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
September 19, 2007
Cons:
It took four months to clear my acne. In the beginning my acne was MUCH MUCH worse like I've never seen before!!! But I stuck with it and I have seen wonderful results!!!
In the beginning it took my body a while to get use to the Ortho Tri-cyclen. It made me feel sick and very moody. My acne became really bad in the first few months and I almost stopped taking it but my doctor talked me out of it. I'm so thankful for that because by the end of the forth pack I really started to notice a difference. I have NEVER had this clear of skin!!!! I would highly recommend taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen. But remember it takes several months to even notice a change!!!
August 31, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
No mood swings, sex drive intact, no sore boobs
Cons:
Acne
I've just finished the second week on Yasmin and I have 2 huge spots on my chin. Perhaps they would have formed even if I hadn't started taking Yasmin - how long does it take for skin problems to settle down once you start taking Yasmin???
Last pill I tried was Diane and that had terrible side effects - headaches, really sore boobs... and Yasmin is streets ahead - I feel great!
August 28, 2007
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
no side effects but cant really tell if its helping or not.
Cons:
none
Started taking this about three months ago to help control my acne. I don't think this was enough to help because I started taking Spironolactone three weeks ago and my face is doing MUCH better. Could just take more time though. Also,I just got some hormonal blood test done and they said my estrogen was low so I need I higher dose birth control anyway.
May 16, 2007
I never had acne until my freshman year of college. It was horrible...large cysts, painful, couldn't really cover them with make-up without it looking cakey. I've been on birth control for about 6 years, so I thought it was the new environment, stress from classes, etc. Anyways, I used to take Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo and it cleared up the acne somewhat but I still got break outs, especially one week before my period. I recently switched to regular OTC because I read it's been clinically proven to clear up mild to moderate acne. I've only been taking it for about 7 days, and I've noticed more, smaller breakouts on my cheeks and hairline. I would usually just break out on my chin. I also have broken out on my back and chest...which never happened before! I read this site and am now verrrrrry scared. Should I stop taking this pill??? Please give me some advice!
March 23, 2007
Pros:
Helped with acne, shorter periods, I know when my period will start, less cramps
Cons:
weight gain, a couple times Ive fealt quease afterward, mood swings
When I first got on the pill 4 years ago my periods were irregular, skipping months have two in a few weeks time, lasting anywhere from 3-14 days! My cramps would have me doubled over in pain crying, I couldnt take it so I got on the pill. Within the first month things were much better, and since I've been on it my period starts on the exact same day and lasts 6 days, my cramps are minimal and usually goes away with asprin.
December 15, 2006
Just Last week I started on Ortho Lo to help clear up my Acne. After the first month when i get adjusted to the pill I'll switch to Regular Ortho. Is that a good Idea? Is Ortho Lo and Ortho Regular basically the same thing just a bit less hormones?? I'm so confused and don't know if I'm doing the right thing! advice please!
December 10, 2016
The most low-risk option
After seeing my dermatologist in Nashville, she continuously recommended Ortho-Tricyclen over other options because it's really the most low-risk option. This is useful to learn more: [link edited out]
April 16, 2016
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Ok-ish, but once you get off...
I took Yaz for 6 months(from april 2015 to august 2015) after my gynecologist recommended it as a treatment for my PCOS. Initially, she told me to only take it for 4 months, but my left ovary still had 5-6 cysts and took it for another 2 months. Yaz did a great job for my ovaries in these 6 months, I got rid of all those cysts(and still cysts-free now), but for my hormonal acne, it was terrible the first 2-3 months. I literally didn't get out of the house for days, I developed big, painful pimples all over my face, like never before; my appetite was over the roof(I gained 2kg in 6 months, mostly water retention I think, because I was constantly fighting my emotional binge-eating feeling lol). After these horrible 2 months, my face slooowly started to be somehow "normal" again, and in my last 2 months I only had a few blackheads on my nose. Once I got off, my acne slowly came back and by november-december, my face was full of little monsters again(no cystic, painful pimples though, but a lot of whiteheads and blackheads).
I think Yaz works as long as you stay on it, but you can't really take it forever :)
Now I'm on metformin and spironolactone for almost 2 weeks as a treatment for PCOS and insulin resistance. Hope this one works, as now I am treating the cause of all my problems(bloody hormones!!!), not the effect.
February 1, 2016
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
My YAZ Experience
I went on YAZ when I was a sophomore in high school in the hopes of it clearing my mild to moderate acne that I had had since 6th grade. It took a couple months to actually help my skin. It never made it worse, but it took a while (probably a year or so) to completely clear my skin. I was so excited I finally had clear skin! I had no problems with it until fall 2015 (my sophomore year of college). I started having migraines that were unbearable, so my doctor wanted to switch me to Aviane because it has a lower estrogen dose. I did a lot of research and read horror stories about people's skin on Aviane so I decided not to take it. Ultimately, I quit brith control all together hoping that I had grown out of my acne and boy was I wrong. I stopped taking YAZ in the middle of October and my skin was okay for a few months. I was taking vitamins and eating clean hoping it would help. Now it's January and my skin is the worse it has ever been. Horrible acne all over my cheeks, forehead, and chin/jaw area. It is so bad that I've decided to go back on birth control. I'm afraid to go back on YAZ because of the migraines and moodiness, so my doctor is having me try Sprintec (generic for Ortho Cylen) to see if it will clear my skin without the horrible migraines. I'm on my third week and my skin only seems to be getting worse, but I'm still hopeful! Overall, I would not recommend YAZ unless it is your absolute last resort for acne. And beware of going off the pill. I know everyone reacts differently to the hormones but for me personally going off YAZ has wrecked my skin. I'm giving it 3 stars because it really does help clear acne, but with that you'll have to be on the pill for the rest of your life if you want to keep your clear skin.
September 23, 2015
Product used: Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo (Oral Contraceptive)
1st time on birthcontrol
I started getting lots of acne and have acne scars at the age of 26. I believe it was because I had an IUD. After taking out the IUD and being left with tons of acne and scars that would not go away I finally started ortho tri cyclen. I tried everything under the sun, so why not the birth control. After the very first month my skin cleared up so much. It's been two years and I still get acne around my cycle and have started getting a few zits here and there. I say don't wait to long and give it a shot if you've tried everything else. I may have gained 2-3lbs here and there but not a major deal, nor can I blame it on the birth control.
Pros:
Cleared acne.