Top 5 most popular hormonal contraceptives for acne, pimples and acne

Have you decided to try contraceptives as a remedy for acne and don’t know what to choose? Especially for this case, the top 5 most popular contraceptives used for skin problems were made.

I’ll say right away that the article does not describe the mechanism of action and nuances of using birth control pills for acne, but if you decide to use such drugs, then you need to know them like the multiplication table! Be sure to read the information on the link.

Do birth control pills help acne?

First of all, a woman experiencing acne goes to see a dermatologist. However, this specialist cannot always help eliminate the cause of unpleasant inflammation. In some cases, the rash appears due to hormonal imbalance. Often such problems arise in the following cases:

• during puberty;
• in pregnant women and after the birth of a child;
• during menopause and menopause.

It is at this age and condition, when hormonal changes often occur, that taking oral contraceptives for the treatment of acne is most effective.

However, you should not immediately run to the pharmacy for birth control pills. Not in all cases, these drugs will help clear the face and body of rashes. You should not take them if acne has formed due to the following problems:

• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• worms;
• problems with the thyroid gland.

Taking birth control pills will help get rid of acne only if the cause of its formation is an imbalance of male and female sex hormones.

Attention! You should not take birth control pills to treat acne without consulting your doctor and passing all the necessary tests.

What to do if hormonal drugs do not work

Despite the high effectiveness of hormonal drugs, they do not always help get rid of skin defects. This often happens if:

• acne is not hormonal in origin;
• the reason lies not only in hormonal imbalance;
• a qualified examination was not carried out before prescribing the drug.

Only a complete comprehensive examination of the body can show exactly where the problem lies. Sometimes, in addition to taking synthetic hormones, auxiliary therapy is necessary, such as:

• taking antibiotics,
• prescribing pre- and probiotics,
• use of external means,
• balanced diet.

With a complex effect on the body, the effect will be noticeable within a few months. Throughout the course of treatment, it is necessary to undergo constant monitoring of your health status. This will protect against the development of diseases that can be caused by hormonal drugs. In case of the slightest deterioration in health, you should immediately stop taking hormones and consult a doctor to find out the cause.

How do birth control pills work for acne?

To understand why birth control pills help with acne, it is important to understand why it occurs during sex hormone imbalances. The female body actively produces not only the so-called “female” sex hormones, but also “male” testosterone, which provokes excessive production of skin secretions. It is precisely because of the large amount of sebum that acne forms, because the pores begin to become clogged with it, and this triggers the inflammatory process. Estrogen, on the contrary, reduces the activity of the glands and reduces the amount of secretion produced.

By taking birth control pills for acne on the face, a woman normalizes the ratio of hormones and female sex hormones are synthesized. That is why contraceptives have the following positive effects:

• pores narrow;
• less sebum is produced;
• oily shine goes away;
• the amount of inflammation decreases;
• the number of acne decreases;
• swelling goes away.

Dermatologists often prescribe oral contraceptives to treat stage 2 acne.

Doctors' advice

Teenage girls who are beginning to be sexually active are advised to take non-combined contraceptive medications. They do not have a negative effect on hormonal balance.

It is forbidden to use antiandrogenic combination products for girls under 19 years of age. Acne appears in 90% of adolescents, but they do not indicate disruption of the endocrine system. Often, secondary sexual characteristics are accompanied by hormonal surges, leading to the appearance of acne on the face.

Typically, by age 18, acne and other signs of hormonal imbalances disappear. If acne forms on the skin even after puberty, then the girl is advised to consult a doctor. In this case, hyperandrogenism is possible. To prevent rashes, it is recommended to take contraceptives on the first day of the cycle.

You can take pills on the second day of the cycle. In this case, the contraceptive effect occurs later. If the patient has not taken the pill, it is recommended to do so as soon as possible. The next reception should be carried out according to the scheme. In the last week of the cycle, you should stop using contraceptives.

You cannot take a break from treatment for more than 7 days. It is forbidden to start therapy several days before menstruation. In the first days of taking the contraceptive drug, a girl may experience a deterioration in the condition of her facial skin, but over time, the acne will begin to disappear.

In what cases is acne treatment prescribed with contraceptives?

Contraceptives for the treatment of acne are prescribed exclusively in the following cases:

• with a stable menstrual cycle;
• women who are sexually active;
• after reaching adulthood.

Since oral contraceptives can cause many side effects, they are prescribed in cases where a girl needs to protect herself from an unwanted pregnancy, while it is necessary to level out hormonal levels and get rid of acne.

Important! Birth control pills can only be taken by women. Men are strictly prohibited from treating acne with hormones.

