Tldr Whats The Lowdown
- Your contraception can affect your skin sometimes in a good way, but sometimes negatively
- Combined hormonal contraception generally improves acne, while progestogen-only birth control sometimes lead to acne spots
- But its not always as simple as that. Take a look at our reviews to see how different contraceptives affect different womens skin
Its a cruel fact of life that some people dont leave acne behind in their teenage years. Some adults continue to get zits well into their 20s, 30s and even 40s. Acne may be a cosmetic issue but it is certainly not a trivial problem. It can even lead to feelings of depression and low self-esteem.
Annoyingly, women are more likely than men to be affected by acne in adulthood, suggesting hormones may play a key role. Its perhaps not surprising then that many women find that changing their contraception affects their skin. In this article, we look at the contraceptive methods such as the pill, patch or copper coil that can help or hinder your efforts to bust blemishes.
Whats The Best Combined Pill For Acne
The good news is that people who take the combined pill often see an improvement when it comes to acne. Some people are actually prescribed the combined pill to clear up their skin even if they dont need contraception. Studies show that women with acne who take the combined pill tend to see an improvement in their skin compared to individuals who arent on birth control. But different pills can have very different results.
And it can take a few months of use to see a noticeable improvement in your skin after you start taking the pill. Some people even find their skin gets worse after they start taking a new pill, but it often settles down after a few months.
Birth Controls Effect On Acne
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 doesnt improve acne.
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.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following pills for use in the treatment of acne:
- Beyaz, which combines drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol, and levomefolate calcium
- Estrostep Fe, which combines norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, and ferrous fumarate
- Ortho Tri-Cyclen, which combines norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol
- Yaz, which combines drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol
However, other combination pills that arent on this list may still help to improve acne.
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What Are The Best Forms Of Birth Control For Acne
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.
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 medical or clinical questions.
In 2012, they reviewed the research on birth control pills as a treatment for acne. The team looked at a total of 31 studies that included 12,579 people.
The authors concluded that combined oral contraceptives that contain chlormadinone acetate or cyproterone acetate seem to improve acne more significantly than those that contain levonorgestrel . In addition, they advised that birth control pills containing drospirenone may be more effective than those with norgestimate or nomegestrol acetate .
However, they noted that there is limited evidence to confirm these results and that further research is necessary.
The following brands contain these hormones:
- Androcur Depot contains CPA
- Yasmin and Yaz contain DRSP
- Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Previfem contain NGM
- Lutenyl, Naemis, and Zoely contain NOMAC/E2
The side effects should lessen or go away entirely after a few months of taking the pill. If they do not, and they are especially bothersome, it is important to speak with a doctor. The doctor may recommend switching to a different pill.
What Else Can I Do To Deal With Acne
Whether you are using the combined pill, antibiotics or a cream for your acne, it won’t disappear overnight. The treatments need time to work, so it’s important to persist and be patient. However, this might be easier said than done as acne can have a negative impact on your confidence and self-esteem. The best thing you can do is take care of your skin, use a mild cleanser and moisturiser twice a day and drink plenty of water. Over-washing tends to make your skin worse while nourishment from a healthy diet can help. Makeup can help you to cover up acne to boost your confidence. Make sure you look for non-comedogenic products so that you don’t welcome an additional buildup of sebum and bacteria.
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What Your Healthcare Provider Might Say
Birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin can be prescribed to treat acne and hirsutism , and sometimes hair loss.
Progestin-only methods such as the implant, hormonal IUD, or shot may worsen acne, hirsutism, or hair loss in some people.
To understand these effects requires a little anatomy and physiology lesson.
Does Nexplanon Help With Acne
Nexplanon is a type of hormonal birth control that looks like a small plastic rod and is inserted just below the skin. Nexplanon, in particular, is a progestin-only contraceptive. The progestin used is called etonogestrel and in some studies ~12-13% of those using Nexplanon have reported new or worsening acne.
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Why We Develop Acne After Stopping Birth Control
There are several factors that contribute to post-birth control syndrome acne. Many of which are a direct result of what birth control has done to our bodies while on it.
Alice explained that her skin seemed oily within the first couple months of stopping the pill. What followed were small zits on her chin and jawline the week before her period. When she presented in my office she was noticing acne that was deeper and more inflamed 10 days before her period.
