Birth control pills for acne: do they help?

Causes of acne

In the female body, androgens are produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands - male sex hormones. During puberty, they begin to grow first due to stimulation of the ovaries by follicle-stimulating hormone. The precursor of most steroids is androstenedione, which is later metabolized into testosterone and female sex hormones; with a lack of androgens, normal estrogen synthesis is impossible. Male sex steroids, when in excess, have the following effects:

promote hair growth;
increase skin greasiness;
activate metabolism;
lead to deepening of the voice;
stimulate hair loss.

Skin rashes can appear at any age. But acne is not always associated with increased androgen levels. Often in patients, the concentration of hormones remains within normal limits. In this case, acne and oily skin are associated with increased sensitivity of peripheral tissues to male steroids or with accelerated conversion of androstenedione to more active testosterone. To improve the condition, doctors prescribe hormonal acne medications.

Attention! Acne and hirsutism may be only the first symptom of severe metabolic disorders. Many women, due to hyperandrogenism, have disrupted menstrual cycles, hair loss, infertility, and obesity.

The mechanism of action of oral contraceptives on acne

To understand the principle of action of contraceptives on acne, you need to understand the mechanism of their occurrence. Girls' bodies produce not only female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone), but also male testosterone. This biologically active substance promotes the formation of sebum. As a result, acne and pimples appear. Estrogen, on the contrary, serves as a counterweight. It suppresses sebum production.

Using oral contraceptives against acne, the girl normalizes hormonal levels in the body. The synthesis of female sex hormones increases. Thanks to this, birth control pills cause the following effects:

make pores narrower;
suppress the function of the sebaceous glands;
dry out the skin;
increase the outflow of sebaceous gland secretions;
suppress the inflammatory process in the skin and subcutaneous tissue;
reduce the amount of hormonal acne;
eliminate swelling on the face.

When do birth control pills help against acne?

Birth control pills help against acne in cases where their appearance is associated with absolute or relative hyperandrogenism. In the first case, oral contraceptives can improve the ratio of sex steroids, and in the second, reduce their active effect on receptors in peripheral tissues. But the indications are not limited to this; tablets for common acne and acne can be used in the following conditions:

in adolescents with severe rashes on the body, unless the role of demodex mites in the formation of acne is confirmed;
in women of reproductive age, if acne appears due to the use of oral contraceptives without antiandrogenic action;
during menopause with increased levels of male steroids;
with polycystic ovary syndrome.

But for tumors of the adrenal glands or ovaries, adrenogenital syndrome, the drug Androcur is prescribed, which is sometimes combined with birth control pills to improve the effect of acne treatment.

Are birth control effective for acne?

The basis of acne treatment is local therapy. Women, having noticed acne, use various types of gels and creams, the active substance of which is an antibiotic. In addition, in order to remove excess oil, the skin is dried with various alcohol tinctures, which leads to the formation of wrinkles. However, the hormonal etiology of acne allows treatment without such aggressive agents. To do this, you need to contact a gynecologist who will regulate hormonal imbalances.

This therapy is indicated for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, SAHC syndrome - dermatological androgenization with concomitant seborrhea, acne, excessive hair growth and at the same time alopecia, and for acne lesions that occur after puberty. The action of drugs based on female hormones is also a contraceptive.

Combined treatment of acne requires comprehensive care, so after 3 months of taking birth control pills, you need to consult a dermatologist. The doctor will identify non-hormonal problems and residual effects, such as acne scars, and help remove them.

To get the maximum effect, before starting therapy, laboratory tests should be performed to determine the concentration of hormones and confirm abnormalities associated with the presence of acne. It is recommended to check free and total levels of testosterone in the blood, the ratio of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and LH, FSH.

Hormonal tablets are effective in treating skin lesions. But stopping therapy can lead to relapses. In addition, improvement does not occur immediately - you have to wait several weeks or even months before the results of acne treatment are visible.

The most effective treatments for acne are androgen reversal drugs, such as spironolactone, or those that block the effects of androgens. The second group includes estrogens, cyproterone acetate and glucocorticosteroids.

Mechanism of action of birth control pills for acne

Hormonal pills help women against acne due to the gestagenic component. Estrogens included in the drug do not affect the condition of the skin. Most modern gestagens have low androgenic activity and do not cause an increase in male hormones. The following progestins have a pronounced ability to suppress the activity of androgens:

cyproterone;
dienogest;
drospirenone;
chlormadinone.

The mechanism of action of contraceptives in acne is associated with a decrease in the level of an enzyme that is involved in the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone. They also increase the amount of peptide in the blood that binds steroids and makes them inactive. Additionally, they reduce tissue sensitivity to androgens.

How to choose birth control for acne treatment?

