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
October 28, 2012
Cons:
Acne was HORRIBLE when I attempted to get off the pill
I took accutane, and within a year my skin was broken out again. Ortho lo cleared it up where my prior BC (desogen) appeared to do nothing. I was clear for about a year and a half, when I decided I no longer wanted to take the pill and cleanse my body. Wow, big mistake. Acne came back worse than ever within a month of being off. I've been back on the pill for about 3.5 months and things are better, but still not as good as they were when I was on it. I think being on this pill may cause more harm than good... I feel like I'm stuck on it now. But it does seem to help with acne.
October 8, 2012
Pros:
**Ortho tricyclen***
Long term -acne clears up, no weight gain, lighter period.
Cons:
Short term- first 4 months yield severe break out, if I take my dose even a few hours late I start spotting, my period consists of clotted blood- gross.
I'm 30. If you can bear the first 4-5 months of breakouts.. Worse than breakouts before starting, it's worth it. At the time, the first few months seemed like it was never going to end. Now, in retrospect, those 4 months of breakouts for continuous flawless skin... It's so worth it. Hang in there and if you're older, like me, take at the same time everyday. I'm happy!
Ps I replied moderate acne-- that was before I was on this. Now my acne is so mild.
October 3, 2012
Pros:
~ breasts grew
~ acne went away
~ mood swings aren't as bad
~ little to no cramps
~ shorter lighter periods
Cons:
~ weight gain, I was 120 when I started the pill and now I'm 124 so not that much weight gain
~ makes me wanna eat food more
I'm 15 and I started taking OTC in February because I would get extremely bad cramps and very bad mood swings. I have been taking OTC for 8 months now and I love it :) I haven't tried any other form or type of BC but I would have to say this one works great. I got scared at first because some people said it makes you sick the first few months but I have not experienced any bad side effects except for some weight gain and breast tenderness and occasional headaches. I would reccomend trying this !
August 9, 2012
Pros:
-Completely cleared acne aside from occasional pimple
-Increased breast size
Cons:
-Slight weight gain (not really noticeable, maybe 3 pounds)
-Caused initial breakout that caused slight hyper pigmentation
I first started taking this in December and it is now August, and my skin has improved by so much- I now get the occasional pimple during the first week of each pack but nothing drastic. I wish I had started this sooner! The only issue I would note is that (at least with me) the first pack caused me to break out on the sides of my face (next to my ears basically) and my jawline- not terribly, but I never had pimples here before, and they did leave pigmentation when they went away. It is not terrible and has faded over time, but is still something that I cover with makeup and may eventually have removed.Overall I would say that the benefits definitely outweigh the negatives, my skin is a lot smoother and just overall so much better than it had been in the past! Just be aware of the fact that you may have an initial breakout.
June 15, 2012
Pros:
- Cleared most acne
- Shorter, lighter periods
- $7 for a 3 month supply!
Cons:
- Gained about ten pounds and my boobs grew a cup size
- First three months were bad
I completely recommend Ortho Tri-Cyclen to clear your acne.
Just a warning, the first three months were VERY difficult. I initially tried to take my pill right before bed to avoid the hunger I heard about, but it didn't prevent the hunger - it just woke me up in the middle of the night with a horrible feeling like extreme hunger. So, I started taking it at noon right before lunch and that fixed everything. I also felt my mood get very weird, like indescribable. I almost stopped, but when a girl I knew said it took her three months to get used to it, I decided to stick it out. It's not like it's impossible, so don't think your mood is going to get so bad you can't stay on it.
After about those three months, my mood was back to normal and my skin is SO much clearer. I can now take the pill right before bed and have no bad side effects - or any at all.
I also gained about 10 pounds, but I think it is preventable. I am 5'7" and before I started I was about 118 lbs - after being on it about 5 months I was about 128. However, I also had just started college and my diet was poor, and I also wasn't on the strict workout regimen I was before going on the pill. Altogether, I think I can lose the weight by getting back on my workout and diet regimen, it just won't be AS easy as without the pill. But it's not impossible!
Lastly, my boobs grew from a 32D to a 32DD... which I'm not happy about. It's annoying to have to buy new bras, but it's worth it for the great skin effects. I'm sure they'll shrink when I'm back off it anyway. BOTTOM LINE: I completely recommend Ortho Tri-Cyclen, ESPECIALLY if you have tried other medicines that don't work. I've gone through one antibiotic pill that worked and then stopped after about a year, one that never worked, and then another that worked alright. Finally I asked my dermatologist for the pill, because I kind of knew mine was hormonal due to my breakout patterns. Now I only get a few little zits when
June 8, 2012
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Not pregnant
No weight gain
Cons:
Bad break outs
I have been on Yasmin for a month now and the first two weeks I thought this was a miracle pill. My skin cleared up very fast and was less oily. I have started month two and I now have HORRIBLE cystic acne around my chin. It's very painful and embarrassing. I'm hoping it will clear up around month three because I can not take this. Although I haven't had any weight gain which is a positive!
May 24, 2012
Pros:
cleared skin decently
Cons:
mood swings
weight gain
have to remember to take it everyday
depression
irritability
Not really worth it the hassle. I turned into a different person (mood wise) and was constantly irritable and angry.
April 24, 2012
Pros:
Clear Skin!
Cons:
Takes time to see results
Must remember to take at same time daily
Minimal weight gain
Girls, dont give up on these pills just because it doesnt work right away! It took about 2-3 months for me to see the results. I used to have a lot of cystic acne all over my cheeks that left nasty scars :( im soo glad found Ortho Tri Cyclen.
February 22, 2012
Pros:
Prevents pregnancy
Cons:
Nausea
Acne break out
Painful cramping
I have been on it for about 2.5 weeks now and I am getting terrible abdominal cramps and have been feeling sick to my stomach. My acne seems to have gotten worse as well. I am hoping that after my body gets used to it all those cons go away.
February 14, 2012
Pros:
Kept acne to a minimum
Prevents Pregnancy
Even out mood swings and cravings
Period always on time.
Cons:
Must be taken at the same time everyday
As a birth control it's great and I've had no issues whatsoever. As an acne treatment it keeps it under control but doesn't cure it or clear skin completely.
Pros:
Helps acne