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 30, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
depression, weight gain, acne cysts
The worst medication I have ever taken. Made me gain weight, break out and completely lose my confidence. Now I have to result to accutane.
July 11, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
no weight gain, no depression, regular periods, not that hard to take a little pill
Cons:
~been on it for almost 7 months and haven't noticed an improvement in acne that i could attribute to the pill
~it takes a while for the effects to kick in (3-6 months they say) so i will wait...it hasn't made acne worse though
My acne spots seem to heal more slowly...leaving hyperpigmentation marks even for the tiniest pimple. i never had this problem before...i don't know if this is due to this pill or something else I lost much weight..i think the pill has contributed to a more sensitive/ irritable stomach I would recommend this pill for people wanting a bc method and some help with acne. I think after 6-12 months you will see a difference...give it time and don't believe the bad reviews you see here Bottom line is: every pill/ regimen whatever will react differently on different people. This pill might work wonders for you, but it should be accompanied by a healthier lifestyle choice too (regular exercise, drinking lots of water and green tea, staying away from sugar/processed foods, having a simple cleaning regimine)
July 6, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
clears body acne, especially back; regulates cycle; makes flows less heavy; reduces pre-cycle breakouts (i.e. cystic acne)
Cons:
weight gain (small amount); cramps seem to be a bit worse
totally worth it. inexpensive, multitasking, minimal side effects. No nausea, which is awesome, especially for the pill. i saw results after about one month (one pack).
June 9, 2009
Pros:
Didnt get pregnant
Cons:
HUGE decrease in sex drive, irritability, mood swings, depression, break through bleeding
I stopped taking Ortho lo 2 weeks ago and i already notice a huge change. I feel like i am back to my normal self. While on the pill i actually thought that i might be bi polar.
April 29, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
No babies, Cleared Acne, Helped with Mood Swings. Period lasts 4 day!
Cons:
Vaginal Infections before every period
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE BIRTHCONTROL >>YAZ<< NOT YASMIN. I do love YAZ. It took my body about 3 months to get used to, which is normal for anyone starting birth control. I did have headaches the first few months I was on it but now they are few and only happen around my period. But unfortunately for me it gives me yeast infections but ppl aren't the same so it may not happen to you. YAZ has helped my acne very well but I also helped that out by using an exfoliate on my face everyday in the shower. I went to the doctor today and got her to switch my birth control and she recommended Ortho Tri Cyclen because that was what she was taking. So I will be switching from YAZ to Ortho Tri Cyclen only because on YAZ I had yeast infections. Overall I would recommend YAZ for acne and PMDD or severe mood swings and regulating periods. Remember not everyone is the same!! So keep trying til you find the righ
March 17, 2009
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Definitely cleared up my skin and my face was much less oily. Confidence boost. (LOW estrogen is a plus as well)
Cons:
SIDE EFFECTS!! -- Breasts got larger (not such a bad thing), Nausea, bloating, and moodiness
After about 3 months on Yaz, i saw a noticeable improvement in my skin. My face was less oily, pimples were reduced, and i didnt break out all over as often. I was willing to try anything at 21 -- but it was not magic. I felt sick to my stomach every day -- i tried toughing it out but it never went away. I felt moody and I would be highly sensitive (I especially realize this in retrospect since i have stopped the medication). I would still recommend it because everyone will have different side effects, and you may experience less nausea -- it doesnt really hurt to try. For me, the side effects were difficult to live with on a day-to-day basis, even though my acne improved tremendously and my self esteem went up. About a month after getting off the pill, my original "T zone" and extreme oiliness came back and eventually (~2 months later) so did my pimples.
March 16, 2009
Pros:
Regulated my period, prevented pregnancy
Cons:
Made my acne a lot worse, mood swings
Ortho tri cyclen and Plan B are definitely the worse thing i've ever done to my skin. I had beautiful clear skin before but started breaking out after taking Plan B (like a week after Plan B which is why i didn't realize it was due to plan B until a long time afterwards). I then went on Ortho tri cyclen since i needed birth control and also because i was hoping it would clear the acne i got from Plan B. Right after the 1st week, it broke me out almost daily. I had like 1 or 2 new pimples a day compared to before where i would have none and my skin was very clear. I was very patient, thinking it was the initial breakout phase so i stayed on it for 4 months. After four months, i gave up on it and my skin immediately stopped breakign out as much. I still break out a lot (compared to before OTC) but no where as often when i was on the pill. I'm pretty pissed b/c i went from having beautiful clear skin to now having breakouts still in addition to old acne scars and rough skin.
March 16, 2009
Pros:
Awesome for acne,no prego,decrease in appetite!
Cons:
nausea
It stopped acne dead in its tracks...it really works!
March 15, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
prevents pregnancy, periods are regular, now has a generic which is cheaper
Cons:
bad cramps, mood swings, headache, backache
No side effects other than the normal PMS stuff and is very affordable
March 6, 2009
Pros:
Been on it for 11 years with no side effects.
Cons:
Longer you are on it, the more problems you start to have (spotting, etc)
It worked - no pregnancy!
Pros:
none