How To Treat Acne Caused By Birth Control

Does Hormonal Birth Control Cause Acne?

Acne is complicated. Non simply are there many unlike causes, but there are many unlike treatments equally well. Adding to the confusion are the mixed messages surrounding hormones and acne: Do they cause the problem, or solve it?

Dr. Robert B. Topham and our experienced team of skin experts at Holladay Dermatology & Aesthetics in Holladay, Utah, are hither to set the record direct, explore the link between hormones and acne, and hash out hormonal nativity command equally a treatment option.

Hormones and acne: What'south the connexion?

Acne occurs when the pilus follicles in your peel get clogged with oil, clay, and dead skin cells. While diet, certain products, the environment, and some medications can contribute to the problem, the underlying culprit is often a hormonal issue — here'southward why.

Although unremarkably called male hormones, both men and women have androgens in their bodies. Since androgens (especially testosterone) are responsible for sebum production, and sebum (a waxy, oily substance) is responsible for clogging pores and causing breakouts — high levels of androgens often pb to acne.

Women, hormones, and acne

Young teens going through puberty often suffer from hormone-related acne because this is a phase of life characterized by an increase in androgens. But girls and women experience hormone fluctuations every month earlier, during, and after their menstrual periods that can cause or exacerbate acne well into adulthood.

If you lot're like most women, your highest androgen level occurs about a week before your menses — so, if you lot tend to suspension out only before yous menstruate, this may be why. Then, during your period, your estrogen level goes up and your progesterone level goes down.

Simply period isn't the only matter that affects your hormones. Stress, medications, and pregnancy can all shake up your "normal" and leave you with a pimply confront, chest, or dorsum.

Practise hormonal contraceptives treat or cause acne?

In full general, hormonal birth control pills are considered an effective treatment for acne in some women. In fact, using the pill to care for acne has been an accepted FDA-canonical exercise for many decades. Here's why it works.

As nosotros mentioned, all women need androgens for their overall wellness (including os and musculus development), merely when they have too much coursing through their veins, their pare gets too oily, their pores clog, and they develop acne.

Only the estrogen and progesterone in oral contraceptives lowers your androgens, calms downwards the sebum production, and decreases your acne breakouts.

Why exercise some women say that the pill acquired their acne?

If you've heard that the pill can actually cause acne or make information technology worse, hither's why. Any time a woman begins to take an oral contraceptive, it takes a while for the regulating effects to kicking in. Until information technology does, your hormones continue to fluctuate, which means that androgens may still rise and lead to acne. Over time, your nascency command pill will do its job and stabilize your hormones and your acne.

Another possible link between an oral nascence control pill and an increase in acne is when the pill contains progesterone only, commonly chosen the "mini pill." In some cases, the lack of estrogen in the pill may allow for college levels of androgens and, therefore, the potential for hormonal acne.

What other treatments are available for acne?

There are several means to fight acne, and finding the right one depends on the underlying crusade of your breakouts. Dr. Topham expertly analyzes your skin and diagnoses the blazon and source of your acne, and then he can customize a treatment plan that addresses your unique symptoms.

He may recommend:

Topical treatments
Antibiotics
Birth control pills
Drainage and extractions
Laser therapy
Light therapy

If you've tried every product on the shelf and every internet hack out there, but you still can't get rid of your acne, it's time to turn to a medical specialist. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Topham, call our friendly staff today at 801-272-4408.