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 5, 2007
Cons:
nausea, didn't help with acne
I was on it for nearly 2 years. I didn't experience any major side effects, but I did feel really sick (like morning sickness) during the first row each month. It didn't help clear my acne at all, but it didn't make it worse either. It was only in conjunction with accutane that my face became really good (like PERFECT). But six months after stopping accutane, my horrible skin came back. And I was still on Ortho tricyclen, which made no difference for my skin. I would recommend it for birth control, but not for acne.
June 11, 2007
Pros:
clears skin, take the edge of cramps, short period
Cons:
developed cystic acne after stopping, mild weigh gain
I've had nearly perfect, porcelain skin for as long as I can remember. I started taking OTC when I was 19 years old which only made things better - less cramping, not one pimple. stopped taking it when I was 24 and began to break out into 2 or 3 horrible deep cysts on my chin and/or left cheek and they took months to clear. Wound up with some scarring and some clogged pores that took years to purge themselves. I went back on it after 6 months and finally the cysts stopped coming about 4 or 5 months later. Now I'm 27 and I stopped taking the pill again for only 12 days and I have another cyst. Hopefully I can go right back on it and this will be the only one I get... but even one is a painful, embarrassing nightmare to deal with. Take the pill, but pay attention to your skin if you stop... you might need to take it forever!!!
February 26, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
No acne (but didn't have acne before I started)
Cons:
Loss of sex drive, weight gain, lots of acne after I stopped taking them!
As long as I was on it I didn't have many negative things to say about Yasmin. HOWEVER, now that I have stopped taking them I suddenly have a lot of acne (on the face, and even shoulders and back)! I have never had acne before in my life! I'm 28 now and was on the pill for 9 yrs. Many people have to wait 2 yrs before the acne goes away after having stopped taking Yasmin (I just pray that I'm not one of them. 3 months for me now, and I have never had worse acne in my life).
I want to warn everyone that although Yasmin might give you better skin while on them, you will have to stop someday - and when you do, the acne will probably be worse than ever! Nobody informed me about this when I had Yasmin prescribed.
February 21, 2007
Pros:
Clears skin up almost perfectly, added benefit of birth control if you need it =)
Cons:
Tri-phasic pills like OTC MUST be taken at the same time everyday in order to work for acne, because for perfect skin hormones have to be perfect, and taking the pill sporatically at different times during the day can really mess with your hormones..
So i noticed with OTC, which i have been on for a couple months, that if I miss pills or don't take them at the same time every day, i break out like mad all over my chin and mouth. But, if i take them very diligently, my skin clears up and is perfect...just a tip. For some reason my skin is really sensitive to my birth control. I dont know though maybe this is just for some types of acne like the "hormonal" acne around the chin and mouth...but for other types of acne i would just eat lots of apples drink water tea and take flaxseed oil and your should be fine!!=)
February 19, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
knowing that I won't get pregnant. No mood swings, but have always been a pretty happy person.
Cons:
acne flair ups, bloating in the morning, tired the first week
Okay, I know I am only starting week three so I have to be patient. The bloating and tiredness I do not mind, but if the acne continues to worsen by the end of the second month I am stopping.
February 18, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Don't know. I'm quitting it after 2 days.
Cons:
Horrific mood swings! I started Yasmin because it's supposed to help with PMS. Well, the mood swings that I experienced (in what should have been my happiest time of the month) were much worse than my PMS has ever been.
I just wish there were a way to get it out of my system faster. My boyfriend says he's never seen me like this and has been quite worried. Suicide keeps going through my mind. I've been overeating. I kept waking up from sleep last night. And I've only taken it for two days.
January 21, 2007
Pros:
Helped clear skin up
Cons:
In between bleeding
Having to take it everyday
Seems to make cramps a lot worst
This is my 2nd time using this product the first time I didn't have much acne so don't remember if it really did anything. Now I have really bad acne and have noticed a difference in my skin.
January 18, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Honestly, my skin is a lot smoother. Also good bc method. A lot of large acne my first month (breakout) and then it diminished until month three. Still have some, but a lot better. No weight gain.
Cons:
Some spotting but only in the first month. I did notice I had to use the bathroom quite a lot but that is to be expected.
This is something long term. You can't expect it to clear up your acne in one month. I honestly think Yasmin is a fine product. Remember that most people who have sucessful Yasmin stories aren't likely to be looking up what is wrong or posting it online trying to find others with the same situ/ warning others. Thought I would give people courage to try bcp's. This for me was a last attempt before moving to accutane and it worked.
January 13, 2007
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
no babies!
Cons:
acne seems to be getting worse
I,m at end of 2nd month and spots are worse now than they have ever been. Doctor says these things take 3 months to work so will give it until then and if no improvement will try something else
January 6, 2007
Pros:
haven't been able to really tell
I've been on both OTC and pro-active for months and my acne didn't seem to improve any more than it had at the beginning. I have tried everything else before starting this combination..including accutane, and many other prescribed topical treatments. I am now trying a new cleansing line from germany..Chris Ferral. It's both helped and made my acne worse. I've decided to commit to it, even though my acne has gotten worse, because they said it takes a few weeks to work. Get worse to get better. But its really made me feel ugly, and I've lost alot of self-esteem, and a boyfriend over it. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be more than happy to try them. Thanks.
Pros:
no major side effects