What Are The Different Types Of Birth Control
There are many different types of birth control available that are effective at preventing pregnancy and some are also very effective in treating and preventing acne outbreaks. The kinds of birth control available include:
- Combination birth control pills
- Mini-pills
- The patch
- Implants such as Nexplanon
- Hormonal IUDs such as Mirena, Liletta, Kyleena, and Skyla
- Copper IUDs
- NuvaRing
How Long Do Most Patients Take Hormonal Treatments
When hormonal therapy helps to clear acne, a patient may stay on it for a long time. You will often stop other acne treatments such as an antibiotic and medication that you apply to your skin. Hormonal therapy can be used alone to prevent new breakouts.
Taking hormonal therapy long term appears to be safe.
Taking spironolactone?
Studies show that taking spironolactone at the same time every day can give you the best results.
How To Take This Drug
Each of Yazs 24 active pills is light pink and contains 3 mg drospirenone and 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol. The four inactive pills are white.
When taken as directed, Yaz and other birth control pills are very effective. But according to Dr. Jill Jin writing in JAMA, missed doses can lower their effectiveness.
If birth control pills are taken perfectly , the chance of pregnancy is 0.1 percent, Jin wrote. However, in the real world, accounting for missed days of use, the chance of pregnancy is about 8 percent per year.
The medications label instructs Yaz users to take one pill by mouth at the same time every day, following the order of the pills in the blister pack.
If birth control pills are taken perfectly , the chance of pregnancy is 0.1 percent.
Michelle Llamas has been writing articles and producing podcasts about drugs, medical devices and the FDA for nearly a decade. She focuses on various medical conditions, health policy, COVID-19, LGBTQ health, mental health and womens health issues. Michelle collaborates with experts, including board-certified doctors, patients and advocates, to provide trusted health information to the public. Some of her qualifications include:
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Does Progestin Cause Acne
In most cases, an excess of progesterone causes hormonal acne. Progestin is a synthetic version of progesterone found in birth control. Some progestins activate androgen receptors and ultimately make your skin more oily, resulting in acne. But in some cases, progestins can block androgen receptors and do the complete opposite, lessening acne.
How Am I Able To Cast Off My Acne

Acne medications tretinoin, antibiotics,. ·medicines can help manage the severity and frequency of acne outbreaks. A number of medicines are available. Your treatment will depend on the type of acne.
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How Do Yaz Birth Control Pills Work
Yaz works similarly to other birth control pills. These birth control pills work mainly by preventing ovulation from occurring. In other words, it stops the ovaries from releasing an egg, without which pregnancy cannot take place.
Additionally, Yaz causes changes to the cervical mucus and uterine lining. It can make the cervical mucus thicker which makes it harder for sperm to reach the egg.
It also makes the uterine lining thinner. Thus, on the off-chance that ovulation does occur and the egg is fertilized, a thinner uterine lining makes it harder for the egg to attach to the uterine wall.
What Is The Best Birth Control Pill For Acne
In general, the best birth control for acne is any one of the combination birth control pills on the market. Doctors say that most combined birth control pills can be good for acne. But among the entire group of combination oral contraceptives, there are a few specific brands that have been approved by the FDA for preventing pregnancy and treating acne.
Specifically, the best brand names of birth control pills for acne include:
Beyaz
Estrostep
*Editors Note: Ortho Tri-Cyclen has been discontinued, but there are many other equivalent brands, like Tri-Sprintec.
Yaz is great for treating acne, but the brand name version can be expensive. Thats why many women go for a generic version.
The generic brands include Nikki, Loryna, Gianvi, and Vestura. Generic brands are less expensive, so you can get the benefits of Yaz from one of the generic brands, but for a cheaper price.
The Ortho Tri-Cyclen family works similarly to Yaz, and is a good low-cost option. The generic brands of Ortho Tri-Cyclen include Tri-Estarylla, TriNessa, Tri-Previfem, and Tri-Sprintec.
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How To Use Drospirenone/ethinyl Estradiol Birth Control
Drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol birth control like Yaz is very easy to use. For birth control or acne prevention, take one pill daily. Its most effective to take Yaz at the same time every day to keep your hormone levels steady and consistent.
Most healthcare providers advise their patients to start using Yaz at the beginning of their menstrual cycle, or on the first Sunday after starting the menstrual cycle. Follow your healthcare providers instructions when you start Yaz to make sure you have a predictable, simple usage regimen.
