Acne can be a serious problem for some women, and not just teenagers. When other treatment options have been exhausted, physicians may prescribe birth control pills. These oral contraceptives help to suppress hormones that produce the oil that can be at the root of acne. But this solution is not for everyone and does not come without potential side effects.
Hormones and Acne
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the specific cause of acne is not yet understood. However, what research has revealed is that oil, known as sebum, tends to increase in production with an increase in the androgen hormones, which include testosterone. These hormones fluctuate most wildly during adolescent years. The result is blocked pores, which trap bacteria and cause inflammation. In women, the problem can sometimes be connected to hormone production in the ovaries.
Identification
According to obstetrician and gynecologist Risa Kagan on acne.com, a few signs may lead a doctor to consider hormonal causes for acne in a woman. These include irregular menstrual cycles, acne appearing on an adult for the first time, acne flaring up before the menstrual cycle and excessive or unusual hair growth. A doctor may also test the blood for elevated levels of androgens.
Role of Birth Control
While regulating the release of the female sex hormones estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation, oral contraceptives also inhibit production of androgen hormones by the ovaries. If the cause of acne is indeed hormonal, the suppression of the androgens in many cases will reduce production of sebum and bring cosmetic improvement. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Estrostep and Yaz oral contraceptives for acne treatment. In 2009, however, the FDA issued a warning over quality control issues with Yaz manufacturing, and investigation is ongoing.
Considerations
Birth control should be a final option in treating acne. Prescription creams and antibiotics are generally attempted first. What's more, birth control is usually prescribed in tandem with topical treatments or other androgen-suppressing pills. It is also important to remember that it may take a few months of treatment for effects to be seen. In some cases, acne may worsen. In addition, Mayo Clinic dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson says other factors, including age and health history, may play a role in whether birth control is the right treatment.
Side Effects
Though birth control pills may prove the solution to some cases of acne, they may also cause side effects, including even more acne. Medline Plus lists some of the more common as including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, constipation, brown or black skin patches, menstrual flow changes and breast tenderness, enlargement or discharge. More rare but serious complications include depression, unusual bleeding, tumors, cancer, heart attack, a stroke or a serious blood clot. Always consult a physician at the first sign of side effects.
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