1
Everyone who's suffered with acne wants an effective solution to the problem. Unfortunately, the use of birth-control pills to control acne flare-ups may or may not be effective.
Background
Usually, the first signs of acne develop during adolescence, when hormone levels begin to change with the onset of puberty. When hormone levels surge, the sebaceous glands located at the base of each hair follicle produce excess oil. This oil, combined with dead skin cells and dirt, can become trapped within the skin's pores and acne develops.
Why Birth-Control Pills?
Because acne can be triggered by fluctuating hormone levels within the body, and because birth-control pills contain hormones, it stands to reason that acne is most likely to appear at the various stages in life when hormone levels are changing, such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause. It also makes sense that changine hormone levels may help to reduce acne outbreaks. The use of birth-control pills for the treatment of acne is an attempt to regulate hormones.
What's the Hypothesis?
Overactive sebaceous glands are the result of rising levels of the male hormones: testosterone and other androgens. Birth-control pills contain artificial female hormones: estrogen or progestin. The hypothesis is that birth-control pills prevent the ovaries from making some of these male hormones, which in turn causes your body to produce less sebum, a substance that tends to block pores and contribute to acne.
The Problem
There are problems with using birth-control pills to control acne. Some women may actually notice their acne worsen with the use of birth-control pills until the estrogen levels become dominant. Women who do take the birth-control pill and who notice that their acne is getting worse should discuss the situation with their doctor. Different brands of oral contraception have different levels of hormones. Switching to another brand may bring acne back under control. There are several brands that may help clear up acne, but only some have been approved by the FDA for treating acne. Ask your doctor for her recommendations.
Another potential problem is that this method targets only sebum -- Dr. Lawrence Gibson of MayoClinic.com recommends that you continue with other acne-control methods as well, such as cleansers with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Considerations
Keep in mind that using birth-control pills for acne control is only a temporary solution. Many women find that once they stop using birth-control pills, their acne returns--often worse than before. Birth-control pills can have some undesirable side effects, including nausea, weight gain, water retention and mood swings. There are also other, more serious health risks than acne to consider. Prolonged use may increase your chances of heart attack or stroke. Using birth-control pills for acne control should be considered only after less extreme treatment options have failed, and always with the guidance of your physician.
Member Comments