Birth Control Pill For Acne

Pimples. Blemishes. Spots. Whatever term you use to describe those painful, persistent bumps on your face or body, one fact remains: Acne is a common problem for many people—up to 50 million Americans —way beyond their teenage years. According to a study published in the

, adult acne affects a wide range of age groups: 50.9% of women in their 20s, 35.2% of women in their 30s, 26.3% of women in their 40s, and 15.3% of women 50 years of age and older. 

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Acne is a skin condition that occurs when a hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin cells or sebum (oil), leading to whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. For adult women, fluctuating hormone levels (specifically increased levels of androgens, such as testosterone) are often to blame for these breakouts, which are also known as hormonal acne. Women typically experience acne-causing hormonal shifts during puberty, menstruation, menopause, and due to conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). 

How Do Birth Control Pills Help With Your Acne? This Is What Experts Say

Yaz or its generics, including Jasmiel and Loryna (estradiol/drospirenone), is particularly effective among acne patients, says Morgana Colombo, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Skintap , a virtual dermatology practice. That’s because the anti-androgenic properties of its progesterone element are beneficial in controlling acne–adult female hormonal acne in particular, Dr. Colombo says. 

Other birth control pills can be helpful to treat acne too, says Cybele Fishman, MD , a dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology PC in New York, New York.. “There are four generations of progestins in combination birth control pills. The third- and fourth-generation pills are better for acne, ” she says. Good options are combination pills that include the third-generation progestins desogestrel and norgestimate, or the fourth-generation drospirenone. 

If you’re wondering if it’s okay to be on a hormonal IUD and still take a birth control pill to treat acne, it’s not a good idea, Dr. Fishman says. That’s because by combining the two contraceptives, you could be getting too much progesterone, leading to unpleasant side effects . What’s more, it could actually exacerbate your acne. If you are on a hormonal IUD, a better choice may be spironolactone for acne , Dr. Fishman advises. Your healthcare provider can help you choose the best birth control for acne.

Acne After Stopping Birth Control Treatment

According to Dr. Colombo, estrogen/progesterone birth control pills work best for adult females between the ages of 18-35 years old who have adult hormonal acne. It’s characterized by cystic outbreaks on the lower face, chin, jaw, neck and chest areas, and it tends to flare a couple days before the woman’s menstrual period, she says.

Birth control can also be beneficial in pre-menopausal women whose acne flares at certain times during the menstrual cycle, Dr. Fishman adds. “During ovulation, there is a testosterone spike. The week before your period, there is a progesterone spike. These tend to be the times that acne flares if it is correlated with one’s menstrual cycle, ” she explains. Hormonal birth control pills can help to regulate such hormonal fluctuations to keep acne at bay. 

There are a handful of common side effects associated with birth control pills. Headaches, nausea, menstrual irregularities (such as spotting in between periods), weight gain, and breast tenderness are the most common. Although rare, a more serious side effect is the risk of deep vein thrombosis—in which a blood clot forms in your vein, often in the thigh or lower leg. But the estrogen in birth control will not cause acne, Dr. Colombo says.

Birth Control Pills Can Help Reduce Acne

“Birth control pills containing estrogen/ progesterone stabilize hormonal fluctuations and indirectly decrease testosterone, ” Dr. Colombo says. “That leads to decreased stimulation of the oil glands and less inflammation, making the skin less oily.” 

The bottom line? Fewer acne flare-ups. To treat your hormonal acne, a dermatologist may recommend the use of oral contraceptives. But it’s important to note that only combination birth pills are effective. There are several hormonal contraceptives on the market:

The hormonal IUD, minipill, or Depo-Provera shot are not helpful to treat acne, says Dr. Colombo; in fact, they may actually trigger or worsen the condition. The birth control implant is neutral, Dr. Colombo adds. They don’t contain enough estrogen to be beneficial, but at the same time don’t contain unopposed progesterone to aggravate acne, she explains. And because the copper IUD doesn’t have any hormones, it won’t have any effect on acne. 