It seems to be coming on sooner and sooner and Im afraid my face is going to look like this all the time, she shared during her first visit with me.
There were several reasons why Alices skin was rebelling and they are common after coming off of hormonal birth control.
Birth Control Can Help With Acne Here Are Your Best Options
- Well-Women Care
- Birth Control Can Help With Acne. Here Are Your Best Options
Where topical acne treatments may fail, birth control is another option that can help to effectively treat acne. For years, this has been an acne treatment that physicians have been prescribing to their patients particularly in treating hormonal acne.
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Can Other Forms Of Contraception Cause Acne
Studies into the effect of progesterone-only contraceptives on acne have not proved a direct link between the two. If you find that the mini pill makes your acne worse, you may also find contraceptives that contain the same hormones have a similar effect. These include the implant, injection and the IUS .
If you think a form of hormonal contraception youre using is causing acne, your doctor may be able to offer you an alternative type of contraception or acne treatment.
Which Preparations Of The Pill Are Better
A recent scientific review showed no differences in efficacy between different preparations with different progesterones. This means your doctor can prescribe the combined oral contraceptive pill with a lower chance of side effects and they may still work effectively to reduce acne. Pills that are effective have Ethinyl estradiol and a progestin. The progestogen can be one of – norethindrone, norgestimate, drospirenone, for example, all of which are FDA approved.
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When Is Birth Control Recommended For Acne Treatment
Birth control pills can be effective against all types of acne, including blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammatory acne. Your healthcare provider may recommend trying birth control for acne treatment when other options like topical acne creams and oral antibiotics have failed. Since birth control is relatively safe, it may be prescribed before other acne medications with harsher side effects like isotretinoin are recommended.
How Well Does Hormonal Therapy Work And Is It Safe
The pill: Many studies have looked at how well oral contraceptive pills fight acne. The pill has been found effective at treating blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and acne nodules and cysts.
In fact, the pill has proven so effective that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved some oral contraceptives for treating acne.
The pill is generally considered safe for women. Some women, however, should not take it. Your dermatologist can tell you whether the pill may be a safe and effective treatment option for you.
Spironolactone: Doctors prescribe this medication to treat high blood pressure. Its also prescribed for people who are retaining too much fluid.
Dermatologists have been prescribing it for many years to treat acne and excess hair growth in women. When other acne treatments dont work, it can effectively treat deep-seated, tender acne on the lower face, jawline, or neck.
Spironolactone is not prescribed to treat acne in men due to side effects. Men have developed breasts while taking this medication to treat acne.
Spironolactone is generally considered safe for healthy women.
Taking both spironolactone and the pill can increase effectiveness. This combination has another advantage. Its essential to use birth control while taking spironolactone. If you get pregnant while taking spironolactone, your baby can have serious birth defects.
A word of caution
If you can get pregnant, youll need to use birth control while taking spironolactone.
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Is It Preferable To Switch To Progestin
If you are already using birth control pills and they are working out fine for you, then you can skip the possibility of switching to the progestin-only medicines. However, if you are using these medications for the first time, then you can begin with the above mentioned progestin pills. However, acquiring knowledge about dosage levels is essential for effective treatment of acne.
An important factor to remember is that progestin-only pills for acne treatment can prove beneficial or worsen the situation depending on the excessive secretion of sebum. It is desirable to discuss with a dermatologist, as you would not like to leave a scar behind.
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Benefits Of The Combined Pill On Acne
Recent studies have show that certain synthetic versions of the hormones ‘oestrogen’ and ‘progestogen’ have been found to be more effective at dealing with acne. Pills containing ethinyl-estradiol combined with levonorgestrel, norgestimate, drospirenone, cyproterone acetate or chlormadinone acetate were found to be generally beneficial for acne management. Those that were slightly more effective contained cyproterone acetate as an active ingredient.
Benefits of using combined pills include reduced flare-ups, reduced inflammation and less severe bouts of acne. It’s always advised to use treatments geared towards acne, as contraceptive pills only provided acne management as a secondary effect.
