Oral Contraceptives
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Oral contraceptives, otherwise known as birth control pills, are also approved to treat acne. They work by regulating male hormones in the female...

Oral contraceptives, otherwise known as birth control pills, are also approved to treat acne. They work by regulating male hormones in the female body. Less male hormones normally lead to less acne. 

Oral contraceptives contain an estrogen component (ethinyl estradiol) that is combined with progestin hormones, such as drospirenone (Yasmin® or Yaz®), norgestimate (Ortho Tri-Cyclen®) or norethindrone (Estrostep®). 

Oral contraceptives are taken once a day with a meal. Make sure to take the pill at the same time every day.

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4
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3
21.1%
2
14%
1
9.5%

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September 1, 2007

Pros:

Less painful cramps, less flow, know when my period will start, protects against pregnancy, larger breasts!

Cons:

slight nausea in the beginning, slight weight gain. I don't know if has been helping or hindering my acne but this past month my acne has got significantly worse, large cyst like pimples on my cheeks that I have never had before. Definitely a con!

I am going to continue using this as it is effective and affordable birth control, and I like the regularity of my periods. As for the slight weight gain that may be my own fault, as I have been traveling a lot and trying new foods. As for the acne, well, I am going to try some alternative methods (Proactiv, apple cider vinegar) to clear it up and hopefully it is not the birth control's fault. We shall see!!!
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July 26, 2007

Pros:

Makes your periods shorter, less cramping, regulated periods, and got rid of 50% of my acne

Cons:

Brand name is expensive, but a lot of companies offer a generic brand alternative. Health risks are involved with all pills, etc. Some weight gain.

Caused minor weight gain for me though it did miracles for making my periods lighter and shorter and killed most of my awful cramps. It also cleared up 90% of my back acne and about 50% of my face acne (got rid of the bumps on my forehead, cheeks, etc) and prevented approximately half of my cystic acne breakouts. I'd recommend it definitely! I never experienced breakthrough bleeding, though I tried Ortho Tri-Cyclin Lo once and it did cause bleeding around week 2.
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July 26, 2007

Pros:

Regulated Period

Cons:

Some "morning sickness", Not being on them anymore.

I used this product around 2 full years so I could get my periods regulated. I never remember breaking out, and my periods were better then ever(NO SPOT BLEEDING). My skin was clear while on the pills, because the pills help decrease the hormone that causes acne around your period, and that's ususally what I got. Ever since I was taken off of them about 2 years ago, my skin has broken out horribly, and I'm considering going back on them.
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July 15, 2007

Pros:

it works for birth control

Cons:

it has made me break out the worse ever. this is my second month on the pill but i am dicontinuing it. i realized after reading the reviews that the pill gave me the these big cysts, tiny pimples on forehead, cheeks, and chin.

use it if you don't care about getting flare ups. i didn't kno birth control could take control of acne the way it has for me in a bad way. i am giving all that up. i have recently ordered clearpores due to the breakouts. didn't know what was causing my flareups but after reading and thinking about when i started falring up i am stopping the bcps.
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July 10, 2007
i took otc-lo for 5 months and it made me break out really bad! before that i would get the occasional pimple and needed protection so i figured otc-lo would help with both. it made me feel super sick the first week and i would get thesr horrible depression swings. wORST part of it all is that itmade me break out (cyst like nodules) and its been over 4 months (since i got off the pill) and i havent stopped breaking out. i dunno what to do...
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June 21, 2007

Pros:

No nausea, pregnancy, etc.

Cons:

Weight gain (about 5lbs after 3 months), acne doesn't noticeably appear any better either.

I've only been on it about three months and I started solely to clear up my acne. I take it every morning and so far don't feel as if my skin is any better. I'm taking DifferinGel (sp?) in conjunction with the OTC-lo...not sure if I should continue using it or try another pill?
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May 5, 2007

Pros:

cheap, no cramping. Haven't gotten pregnant

Cons:

Have been experiencing breakouts on nose, chin, and forehead...been to dermatologist, tried every acne product known to man...can only connect the breakouts to tri-Nessa.

I am getting off this pill, my skin hasn't been this bad since junior high.
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March 7, 2007

Pros:

Love the fact that I know when my period will be. I tolerate the pill well and have been on it now for 2 years+.

Cons:

I gained weight, although I also gained bigger boobs...which is ok with me! I don't notice a big change in it helping with my acne.

Great birth control pill, easily tolerated with mild to no side effects. Possible to gain weight and doesn't seem to control acne the way promised.
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January 25, 2007

Pros:

after a week, nausea stopped

Cons:

acne breakouts where i usually do not break out, a little bit of weight gain

i started ortho tri-cyclen to get rid of my acne, but after two weeks of using otc i have been getting pimples everyday! im not sure if it gets worse before it gets better, but my acne doesn't seem to be diminishing!
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October 31, 2006

Pros:

i used to take alese it did nothing for acne but make me gain wieght and im thinking avbout taking tri cyclin not to sure if it works

Cons:

i dont knwo yet

seriously i have bad acne i hate it so much. i am depressed and i hate myself and i never want to leave my house and see my friends or my b.f cauz i am afraid he'll think i am ugly. i am going crayz i have tried everyhting i dont know what to do anymore. DOES ANYTHING WORK. i jsut want to live a normal life without ahving to worry about how gross my skin looks without makeup. i tried oral antibotic and they made it worse and dried my skin out so bad. Does tri cyclin work does anyone know anyhting taht works HELP ME plz im losing it.
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