Birth Control for Acne: The 4 Best Brands and Benefits - GoodRx
4 Birth Control Pills That Treat Acne: Recommended Brands and FAQs
Written by Megan N. Freeland, PharmD, RPh | Reviewed by Karla Robinson, MD
Updated on March 26, 2024
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Key takeaways:
Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yaz, Estrostep FE, and Beyaz are all birth control pills used to treat acne. They’re also known as combination pills because they combine estrogen and progestin (a form of progesterone).
Combination birth control pills treat acne by lowering the amount of testosterone in the body, which reduces the number of blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.
It usually takes about 3 months for birth control to treat acne, but some people may notice an improvement even sooner.
Progestin-only birth control pills don’t help improve acne. In fact, they can make it worse in some cases.
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Dealing with acne can make you feel frustrated and embarrassed — but you’re not alone. Over-the-counter (OTC) products and prescription medications can help treat acne. In fact, many young women turn to birth control pills to treat their hormonal acne.
If you’re considering birth control as an acne treatment, keep reading to find out how it works, which types of birth control to use, and what guidelines to follow.
How does birth control treat acne?
Birth control works by changing female hormone levels to prevent pregnancy or relieve menstrual symptoms. Estrogen-containing birth control reduces the amount of testosterone in the body. With less testosterone, your pores produce less oil (sebum), which reduces the likelihood of blocked pores that cause acne formation. This results in fewer pimples, decreased acne flares, and less severe acne overall.
The 4 best birth control pills for treating acne
The FDA has approved four birth control medications to treat acne. All of them contain a combination of the hormones estrogen (in a form called “ethinyl estradiol”) and different forms of progestin. Besides these four brands, your healthcare professional may prescribe other birth control pills to improve acne — as long as they contain estrogen.
In general, most studies don’t show that one birth control is significantly more effective than another one in treating acne. But there might be differences depending on the type of progestin in the pill. More research is needed to see if this is a consistent difference.
Since the four birth control pills approved for acne work about the same, the one you choose often comes down to personal preference. Keep in mind that it may take some trial and error to find the one that’s best for you. If one doesn’t work, another one may be more effective.
1. Ortho Tri-Cyclen (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol)
Ortho Tri-Cyclen (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol) was the first birth control pill to be approved to treat acne and is available in generic forms. It contains a progestin called norgestimate, which may be slightly less effective for acne than drospirenone (the progestin in Yaz and Beyaz).
2. Yaz (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol)
Yaz (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) contains a progestin called drospirenone. For some women, it may be more effective against acne compared with norgestimate (the progestin in Ortho Tri-Cyclen).
In addition to acne, Yaz is also approved to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of premenstrual syndrome.
Yaz is also available in generic form under several other names, including:
Nikki
Gianvi
Loryna
Drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol
3. Estrostep FE (norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estradiol/ferrous fumarate)
Estrostep FE (norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estradiol/ferrous fumarate) is available with different doses of estrogen and contains the progestin norethindrone. Brand-name Estrostep FE is no longer manufactured, but generic forms are available. Estrostep FE also provides a small amount of daily iron supplement (ferrous fumarate) to lower the risk of developing low iron levels.
4. Beyaz (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol/levomefolate)
Beyaz (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol/levomefolate) is the newest birth control to be approved for acne. It’s also used to treat PMDD. It has the same form of progestin as Yaz and is available in generic form.
How long does it take birth control to work for acne?
Once you start using birth control for acne, it takes some time for your body to get used to the new hormone levels. One drawback is that your acne may flare before things get better.
This is only temporary and should improve as your hormone levels adjust.
You can expect your acne to improve within 2 to 3 months of beginning birth control pills (for some people, it takes just a few weeks).
When is birth control recommended for acne treatment?
Birth control pills can be effective against all types of acne, including blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammatory acne. Your healthcare professional may recommend trying birth control for acne treatment when other options like topical acne creams and oral antibiotics have failed.
They may also suggest using birth control along with other treatments to get better results. Since birth control is relatively safe, your healthcare professional may recommend it before other acne medications with harsher side effects, like isotretinoin (Accutane).
Depending on the brand of birth control, you may need to be at least 14 to 15 years old to use birth control for acne. And you must have already started menstruation.
Who can’t take birth control for acne?
There are some health conditions that make taking estrogen-containing birth control potentially dangerous. You may not be a good candidate for birth control pills to treat acne if you have a history of:
Smoking and you’re older than 35 years
Blood clots or a blood clotting disorder
Diabetes with kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel problems
Heart disease
Liver disease
Migraine with visual changes (aura)
Vascular disease
What are common side effects of birth control pills?
As with all medications, birth control pills come with some common side effects. But, in many cases, changing the dose or type of birth control pill can help. It may take some trial and error before landing on the ideal birth control pill for you.
These are the most common side effects of birth control pills:
Nausea
Changes to your period
Sore and swollen breasts
Mood changes
Spotting between periods
Decreased libido (sex drive)
It’s common to experience some side effects when you start a new birth control pill. In most cases, these side effects are manageable and fade over the first few months of taking the pill. If you’re experiencing severe side effects that get in the way of day-to-day life, speak with your healthcare professional. With so many options for birth control and acne treatment, it’s very likely you’ll be able to find something that works for you.
Can birth control pills cause acne?
Sometimes, birth control pills can cause acne, but it depends on the type and can vary from person to person. The birth control pills that help with acne are known as combination birth control pills. They combine estrogen and progestin, and they don’t typically cause acne. Some people can notice an increase in breakouts though, depending on how your body responds to the pill.
Some birth control pills have only progestin. “Mini-pills,” or progestin-only pills, like Camila (norethindrone), don’t work against acne. Certain progestins, like the one in Camila, are also chemically similar to testosterone. Without estrogen to help lower testosterone, the progestin can increase testosterone activity. And this may actually cause or worsen acne.
How do you treat acne caused by birth control?
For some, no treatment is needed for acne caused by birth control. It can improve or resolve within 6 months as your body gets used to the hormone. For those who don’t improve, there are several therapy changes to consider, such as:
Change birth control types. If you’re on a progestin-only pill, changing to a combination birth control might help. If you’re on a combination birth control pill, try switching to another one.
Change birth control method. If you’re using a hormone-releasing intrauterine device (IUD), research shows acne may be more likely. Changing to a pill could be helpful in reducing acne.
Add spironolactone. If changing your birth control isn’t an option, adding spironolactone might be helpful. Up to 85% of people have a decrease in acne lesions while taking it.
Starting a good skin care routine. Avoid using products with heavy oils, and harsh exfoliants. These may irritate the skin, leading to more acne.
Can you get acne after stopping birth control?
It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it’s possible to get acne after stopping birth control. That’s because birth control can affect your testosterone levels. Once birth control is changed or stopped, your testosterone levels might increase causing an acne breakout. This can take up to 8 weeks to develop and may not happen immediately.
The bottom line
For some people, birth control pills are a great treatment for acne. They’re effective against all types of acne and can be used alone or with other treatments. Birth control pills approved for acne work by lowering the amount of testosterone in the body. This can result in fewer pimples and less severe acne overall.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yaz, Estrostep FE, and Beyaz have all been approved to treat acne. Other brands may also be effective. Choosing the right birth control for your acne may come down to personal preference. You may also need to try a few brands before finding the one that works best for you.