Acne.org Products
Hormonal Therapy
Efficacy
63%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Improvement significantly increases after 24 weeks.
Hormonal Therapy
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Any brand of oral contraceptive appears to clear the skin about the same amount, regardless of whether it is officially approved for acne treatment. Some people report complete clearing of acne symptoms and others see partial relief. However, artificially controlling your hormones is a serious decision, so it’s best to proceed with caution.
Hormonal Therapy
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Oral Contraceptives? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
September 19, 2010
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
the first 2 months on the pill were very rough...
break through bleeding (lasting 14-16 days) and bad cramping
acne got WAY worse before it got better
To be honest, my first 2 months on YAZ were HORRIBLE and I almost gave up. My doctor convinced me to follow it through the third month before throwing in the towel. I really thought she was crazy for suggesting that I continue it... but I did listen to her. SO GLAD I DID!!! Midway through the 3rd month my existing cystic acne started healing and I didn't have new acne forming. The breakthrough bleeding & cramping I had in the first 2 months also disappeared and my period arrived when it was supposed to. (I now LOVE having a 4 day period and it's HARDLY a period at all). I am now mid way through my 4th month on Yaz and I've completely healed up. I am working on the scars left behind (mederma) and I have to say that I'm starting to feel the dark (acne) clouds lifting :) I didn't think I would ever be free of acne...but so far so good... knock on wood. IMPORTANT: She (Dr) insisted that I use the brand and not the generic. Because YAZ is so expensive she shared with me that I could use a YAZ Bayer Coupon to help with the cost. The first prescription is $5 and every refill there after will never be more than $25 (with or without insurance). Just google Yaz Bayer Card and you'll find it. You'll need to print the coupon and take it with you to the pharmacist each time you refill to ensure that you get the discount. I pay $10 for my refills... the cost is scaled depending on your situation. Hope you find this helpful :)
July 19, 2011
Pros:
-Not Pregnant
-Helps Clear or regulate acne
-No weight gain or loss
-Always know when your periods will be
Cons:
-Breakouts at the start of use
-Slightly moody/emotional at the start of use
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Dan's regimen is good, but I felt that especially around my time of the month all hell would break loose. I always wanted Birth Control to control my acne, but I was weary of side effects and had heard horror stories so I laid off and figured that eventually my acne would settle down. Finally, after a year of being with my boyfriend I decided I wanted Birth Control to prevent pregnancy as condoms had given us a few scares and Plan B was not something I was too keen on taking or paying for. I got an appointment at Planned Parenthood. Let me make this very clear ladies. Planned Parenthood is not a shady, back alley place that you should be ashamed for going to. Planned Parenthood is a respectable, amazing place that helps men and women alike on multiple levels. It was very clean, professional, and everyone was amazingly helpful and caring. I can buy Birth Control there for about $24 a pack, which is great because my family does not have insurance. At first it was pretty bad. I broke out horribly and as frustrating as it was I had read the reviews and had braced myself for the worst. The first month was difficult. Aside from Acne I began to experience emotional swings near the end of the month. Everything made me sad, angry etc. This is to be expected. I've been on Birth Control for almost a year now and I love it. I only see minor emotional swings now and then but it is very uncommon and only around my period which is not unlike normal PMS behavior. No weight gain or loss. No increase in appetite or anything of the sort. Everything is working out well and during the whole month before my period my face is clear as can be with the exception of a small spot here or there. While I still break out during my period, it is nothing compared to how it used to be. A small cyst an a couple spots sure beats a whole army of cystic acne come to parade around my face.
December 29, 2010
Pros:
Regulated Periods
Made skin significantly softer/smoother
Reduced oil production which somewhat controlled/reduced breakouts
Increased breast size
Cons:
Did gain four pounds in two months
Not a permanent solution to acne
I took this medication hoping it would give me perfect skin. It did help with my skin but I wish I had understood that it is not a permanent solution. I stopped taking it because of the weight gain and it was annoying to take the pill everyday. If you take this pill for a long time hoping for clear skin and eventually go off it, your skin will probably return to its original state. I am now going on accutane which is a more permanent solution. This pill is great if you need it for periods/preventing pregnancy but I wouldn't take any birth control just for your skin because it's not worth it in the end.
March 3, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared my acne 98%. no more mood swings
Cons:
Some slight weight gain, and sore breasts
I have had acne since i was 17, i am now 32. Not, omg, I got a zit! acne, but cystic acne where my face has turned red and purple because of it. Quarter sized cysts at times! I have massive scarring, deep rolling scars. Yasmin cleared it 98% I only break out during the placebo pills and it's about 2-5 pimples at once! The rest of the month I'm clear. This compared to 20+ pimples every day of my life. The bad: It made me gain some weight, about 5 lbs., but for me that was fine as I wear a size one. I put it under CONS only because many woman don't like the weight gain. My breasts are always sore but trust me sore breasts over acne? The acne I had? I'll take it anyday. I recommend try it, especially if you have severe acne. What have you got to lose?
July 29, 2011
Pros:
Cleared my face completely!
