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Birth control pills may seem a strange prescription for acne. But according to medical researchers, birth control pills as a treatment for blemishes is the equivalent of using top acne therapies like benzyl peroxide or minocycline.

There is a simply reason this works. Birth control pills change the level of hormones in the body, including androgen, which stimulates oil production and increases acne.

Since 1997, the FDA has acknowledged this link by approving pills like low-dosage Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Estrostep, Yaz, Ortho Novum and Desogen for acne treatment. In clinical studies, nearly 90 percent of women taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen noticed an improvement in their skin.

The birth control pill solution doesn't work in all cases, however. Successful acne control depends largely on the skin type, hygiene habits, and heredity factors.

Older pills that contain higher androgen levels trigger more acne breakouts. Pills like Levonorgestrel, Norgestrel and Norethindrone have the strongest androgen effect and are known to produce unwanted acne.

The normal risks for birth control pills still apply, too: Weight gain, blood clots, abdominal pain, fatigue, headaches, cysts and breast tenderness, mood swings, yeast infections irregular periods, nausea, depression, heart attacks, strokes and the risk of cancer if you smoke.

Because these risks still exist, doctors recommend using birth control as acne control only as a last option. In fact, many don't prescribe the pills unless all other options have been exercised and have failed.

In at least one case, the drug Diane-35 has been known to lead to the death of a young girl in Canada. She died from a blood clot after taking the drug that is a hormone therapy but not a contraceptive. Diane-35 is not approved in the U.S., but is legally available in most of Canada and Europe.

In clinical studies, Diane-35 has been as effective as oral tetracycline after six months. After testing 1,161 patients, doctors found 192 patients had 100 percent acne improvement after 18 months.

Oral contraceptives as a whole work because they change the natural female reproductive cycle and hormonal patterns. The pills reduce the testosterone levels in the body, which, in turn, reduces the amount of oil secreted by the sebaceous glands. This entire chain reaction lessens the chances of pore blockage in the skin.

The suppressed testosterone level also lessens the occurrence of excessive hair growth in women.

Usually, it takes between six to eight weeks to see improved acne results after starting the pill. Most of the creams dermatologists prescribe for acne work on existing inflammation. The pill, however, is more preventive and helps stop new breakouts.

Sources:
Acne.com
Asso ciated Press Reports
Various Internet Sources

Learn more about this author, Cherryl Floyd-Miller.
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