Yaz and other drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol birth control pills are divided into active does and inactive dose pills. If you miss an active does, take two pills on the day that you notice youve missed the previous dose.
If you miss two active pills in a row, take two pills per day for the next two days. After this, you can go back to using the standard one pill daily dose.
If you miss three active pills in a row, or miss two active pills in a row during the third week, its best to throw out the pack and start a new pack of Yaz or other drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol birth control on the same day.
If you miss an inactive dose pill, throw the missed out away and continue taking the inactive pills as normal. Missing more than two pills in a row can affect your period. You might not get a period on that month, or your period could be delayed.
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How Does Birth Control Help With Acne
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 keyprogestin on its own wont work, which is why minipills arent approved for the treatment of acne.
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Does Yaz Really Help Acne Right Away Or Can It Aggrivate It Too
I never had bad acne in highschool. Now that I am 23, i’ve had acne on and off for the past few years, and it has been awful recently. My normal doctor prescribed me Retin A and after 7 weeks I have noticed that my face is starting to clear, and I no … more »
I never had bad acne in highschool. Now that I am 23, i’ve had acne on and off for the past few years, and it has been awful recently. My normal doctor prescribed me Retin A and after 7 weeks I have noticed that my face is starting to clear, and I no longer feel like it is out of control/enflamed. I went to a dermatologist yesterday for the first time and the first thing he said was: since my acne is primarily around my chin/mouth, my acne is hormonal, and i should go on Yaz. I have been on the nuvaring for the past 7 months. I am a little bit weary of just switching birth control. About a year and a half ago i went on Lutera and had the worse acne outbreak of my life and it was awful. Yet, the derm said “Yaz will start helping right away!” What? Isn’t it different for everyone? What are people’s experiences with Yaz and their acne? Has anybody broken out very bad on lutera but not on Yaz? How can dermatologists be so sure as to what hormone combination we need? Looking forward to hearing from you!!
How Long It Takes To See Results
ohlamour studio / Stocksy
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.” Of course, oral contraceptives are considered long-term treatment, and acne may flare back up with discontinued use of the medication.
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How Birth Control Can Improve Acne
Birth control works by affecting your body’s hormone levels, which is how, along with preventing unwanted pregnancy, it can also impact other hormonal-related issues like acne.
“When women’s hormone levels shift from a more female profile, for example, with estrogen and progesterone, to a more male profile, for example, testosterone, during our cycles, this has an effect on oil production and acne,” says Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Entière Dermatology in NYC.
“When the hormone profile is more male dominant, a couple of skin changes occur: The sebaceous glands become more active, there is an increase in dead skin cells, and the skin cells become stickier. This environment is perfect for acne flares. Some women are more sensitive to circulating testosterone and develop hormonal acne,” says Levin. Taking birth control pills can stabilize these hormones and decrease the amount of testosterone in your body.
How Birth Control Works

Amanda Lawrence / Stocksy
Combination hormonal birth control, or the main type of oral contraceptive prescribed for acne, contains two hormones: estrogen and progesterone. Together, these hormones suppress ovulation. A typical menstrual cycle includes menstruation , a follicular phase, ovulation, and a luteal phase, which are all driven by fluctuations in hormones from the brain and ovaries. The pill stops these fluctuations and in turn, stops ovulation.
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Other Combination Oral Contraceptives
Combination oral contraceptives have both synthetic estrogen and progestin, making them different from progestin-only birth control pills, like the “mini pill.” Only people who can tolerate estrogen should take COCs.
Combination pills are monophasic or multiphasic . Yaz is monophasic, with 24 active pills and 4 inert pills.
Other monophasic oral contraceptives include:
- Brevicon, Modicon, Wera, Balziva, Briellyn, Gildagia, Philith, Zenchent
- Estarylla, Previfem, Sprintec
- Safyral, Beyaz
- Cryselle, Elinest, Ogestrel
- Levora, Altavera, Daysee, Lessina
- Seasonique, Amethia, Ashlyna, Jolessa, Quasense, Introvale
- Amethyst
Combined Oral Contraceptive Medications
Oral contraceptive medications are thought to primarily exert anti-androgen effects through the actions of estrogen. Estrogen is known to stimulate the hepatic synthesis of sex hormone and bind globulin, which binds androgens and decreases levels of free testosterone, with dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Estrogen also inhibits 5-alpha reductase, which prevents the conversion of testosterone to the more potent dihydrotestosterone. Ovarian and adrenal androgen synthesis is also reduced due to the effects of estrogen and its negative feedback on gonadotropin, which releases hormone and leutinizing hormone . Progestins have a lesser role in the production of anti-androgenic activity because early generation progestins have androgenic properties. When choosing oral contraceptive pills for the treatment of acne, third generation progestins or later generations are preferred because they have a lower androgenic activity overall. Progestins may contribute to the anti-androgenic properties of combined oral contraceptive medications through the reduction of gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatility and therefore luteinizing hormone production .