The use of contraceptives should be carried out only after consultation with a specialist. This also applies to acne treatment. Taking into account this factor, the choice of oral contraceptives should be based on the doctor’s recommendations.

If several options are recommended for use, then one is usually chosen. When choosing, they are guided by side effects and cost - to achieve the desired effect, contraceptives must be used regularly.

"Yarina"

The most common option is the drug “Yarina”. These hormonal contraceptives have a strong antiandrogenic effect. They also normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands and eliminate excess weight associated with fluid retention in the tissues.

Contraceptive “Yarina” also affects the menstrual cycle. Pain sensations are reduced, there is less discharge, and the menstrual period is shortened.

The drug meets quality standards and has minor side effects, but is expensive. At the same time, to get rid of acne with the help of this drug, it will take 2-3 months of regular use.

"Jess"

Hormonal contraceptives “Jess” have the same composition as “Yarina. Recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate acne. With long-term use, the activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands decreases, acne and comedones are eliminated.

The drug is considered an optimal remedy for both contraception and acne. It has a fairly low amount of hormones and minor side effects. However, the cost of such contraceptives is quite high.

After taking it, some girls may have a headache.

"Diana-35"

After several months of using Diane-35, the body acquires a persistent antiandrogenic effect. These hormonal contraceptives prevent hair loss and reduce scalp oiliness. Regular use of the drug eliminates the signs of seborrhea and acne.

“Diane-35” has a lower cost and allows long-term use. However, the list of side effects and composition of contraceptives is not suitable for every girl.

"Dimia"

“Dimia” is a relatively cheap analogue of “Jess”. It features more modest packaging and the absence of a convenient calendar for taking pills. The principle of action and composition of the drug has a similar effect and list of side effects.

Some girls note the return of acne after stopping this drug.

"Chloe"

“Chloe” is a fairly cheap contraceptive based on cyproterone. Among the most common side effects are increased emotionality. Also, in the first month of use, an increase in the signs of acne may be observed, but by the end of the second month, acne begins to disappear.

"Janine"

Contraceptive “Zhanine” operates on the basis of dienogest. The cost is quite low, improvement is observed during the first two months of use. Cases of gaining excess weight are also rare. However, some girls note a deterioration in their skin condition after stopping this drug.

Pros and cons of acne pills

Hormonal contraceptives are used to treat acne, but they have contraindications for use and therefore cannot be prescribed independently. Only a doctor can take into account the woman’s health condition, age and choose the right remedy . The disadvantage of using hormones is that if the contraceptive is chosen incorrectly, there is a high probability of unwanted effects:

pain and engorgement of the mammary glands;
mood swings;
scanty periods or their absence;
heavy bleeding, spotting in the middle of the cycle;
headache;
vaginal dryness;
decreased libido.

The positive side of birth control pills is that it is impossible to get pregnant while treating acne. For women with menstrual irregularities due to hyperandrogenism, they allow them to normalize the phases and restore the cyclicity of the ovaries.

What to choose?

Contraceptives for rashes are divided into several types. Depending on the main components and form of release, contraceptives are divided into:

Combined contraceptives or coca pills. They are the most popular. The composition contains derivatives of the hormones progestin and estrogen. They normalize the activity of the sebaceous glands. Modern drugs are microdosed. This reduces the likelihood of negative consequences. Depending on the form of release, the group of contraceptives is divided into tablets and dragees. Tablets include Logest and Yarina, and the most common dragee is Zhanine. They are equivalent in effect, as they are covered with an acid-resistant coating. The active components are released at a specific location. At the same time, the coke will help cope not only with acne.

Main advantages:

Birth control pills for acne have a beneficial effect on skin and hair

potency compared to other types;
reducing the oiliness of the scalp;
elimination of inflammation;
normalization of the menstrual cycle;
reducing the severity of pain.

The second type is non-combined contraceptives, they are also called mini-pills. These are monopreparations that contain only progestin hormones in small quantities. This group includes “Microlut”, “Excluton”. Mini-pills are less commonly used for acne, as they have little antiandrogenic effect. But if you are intolerant to estrogen, they will become an alternative.

Main advantages:

can be used when drinking alcohol or smoking;
diabetes mellitus, excess body weight, heart disease, hypertension are not contraindications for use;
not prohibited during breastfeeding;
effective even after 40 years.

The selection of a particular drug from the COC group is carried out only after analyzing all the data on the medical history and conducting a series of diagnostic studies

Which drug to choose depends on the situation and individual characteristics of the body. It is best to take the advice of a doctor.

Popular birth control pills for acne

Hormonal contraceptives for acne differ in composition and dosage. In addition to various gestagenic components, they contain estrogen in an amount of 20 to 30 mcg. Modern contraceptives include a minimal amount of sex hormones, which reduces the risk of severe side effects. But each woman’s sensitivity to drugs is different, so unwanted reactions may occur. In this case, the doctor must change the contraceptive pill.

