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
April 29, 2008
Cons:
I'm a petite girl and gained 5 lbs. in 10 days! That's 5% of my body weight! Everyday I go to the gym and everyday I have gained weight. I feel like a fat slob. I have a fast metabolism, but its not helping. Also, my joints are starting to ache.
Everyones body reacts differently. Try it and see how yours reacts. I will only allow myself to gain 3 more pounds maximum before trying something else. I guess its better than being pregnant. I've been there and done that.
April 26, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
weight loss, Almost all acne gone after 4 months. No pregnancy and periods more regular
Cons:
Nausa in the mornings, took awhile to kick in. The price and more frequent headaches
Never thought a pill would help my skin or weight. Went of it because i am an idiot!!! Forgot how bad my skin could get and almost immediently after stopping it my acne came back in full force!!!
April 9, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Finally...this stuff is working. I am on month four. It was prescribed to me for my adult hormonal acne. The first three months were horrible. I can happily report I have had ZERO new acne now that I have started my fourth pack.
Cons:
Horrible initial breakout. I was miserable, but I didn't give up. It took three months for Yasmin to get my hormones under control and for everything to stabilize.
Works great for hormonal acne. Try it, but give it time and be prepared for things to get worse before they get better. Yasmin has completely cleared me up and I had moderate, occasional cystic acne before.
March 24, 2008
Pros:
it really works in not getting pregnant
Cons:
Big belly, mood swings,tired, lots of acne, lack of oxygen and heart pains
it really works when it comes to not getting pregnant, but it makes you gain weight especially in your belly, lots of acne on my cheeks and chin, mood swings, over sensitive and very tired.
January 17, 2008
Pros:
Prevents pregnanacy, regulates periods
Cons:
Gave me the worst acne I have ever had in my life. I was unhappy all the time and on some days, I didn't even want to leave the house.
My OB/GYN switched my BC prescription to the Lo version for the health benefits of having less estrogen. I didn't experience any drastic changes at first, but I eventually developed the WORST cystic acne. I consulted a dermatologist, not thinking that it was the BC pills since I had been on the regular Ortho Tri Cyclen for several years. He tried a gammut of treatments on me and finally resorted to giving me to option to try Accutane. I refused this option due to the severe side effects and possible birth defects. As a 26 year old, I dealt with embarrasing acne for 3 years. I tried all available washes, peels, ect. both expensive and not-- nothing worked. I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier, but I decided to switch back to the regular Ortho Tri Cyclen as another means to try to fix this problem. I couldn't be more amazed. Two weeks after switching, my skin is like velvet and is totally clear.
June 20, 2007
Pros:
NO MORE HUGE PAINFUL PMS BREAKOUTS!
Cons:
minor weight gain(i believe it slows down metabolism a bit), increases plaque :(
One recommendation for you all when taking birth control!! INCREASE YOUR ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICES!!
Due to the hormones in the pill, it gives you more plaque... more plaque= more cavities. I learned the hard way. I am 32 and NEVER had a cavity and I never had to floss every day. I had PERFECT teeth until I started the pill. Part of my wisdom tooth fell out and I have 2 other cavities!!! ugg!! BEWARE!
Other than that, when first taking this pill, it will slightly increase your breakouts for the first few months. Don't worry, it will GET MUCH BETTER after 3 or 4 months! Be patient.
March 20, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Don't have to use any other BC methods
Cons:
-Random aches and pains (throbing legs and arms, brest tenderness).
-Immediately broke out on my face after first couple of weeks.
I'm almost done with my first month and am a little bit worried after reading other people's horror stories with Yasmine, but I think I'll stick with it and see if my skin clears up in the next couple of months. But if anything else weird happens to me before that, I'm done with it!
October 7, 2017
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
CLEARED MY SKIN AFTER 12 YEARS OF ACNE!
THIS PILL IS AMAZING! I've had cystic acne all my life been on accutane twice which worked but acne returned. Been on loads of antibiotics and topical creams nothing worked. I tried yasmin years ago but didnt have success but in a last-ditch attempt i decided to try again. My acne has always been cystic all over my chin, jaw, hairline, neck and back. Ive nearly finished my first cycle of lucette (used to be called yasmin) and my face has cleared up dramatically. I am still getting painful cysts on my back and a few on my jawline but my face is almost completely clear. I am in shock at how quickly its cleared up my skin and I hope it continues in this positive direction for the next few months! I will update this post next month to see if there has been further improvement.
August 23, 2018
Can I ask how long it took to see results
June 15, 2017
Product used: LoEstrin (Oral Contraceptive)
20 years later
I've had acne since I was 11 (face and body). Nothing has ever fully worked 100%, however I decided to try birth control to keep from getting pregnant. My skin never really changed until 4 months in I started to really clear up. I went from taking two showers a day to being able to go camping all weekend with no shower and NOT ONE PIMPLE! I stopped using all my acne skin care products, and actually got to use products that didn't dry, bleach or irritate my skin.
June 13, 2017
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Finishing first pack... acne is only getting worse
Asking a question for people who this pill worked for clearing acne: was it normal that acne became more active in the first month? ive been on accutane a year ago, so having pimples again is painful... however, they arent cystic or anything its bearable.... but my skin has been getting worse, should i keep taking the pill or ditch it?
June 19, 2017
keep taking it. That is definitely not long enough to see if it will work for you. You have to hang in there as difficult as it is.
Pros:
Effective birth control, hasnt decreased sex drive or made me crazy like it has other people.