had acne or not.
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October 4, 2006

Pros:

Within 3 months of use it cleared my skin up a great deal.
Any breakouts that I have now are minor and clear up quickly.
Pretty cheap too.

Cons:

The first 3 months of getting used to it are difficult.
You bloat and have mood swings and feel generally gross. But that does go away and things begin to even out.

I was on OTC for about 8 years and then got off for 2 years. When I'm not on it my skin has regular breakouts. Not necessarily awful ones but often my face is red, irritated, and the zits--while sparse--are painful and sometimes large. I went back on birth control about 4 months ago and this time switched to the generic OTC called Tri-Sprintec. After 3 months my skin looks fantastic and I feel much more confident. It takes some time for your body to adjust and for your moods to settle down. But hang in there because when it starts to work it makes a huge difference in how you look and how confident you feel. With insurance my perscription is only $20 for a 3 month supply.
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June 16, 2016
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Yaz saved my skin!
I've struggled with Acne since I was 14. I'm now 24 and have tried everything- face washes, creams, facials, antibiotics, other birth controls, Accutane x 2. Nothing worked. I'd been on Ortho-Tricyclin for 6 years previously which helped clear up my acne for the most part but when I turned 22, my acne started reappearing and getting worse on my cheeks- which was never a problem area I ever had. I went off birth control completely for 8 months, hoping my hormones would balance themselves out- WRONG. My acne got much, much worse. After talking with my doctor, he prescribed YAZ. The first month and a half my acne worsened which dampened my spirits but after the 2nd pack, my skin has cleared up immensely. Hang in there and let YAZ work it's magic. Sure there are some downsides of taking birth control but to me, clear skin is totally worth it!
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Relevant Article(s):

Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
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