So, you’ve heard it and read about it before—that birth control pills help treat acne—but is there any truth to it? This article explains exactly just that. Read on before popping that pill for other reasons.
Could birth control pills really help treat acne for women? The short answer is yes. The truth is, oral contraceptives can improve acne among women. It is a known alternative treatment when traditional acne prescription medication does not respond to acne. This goes as far as being approved the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. However, this does not apply to all contraceptive pills. Only three types, specifically with an estrogen and progestin combination are allowed. The following are: ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate (Ortho Tri-Cyclen), ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (Estrostep), and ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone (Yaz).
Birth control pills attack acne by reducing the amount of sebum. As we all know, acne develops when sebum—the oil that lubricates skin and hair—mixed with dead skin cells plug open hair follicles. As the plug accumulates more oil, it grows and ruptures, and attracts bacteria which leads to inflammation and infection.
Pills target only one aspect of acne which is excess sebum. Because of this, it is still normally prescribed with other acne treatments such as topical and oral medicines. To some, the course of treatment using pills take months even before producing any noticeable results. Plus, the skin may also get worse before becoming better so it is advised to continue with treatment even if this happens.
As with every medication, taking contraceptive pills for acne has side effects. These may include headaches, change in menstrual cycling, breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting, decreased libido, and depression. It is not advised for pregnant women to undergo this treatment unless approved by a qualified physician and OB/GYN.
Talk to your doctor before taking birth control pills for acne. There are health-history and age limitations for this types of treatments so it is best to consult with a qualified professional to be safe.