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 24, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
YASMIN: $20 for me.
OCELLA: Hell. ACNE, BLOATING, INCREASED APPETITE. Need I type more?
The last 3 months my pharmacy gave me Ocella (without informing me! And of course I'm not the one who picks up my pills)... Well I loved Yasmin, and still do! OCELLA has made my face look like a battlefield!!! The week before my period I want to eat everything in site now, and the acne is awful due to the switch. I know they say it's the same thing but it isn't! I left a review before on Yasmin, now this is my review on its evil twin Ocella. I've become a bitch again due to being stressed out about my god awful nodulous craters on my face! I feel like I'm on Ortho Tricyclen again. Do not accept OCELLA if they try to give it to you. I haven't had acne like this since Seasonale.
October 13, 2008
Pros:
After a 2 months it cleared up moderate acne on face and back acne. Regulates period. No cramps during menstrual cycle and very regular bleeding. Doubles as birth control (Although I recommend using some other form of contraception as well)
Cons:
Depression. Tendency to become overly emotional. Slight weight gain.
I wouldn't recommend this to girls with only a mild acne problem. I have never been a very emotional person, but when I started using this I became severely depressed (No exaggeration), especially around the last few days of the pill right before my period. So if you already have an existing depression problem, I strongly suggest that you NOT take this. But if you can manage to get through a few speed bumps, it was worth it for me. I've had acne here and there since I was 14, I'm 18 now and this really helped clear it up, especially the back acne. But it's not for everyone. See your doctor and do your homework before you start taking it!
October 9, 2008
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
cleared up the acne on my back, regulated period
Cons:
Sore boobs all month long, made me break out in little red pimples on my face (not the kind i usually get), reeeeeeally emotional
I'm switching to a generic oral contraceptive because Yaz really wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. I used it for 3 months. However, everybody reacts differently, so I'd still recommend it.
October 2, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Clearer skin, bigger boobs, lost weight (now 100 lbs :D), happy all the time, always want sex, really cheap with my student health insurance
Cons:
none.
I am taking OCELLA, the generic form of Yasmin. I was never on yasmin before, ocella is my first ever contraceptive pill. (from what I've heard, most ppl who go from yasmin to ocella experience breakouts). I am still on my 1st pack, 1st placebo week. Already skin is a lot better. Will post again next month for update
September 30, 2008
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
improves acne
Cons:
side effects!
I have been taking yaz for 5 months along with Minocycline, which i have been taking for 7 months. I want to go off yaz because of some side effects but im afraid my acne will worsen. I do not know if the Minocycline alone will help my acne. Can anybody help me?
September 26, 2008
Pros:
i felt I actually lost weight, less appetite, nothing else changed
Cons:
few mood swings, few breakouts (but im hoping it's not from this), and taking it the same time everyday is mad annoying!
I like it, its not bad. I'm gonna use it for a few more months, i dont want BABIES!
August 16, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
bigger boobs
skin cleared up (it got worse for about a month or two and then cleared up almost completely)
Cons:
heavier periods,bad cramps and muscle aches,
cellulite formed on my butt/thighs even though im not overweight ??
It's alright, does the job but worsened my period symptoms. It took a while but cleared up my skin nicely. I'm a teenager though so I'm thinking of switching to something lighter like allesse...
August 13, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
No weight gain; regular, light periods
Cons:
Acne much worse
Spotting with 1 missed day
I took Yasmin to treat my acne and it made it so much worse. I was very discouraged. Definitely not for everyone in terms of acne treatment. Otherwise, minimal side effects as far as OCPs go.
August 6, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Lighter, virtually cramp-free periods. No other odd side effects noted. Fairly decent at controlling hormone-related acne. Reduced excess facial hair.
Cons:
Missing a pill will guarantee spotting. Frequent vaginal infections. Some hormone-related breakouts, which are related to taking the pill correctly.
I have been taking this particular brand of BCP since going off Accutane in March of '06, along with Tazorac cream (.1%). For the most part, I found it to be an agreeable pill, with virtually no side-effects. However, I do seem to be more prone to vaginal infections--which is annoying. Also, the effectiveness of this BCP in controlling hormonal acne is tied to how regularly you take the pill. This last mont, after my period, I forgot to take my pills for a few days and tried to double up to get myself back to where I should be at this point hormonally for my cycle. Because of that, I wound up with a bit of a flare that I haven't seen since pre-Accutane. Honestly, I only had one seriously inflammed pimple with a smattering of smaller, barely noticeable ones. But it upset me, because the very inflammed one occurred in one of my old trouble spots that I had issues with before going on Accutane. A good pill for me, but you must be willing to take it at the same time every day.
July 1, 2008
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
minimal weight gain
Cons:
severe headaches, skin tags, loss of sex drive
I was never prone to headaches before taking this product. I took Seasonale before, but a friend said this was better for skin and weight regulation. My weight did not go up more than a couple of pounds. My breast size remains about the same. My skin has never been this rashy and broken out in my life. I am going off.
Pros:
YASMIN: No weight gain, clear skin, no increased appetite before period, no bag break outs before period. Never got bloated!
OCELLA: Cheap