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Safety And Efficacy Of Drospirenone And Ethinyl Estradiol Vs Placebo In The Treatment Of Truncal Acne
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
First Posted : July 28, 2008Results First Posted : March 5, 2013Last Update Posted : March 5, 2013 |
- Study Details
The purpose of this study is to find out if taking a birth control pill, YAZ, is safe and effective for treating acne on the trunk .
Acne vulgaris is a very common skin disorder. It is caused when oil-producing skin glands become plugged. The plug can cause blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and cysts on the face, neck, upper chest, and upper back.
The study drug being used in this study is called YAZ. It has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat moderate acne in women who want an oral contraceptive for birth control.
In this study, YAZ will be compared to a placebo for safety and effectiveness. A placebo looks like the study drug but contains no active drug . We use placebos in research studies to learn if the effects seen in research subjects are truly from the study drug or from other reasons.
Drug: drospirenone and ethinyl estradiolDrug: Placebo tablet | Phase 3 |
Which Birth Control Helps Acne
Only 4 types of oral contraceptives have been approved by The Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of acne. All 3 of these types of birth control have estrogen in the form of ethinyl estradiol and have multiple studies conducted over the span of 6 period cycles which show a reduction in inflammation and acne in study participants .
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How Does Yaz Work
Yaz prevents pregnancy in two ways. First, synthetic hormones in the pills prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. Second, the hormones cause changes in the lining of the cervix and uterus that also help prevent pregnancy. Thicker cervical mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to reach the egg, and a thinner uterine lining makes it more difficult for a fertilized egg to attach.
The inactive pills included in the Yaz pack allow a period to occur and expel the uterine lining . If the active pills in Yaz, or in any other form of combination oral contraceptive, are taken every day, a period will never occur.
Note that most birth control pills include seven inactive pills, though Yaz has only four.
The most common side effects of Yaz are spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods, nausea, breast tenderness and headache. These side effects are usually mild and tend to disappear over time. Yaz product labeling includes a black box warning stating that cigarette smoking can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events in patients taking combination oral contraceptives, especially in women over 35 years of age. Women who smoke should not use Yaz or any other combination oral contraceptives that contain estrogen.
According to the drugs label, you should not take Yaz if you:
Is Severe Acne A Sign Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that causes cysts to develop in the ovaries. Sometimes, PCOS prevents women from ovulating every month, resulting in irregular and/or painful periods. Severe hormonal acne can be a sign of PCOS, but not always. Symptoms normally show up around an individuals first menstrual cycle during puberty. Irregular periods excess facial and body hair, and trouble losing weight are some of the most common symptoms for PCOS. Going on birth control pills can help balance the hormones and, thus, decrease the severity of symptoms.
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Birth Control Acne Improvement: Take Home Points
The use of birth control, specifically oral contraceptives, improves acne in many people. The 4 FDA approved oral contraceptives for acne treatment are Estrostep, Yaz, Beyaz, and Ortho Tri-Cyclen. It is generally the estrogen component of the oral birth control pill that assists with hormonal regulation and acne control. Persons on progesterone only oral contraception may actually experience an increase in acne. Chat with a doctor about your options for using birth control for acne improvement.
Drospirenone/ethinyl Estradiol Birth Control And Smoking

Cigarette smoking significantly increases your risk of experiencing cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes while taking drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol birth control such as Yaz.
If you smoke, its essential that you talk to your healthcare provider before considering drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol birth control medications such as Yaz.
The risk of cardiovascular events is particularly high in women aged 35 and up who smoke.
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What Drugs Interact With Junel Fe
Yaz may interact with phenylbutazone, St. Johns wort, antibiotics, seizure medicines, barbiturates, or HIV medicines. Some drugs can make ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Discuss all medications you are taking with your doctor. Yaz must not be used during pregnancy. This medication passes into breast milk, may affect milk production, and may have undesirable effects on a nursinginfant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.