Do Birth Control Pills Affect Acne?

Many doctors prescribe birth control pills to female patients as treatment for pimples. It's an effective and usually safe remedy for hormonal acne, but it's not a cure. In some cases, birth control pills may be combined with other medications to be most effective. Like other treatments, birth control pills may have side effects and are not appropriate for all cases.

Causes of Acne

The causes of acne are much less mysterious than is suggested by the hundreds of wives' tales. It's caused by overactive sebaceous glands. These glands produce a substance called sebum. They are regulated by several different sex hormones (androgens), including testosterone. Too much testosterone overstimulates the sebaceous glands, producing an abundance of sebum. The extra sebum clogs pores, leading to whiteheads and blackheads.

Hormonal Acne

While all acne is caused by changes in hormone levels, the term "hormonal acne" refers to a specific type of acne that is associated with a woman's menstrual cycle. Some women notice that their acne breakouts are directly related to certain times in their cycle. Like clockwork, their skin will break out either just before or during their period. By regulating the hormones, it's possible to control the frequency and severity of acne breakouts.

Estrogen and Progestin

The most common ingredients in contraceptive pills are estrogen and progestin. These two hormones suppress the production of androgens by the ovaries. The concentration of the hormones varies from one brand to another. The most popular brands in this category are Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Estro-Step. Both are approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat acne and are very effective.

Anti-Androgens

In addition to the contraceptive pills, doctors often prescribe anti-androgens to treat acne. These drugs are designed to inhibit androgen production and decrease the effect of androgen on sebum production. Spironolactone is a popular brand of blood pressure medication that also suppresses androgen production. It can be very effective at treating acne.

Side Effects

Like all other drugs, birth control pills can have side effects. These include weight gain, nausea, diarrhea, changes in appetite, breast tenderness or enlargement and missed periods. Smoking can increase the risk of side effects, including blood clots and heart attacks. Such serious symptoms are very rare, but not unheard of. If you're going to take an oral contraceptive pills, you may want to consider giving up smoking first.

References

• Acne.com
• National Library of Medicine