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Does The Birth Control Patch Help With Acne
Yes! The patch is a form of birth control in which you stick a patch on certain parts of your body that releases a combination of the estrogen and progesterone hormones. The estrogen and progesterone work together to keep your ovaries from releasing eggs and to also prevent the over activation of the sebaceous glands. This combination of hormones in the patch works much the same way as the combination birth control pills though the patch is not yet FDA approved to treat acne. There are two brands of the patch that work to prevent acne: Xulane and Twirla. To use this form of birth control, you will stick a patch to a clean and dry part of your skin on your buttocks, stomach, or back.
The Pill Made The Cystic Acne Really Bad At Points My Entire Back Was Covered And It Even Made Wearing A Bra Painful
Lowri originally took the combined pill Rigevidon for contraception and found that it seriously aggravated her acne.
I took the pill for just birth control mainly but stabilising my periods was also a goal because I was prone to severe period pain, and long, heavy periods.
I suffer with bad hormonal acne anyway but the pill made the cystic acne really bad. At points, my entire back was covered and it even made wearing a bra painful.
Im currently on the implant and it doesnt come with the extremes that the pill has. My acne is consistent and mostly in the form of blackheads rather than the painful cystic acne. I wouldnt ever consider using contraception for my acne, because it seems to be either the same or worse than it would be without. Im happy to use it for birth control though, because side effects are bad but having a baby before Im ready would be worse.
Only one of these womxn is still taking the pill, and everyone who has stopped taking it wouldnt consider going back to it.
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Hormonal Contraception As A Hirsutism Treatment
Hirsutism is excessive male-pattern hair growth in certain areas of a womans face and body such as the mustache and beard area. Androgens, the dominant sex hormones in men, can be responsible for these conditions. Women normally have low levels of androgens, but abnormally high levels of androgens can lead to excess hair growth. Given that hormonal contraception can reduce the levels of free androgen in your system, certain combination birth control pills can be a helpful hirsutism treatment.
If you use this type of birth control, you may not even be aware of its non-contraceptive benefits. Certain hormonal contraceptives have been shown to diminish the effects of hirsutism. It is important to note that women may react differently to specific contraception, so this information is intended as a general overview. Please keep in mind that hormonal contraception is meant to be used for birth control potential non-contraceptive benefits can be considered when determining which hormonal birth control method to use.
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How Does The Pill Treat Acne
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.
Hormonal medication, including the birth control pill, can help regulate these hormones and minimize acne.
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.
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.
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Should I Take Dianette For Acne
You might have heard that the contraceptive pill Dianette can help treat acne. This pill contains a progestogen called cyproterone acetate, which like drospirenone, blocks androgens. Dianette used to be licensed as birth control in the UK, but the risk of developing dangerous blood clots with Dianette is higher than other contraceptive pills. For this reason, Dianette is no longer prescribed purely for contraceptive reasons.
Doctors will sometimes prescribe Dianette for treating moderate to severe acne and excess facial or body hair in young women when other treatment options have failed. Dianette provides birth control in women who require it to treat these conditions, but it will not be prescribed purely as a contraceptive.
Who Can Take Birth Control For Acne
Depending on the brand of birth control, you may need to be at least 14 to 15 years old to use birth control for acne, but you should certainly have already started menstruation. Your provider will also evaluate you to make sure you dont have any health conditions that make taking birth control potentially dangerous, including:
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Migraine headaches with visual changes
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History of blood clots or blood clotting disorder
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High blood pressure
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Being over 35 years of age
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Liver or gallbladder disease
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History of breast or uterine cancer
Women with a history of migraines with aura, blood clots, or high blood pressure have a higher risk of having a stroke if they take estrogen-containing birth control pills. This also applies to women who are older than 35 years old, especially if they smoke.
In the case of liver or gallbladder disease, birth control pills can make these illnesses worse. And birth control may not be an option for women with a history of breast or uterine cancer because the added estrogen might make their cancer come back.
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I Was Very Moody And Highly Strung A Lot Of The Time
Nicole started taking Dianette for her acne. She says it helped a little with her acne and her period cramps, but the mood swings were horrific.
When I went on the pill I had mildsevere acne and had heard the pill could help with this. I was about 17/18 at the time. My periods were also heavy and really painful.
I was on it for about 10 years, I stopped mainly because I got married and was getting ready to have kids in the future. Id heard and read about the pill possibly affecting your system several years after stopping I wanted to give my body time to get things going again.
It helped to some degree but not as much as I had hoped! It definitely helped with period pains but it also gave me horrific mood swings. I was very moody and highly strung a lot of the time.