Jess

The drug contains drospirenone 3 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg. The package contains 28 tablets, the last 4 are inactive and do not contain hormones. They are necessary to maintain the regimen. This way, the woman will not forget that the pack of contraceptives has run out and she needs to start a new one the next day.

Jess can also be taken continuously. To do this, do not take the last 4 tablets, and start a new package the next day after 24. You can continue this way for up to 120 days, after which you take a break for 7 days.

Jess relieves well psycho-emotional, vegetative-vascular disorders, breast engorgement and other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Birth control pills are recommended for young nulliparous girls and women of reproductive age for contraception and the treatment of acne. The cost of packaging for a month is from 1024 rubles.

Yarina

Yarina contains drospirenone 3 mg and ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg. The components of the product do not affect metabolism, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and therefore do not provoke weight gain. But some women are recommended to lose weight to reduce the production of their own estrogens and improve hormonal levels.

Yarina is recommended for those who have given birth, and can also be used for polycystic ovary syndrome. The price of a package with 21 tablets is from 1020 rubles.

Belara

An oral contraceptive for acne based on ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg and chlormadinone 3 mg. Belara is a cheap birth control pill that costs an average of 560 rubles per monthly package.

The dose of estrogen in the drug is high, so the tablets are not recommended for adolescents. They are advised to be used by women with scanty menstruation and intermenstrual bleeding.

Janine

Janine's face and body acne tablets use a combination of ethinyl estradiol and dienogest. They will effectively cleanse the skin and reduce oiliness. This dose of hormones is recommended for women of reproductive age. But Zhanine birth control pills cannot be used for contraception and acne treatment by smokers over 35 years of age, because this increases the risk of thrombosis and other complications. Price per package from 940 rubles.

Regulon

Regulon tablets consist of desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. The progestin component does not stimulate the production of androgens, but also does not participate in reducing their concentration. Therefore, the drug cannot be used to treat acne.

It has a good contraceptive effect , does not cause weight gain, and does not stimulate skin sebaceousness. The cost of packaging for a month is only 370 rubles. The main indication is protection against unwanted pregnancy and regulation of the menstrual cycle in women with dysmenorrhea.

Dimia

Dimia contains drospirenone and a microdose of ethinyl estradiol.
These acne pills are recommended for teenagers and young women. The price of tablets for a month is 600 rubles. Acne decreases gradually, the pronounced effect becomes noticeable no earlier than after a few weeks. But to maintain the effect, treatment must be long-term. The duration is selected individually, but often it is at least 6 months. The course cannot be interrupted, as this will lead to relapse of acne.

Claira

These are the best birth control pills for facial acne, which are recommended for older women and those approaching menopause. They will not only clean your face and eliminate acne, but also help avoid the symptoms of pathological menopausal syndrome.

Birth control pills contain natural estrogen and dienogest. You can also take them for the following conditions:

scanty menstruation;
vaginal dryness;
poor control of the menstrual cycle on other drugs.

Klaira allows you to avoid the appearance of intermenstrual discharge and regulates the duration of the cycle. The cost of a package of contraceptives starts from 1000 rubles.

Lindineth

Available in two versions - Lindinet 20 and 30, which corresponds to the dosage of estrogen in the drug.
The second component is gestodene at a dosage of 0.075 mg. The androgenic properties of this combination are minimal and are detected only in experiments and pharmacological tests. But Lindinet is not able to significantly affect the condition of the skin, therefore it is not included in the list of main drugs recommended for acne and seborrhea. Price per package from 400 rubles.

Logest

Logest contraceptive pills have a similar composition to Lindinet. Other analogues in composition are:

Gestarella;
Femoden;
Themiss Ginesta.

This contraceptive drug will not worsen the condition of the skin, can reduce its greasiness, and normalize the menstrual cycle. But it will not help completely get rid of acne. The cost of Logest is from 722 rubles.

Diana-35

The drug Diane-35 was previously used as a contraceptive, but the high dosage of estrogen caused many side effects. Therefore, currently the drug is used only in the following cases:

seborrheic dermatitis;
androgenetic alopecia;
hirsutism;
acne.

The contraceptive dosage regimen is standard; you need to take 1 tablet at the same time every day. But the risk of side effects is higher. Chloasma may appear - pigment spots on the face under the influence of the sun . The risk increases when taken simultaneously with tetracycline contraceptives. Headaches may also occur, blood pressure increases, depression and irritability develop, and libido decreases.

