Acne treatment with Birth Control Pills | is it save and effective?

For most women, acne, can result in  frustation, stress, social isolation,low self confidence and  the worst of all, is permanent  acne scare. In many cases, severe acne can even lower  the opportunity of employment in some industries.

Using birth control pills for acne treatment is actually not a something new. Dermatologists have been applying them for decades.  However, it is important to understand that apply them is not just take it for granted.  Not all birth control pills can be used to treat acne. Some can even make your acne worse.

Generally, acne treatment with birth control pills is often suggested for healthy women who are also in  need of contraception. It is usually applied after other  treatments, such as external acne cream is regarded no longer effective to control acne. The article below will explain the benefit  and also the risk of using birth control to treat acne. However, to get a better understanding we will begin the discussion with an explanation on how birth control can be used to treat acne.

 How Does Birth Control Treat Acne?                     

You must have known that there is a relation between hormones and acne. Many women experience premenstrual flare-ups of acne as their hormone levels shift during their cycle. And for some, acne  persists through the years, even after menopause.

Acne is triggered by an excess production of sebum. Sebum is an oil made by glands in your skin. Along with skin cells, sebum can clog pores and promote the growth of bacteria that contribute to acne. Androgens, a group of hormones that includes testosterone, stimulate your skin to produce sebum.

A woman's ovaries and adrenal glands normally generate a low level of androgens. Higher levels of androgens may result in excess sebum. This explain how birth control pills can treat acne. Taking birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progesterone lowers the amount of androgens in your body. This cause less sebum and less severe acne.

Which Birth Control can be used to Treat Acne ?

Nowadays, there are so many  types of birth control. But, not all of them can be used to tread acne.  So far, only three types of birth control pills have been approved by the FDA to treat  pimples. All three are "combination" oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progesterone. In fact, birth control pills that contain only progesterone can actually make acne worse.

Each type of birth control pill used for acne contains a low dose of the same form of estrogen. But each one uses a different form of progesterone.

The FDA has approved the following types of birth control for acne:

• Ortho Tri-Cyclen uses estrogen combined with a progestin called norgestimate. A progestin is a synthetic, or man-made, form of progesterone. The pill is available with different doses of progestin.
• Estrostep uses estrogen combined with a progestin called norethindrone. The pill is available with different doses of estrogen.
• YAZ uses estrogen combined with a man-made form of progestin called drospirenone. The FDA has concluded that birth control pills containing drospirenone may have increased risk for blood clots compared to pills containing other progestins. Other brands containing drospirenone include Beyaz, Gianvi, Loryna, Ocella, Safyral, Syeda, Yasmin, and Zarah.  

Studies have not shown a major difference among these three pills in terms of how well they treat acne.

But not all women can take these pill to tret acne. These three oral contraceptives have been approved for treating moderate acne in women who:

• Are at least 14 or 15 years old, vary depending on the brand
• Have already started menstruating
• Need contraception

While it is actually intended for moderate acne treatment, in actual practice, doctors prescribe birth control for the full spectrum of acne, from mild to severe.

In addition, doctors may prescribe additional birth control products for acne. For example, the oral contraceptives Yasmin and Alesse have both been clinically shown to improve acne. But neither one has been approved by the FDA yet for this use.

If you're already taking an oral contraceptive that's working well in treating acne, there's no need to switch brands. But if you are taking birth control pills for acne for the first time, it's best to use one of the three types now approved for acne treatment.

You may need to take an oral contraceptive for a few months before your skin starts to clear. And an initial flare-up of acne is common when a woman first starts taking birth control pills.

Birth control pills work on only one acne-related factor -- excess sebum. Doctors often prescribe other forms of acne treatment -- topical medications or antibiotics -- to be used alongside them for best results in clearing the skin.

If you have severe acne along with irregular periods, excess facial hair, or obesity, your doctor may do further testing for a medical condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome or other hormonal condition.

Benefits of Birth Control for Acne

Several clinical trials have shown that taking combination birth control pills can result in:

• Decreased acne flare-ups
• Fewer pimples
• Less inflammation
• Less severe acne

Many women with severe acne take oral contraceptives with other acne treatments. For women who also want contraception, taking birth control pills for acne also offers one of the most reliable forms of contraception, as long as the pills are taken on schedule as prescribed.

Risks of Oral Contraceptives

Today's birth control pills contain lower doses of estrogen and progesterone than in the past. This has significantly lowered their medical risks. Still, women taking oral contraceptives do have a higher risk of side effects, including heart attack, stroke, and dangerous blood clots in the legs or lungs.

Other risks include:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) and other cardiovascular problems
• Liver and gallbladder disease
• Migraine headaches
• Depression and mood changes

Who Should Avoid Birth Control Pills

A decision to take birth control pills needs to take into account your medical history. Certain medical conditions could become worse if you use an oral contraceptive. Birth control pills are usually not advised if you have any of the following conditions:

• History of heart disease, hypertension, blood clots in your legs or lungs
• Blood clotting disorder such as factor V Leiden deficiency
• History of cancer, especially breast, uterine, or liver cancer
• Liver disease, diabetes, or migraine headaches

You also shouldn't take oral contraceptives if:

• You're a smoker over age 35
• You're currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• You're severely obese or physically immobilized

Tips for Maximum Benefit

To get the maximum benefit of birth control for acne treatment, you  should:

• Going on taking other acne treatment advised by your doctor. You have to understand that an oral contraceptive targets only part of the acne problem. So, it is not intended to be the one stop solution.
• Make sure to carefully and precisely follow the schedule for taking birth control pills. Doing so will allow you to get  the maximum benefit and safety.
• Discuss with your doctor about possible side effects of the birth control you're worrying. These can include breast tenderness, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, or an initial, temporary flare-up of acne. It's important to know what to expect.
• Last but not least, Don’t forget to tell your doctor about any other medications you're applying. It is importance since some may influence the effectiveness of an oral contraceptive and lead to an unwanted pregnancy. Taking some types of birth control pill together with oral tetracycline (an antibiotic) may make it necessary to use a back-up form of contraception.

Thank you for reading article about the use of birth control pill to treat acne. Hopely it is usefull for you.