How Birth Control Pills Can Help Acne

How Birth Control Pills Can Help Acne
Lauren Fanta

If you are a woman and notice acne breakouts (especially along your jawline, chin and neck) that worsen during your monthly cycle, you are not alone. Oral contraceptives, commonly known as birth control pills, can influence hormones and prevent acne—in addition to preventing pregnancy. Oral contraceptives have the following influences on acne: decreased breakouts, decreased inflammation, fewer pimples and reduced severity.

Although hormones influence acne, the reasons are not widely known. Acne formation stems from an excess production of an oil created by glands in your skin. The glands are called sebum. Although sebum oil is helpful in moderation for your skin, sebum oil in abundance can clog pores and promote the growth of bacteria which can lead to acne. Sebum oil production is linked to a group of hormones called androgens. Acne is associated with certain times of life (puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause) when there are significant hormonal changes, notably elevated production of androgens.

Birth control pills contain two hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that suppress the amount of androgens in your body. Estrogen suppresses the production of androgens in the ovaries and increases the production of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). By limiting the amount of androgens in your body, sebum oil production is kept in check, and flare-ups will not be so frequent.

There are three types of oral contraceptives that are FDA-approved for the treatment of acne in women:

• Estrostep. Indicated for the treatment of acne in women 15 years of age and older who have begun menstruation and whose acne cannot be controlled with topical acne medications.
• YAZ. Indicated for the treatment of acne in women 14 years of age and older who have begun menstruation.
• Ortho Tri-Cyclen. An effective treatment for acne vulgaris that affects hormones in the same way as Estrostep and YAZ.
• Other oral contraceptives are used off-label for acne as well.

It is important to note that you may need to take birth control pills for a few months before you begin to see improvement in your acne. As with other acne medications, it is normal to experience an initial flare-up of acne as your body adjusts to the new hormonal balance.

Although oral contraceptives are relatively safe, it is always important to discuss with your doctor possible side effects, including breast tenderness, headaches, blood clots, and an initial, but temporary, flare-up in acne. Talk with your dermatologist if you think oral contraception may be an option you would like to explore for your acne treatment.