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
May 31, 2010
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Cons:
Truthfully, I didn't really experience any so far
I have been battling acne since I was around 16 years old and I am now 23. Last September, I began grad school and experienced the worst acne I've had to date. I had cystic breakouts along my jawline and my chin that were so painful I couldn't sleep on my side because the pressure was so painful. I went to the doctors and was prescribed Yasmin as well as miocycline at the same time because my face was so severe. 8 months later I can finally say that my face is nearly clear except for the scarring that the cysts left on my face. My confidence level is very high and I feel like a completely different person! I no longer lock myself in my room crying because of the physical and emotional pain. And most importantly I am not embarrassed to be around my family who used to tell me to wash my face properly (which I always did!). I am not longer taking minocycline and will continue with Yasmin as long as I am happy with the results. If you are at rock bottom like I was, I think it is worth a try... it worked for me but everyone responds to treatments differently and you may have a better or worse experience. I was so desperate that I had nothing to lose and it was all worth it to me because I am confident now.
June 1, 2010
Pros:
No cycts anymore. Ever
No nausea
No weight gain (actually lost weight)
Not pregnant!!!
Cons:
Took 2 full cycles to reap benefits
still get the occasional non inflamatory acne. its rare though.
I previously wrote here with a bad review, didnt realize it takes TIME to regulate hormones and balance out. Now I only get the occasional breakout and its minor. No more flare ups the week before my period. I'm also now taking Bactrim and using Epiduo. So far so good. And most importantly, I'm not pregnant!
May 7, 2016
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
its good
"I've been on Yasmin for 3 years, and I have absolutely loved it. 3 day light periods, significantly cleared up my acne, lost weight, my breasts looked great! , no mood swings. no any side effects!
August 24, 2010
Pros:
- cleared moderate acne on arms and back
- balanced hormones
- eased cramps and period flow
- no loss in sex drive
- not pregnant! (best pro)
- no weight gain, nausea or headaches
Cons:
thankfully, no bad side effects I can detect so far
slight moodiness/sensitivity during first month when i started the 3rd week (with the highest dose of hormones)
some spotting during first 2 months
i've been taking OTC for about 6 months now and i'm so happy with it! my friend had a really REALLY bad experience with a different kind of pill before so i was anxious. i was also worried about breaking out or gaining weight but there were no issues. my acne on my arms and upper back went from moderate to very light. i noticed my appetite was a little less during the first month but that went back to normal. during the first couple months, my period came a week early and lasted several days but since then, it starts during the fourth week like it should. my period is a lot lighter than it used to be and shorter, 4 days instead of 7-8. my boobs didn't get larger noticably (i'm a d-cup already so i'm glad!). my sex drive is the same, i'm still jumping my boyfriend's bones every chance i get! i'm really happy with OTC and hopefully all continues well.
December 4, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
lost a bit of weight
skin is clearing up after getting worse initially
shorter period
Cons:
initial breakout
must be patient to see results
yasmin is proven to be a great BCP for acne. Over 9 cycles it has been shown to be just as good as diane but it is much healthier for you and you can be on it forever, it is for the treatment of MODERATE acne not mild or severe. If you switch from another BCP to yasmin it is very likely your skin will flare up the first month or two while your body adjusts to the new hormones. It has been proven to work IF you give it time to and of course if hormones are the root of your acne problem. if something else causes your acne you may not see significant improvement. If you get on it be ready to commit to letting it work. too there are far too many reviews on this site saying it made acne worse after they have only been using it a month or 2. you must be patient!
February 24, 2010
Pros:
-no side effects AT ALL
-prevents pregnancy
-larger breasts
Cons:
-skin is neutral: neither worse or better (this isn't really a con, its so-so)
Before I went on the pill, I read the review just before mine. I was scared sh*tless because of the terrible reviews and then I read that review, made me feel better. So i went on it, surprising absolutely NO SIDE EFFECTS what so ever, which is a good thing. However there aren't any benefits that I wanted. Overall I'd say this is a SAFE PILL to go on if you don't want to experience side effects.
