Hormones drive acne development, and some women tend to get pimples at particular times of the month, usually just before their menstrual periods. Others have them all month long, but the severity seems to ebb and flow in response to hormonal swings. Most dermatologists recommend trying non-hormonal acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide first, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. But if those treatments don't work for you, Cyclessa birth control pills might be able to control your outbreaks.
Causes
Pimples result when hormones called androgens encourage the skin's oil-producing sebaceous glands to make too much oil, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The oil both clogs pores and provides the right environment for acne-promoting bacteria. Teenagers get acne as their hormones surge during puberty. Adult women may also suffer from acne because of hormonal swings during their menstrual cycles. Most women who have acne have normal hormone levels and normal cycles, but also have sebaceous glands that are particularly sensitive to hormones.
Function
Cyclessa, an oral contraceptive that combines the hormones ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel, works to prevent pregnancy by altering your body's hormones to stop ovulation and embryo implantation. It hasn't received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to treat acne, but some dermatologists use it for that purpose. Birth control pills reduce the amount of oil produced by your sebaceous glands by countering your circulating androgen hormones with estrogen-type hormones. Eventually, your androgen level will decrease, so your sebaceous glands will produce less oil.
Time Frame
Cyclessa and other oral contraceptives work in many women to help clear acne, but they don't represent an instant solution, according to the Mayo Clinic. Expect to wait about six months before seeing major results, and your skin may appear worse before your pimples begin to clear. Many dermatologists recommend using another acne-fighting product, such as prescription creams containing antibiotics to fight infection or topical Retinol to encourage pore clearing, along with birth control pills.
Research
Medical research backs the use of oral contraceptives such as Cyclessa in acne treatment. For example, a study reported in September 2009 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology looked at nearly 500 women with mild to moderate acne. Half took birth control pills, while the other half received a placebo. At the end of six months, the women taking the birth control pills had significantly fewer acne lesions than the women taking the placebo.
Considerations
Oral contraceptives, including Cyclessa, carry a risk of side effects, some of which can be serious. Many dermatologists express reluctance to place women older than 35 or smokers on birth control pills. Women with a history of blood clots or circulation problems, especially due to diabetes, should not use Cyclessa, and women with a history of certain cancers also should avoid it. If you think Cyclessa might help fight your acne, talk to your doctor about it.
