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
July 28, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
Abnormal breast growth,tender just a little to the touch
I gave this a somewhat awful review before after taking it for 8 days however I have seen great improvement in my acne and oily skin. The only prob I have so far is that a few days ago I noticed that one of breast is larger than the other since taking Yasmin( right one is larger) and my breast is a little tender to the touch. I know our left and right size is different in size but I look at my boobs everyday since I got them and they were never bigger than the other noticeably of-course. I am about 4 days away from finishing the first pack I will continue to monitor the growth even though my face is clearing up pretty fast its not worth the one bigger breast, if it was both of them growing then that would be a bonus for me because I dont have large breasts. If it continue I might have to switch to Diane 35 which I dont really want to because this pill is great so far only the breast issue. Is this happening to anyone else will it go back to normal or will the small one catch up?
June 20, 2012
Pros:
+helps with acne
+weight stayed the same
+no cramps
+period is like clockwork every month
Cons:
-initial breakout for first few months
-mood swings first few months
-period is still 5 days
I am on month 7 and I am just now starting to see the results. Some bodies take longer than others to adjust. The initial breakout wasn't too bad but there were some months that were wore than others. My weight has remained the same. I read how some people try to work it off and can't, in my case I have lost weight while working out and eating right. My mood swings have subsided for the most part but they were never unbearable. I only experienced nausea the first month so that went away as well. I recommend it but give it 6-7 months before you switch. I was on LoEstrin 21 for 4 months and it was consistently bad then OTC just came in and had to clean the mess so that may have attributed to it taking so long to show results. Give it a try for sure if you think/know you have hormonal acne.
April 25, 2012
Pros:
No babies!
Predictable period
Bigger breasts (although this is more of a con for me, haha)
Cons:
Acne got worse/oily skin
Slightly more moody
Tender breasts
Achy
No help with cramps
Cramps even after period is gone
*I'm writing this after my first month so some people have a general idea of what could happen/what to expect* I would actually give this two stars, but I gave it an extra because I have hope in the month to come. Based on reviews, the first month is the hardest because your body is adjusting to it. My acne got worse, I got moody,, my breasts were more tender and it was just generally not a great experience. I haven't had my period for two days, and I still feel some *slight* cramping, and it didn't help with cramps during my period. My back has also been achy this month, and I've had more headaches than usual. I'm neutral about my breasts growing half a cup size, but I'm sure that's a pro for most. It was a bit hard at first to take it every day and I thought it would be a lot more inconvenient, but it's not. I have an alarm on my phone and my boyfriend has one on his, so between the two of us, I remember. It's not that bad anymore; it's become a part of my routine. Another thing worth mentioning is that I used to have a 5-day period that was light the first day, very heavy the next two, medium, then light. I still have a 5-day period, but this made things more... even? I'm now light/medium, heavy, heavy/medium, medium, light. I guess that's good. I'm not pregnant, which I'd say is a good thing. It's also nice to have a predictable period down to the exact day because before it was kinda a week-long window for me and I could get it any day. I might be writing another review after I take it for a few more months to see if any of my cons go away and to (hopefully) add more pros to the list. I'd still recommend it because it's worth a shot. Everyone's body reacts differently and it's just 3 months out of your life to get the full effect. If you don't end up liking it, switch. Simple as that. c:
April 24, 2012
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
No weight gain (experienced this with all other pills)
Cleared up acne
Shorter, lighter periods
No pregnancy
Cons:
Boobs hurt a bit the first couple of months
I love this pill, only one that hasn't made me put on weight. Definitely worth the extra cost, I have been on it for 6 months and won't be changing any time soon! Definitely the pill for me :o)
March 21, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
skin is starting to clear up after only 2 and a half weeks of taking yasmin
skin feels softer
Cons:
makes you feel abit sick
feel abit bloated
I never had skin problems during my teens EVER! until i turned about 21. After ages of trying to work out what was wrong but was so confused as I always look after my skin and am an extremely healthy person. I then finally came to the realisation that it was hormones. I thought it was really weird that I just had all of a sudden started having acne issues at this age but apparently it is very common for females around my age to develop it especially if you never had problems with it during your teens. so I decided to go to Yasmin bc and after being on it for nearly 3 weeks im getting my confedience back with my skin. It really feels good. its starting to clear up alot i have heard it can get much worse before it gets better I havent experienced that yet hopefully I dont but I have to express my positive feedback with Yas,
March 2, 2012
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Didn't get pregnant.
