Using Birth Control Pills for Acne Control

There are other advantages of birth control pills apart from giving protection against pregnancy. Today many females’ especially teenage girls use birth control pills not only to protect them form being pregnant but cure acne. The birth control pills are beneficial for women who have skin prone to pimples. So the women who have skin problems can always consult a gynecologist rather than a dermatologist.

In 1997 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved low dosage birth control pills for the treatment of acne. There are teenagers who are more prone to acne. According to the severity of the acne the doctor recommends different creams, antibiotics and other strong medicines even birth control pills. The pills can stabilize the fluctuating hormones that cause acne. Therefore doctors and dermatologist often prescribe birth control pills.

Mostly you develop acne during the time of adolescence. It is when your hormones level begins to rise. The sebaceous glands located at the base of each hair follicle produce excess oil. This excess oil combines with dead skin cells and dirt is trapped within the skin’s pores thus forming acne.

Birth control pills are also prescribed for moderate to severe acne if other medications do not cure. The hormone present in the birth control pills prevents acne to form. Most of the birth control pills can be used for the treatment of acne so it does not matter which pill you take. But the duration for the pills to work for the prevention of acne is longer and you have to have patience for that. It takes several months for the birth control pills to show the result. But because of its low dosage these pills are not recommended for birth control.

To take birth control pills for the prevention of pregnancy or the treatment of acne is a personal as well as a medical decision. Before you take such a decision you should be aware of all the facts related to it. Apart from the benefits it also has some side effects such as vaginal bleeding, fluid retention, melasma and depression. These pills also have some risks connected to it such as heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and breast cancer. The smokers have more chances of getting cancer if they take birth control pills. So whenever you take a decision, be clear about all the facts associated to it. Using birth control pills for the treatment of acne is only a temporary solution. It is often seen that women who take birth control pills for prevention of acne find their acne return after they stop using the pills. They also find that the acne have become worse than before.

A combination of estrogen and progestin hormones is present in various combinations in almost all birth control pills. The pills that contain estrogen and progestin hormones with higher androgen, which is a male hormone, are more likely to make acne worse.

In some cases it is seen that the birth control pills control acne but it largely depends on the skin type, hygiene habits and heredity factors.

Tags: pregnancy