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
January 11, 2008
Cons:
went crazy with emtions. did not help my acne
i would not reccommend this pill.
January 4, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Not pregnant, less acne
Cons:
Horrible stomach problems, low sex drive
I took Yasmin for two years and went off it after realizing that it was one of the factors in developing stomach problems. It's true what they say, take it the same time everyday. The last 6 months I was on it, I didn't have a routine schedule and taking it at different times and missing a day here or there, made regular sickness worse and I ended up going to emergency care a few times. My stomach problems have diminished since I went off it, but my acne has come back with a fiery rage! My acne was manageable when I was on it, I went to Lush and bought their fresh pharmacy facial cleanser, just used that everyday in the shower and my face was pristine! Now that I'm off Yasmin, I'm trying to figure out what to do, my facial regimen wasn't perfect before. Maybe the chemical that was in Yasmin that reduces acne is available in a pill? Also, my sex drive has increased ten fold which is ironic going OFF birth control!!!
December 29, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
my face is finally Acne free !!
Cons:
ive turned psycho. I cried the other day in the shower because i ran out of shampoo, then i cried 3 days later when i got stuck at a red light. One day i love my boyfriend, the next i want to break up with him. ive started anti-depressants !
Im so torn on what to do. My face looks great but i cant handle depression and mood swings. I too was normally and happy person who frequented the gym and now im lucky if im out of bed to go to classes.
December 21, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared my acne up, periods are regular, didn't gain any weight, made skin less oily
Cons:
NONE
This is the only thing that has EVER worked for me. I have spent thousands of dollars on skin care products, different meds but nothing has worked for me until I got Yasmin.
November 26, 2007
Pros:
Cleared my cystic acne, prevented pregnancy, no weight gain or loss, shorter periods, decreased cramping
Cons:
Expensive if you do not have medical coverage, after extensive use, (pros mentioned above) reoccured negatively, everyone reacts differently to any pill, very slight nausea when pills were missed
I had started using ortho tri-cyclen at the age of 16 to control moderate acne and reduce cramping. Within the first 2 months, my acne was completely clear, my period was regulated and my cramping was dramatically reduced. I experienced no mood changes, headaches or waight gain, or any negative side effects to be honest. After approx. 3 years of continued use I began to experience emotional changes. I felt like my emotions did not match my physical state. Shortly after, I began to experience the re-occurance of cystic acne(moderate), as well as cramps. I decided to go off BCP completely and felt as if I were back to my "normal" self. However, I have now switched my BCP to Alesse, I have not been on it long enough to comment but I'm assuming that since it contains quite a lower amount of hormones, I should continue to feel the same after regular use. Try ortho tri-cyclen if you have moderate acne, no promises... Every BODY is different.
November 8, 2007
Pros:
still haven't gotten pregnant! helped clear my skin.
Cons:
makes me feel sick to my stomach if i don't take it at the exact same time, doesn't regulate my period as well as it should.
the pill does it job as far as preventing pregnancy, however, my period isn't as regulated as it should be-and i've been on it for 1 year now! it does help clear up my skin, and my cramps aren't as bad. it hasn't made me gain weight either, which is definately a plus!!
October 24, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
lost 5lbs, never bloated!!!, not pregnant, get to skip periods, helps control oil and barely any outbreaks.
Cons:
taking a pill every day sucks
I love it! I'm using it with Sulfameth an antibiotic to treat acne and Nicomide (a vitamin used to treat acne) and a combination of all three medications is working wonderfully!
October 21, 2007
Pros:
Predictable periods... works
Cons:
none
I noticed no weight gain. Skin cleared up. Shorter lighter periods. Love it!
October 20, 2007
Pros:
Clears acne with little to no side-effects.
Cons:
Is a little pricey, co-pay is $25. Thankfully we can afford to refill every month! Oh, and it did make me a little more emotional.
When I first started out, I broke out a little but nothing out of the ordinary. I actually went into this thinking it wouldn't work because nothing else had before. I started out with almost severe acne, went down to moderate and tried ortho. I'm so thankful my derm. suggested birth control because 6 months later I completely stopped breaking out. I can now say, 10 months after I first started, I no longer worry about waking up to new pimples! So if you're thinking about taking Ortho, or already are on it and are reading reviews for some hope, PLEASE wait it out at least until the 6 month mark. Oh and beware of Ortho LO, for some people it helps with acne, but for most it makes it worse. Best of luck :-)
October 8, 2007
Pros:
- Cystic Acne is under control!!!
- I know when I'm going to have my period
Cons:
- During every fourth week (when I'm not on the pill and I get my period) my cystic acne comes back again.
- Brand name birth control pills are more expensive than the generic
I think this pill has worked wonders for me. I saw no effects with Minocyclin and I'm not allowed to go on Accutane because of my depression. I've had acne since the 5th grade. Although Retin-A cleared up my skin during the 12 grade, my acne returned once I started college, despite continued usage of Retin-A, and it became even more severe. Right now, I take Ortho Tri-cyclen and use topicals such as benzoyl peroxide and retin-a every day.
Pros:
not pregnant. regular period. lost alittle weight