Cons:
EXTREME mood swings
Irritability
Depression
Irregular periods
Didn't lighten my period
Bad cramps
Nausea
Dizziness
Made my skin worse (acne)
It made me miserable,
and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
January 19, 2012
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
-Skin cleared up really quick
-Periods lightened & became more regular
Cons:
-Major depression
-total numbness physically and emotionally
-weight gain
-anxiousness
-severe migraines
-back pain
-fatigue
-insomnia
-abdominal pain
-rashes
-change in appetite
-vomiting
-dizziness
-extreme emotional lability
-extremely low libido
It was the worst I have ever felt in my entire life.
October 7, 2011
Pros:
Shorter Periods
Less Cramps
Cons:
Didn't clear my skin
Expensive
Caused yeast infection
At first my doctor (not a dermatologist) prescribed me with Ortho Tri-Cyclen LOW for my acne. I was on it for 6 to 7 months and it did not improve my acne at all. When I went back he gave me a higher dosage which was the regular Ortho Try-Cyclen. Again not much of an improvement in my skin, around my period time I'd still break out. Not as much as before but still very noticeable acne. After a while I started noticing itching after sex and a lot of clear orderless discharge. I panicked and went back to my doctor, apparently the pill had caused me to get a minor yeast infection which was not good at all. I stopped taking the pill right after and the yeast infection went away almost immediately. I also tried the generic brand which is a lot cheaper its called TriNessa as well did not work. For acne I absolutely do not recommend it especially the regular Ortho Tri-Cyclen since it cause an infection. But the Ortho Tri-Cyclen Low I recommend if you want shorter lighter periods without any cramps but again not for acne.
September 26, 2011
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared up acne
Went up a cup size
Mood swings chilled out
Cons:
Sometimes I felt emotionally numbed
Zero sex drive
I was on it for three years. I will gladly take cleared up acne over zero sex drive. My insurance pays for the birth control. I went off birth control for about 8 months and in that time, my acne got way worse. I went on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo because I wanted a lower hormone birth control and it hasn't helped my acne at all. I'm going back on Yaz immediately.
September 21, 2011
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
-Breasts grew two sizes larger! Shorter, lighter periods with less cramps
Cons:
-Same acne as before beginning 3 month treatment
-Became a very depressed person
-Lost motivation
-Zero sex drive
-Expensive
-Weight gain
When my doctor prescribed Yaz to me for my acne she asked me about my current mental health, I told her honestly that I was a very happy person and by no means "depressed" though I did get fed up with having acne and so that was a source of some stress. Yesterday was the last day of my 3-month cycle of Yaz. Over this time I have become a very depressed, down and unmotivated person. Most days I have to force myself off the couch to actually get anything done. I have felt no zest for life and stare into the mirror each morning wondering why my skin still looks so bad. My anxiety has reached a point where I don't like to leave the house because of a mix of low self-esteem and the vicious cycle where I can't leave the house without wearing makeup but I think wearing it adds to my breakouts. Ie. Not a healthy lifestyle!!! This is coming from someone who is described by friends & family as bubbly, happy, positive, very energetic and excitable. I decided that I'm done with it and will not be renewing my prescription. I'm looking forward to regaining my passion for life and losing the 2kg I have gained since taking Yaz. It will also be nice to have some sex drive back! It's always been relatively low but in the last 3 months sex has been the last thing I've felt like doing. I believe these pills effect everyone differently so I don't doubt this may work for some. Unfortunately it wasn't my miracle cure. My skin is problematic as it was when I started the cycle. I am now exploring the possibilities to treat the cause naturally. Will post when I find my cure!! X
Pros:
Less Oily Skin, face is clearing up no weight gain