Is Using the Birth Control Pill to Clear Up Acne Effective and Safe?

For adult women looking to clear up acne and find a contraceptive at the same time, the birth control pill is an effective way to handle both issues without additional prescription medication. You can prevent pregnancy and get rid of acne with one pill but is a last resort. Birth control should never be taken during pregnancy, much like many prescribed medicine options for cystic acne, and following directions is key to avoid potentially serious complications.

Tips For Good Skin Care First

Before considering pills, good skin care is the first step to clearing up stubborn blemishes. The best cleansing regime includes a gentle cleanser, a mild toner and a moisturizing cream or lotion twice daily to maintain your skin’s natural balance. There is no cure for acne but using an over the counter three-step treatment such as Exposed (I do not recommend Proactiv, even if it is endorsed by celebrity users), is effective to treat pimple problems and keep them from coming back. If you find Exposed is a cause of dry skin, more sensitive skin becomes smooth and blemish free with an adult acne treatment from Dermologica. Nature offers remedies such as tea tree oil, green tea and emu oil for sensitive and ethnic skin to avoid leaving a spot or scar from harsh treatments. Lesions that do leave scars can be minimized with photodynamic therapy rather than using a cosmetic to cover them up. A healthy, well-balanced diet also promotes more attractive skin.

A Secondary Remedy After All Else Fails

Using a low dose birth control pill with female hormones such as estrogen and progestin is a secondary remedy after you have exhausted all of the leading over the counter treatments to no avail. Hormones can cause aggravated breakouts and using a pill such as Yasmine or Levulan can sometimes help clear up the skin and prevent future flareups by controlling hormones. However, common side effects such as serious depression are a reason to immediately stop using this method of controlling breakouts and find an alternative from a naturist or dermatologist.

Using a skin care system such as Exposed or Dermalogica is safer and often more effective than taking the risk of using birth control to clear up blemishes.