Oral Contraceptives
Results
Side Effects

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

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.

 [more]
3.4
1199
Read All About Oral Contraceptives
Compare To Other Treatments
5
22.3%
4
33.2%
3
21.1%
2
14%
1
9.5%

Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
October 22, 2014
I wanted it to work so badly
I was on ortho lo which cost 50 dollars a month so after hearing great things about what ortho regular could do for my skin AND it was free i decided to make the switch. The first month i didnt see much difference in my skin I was breaking out a bit but i heard that there was an initial breakout so i figured thats what must have been happening. By month two my skin had erupted with small flesh colored bumps all over my skin! The kind that would just sit there no matter what i did but if i squeezed a hard plug would come out. Determined to believe the whole "it gets worse before it gets better" legend i tried to stick it out. I made appointments with estheticians, had glycolic peels, microderms...you name it. My face was red, bumpy, angry and flat out depressing. After end of month 2 start of month 3 i decided to switch back to Ortho lo...its been about a week and my skin is starting to return to normal. I suffered for 3 months hoping for some kind of miracle skin cure that would never come. I've heard great things for others but unfortunately they didnt happen for me.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
June 18, 2014
Happy Happy Happy on Ortho Cyclen! :)
This is actually a review for ortho cyclen, not ortho tri cyclen. It's the same hormones, it just does vary throughout the month. I'm so happy being on ortho cyclen. I have been on many other pills, and this is the first to make a difference to my acne. The first week, I broke out. Big ugly bumps all over my problem areas (chin and between eyebrows). Then, after the initial breakout, for the next two months my acne was the same as it had always been and I didn't notice a big difference. The usual big white heads mixed with lots of closed comedones. The medi spa I go to sometimes gave me a sample of a benzoyl peroxide cream, and I used it on my problem areas where the skin was really congested. I think this helped to speed up the process. It brought my closed comedones to a head and made my acne flare up horribly! But then ... magic! I feel as if the benzoyl peroxide helped to speed up the process of the ortho cyclen clearing my skin. Now, my skin is almost completely clear. My acne is so small it is very easily covered with a bit of foundation. So, although my skin is not yet perfectly clear, the ortho cyclen has minimized my acne so much I feel very comfortable and confident that it will all clear up soon. Plus, my periods are not heavy or painful. I am not nearly as dizzy and icky feeling on my periods as I used to be. My skin looks noticeably less congested and is not sore like it used to be.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 24, 2013
:(

Pros:

Works for a whole

Cons:

Nausea
Mood swings
Acne worsens

I've been on ortho tri cyclen for 5 months now, and for the first 4 months it really cleared up my skin, better than it's been in years! But this month my skin has broken out worse than ever before. Plus I have naturally dry skin so when it breaks out and I try to treat it, it dries out too and looks disgusting. On top of that I've been nauseous and had crazy mood swings. I've been trying to stay positive, but I can't decide if I want to quit the pill or switch to another one.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 9, 2013
Horrible hormonal acne.

Pros:

absolutely none.

Cons:

severe depressive mood swings
horrible horrible cystic acne
lowered sex drive

I began taking Ortho-tricyclen when I was 18 years old to prevent and combat any acne I had. i had very mild acne, usually on my forehead and around my chin and was wondering if birth control would help to prevent any more breakouts. However, 4 months into Orthotri, I started to develop cystic acne on my chin. Thinking maybe my body needed to adjust to this pill, I decided to stay on it for a year. Biggest mistake. Now I am left with horrible acne scars on my chin (about 8-9 dark spots) and more acne around the time of my period. Please do not take this pill. I greatly regret it and am desperately searching for a product that will help to prevent any more chin acne.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 22, 2013

Pros:

clears skin dramatically
regulates cycle

Cons:

made me gain so much weight
carcinogen
made sex painful

it did clear up my skin completelry i would only get the occasional pimple befor my cycle. but it made me gain weight like crazy and i never had and problems with my weight prior. it also took away all my sexual desire and made sex painful for me.. it was giving me nygothian cysts on my cervix.. i know it was the pill cuz one i got off it all went away. i was on the pill for about a year.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 18, 2013

Pros:

Free with my insurance
Wasn't overly emotional

Cons:

Crazy hormonal breakouts

I was very optimistic about this birth control pill (I have been on several over the years) because it's so widely recommended. However, with my hormones probably already out of whack - having the 3 weeks of varying levels of hormones made my skin horrible. I gave it 6 months and now at a month before my wedding I have decided to stop taking it and get back on Yaz. So far so good (fingers crossed). Bottom line: if you struggle with hormonal acne, this is not for you.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 19, 2013

Pros:

cleared up my moderate to severe acne within 3-5 months!!! Period improved and was on schedule. NAME BRAND NOT GENERIC!!!

Cons:

mild cramps still but well worth it. skipped one pill and felt VERY nauseous for a two days.

i would recommend!
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 3, 2013

Pros:

Cleared smaller bits of acne.
Safe sex.
Regulated and lightened my period.

Cons:

Still got the big cystic pimples.
Must be really, really regulated.

Just because you're taking birth control doesn't mean you need to start having sex too, I started taking it specifically for my acne. I would reccommend birth control to even girls at a young age, because it helps regulate your body and helps you out a lot! Cleared my small pimples, so I actually had some clear skin, but I still had my cystic pimples. Also lightened my period a lot, which reduced my stress which also helped reduce my acne.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 27, 2012

Pros:

Lighter periods
Protection against pregnancy (obviously)
Cleared up forehead

Cons:

Cystic acne on chin
Small breakouts elsewhere
HORRIBLE mood swings
Period twice in one month

I was on Lutera for almost 5 years before I went off of it due to it giving me horrible cystic acne on my chin. After 6 months of being off of it my skin finally cleared up but I wanted to go back on a birth control that would not give me such bad hormonal acne. My doctor initially recommended OrthotriCyclin Lo but my pharmacy ended up giving me the generic version Tri Sprintec. I got through my first pack and stopped taking it. I took the first pill on the Sunday after my period and a week later I had a painful cyst on my chin that healed with a scar. That's not even the worst part. What really threw me off was the fact that I got my period twice in one month with the second period being the heaviest, most painful period I've ever had in my life. To go along with the full week of pain, I also turned into what my best friend later described as, "a raging hormonal psychopath." I'm going back to my doctor do discuss the side effects I experienced and hopefully can get on a pill that won't have such a negative effect on me.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 2, 2011

Pros:

Ortho tri cyclen Lo.
Only thing that actually cured my acne.
Lighter periods

Cons:

Weight Gain

Give it a try! In my case, I have to choose between being oveweight or being acne-free. This is the only thing in 15 years that actually got rid of my acne. I am pissed because I wish I would have known this before taking accutane (Grrrr).
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 34 35 36 37 38 … 81
Next

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.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website