What You Need To Know About Using Birth Control For Painful Acne

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Combination birth control pills help with acne by preventing androgen levels from spiking, which, in turn, keep sebaceous glands from producing too much oil and clogging pores. The estrogen component here is key—progestin on its own won’t work, which is why minipills aren’t approved for the treatment of acne. 

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The best birth control pill for acne is a combination pill—one that contains both estrogen and progestin. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four brand birth control pills for the treatment of acne: Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Estrostep Fe, Beyaz, and Yaz. Generic formulations of these branded birth control pills would also be effective. 

Best Birth Control For Acne: Options, Where To Buy, And Alternatives

. According to their findings, drospirenone (the progestin found in Yaz) was the most helpful in preventing acne, while levonorgestrel and norethindrone (the progestins found in Levora and Lo Minastrin Fe, respectively) were the least helpful. 

In fact, one combination birth control pill that contains norethindrone acetate, Lo Loestrin (Lo Loestrin coupons | What is Lo Loestrin? ), can actually cause breakouts (acne is listed as one of its side effects), so it should probably not be taken if you are looking to clear up skin problems. Bottom line: Not all birth control pills treat acne or treat it with the same level of effectiveness. 

When it comes to birth control for acne and weight loss, Dr. Colombo says Yaz works best. The progesterone element in the pill, drospirenone, has anti-androgen and mildly diuretic properties, she explains. “It basically blocks testosterone, which helps acne and decreases water retention which leads to water weight loss.”

Best Birth Control Pills For Women With Hormonal Acne

Once you begin taking birth control pills, it could take several weeks to months to see a difference in your skin. Many studies show some improvement at three months with the greatest improvement evident at six months. This is because the pill needs some time to recalibrate the hormone levels in the body that contribute to acne. 

If birth control medications do not clear up your acne, your doctor may prescribe another kind of medicine to clear up your skin. Effective treatment options may include:

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Of course, these medicines all come with their own side effects, so you’ll want to speak to your doctor to find out if they’re right for you. While there are many different types of acne with various causes, hormonal acne frequently affects adult females. For some, taking birth control pills can help.

Finding The Best Uk Contraceptive Pill For Acne

Hormonal acne develops due to changes in the secretion of specific hormones, with a rise in androgens, such as testosterone, frequently responsible for this skin condition.

Females with hormonal acne may find that conventional acne treatments are ineffective. In these cases, correcting the hormonal imbalance may clear the breakouts. Birth control pills are among the drugs that can help do that, and doctors often prescribe them to treat hormonal acne.

In this article, we provide answers to some of the most common questions about taking the birth control pill for acne, including how birth control works to control acne, its effectiveness, and who can use it.

Birth Control For Acne: How It Works, Types, And Side Effects

In a word, yes. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have specifically approved some forms of the birth control pill for treating acne.

The birth control pill is most appropriate when traditional and over-the-counter options have proven unsuccessful in managing acne. These options include cleansers, creams, and spot treatments.

ACNE

The American Academy of Dermatology suggest that females with stubborn acne along the lower face, jawline, neck, chest, and back may be particularly good candidates for hormonal treatment, particularly if other treatments, such as topicals or antibiotics, have not been successful.

Does Hormonal Birth Control Cause Acne?: Holladay Dermatology & Aesthetics: Dermatology And Aesthetic Specialists

Acne occurs as a result of several factors relating to a hormonal imbalance, including the overproduction of a natural oil called sebum on the skin and the accumulation of dead skin cells in the hair follicle or pores.

In addition, some females have abnormally high levels of androgens, such as testosterone. High androgen levels can stimulate the production of sebum and increase the growth of skin cells in both the skin and hair follicles.

Many different kinds of birth control pill are available, but the most effective type for acne is the combination pill, which contains forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Do Contraceptive Pills Help With Acne?

The birth control pill works best when a person takes it at the same time every day and as the prescription specifies. Sometimes, the birth control pill is more effective alongside other medications.

Different birth control pills contain different forms and concentrations of hormones, so it can be difficult to know which type of pill will be most effective in treating acne.

Can

Large scale research from the Cochrane Collaboration offers some answers. This collaboration is an extensive network of thousands of doctors, researchers, and specialists who review the available research to answer specific

Answering 7 Common Questions About Using Birth Control Pills For Acne