If girls in adolescence have large areas of rash, then in this case they can take the contraceptive drug Jess. It is one of the safest, with a minimum of side effects and does not stay in the body for a long time.

Causes of acne and ways to combat it

In addition to external influences, there are three most common causes of acne. These include:

1. Allergies caused by problems within the body.
2. Changes in hormonal levels.
3. Infectious process.

The most common reason is hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy or adolescence. The situation is similar with menstruation and even climate change.

The skin situation can be corrected by selecting hormonal medications that are taken in a course. Medicines are prescribed exclusively by a doctor, since self-medication worsens the course of the pathology.

The following groups of medications are prescribed to combat acne:

1. Antibiotics. Allows you to eliminate acne caused by the presence of bacteria. Used in conjunction with exfoliating creams. Treatment lasts at least two weeks, but antibiotics must be selected by the attending physician.
2. Hormonal agents. For the purpose of treatment, medications are used that are prescribed according to gender, age and concomitant pathologies.
3. Special agents that affect the sebaceous glands. The effect of their use is high, but ritinoids have an impressive list of contraindications.

Important! Each drug should be taken only at the prescribed dosage. Before resorting to hormonal therapy, it is advisable to try other, more gentle methods of combating acne.

Which birth control pills are best for acne?

All contraceptives that can be taken for acne can be divided into 2 groups.

Combined - they contain a lot of hormones estrogen and progestin. Contraceptives in this group are quite effective in removing purulent pimples and blackheads, because they suppress the action of male sex hormones (Jess, Janine, Yarina).

Pros:

• reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy;
• reduce the likelihood of the formation of inflammatory foci;
• protect against the appearance of cysts and tumors in the ovaries;
• removes oily shine;
• improve the menstrual cycle, reduce the amount of discharge, eliminate pain during menstruation;
• the chance of getting pregnant is less than 1%.

Minuses:

• the breasts often become enlarged and become overly sensitive;
• often feel dizzy, many girls feel nauseous;
• should not be taken by smoking girls.

People with diabetes, pregnant and lactating women, and cancer patients should not take the product.

Progestin agents. This contraceptive is recommended to be taken to treat acne because it is considered one of the safest. (Mokronor, Ovret, Laktinet).

Pros:

• the drugs are suitable for protection by breastfeeding women;
• the likelihood of developing ovarian tumors is reduced;
• allowed to drink with high blood pressure;
• Medicines reduce the possibility of the formation of inflammatory foci.

Minuses:

• the chance of getting pregnant is higher compared to combined birth control pills;
• can destabilize the cycle;
• in some cases, they increase the oiliness of the epidermis and cause the formation of acne;
• if you miss taking the pill, there is a high chance of getting pregnant;
• sometimes cause migraines, apathy, sleep problems;
• can provoke pain and cramps in the lower abdomen.

Attention! In order to correctly prescribe contraceptives for acne, you need to undergo tests to examine the amount of hormones. This can be done by visiting an endocrinologist. It is strictly forbidden to take these pills without consulting a specialist!

Types of drugs and their features

Only a doctor can determine which drugs are best. Hormonal anti-acne medications are selected in strict accordance with the individual characteristics of the woman’s body and the results of a full examination.

Medicines are divided into two types:

• combined,
• mini-pill.

The first type of drugs is a combination of microdoses of estrogen and progestin. The drug works on the principle of suppressing ovulation. Advantages of the drug:

• acne disappears;
• inflammation and redness of the skin decreases;
• hormonal levels are regulated.

Among the shortcomings are:

• deterioration of health;
• increased sensitivity of the mammary glands;
• there is a risk of intermenstrual bleeding;
• the risk of problems with the cardiovascular system increases.

In addition, the drug has a number of contraindications that should not be discounted. You should not take combined oral contraceptives:

• during pregnancy,
• during lactation,
• tumor in the chest
• diabetes;
• tendency to thrombosis.

Before taking the drug, you should consult a specialist who will assess all possible risks and side effects.

Mini-pills differ from the previous type of drug in that they contain only one type of hormone - progestin. The advantage of the drug is that it can be taken by women with contraindications to taking synthetic estrogen. Mini-pills can be used during breastfeeding. In addition to this, the advantages include:

• can be used for hypertension;
• protect against cancer of the reproductive system.

Flaws:

• not suitable for all women;
• may increase skin oiliness;
• make you feel worse.

Contraindications include:

• diseases of the vascular system;
• breast cancer;
• epileptic seizures;
• liver diseases.

