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
January 16, 2011
Cons:
- CONSTANT feeling of nausea.
- Some new zits / skin problems have formed.
- Either so starving you can eat anything, or so full you can't even think of food.
- Nighttime headaches.
- Morning vomiting.
- More tired / lazier.
I've only been on this pill for about a week or two so far, but I'll tell you it's been one hell of a time already. I always feel like I'm going to vomit .. and when I say always, I mean ALWAYS. Sometimes I actually do. Migraines at night when I'm trying to sleep always occur. You can only take this pill right after your evening meal, at a specific time. New pimples have formed, I guess I should use more makeup then planned when I go out now-__- Overall, this pill so far is HORRID, but we'll see how my body decides to react to it after week 4. Wish me luck.
December 31, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared up acne
Cons:
Stopped Yaz for 1 month, acne came back significantly worse; constant fatigue; increased appetite
I reluctantly started taking Yaz 1 yr ago for hormonal acne (after trialing many topical treatments and antibiotic with no success). I was on the Yaz for about 3 months and my skin cleared up significantly; I had no acne and never got a pimple. It was evident that the Yaz was keeping my skin clear. I decided to stop taking the Yaz (after being on it a little over a year) and within 1 month the acne returned with vengeance!!! It's really bad cystic acne on my chin, around my mouth and jawline. It is horrible and 10 times worse than before I started taking it. I went back on Yaz the next month & have been on it for 3 months now...my acne has not cleared up at all & continues to worsen. Is anyone else having this dilemna? Now I'm petrified of discontinuing the Yaz, although I do not want to be on it forever. If I would have known the effects of discontinuing, I would have never gone on it in the first place. Also, I noticed I had more energy and less of an appetite the month I was off the Yaz.
April 29, 2010
Pros:
Prevents pregnancy, regulates period
Cons:
Some people gain weight (I did!), helps with acne but NOT a cure
It is helpful and does its job by preventing pregnancy but should not be a cure for acne. Might help with acne but not cure it. Another side effect is weight gain, this is due to the fact that you are tricking your body into thinking you are pregnant so that you don't get pregnant in reality. When your body thinks it's pregnant it naturally begins building up a fat store on your abdominal region to prepare for the baby. Another thing many women don't consider when thinking about birth control is that fact that it can alter you psychologically. I switched to another birth control before and suddenly became very anxious, nervous, and depressed. I switched back and have been feeling much better, and back to my normal self. Not all birth control pills contain the same hormones and different hormones effect people differently, some having more chance of causing mental problems than others. While this can sound scary it shouldn't stop you from using birth control, just do your research and pay attention to how it effects you.
February 20, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
None: it was horrible!
Cons:
Severe cysts!
I tried Yasmine because I read that it can cure acne. Well for me, it made my mild acne horrible! I never had cysts before, and this gave me massive cysts on my chin and even between my eyebrows! Well my acne is not hormonal and my periods are not irregular. Probably that's why it didn't help me, instead caused much more damage!
November 11, 2009
Pros:
Increased breast size, helped clear acne, milder cramps
Cons:
Hair loss the first month I was on it, mood swings
I would recommend it but make sure it is not the generic version of ortho tri-cyclen, that stuff was horrible!
November 11, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
It cleared up my skin[I would only get the odd spot] and apart from that I have had no other side effects. My periods are now more regular.
Cons:
None so far!!
I would definetly recommend it. Everyone I know on other birth control have gained weight.
November 10, 2009
Pros:
Cleared my face up, Less Cramps, Made my breasts grow a little more, Can Enjoy unprotected sex with my boyfriend now.
Cons:
Tenderness in my breasts, a little more emotional then usual, slight nausea in the first week.
This is the first bc I have ever used, so far, so good. It has not caused me any problems at all.
October 10, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
It has started to clear my skin but I don't no if Im just having a good week or not. I really hope it will clear my skin fully and will stay that way. I dont need it for sex as Im to young for that, I only went on it to clear my skin.
Cons:
I think It's made my moods bad, like depression but im not sure it thats just me or not. And I use to weigh about 57kg and I now weigh 60kg so I have put on a little weight But that could also just be me eating too much or something.
Im on my 3rd month now and If my skin isnt clear by the end of it then I'll probably go off it. It really depends on the person, it works for some but not the other. So try it for yourself and see what happens. You never know it could be perfect for you.
April 1, 2009
Pros:
No babies, Bigger boobs, clears acne, No weight gain
Cons:
None after you take the pills for a full 2 -3 months
This pills does help clear up acne it just takes some time. I have been using this pill for about 3 months now and at first it made my acne worse. But after 3 months my skin is clear and the plus side is I have bigger boobs as well. So it just takes time for your body to get use to this pill.
January 26, 2009
Pros:
improves acne, fuller and firmer boobs, controls period
Cons:
only improves acne. does not clear it.
Ortho tri cyclen lo did not clear up my acne completely. I thought it didnt do much of anything because I still got a few pimples here and there but when i stopped taking it I started breaking out all over. I had actually forgotten how horrible bacne felt and realized the pill really did help. Im wondering if ortho tri cyclen will be more effective than the low dosage...
Pros:
- Over all skin clarity is a bit clearer.
- Losing some weight.