Modell-Trend and Modell-Pro

There are two products in the Modell line of contraceptive drugs that can help treat acne.
They contain the gestagen drospirenone, which has an antiandrogenic effect. The two medications differ only in the dosage of estrogen. In Model-Trend it is 0.02 mg, and in Modell-Pro it is 0.03 mg. Therefore, a gynecologist can choose the most suitable contraceptive for a woman, based on her age and medical history. The cost of packaging is only 295 rubles.

Contraindications

Usually, each drug comes with instructions that clearly indicate all restrictions on use. However, there are a number of pathologies for which any hormonal pills for acne on the face are strictly prohibited, a list of such contraindications:

periodic surges in blood pressure;
excess weight, some medications can aggravate the situation and add additional pounds;
chronic diseases during exacerbations;
severe pain not associated with hormonal imbalance;
decreased libido;
any type of diabetes;
constant swelling of the legs;
cardiovascular diseases, thrombosis and varicose veins;
oncology;
almost all brain pathologies.

Contraindications and side effects when taking ok for acne

It is necessary to choose contraceptives taking into account their side effects and contraindications. Women are not recommended to use the tablets in the following cases:

tendency to thrombosis;
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus;
migraine;
liver and kidney dysfunction;
pregnancy and lactation;
mammary cancer;
arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease.

While taking birth control pills, signs of individual intolerance, intestinal dysfunction in the form of diarrhea or constipation, and allergies may appear. But such effects are rare. More often you can encounter mastodynia, scanty or heavy menstruation, headaches, fluid retention, which requires discontinuation or replacement of the contraceptive.

Types of hormonal drugs for acne

All contraceptives that help against acne are divided into three main groups:

combined oral contraceptives (COCs);
single drugs (mini-pills);
emergency contraceptives.

Each group has differences in composition and principle of operation.

Combined contraceptives

Drugs of the COC group are created on the basis of estrogen and progestin derivatives. The product is effective against acne and also has the following effects :

eliminates inflammation;
reduces oily skin and hair;
relieves facial swelling;
normalizes the menstrual cycle;
reduces pain before and during menstruation;
eliminates the risk of formation of cystic growths and ovarian cancer.

Among the drugs in this group are:

“Janine”;
“Yarina”;
“Rigevidon”;
“Jess”;
“Diana is 35.”

Modern combined contraceptives have a low content of active substances, which reduces the risk of side effects. However, such drugs are not used during pregnancy and lactation, breast cancer, and diabetes.

Mini-pill

These contraceptives contain only progesterone analogues - progestins. This makes the drugs less effective for fighting acne, but allows their use when estrogen is contraindicated.

Drugs in this group are used during breastfeeding, as well as during smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. They also protect against ovarian cancer and protect against inflammation.

Mini-pills are not prescribed:

if contraindicated due to high blood pressure;
pathologies of the vascular system of the head and heart;
breast cancer;
epilepsy;
any form of hepatitis;
cirrhosis of the liver.

Among the drugs in this group are:

“Ovret”;
“Charosette”;
"Mikronor".

Side effects include oily skin. In some cases, mini-pills can even increase the number of acne.

Emergency contraception

Rescue medications are based on a loading dose of levonorgestrel. This substance promotes the rejection of the uterine mucosa, preventing the implantation of the egg. It also induces menstruation, allowing it to be expelled from the uterus.

The tablets are designed for irregular use. Emergency contraceptives are taken within 1-2 days after unprotected sex and are designed to terminate a possible pregnancy earlier.

These drugs are not prescribed for the treatment of acne.

Acne after stopping contraceptives

To completely get rid of acne, a long course of 6 months of treatment is required; doctors recommend extending it for another 3 months to consolidate the effect, and some women take the pills for up to 1 year. It is impossible to interrupt the course of therapy; this will lead to a surge in hormonal activity and worsening of the condition.

To prevent acne from returning after discontinuation of the drug, treatment is supplemented with Metronidazole tablets. They fight infection found in the pores of the skin and prevent inflammation from occurring. During Treatment, you can use zinc ointment to dry out pimples and speed up their healing. Facial cleansing performed by a professional cosmetologist also helps.

We test drugs

As we have already said, the best birth control pills for skin problems are combination drugs. Let's try to evaluate them based on objective parameters.

Yarina

Advantages of the drug:

high quality;
efficiency;
relative safety (less side effects than other contraceptives).

Minuses:

high price;
long-term treatment.

Jess

Advantages of the drug:

due to the lower dosage of the active substance, the risk of side effects is reduced;
more tablets (7 placebo);
convenient calendar for marking your appointment.

Minuses:

high price;
A very common side effect is headache.

Diana-35

Pros of the drug: affordable price.

Cons: less pronounced cosmetic effect.

Janine

Advantages of the drug:

low cost;
pronounced cosmetic effect.

Minuses:

frequent chest pain;
return of acne after discontinuation of the drug.