November 13, 2009
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Better skin, statistically reliable birth control
Cons:
Fatigue, slight nausea
I just wanted to post here because I'm having a decent experience on yasmin, and I've noticed that a lot of the posts are extremely negative. Because it's a hormonal treatment everyone's response will be different.
My skin was terrible before I went on yasmin, but literally by the second week I am seeing drastic results. The first couple days my skin did seem to get a little worse, but I figure it's because all that residual gunk had to come out some way. I'm really relieved and pleased with the progress I'm seeing. So for all you ladies who haven't seen results with any non-hormonal treatments, I'd give this a shot. I was a little tired the first few days but that seemed to pass. I also have experienced a loss of appetite. Overall the side effects I've experienced with this contraceptive are way more bearable than any other pill I've tried. Try it out. Don't be scared.
August 23, 2011
Product used: Yasmin (Oral Contraceptive)
Pros:
Clear skin (with Tetracycline)
Regulates my periods
Cons:
Absolutely none!
Ladies, I suffered with acne since I was 13. I'm 21 now and the severity of my acne increased over time. I went from having one or two pimples every week. To 6 or 7 every day, without fail. I've used almost everything under the sun: clean & clear (in 2005), proactiv, acne free, baking soda, cetaphil, lemon juice, honey, and different antibiotics. Nothing worked for me. Few years ago, I found out that I have PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian syndrome. It's a hormonal disorder that causes ovarian cysts with a list of side effects, one of which is acne. Yasmin has been found to be the most effective for this and so with consultation with my endocrinologist, I tried it. I've been using it consistently for about 4 months. My dermatologist also put me on tetracycline, an antibiotic commonly used for acne. Yasmin & Tetracycline are my acne fighting machines!! Holy crap. My skin has never looked so good! It took about 3 months for my skin to show improvement. I can't tell when last I had a real pimple or cyst! It is absolutely amazing. I've dreamed about having clear skin and now I have it. Even the texture has changed, it's so beautifully smooth and radiant! I would recommend this duo to any girl who has acne. Definitely talk to your doctor about it, cause it worked for me. I also use Clean and Clear Continuous Control as my daily face wash. That stuff is the truth! For the odd time I get a small zit (which is probably once a month), it's gone within a day or two and no scar! I used to live in concealer - covering acne and scars. Now I'm proud to show off my radiant skin. Even though I use Yasmin in conjunction to antibiotics, I think it would still work wonders independently. Anyway, there's hope for you ladies! I thought I would die with acne.Now, I can celebrate renewed skin! Everyone's skin and body is different, but I'm confident it will work for most people. Please visit your doctor and ask about Yasmin and Tetracycline! Don't give
August 10, 2010
Pros:
Lighter and much shorter period
More predictable periods
No spotting
Cons:
Loss of sex drive
Extreme mood swings
Nausea
The bottom line is I love this pill, I feel like it is the best thing that has happen to me minus the loss of sex drive! During my first month on this pill I felt down and depressed all the time and was sick to my stomach every day. When I started on the second month I couldn't have been better. Unlike when I was on Depo Provera and Seasonique I have no spotting or break through bleeding. My periods are way lighter and shorter than they have ever been in my life. I give this product an A+!
January 29, 2010
Pros:
bigger boobs, no kids, no weight gain
Cons:
not helping with acne, which is mainly why I choose this birth control
I posted about a month ago, giving this a 5 rating, because the first month my acne was really subsiding. But a little after I posted my review my acne started to creep up on me again. I fringin jinxed myself! anyway, I'm still on the pill because beside the face not clearing, it serves its purpose. But I've decided to use Dan's regime on acne.org to fix my acne. Maybe the pill would have worked if I waited til the third month was completely over, but I just couldn't wait it out. Hope this review helps.
Pros:
Regular periods, good birth control, noticeably larger breasts, 95% clear skin