Acne Treatment

Birth Control Pill for Acne

There are many issues which have to be considered before using birth control pills as an acne reducing treatment. Most important is whether the person has used any other treatment before embarking upon this treatment. There are many pros and cons about taking birth control pills without considering them for acne.

Though in some cases it is thought that birth control pills reduce the affects of acne, it is not always the case and depends largely on the skin type, hygiene habits, and heredity factors.

Positives:

• There is a possibility that birth control pills will alleviate some of the acne problems due to the amount of hormones that keeps the body in hormonal balance.
• Birth control pills will regulate periods and prevent pregnancy.
• Birth control pills relieve PMS and cramps.

Negatives:

• Smokers have more chance of getting cancer if they take birth control pills.
• The Pill doesn't prevent sexually transmitted disease.
• The Pill doesn't always prevent pregnancy.
• If you are too young you may be setting yourself up for acne yeast infections, which are difficult to completely cure.
• You may gain weight - about 12 pounds.
• It may cause cysts in the breasts and they may become tender and painful.
• Blood clots are possible.
• Other side effects include headache, irregular periods, fatigue and abdominal pain.

Diane-35 is not a contraceptive:

There is no guarantee that birth control pills will help in the resistance of breakouts especially if you have acne that is not treatable by the hormone you would be taking. There are several different types of birth control pills, but to be on the safe side, contact your dermatologist to make sure the one you are taking will not cause on blood clots.

In a Canadian report, Diane-35 was named as the factor in a young girls death, which was caused by blood clots. She was taking it as a contraceptive and for acne control. Diane-35, is not meant to be a contraceptive, but used in the reduction of acne, body and facial hair.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen cleared by FDA for acne treatment.

In 1997 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the way for a low-dose birth control pill to be used for acne control. However, because of its low-dosage, it is not recommended for birth control. It remains unclear whether hormones or heredity is the largest factor in acne disease. In more than 80 percent of the case studies where patients used Ortho-tri-cyclen, there was marked improvement in the reduction of acne.