Despite the great effectiveness of hormonal drugs in solving women's health issues, they carry great risks and threats. This is why it is so important to undergo a full examination before starting to take oral contraceptives. Every woman’s body is unique, and it is impossible to predict what effect this or that drug will have.

Names of birth control pills for acne

There are a lot of birth control pills that help with acne. Before you start taking it, be sure to read the contraindications.

Jess

These hormonal contraceptives are considered one of the best: they effectively protect against unwanted pregnancy and remove purulent acne. Its main advantage is considered to be a relatively low content of sex hormones compared to other pills that can be used to cure a rash. Few girls are concerned about side effects. Women who took these pills often complained of occasional migraines. Another disadvantage is its high price. “Jess” costs 1200 rubles.

Yarina

These tablets are very common in Russia. Doctors advise taking them, as they quite effectively relieve inflammatory processes. With their help, you can reduce the amount of secretion released, redness and blackheads go away, and greasy shine goes away. Thanks to the absence of excess fat, acne stops bothering you. The tablets cost a thousand rubles; you don’t need a prescription to purchase them.

Attention! In terms of protection against unwanted pregnancy, this drug has a higher percentage of conceptions than other drugs. Another significant drawback of these tablets is their long duration of action: acne will disappear only after 3 months of taking the tablets.

Dimea

Birth control pills for acne on the face - a generic version of the famous "Jess" - act on the same principle. Among the disadvantages, we can note the unremarkable design; there is no calendar to track the duration and regularity of the cycle. But the cost is lower - the tablets cost a little less than 800 rubles.

Chloe

Effective birth control pills for acne. The price is quite affordable, packaging costs less than 500 rubles. Among the disadvantages of these pills, it can be noted that during use, most women complain of excessive emotionality and tearfulness. In the first few weeks after taking it, the rash will become larger and more noticeable, the lesions will become larger and the redness will increase. This aesthetic defect will go away in a few months, and not a trace will remain of the rash.

Janine

This drug has proven itself well in the treatment of acne. The results from taking these tablets will become noticeable 4-5 weeks after starting use. One of the most important advantages of these pills is the low likelihood of gaining excess body weight. Taking pills will not hurt your pocket; they cost around 500 rubles per pack. Unfortunately, if you stop taking these contraceptive pills, acne will start to bother you again.

Diana-35

The concentration of sex hormones in them is lower than in the above. In other words, you will have to take the pills a little longer, the skin will clear up only after a few months. Before you start taking these contraceptive pills, you should carefully read the possible side effects. These tablets cost around 500 rubles per pack.

Fourth place: Janine

The drug contains two active ingredients: dienogest and ethinyl estradiol. It is dienogest, which the drug contains 2 mg, that suppresses excess testosterone production in the female body .

Advantages of the drug

1. There are rare cases of weight gain when using the hormonal contraceptive Janine against acne and acne.
2. The drug can be purchased for relatively little money.
3. Significant improvement in the condition of hair and skin in general.

Disadvantages of the drug

1. The skin condition may worsen after stopping the drug. This is Janine's main disadvantage.
2. Periodic chest pain may occur.

Using birth control pills for acne

To make it convenient for patients to take contraceptives for acne and to remember the days of taking them, they are packaged in plates that display the days of the month, because regular use is the most important criterion for success in the treatment of purulent acne. You should start taking the pills on the first day of your menstrual cycle. The tablets must be taken every day, at the same time of day. To make it easier to tolerate side effects such as nausea and headaches, it is advisable to take the birth control pill immediately before going to bed at night.

When the girl takes the twenty-first pill of contraceptives, she must take a seven-day break. During this period, the next menstruation should begin. This schedule for taking pills is the same for all types of contraceptives, not counting mini-pills - they need to be taken without taking breaks, because missed days can lead to a reduced concentration of sex hormones, their rapid elimination, and as a result an unplanned pregnancy will occur.

Attention! There are some symptoms, the presence of which is a signal to stop taking the pills and immediately visit your doctor: if you start to worry about sudden jumps in blood pressure, epileptic seizures, constant nausea or frequent vomiting.

Itching of the skin and the formation of rashes or redness should not be ignored. The same applies to heavy bleeding, a sharp deterioration in vision or loss of hearing acuity, painful sensations in the chest during inhalation or exhalation, yellowness of the skin - all these symptoms are considered serious reasons to visit a gynecologist as soon as possible.

Sometimes taking hormonal pills does not give the desired effect in the form of cleansing the skin. Most often, after a few months, women cease to be bothered by the rash. If after 3 months the number of acne has not decreased, you need to look for another cause of acne formation. Most likely, the doctors missed some minor details during the collection of the initial anamnesis.