Regular period
Cons:
Some nauseousness at the beginning of each packet
Have to remember to take it everyday
I have suffered from acne since the age of 11 and over the years it got worst and worst. A few years ago I finally began to clear up and back then I thought it was Proactive that had done it for me. I didn't realize that at the time I was also on birth control and didn't connect the two together. A couple of years ago I stopped taking it because I no longer needed since I didn't have to worry about getting pregnant anymore. SO within a year and half after I had stopped taking the birth control, I noticed I started getting a few pimples here and there and then it really got bad. So bad that my face literally hurt :( At that time I came across this website and tried Dan's regiment and with the high amounts of acne treatment it was making my face worst! I followed it to the T and it just didn't work. I had read before on other message boards about acne being a hormonal problem more than a skin issue. That's when I connected the two together. I have NEVER written a review about anything but I am so happy I finally figured the cause of acne and what worked for me that I want others to know and hope it also works for you. There was another message forum on another website that someone always keept posting how acne is a hormonal issue and kept insisting to see some sort of a specialized hormonal Dr to check for any irregularities. I always thought they were just trying to advertise their product. But they never did recommend any particular product. Now I am a proof of that theory. It took a good three months for my acne to start clearing up and now 5 months later I am completely acne free. I think I might have a little one trying to come out now but other than that I am clear. Now I just have to deal with all the ugly scaring of years of my severe acne :( I know a lot of people have really bad side effects but I would recommend you try different brands. I tried a couple before I felt comfortable with this one and I even just use their generic brand.
August 7, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
- good birth control
- thickened hair (also could be a con)
- regulated period
- short period
- minimal cramps
- lost weight
Cons:
- small pimples all over chin and jawline which i've never had before
- cysts on forehead
- moody/depressed
- anxious/insomnia
- tired
- frequent UTI's and yeast infections
I went on this pill for 2 months last year and thought it would eliminate my hormonal acne, but it didn't. So i went off it and then tried OTC-Lo which gave me terrible acne outbreaks. I decided to give this one a chance again and I totally regret it. I've been in it for 3 months and my skin is progressively getting worse, not better the way some people have said it would after a few months of perseverance. I've never struggled with skin issues like this, I would usually only get one cyst right before my period and then it would go away or the occasional pimple from leaving my makeup on at night. Since I've been on this pill my skin is a nightmare, I never see a clear day except during my period when I stop the pill and by the end of the week my skin is virtually back to normal. I suppose my acne condition is not caused by excess androgen's and therefore this pill is causing breakouts rather than curing them. Other than the breakouts I cannot handle the frequent UTI's and depression associated with this pill. All around this pill is a disaster. I just stopped taking it 3 days ago and I can see my pore size shrinking and my skin feels much less oily. However, be cautioned that your skin will breakout when you stop this pill...all the tiny pimples I had on my chin have started to come to the surface but died down and are drying out after doing an egg white mask. In conclusion, I'd rather endure one zit a month than this any day.
April 8, 2011
Pros:
Clears acne
Regular, predictable periods
Cons:
Can get a bit expensive for name brand, depending on your insurance, but it's worth it!!
I've been taking Orthotricyclen (off and on) since I was about 17 years old. I'm 30 now and it's the ONLY BC that I will take. I love it! I'm not sure where all of the negative reviews are coming from, but everyone's body is different. I will add that Orthotricyclen is NOT a generic brand and I have never known it to cost any LESS than $20 (copayment) for a 30 day supply. So those of you who claim to have received Orthotricyclen at $10 and even FREE?? You may want to double-check and make sure that you have not received the GENERIC version of Orthotricyclen which is called TRI-SPRINTEC or something of that nature. I usually have moderate acne, but when I'm on Orthotricyclen, my skin clears up wonderfully. Whenever I go off of it, my skin will stay pretty clear for about 8-12 months and then my acne will start to come back, until I start the pill again. My periods are always very regular with this pill. My period usually lasts for 5-7 days when I'm not on the pill, and there's no change in my period length when I'm on it. I also love that I can tell exactly when my period will start by where I am with the pills. By the time I take the last "active pill", my period is there with in 24 hours. All in all, I love this pill. It sucks that it's getting a bad rap, because it really does clear my acne up better than anything else that I have ever tried. But like I said, everyone's body is different. Just please be sure that it is actually Orthotricyclen that you are having issues with and not the generic brand.
January 16, 2011
Product used: YAZ (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Cleared up my skin - a HUGE improvement.
Shorter, easier periods
No weight gain
No mood swings
Didn't get pregnant
Cons:
None, as far as I know.
I adore this product. My skin is now almost perfectly clear, and I have a lot more confidence - I wear less makeup and I'm not at all shy about natural light. For the first three months, my skin did get worse, but I advise anyone to stick it out, because it WILL get better. I barely even break out around my period anymore, and I never experienced any of the adverse effects some people on Yaz get. It's amazing.
April 7, 2011
Pros:
Boobs increased in size about 1/2 of a cup. lighter, shorter periods, less cramping
Cons:
Brief depression headaches, and stomach aches while adjusting to pill, weight gain,
I used to have 8-12 day periods that were heavy, and extremely painful but now on BC they're about 4 days, light, and rarely do I have cramps. AKA: I'm in love.
There was no improvement in my acne due to the pill. I have no idea if it works as a contraception. I also have an increased appetite. I gained about 5 lbs. I don't usually gain weight in my breasts though, so i think the pill made my boobs bigger especially.
July 7, 2010
Pros:
Clear skin. Shorter periods.
Cons:
I'm way moodier than usual.
The birth control has done its purpose and more. My only downfall with it is my mood swings. I can go from really happy to really aggravated in about 5 seconds. Some people have talked about a loss in sex drive. Not me. No changes. I still have a high sex drive.
Pros:
Helped clear cystic acne :) YAY!