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
November 18, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
None so far
Every woman is different, so results vary. I was previously on ortho-lo for five years and switched to yaz a few months ago. My boobs grew, I lost weight (from the lower hormones), and my skin - although not clear - has definitely improved and is continuing to do so (2 months in). Shorter periods too. I know women who have been on it (or yasmin) for years without any problems and women who have tried it and decided it wasn't for them. As for me, I'll continue using yaz for now. Like ortho - ordering through my health insurance makes it only $20 a month, and that works for me!
November 13, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
None
Cons:
This pill broke my acne out even worse. I only had a few spots to start with but now my chin has completely erupted. I have been miserable for weeks now. It is definitley not the route the take for mild acne. I now have all the old acne-anxiety back.
I am miserable since i started Yasmin. I really wish I hadn't messed with my hormones. I am now weepy all the time and fragile. My skin is sore and raw. I have stopped taking yasmin now for the last 2 days. While i was on it my skin was so dry it felt like I had ezcema on my face. Really wouldn't recommend it at all.
October 8, 2009
Pros:
I started using ORTHO TRI CYCLEN my sophmore year of high school, to help with acne. I never had any problems with the pill whatsoever, no cramps, acne got better, no nausea, etc.
Cons:
A little bit of bleeding between periods, very light, and eventually went away after longer use.
I would recommend, the pill doesn't increase psychological problems, if you already have thoughts of particular troubling things in life, it's not the pill that increases these thoughts.
September 29, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
None yet... here's hoping
Cons:
Major breakouts
Oily skin
Nausea
I started taking Yasmin three weeks ago to help control my hormonal acne. The first two weeks of taking this pill I experienced the worst breakout of my entire life. I went to the dermatologist and had to have 31 cortisone injections and had six (6!) cysts that needed to be drained! I just started my third week and my skin is much drier this week and my acne isn't inflamed -- I'm sure this is because of all the injections and not the pill. I'm going to stick it out for three months and hope it provides the answer I'm looking for.
September 25, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
It has done wonders for my skin. it made me lose weight.
Cons:
none
I love it.
September 18, 2009
Pros:
My breasts had gotten firmer, which is not saying much since im 36DD.
Cons:
Nauseous, Tired, Dizzy, headaches that increased in severity, confused and dis oriented.
I started this pill a week ago, on the first day I had taken a pill and i had gotten nauseous then i had thought it was because I hadn't eaten anything, so the next day I had taken a pill after dinner and i wasnt naseous but for the rest of the week I was tired then when the weekend had started I became nauseous all over again and I had a headache that started on friday at 7 and went away when i woke up the next morning but was back as soon as 7p.m. had came around. On monday I was so tired and nauseous that I felt like I was going to pass out and the headaches didnt help like clock work it had came back at 7. So I had stopped taking it on wednesday and it is now thursday and I have been feeling better the only thing was that I had a slight headache but it stopped after 10 mins. So now I would not recommend this birthcontrol to anyone.
September 3, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Face and back cleared up entirely, no weight gain or increased appetite, but I did fill out up top a little more (nothing major though). Shorter lighter periods are nice as well.
Cons:
I was a little nauseous & my face broke out some the first week I started taking Yasmin. Also, my insurance doesn't want to cover any more refills after the first three, so I'm having to pay full price right now.
Aside from my insurance not preferring Yasmin, I absolutely love it. But stick with it for at least three months, that's about how long it before I started seeing major results. I had a mean case of cystic acne before and I still had to have some cysts drained while I first started taking Yasmin, but I'm almost five months into it & haven't had a problem for about 2 months. Now, I rarely have any zits. I haven't had any cysts in a while, which is amazing! And I don't break out before my periods anymore. I can go out without makeup, which I've never been able to do. I use Cetaphil & Benzaclin at night as well, and it works perfectly for me. My advice: just stick with it for a few months. There were some times where I was discouraged & thought it wasn't working, but just give it some time.
August 13, 2009
Pros:
bigger boobs, no babies, no more extreme cramps, less acne, and not as moody.
I would deffs recommend this product if you suffer from bad cramps and mild acne and (in my case) want bigger boobs!
June 25, 2009
Pros:
Steady, light period.
Cons:
My skin seems to be breaking out more then usual. Change in my appetite, eating less, feeling nausea the odd time. Change in mood.
I've only been taking the pill for a few weeks now. I have noticed some changes. I barely have an appetite anymore, haven't noticed weight gain or loss just yet. My acne is worsening, I'm breaking out more then normal. Tender breasts. More emotional, feeling depressed and taking things more to heart, moody in other words as well ! My periods although are steady, light and short which is what I like. But the pill does affect everybody differently. I hope my acne will clear up, and I will not have a weight gain, because that will be an issue for me.
May 31, 2009
Pros:
nothing
Cons:
never had problems with acne now I'm getting pimples. I'm really bloated and crampy almost every day. I've gained weight I went from 109 to 112 and I've only been taking it for 3 weeks so I'm about to switch I can't be handling all of this!!
I was on micronor before this because I was breastfeeding my baby. So now I'm weaning her and needed a stronger pill so I was put on this now I'm having all sorts of issues.
Pros:
Improved skin; weight loss; shorter periods; bigger bOObs :)