Advice! It is advisable to combine taking tablets and local application of disinfecting and healing ointments to the epidermis. An integrated approach allows you to improve the condition of problem areas and reduce the number of acne, as well as stop inflammatory processes.

Among women

Acne and hormones in women are interconnected conditions. The hormonal background changes several times during the month and depends on the phase of the cycle. Age-related changes in the body of women occur after 30. Ovarian function gradually begins to fade, and the amount of female hormones in the blood decreases, primarily estradiol.

Estrogens “restrain” the influence of androgens. But with a significant decrease in their concentration, testosterone provokes the occurrence of hormonal acne in women. As a rule, rashes appear on the skin of the face, back, and chest.

Hormonal drugs for women, in which progesterone predominates, also affect acne. Rashes may appear during treatment.

When choosing a drug for hormone replacement therapy, consultation with a gynecologist is mandatory.

After childbirth, there is a significant increase in the level of progesterone in a woman’s body; the amount of estrogen during this period is extremely unstable. As a result, the secretion of the sebaceous glands increases, the consistency of the fat changes and the ducts are blocked.

The rash appears on the neck and chin and lasts for several months. Taking hormonal contraceptives is effective, but when breastfeeding, only a doctor should select a medicine.

Possible side effects

Hormonal pills are quite effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy and the formation of acne, but, unfortunately, long-term use of such pills can provoke the formation of the following health problems:

• in women over 50 years of age, the likelihood of developing breast and cervical cancer increases;
• the likelihood of conceiving a child at fertile age decreases;
• Women who smoke have an increased risk of thrombosis;
• extra pounds appear;
• sexual activity decreases;
• there is pain in the lower abdomen;
• arms and legs swell;
• depression, apathy, and tearfulness occur;
• problems with the heart and blood vessels appear;
• There may be copious bleeding.

If a girl begins to be bothered by these symptoms, it is important to immediately stop taking the pills and visit a gynecologist to get tested to determine the state of hormonal balance. Most likely, after receiving the test results, the doctor will change the dosage.

Some people believe that taking birth control pills will cause more rashes on the body. This phenomenon is indeed common, but it occurs quite rarely. The rash on the skin may worsen if the tablets were selected without visiting a specialist. Most likely, the tablets simply did not work, and you need to select another drug.

Important! To completely get rid of acne, girls need to take hormonal pills for a long time (at least 12 months).

Unfortunately, taking birth control pills for a long time can cause serious health problems. You should not take such drugs without consulting a doctor! During the course of treatment, it is important to regularly visit a gynecologist and get tested to monitor hormonal levels.

When to stop taking medications immediately

It happens that after a full examination, a specialist prescribes hormonal drugs to a woman, which should be ideal, but suddenly her health begins to deteriorate. It is almost impossible to predict the effect of medications on the human body, therefore, as soon as the state of health becomes worse, you should stop taking the drug.

It is important to pay attention to the following symptoms:

• blood pressure surges;
• epileptic seizures;
• nausea and vomiting;
• severe skin rashes;
• yellowing of the skin;
• uncharacteristic cough and shortness of breath;
• malfunction of the nervous system;
• loss of visual acuity and hearing;
• pain in the limbs;
• Strong headache;
• bleeding of any origin.

If you notice at least one of the listed symptoms, you should immediately stop taking the contraceptive and consult a doctor, as delay can cause severe health problems.

Contraindications to the use of contraceptives against acne

Taking hormonal pills is prohibited if you have the following problems:

• age under 18 years (only in case of severe acne, weak drugs can be prescribed);
• pregnancy;
• hepatitis and liver diseases;
• gallbladder diseases;
• allergic reactions to the active substance in tablets;
• During lactation it is prohibited to take combined contraceptives.

Only the attending physician should prescribe hormonal pills, taking into account the girl’s health status, existing chronic diseases and other factors. It is important to consult with an endocrinologist, gynecologist and check the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract before starting treatment. If a woman is worried about gastrointestinal diseases, then there is a high probability that taking hormonal pills will not give the expected results, because it is necessary to treat the stomach or intestines. In any case, it is important to undergo all the necessary tests, based on the results of which specialists will choose the most effective and gentle treatment option with a minimum of side effects.

Retinoids as a replacement for antibiotics

Some of these medicines contain an antibiotic. The purpose of retinoids is to stop the growth of the epithelium and regulate the activity of the sebaceous glands.

Although retinoids are effective, they have a number of significant side effects. It cannot be taken uncontrollably, but the correct dosage reduces the risk of adverse reactions.

Just as in most cases, medications are prohibited from being used during pregnancy or when abusing alcohol.