Other signs that you're dealing with hormonal acne rather than good old-fashioned inflammatory acne include breakouts that follow a cyclical pattern with your menstrual cycle and acne that pops up mainly along your jawline or chin. While it can take as little as a month to notice an improvement, says Twogood, "in most studies, it took three to six months to show a reduction of acne due to birth control use.
Side effects of taking birth control pills for acne are the same as those of someone who takes the pill for contraception or any other indication. The most common short-term side effects of birth control are nausea, breast tenderness, and bloating. You may also experience longer-term mood changes and changes in libido. You should speak with your doctor about whether you're a good candidate for this medication given your medical history and to get more information about other possible side effects.
Harper , MD. If your acne is getting especially bad and isn't responding to other treatments, consider speaking with a specialist or your primary care physician.
Your doctor can help identify the underlying cause of your breakouts and suggest a treatment plan. While there is no harm in asking your doctor about taking birth control for your acne, particularly if you believe your breakouts are hormone-related, be prepared to follow a suggested treatment plan, even if it doesn't include the pill. While birth control can be incredibly effective against certain types of acne, it's important to note that it's not intended to be the first line of defense.
Usually, dermatologists will first recommend a topical retinoid. Levin agrees: "In addition to clearing existing acne, Differin Gel will also help to prevent future breakouts from forming by increasing skin cell turnover to minimize clogging of pores. And while being on birth control can help manage hormonal acne, you still need a solid skincare routine and diet.
Foods that are high in sugar or contain dairy are known to cause acne. To establish a diet conducive to fighting acne , look for foods with anti-inflammatory properties, such as those packed with essential fatty acids and antioxidants, to help get acne under control. As for your skincare routine, Friedman says it should take on a "less-is-more approach" as opposed to loading up on anti-acne products. The inflammation that causes the visible pimple disrupts the skin barrier, impacting its ability to keep water in and harmful things out.
Overwashing or using harsh cleansers can further disrupt the skin barrier, which can, in turn, create more inflammation and even more acne. While birth control can be an effective treatment for certain types of acne, it's not appropriate for all acneic skin types nor is it typically the first recommendation for treating acne. If you're struggling with acne, talk to your doctor about various treatment options, and ask if birth control could be your route to clear skin.
Hormonal contraceptives and acne: A retrospective analysis of Patients. J Drugs Dermatol. A review of hormone-based therapies to treat adult acne vulgaris in women. Int J Womens Dermatol. Cleveland Clinic. Birth control: The pill. Updated July 21, You may experience some side effects when using Yaz include nausea, headaches, mood swings, and breast tenderness.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen works similarly to Yaz. It blocks the production of the hormone androgen, which causes oil glands in our skin to go into overdrive and cause acne. Health care providers often prescribe Ortho Tri-Cyclen and a topical acne treatment like tretinoin for the best results.
The active ingredients in Ortho Tri-Cyclen are a progestin called norgestimate and an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol. Researchers divided the participants into two groups. The first was given Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and the second a placebo pill. Scientists discovered that about women on the pill showed significant improvement in their acne. You might experience some side effects when using Ortho Tri-Cyclen, including weight gain, nausea, headaches, mood swings, and changes in your menstrual cycle.
People who smoke shouldn't use this as they are at risk of experiencing severe side effects like developing a blood clot or a stroke. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is prescribed for women and teenagers who are as young as 12 years old though it varies by state and have no history of reacting adversely to birth control pills. The manufacturers have discontinued ortho Tri-Cyclen, but generic brands with the same active ingredients include Trinessa, Tri-Estarylla, and Tri-Sprintec.
Estrostep is one of the four birth control pill brands approved for acne. Estrostep is made up of a combination of a progestin called norethindrone and an estrogen called estradiol. It works by reducing your body's androgen levels, and in turn, reducing the production of oil in your skin.
Estrostep has similar side effects to other birth control pills. They are mostly mild and include breast tenderness, mood swings, vomiting, and nausea. In very rare cases, some people might experience high blood pressure, strokes, and blood clots on Estrostep.
If you notice any signs of these side effects, stop the pill immediately and see your doctor. Women above the age of 35 who smoke are also discouraged from taking Estrostep, as they are more likely to experience severe side effects. Beyaz is made up of a progestin called drospirenone and an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol. These are the same active ingredients in Yaz. What differentiates Beyaz from Yaz is that it contains levomefolate calcium, which is a folate.
A folate is a form of vitamin B that helps the body make healthy new red blood cells. Folates also help to prevent congenital disabilities in pregnant women. Your insurance is most likely to cover a generic brand of birth control pill over brand name drugs. However, there are no generic brand alternatives to Beyaz, which means most insurance providers don't cover it.
Beyaz has similar side effects as Yaz. Some include headaches, nausea, spotting, and weight gain. It's rare for healthy women to experience severe side effects like tumors, blood clots, and high blood pressure on Beyaz.
When deciding what type of birth control to use for treating acne, it's important to speak to your doctor. What is useful for one woman might be ineffective for another woman. Women usually produce low levels of androgen, a group of hormones that help regulate libido, energy, and muscle formation in women.
An example of an androgen you might know is testosterone. Changes in hormonal levels might trigger an overproduction of androgen in your body, which triggers excess sebum production in your skin. Sebum is natural oil produced by your skin that keeps it healthy. People who have oily skin produce sebum in excess. Excess production of sebum can cause acne to form.
Breakouts happen when hair follicles on your face get clogged with extra oil and dead skin cells. Combined birth control pills help treat acne by lowering your androgen levels, reducing your oil production.
They also increase the production of a protein called sex hormone-binding globulin SHBG. 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. The U. Most combined birth control pills are equally effective in helping acne breakouts. A review by Cochrane Reviews 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 there was slight evidence 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. In a summary of this study, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care concluded that any claims that one pill can lead to better skin than another should be taken with caution.
A review confirmed that all of the different hormones in combination birth control pills are effective in reducing inflammation of acne. Serious side effects of birth control include deep vein thrombosis DVT , heart attack , and stroke. People who smoke , are older than 35, and have risk factors for cardiovascular disease are at a higher risk of these severe side effects. Treatment for acne depends on its severity and your reaction to different methods. The first line of treatment includes over-the-counter OTC options, such as cleansers, lotions, and other topical treatments.
Prescription-based options include both topical and pill-based medications in the form of antibiotics , retinoids, and others. A combination birth control pill may be a good option. According to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , birth control can be a first-line alternative to antibiotics in the long-term treatment of acne in women. If you take combination birth control pills to improve acne, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to 2 to 3 months before you notice a visible improvement.
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