Acne Birth Control Help Pill That

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Natalie Silver — Updated on May 9, 2023

Several combination birth control pills are FDA-approved for treating acne. In addition to treating existing acne, birth control pills may also help to reduce the severity of future breakouts.

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Acne is a source of skin irritation that can range from mild to severe. It’s often caused by an increase in androgens, which are male sex hormones.

The Effect Of Birth Control On Adult Acne

Androgens are also present in people assigned female at birth (AFAB). They become active in the teenage years for everyone and cause sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, or oil.

If you’re AFAB and you have acne, birth control may help treat it. The synthetic hormones found in some birth control pills can help decrease the secretion of oil from your glands. This can actually lessen breakouts.

Several birth control pills contain synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These types of pills are known as combination pills. The ratio of the hormones differs in each form of the combination pill.

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Birth control pills don’t protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), however. You should consider using a barrier method, such as a condom, to protect against STIs.

The hormones in combination birth control pills can help reduce acne. The pills decrease the circulation of androgens, which decreases the production of sebum.

The pills must contain both estrogen and progestin to be effective against acne. The minipill only contains progestin, so it doesn’t help improve acne.

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Many combination birth control pill brands are available. Each contains its own variation of hormones. Pills prescribed for acne should contain progestin with low androgenic possibility. This means the progestin has less androgenic side effects, such as oily skin and acne.

Yaz combines drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Each package contains 28 pills. Of these, 24 tablets have 3 mg drospirenone and 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol, and 4 tablets are nonhormonal.

Other combination pills that aren’t on this list may still help improve acne. Talk with your healthcare professional to fully explore which option is best for you.

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A 2012 review looked at 31 trials involving the use of birth control as an acne treatment. After looking at six new trials, the authors concluded that all combination birth control pills treated noninflammatory and inflammatory acne.

The study also suggested that combination birth control pills containing drospirenone were more effective than those that contained norgestimate or nomegestrol acetate plus 17 beta-estradiol.

Combination pills containing drospirenone were then found to be less effective than those containing cyproterone acetate. This distinction isn’t significant enough to favor one type of combined birth control over another, though.

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Also reports that oral antibiotics are the first choice to treat acne that’s resistant to topical treatments, and that adding on oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progesterone (combination pills) works even more efficiently.

Showed about 80% of women with adult acne failed multiple courses of antibiotic medications. In addition, about 30% of these participants had acne that returned after multiple treatments with isotretinoin.

Taking birth control for acne isn’t the right option for everyone. Before starting treatment, discuss the potential benefits and risks of birth control for acne.

Best Birth Control For Acne Treatment

Your dermatologist or healthcare professional will look for any risk factors that may rule you out as a candidate. It’s usually not recommended to take birth control for acne if you:

It’s best to see a dermatologist if you have persistent acne. This means it doesn’t go away after 4 to 6 weeks of drugstore acne treatments. It’s also a good idea to see a dermatologist for any moderate to severe acne.

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A dermatologist can help determine the cause of your acne and recommend the best treatments to try for your skin. Their recommendations could include prescription-strength creams, gels, cleansers, or oral medications like hormonal birth control.

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Birth control for acne needs to be prescribed by a medical professional, like a dermatologist, doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. It can be prescribed following an in-person doctor visit or through an online healthcare service.

There are several companies available that offer online birth control services, like Pill Club or Nurx. With these services, you’ll review options virtually with a medical professional, and the birth control pills are sent to your home.

People who smoke, are older than age 35, and have risk factors for cardiovascular disease are at a higher risk of these severe side effects.

Can Birth Control Pills Cause Acne

Treatment for acne depends on its severity and your reaction to different methods. The first line of treatment includes over-the-counter options, such as cleansers, lotions, and other topical treatments.

Birth control can help stop some types of acne by decreasing sebum production. This may get rid of acne while taking the pill. However, acne could return for some people after stopping the pill.

Most people start to see improvements in their acne about 2-3 months after starting oral birth control pills. Birth control doesn’t immediately change acne because it takes time for the hormones to balance and stop causing acne.

Can Birth Control Pills Help With My Acne?

If your acne doesn’t clear up with basic methods, you should talk with your doctor about what acne treatment might be best for you. A combination birth control pill may be a good option.

According to a 2014 study, birth control can be a first-line alternative to antibiotics in the long-term treatment of acne in women.

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If you take combination birth control pills to improve acne, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to 3 months before you notice a visible improvement. This is because the hormones need time to get into your system and recalibrate your levels.

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If you’re unable to find a suitable birth control pill that meets your needs, your doctor can help you find another treatment option.

Has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Acne is a common skin condition that usually affects adolescents. Pimples flare up on the facial skin due to underlying hormonal changes that are seen at this age. Excessive androgens in the blood cause increased sebum production in the skin, which leads to pimples.

The safety of the acne drug Diane-35, which has also been used as a contraceptive, has now been confirmed by a EU medicines watchdog, despite oppositions from France, which has suspended its use

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Mild acne subsides on its own or with over-the-counter medications like benzoyl peroxide or antibiotic creams. Severe acne may require treatment with oral medications.

One of the options for treating severe acne in women is the use of the oral contraceptive pill. The pill contains the hormones, estrogen and progesterone, which may counteract the effect of androgens on the skin. Studies indicate that the effect may not be dramatic; it may take days or weeks for the acne to disappear. In fact, the problem may initially appear to worsen.

It is not clear, however, if a particular type of birth control pill is more effective than others in controlling acne. Pills that contain only progesterone can worsen acne and should be avoided. The pills should also be used with local treatments for better effect.

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It should not be forgotten that birth control pills are not without side effects. They can be used only to treat girls and women who are menstruating, and are therefore unsuitable for younger girls. Though the currently available pills are comparatively much safer than the older ones, the patient is at an increased risk of conditions like deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the veins of the legs). Other potential risks of birth control pills include high blood pressure, liver disease, gall stones, migraine headaches, nausea, irregular bleeding, breast tenderness and depression.

Birth control pills may therefore not be advisable for people at risk for the above conditions. Women at a higher risk for certain cancers should also avoid taking these medications for acne.

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Thus, birth control pills are an option for the treatment of acne in menstruating women, who also desire its use for contraception.

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