Our body is constantly subjected to the positive and negative influences of hormones. There are androgenic hormones that are necessary for effective conception and proper menstrual cycles. However, the same hormones become unwanted when it comes to our skin health.

The acne birth control pills help us achieve balance of our androgenic hormones by preventing their excess production, thus clearing our skin better. There are also postulates regarding the risks these birth control pills pose when used for acne. The acne and birth control pills should be studied in detail to be used precisely.

How the acne birth control pills work?

The testosterone is the hormone that has got far bigger impact on the health of our skin. This hormone stimulates the sebaceous glands in the skin for secretion of excess sebum or oil. Because of this oil, the pores in the skin are blocked, thus resulting in acne, whiteheads and blackheads.

The acne birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol as estrogen reduce levels of luteinizing hormone in the body. This reduction in turn increases the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). As the testosterone is blocked, automatically the sebum production is decreased and skin becomes devoid of acne.

Different acne birth control pills are there in the market. But be sure to consult your doctor before starting with any of the regime, because only a doctor can assess the positive influences versus negative side effects. It is also important to decide which brands of birth control pills are risk-free in the treatment of acne. Some progestins in the pills have androgenic effect and some have anti-androgenic effect.

Those with anti-androgenic effect are the only birth control pills that help to cure acne. Thus the approved medication for acne should contain low dose estrogen. This combined with levonorgestrel, norgestimate, or cyproterone acetate help in the treatment of acne.

What are the risks behind acne birth control pills?

It is always a wise decision to consult your gynecologist before staring any birth control pill for acne, the risk associated with birth control pills can be much more than warranted.

  • The acne birth control pills may increase the chances of heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and clotting of blood. This risk increases multifold if you are a smoker.
  • Birth Control Pill Spotting: Also there are risks of spotting in between periods if you are using low dose estrogen, as a means for contraception.
  • The people who use birth control pills to treat acne also have side effects like vaginal bleeding, edema, melasma (butterfly pigmentation on cheeks and nose) and psychological imbalances leading to depression.
  • Need To Add Back Up Method Of Contraception: If you are taking antibiotics along with acne birth control pills, you may not be fully protected against pregnancy. So, there is the need of additional back up method of contraception.
  • The common problems of weight gain, nausea and gastric upsets may be aggravated by acne birth control pills.

Thus it is evident from different researches that the acne birth control pills may not be the best acne treatment for all of us. But if our doctor finds that the positive effects outweigh the negative ones, he will prescribe birth control pills to treat acne. Definitely we want to get rid of acne but not at the cost of damage to vital organs. So beware before choosing your acne birth control pill!

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