Birth control pills cause acne

Question

People say that birth control causes acne while others say it doesn't. Some people actually say that it helps with acne. Are there any studies that show correlations between the two?

Comments

It all boils down to your genetics and how your body reacts to the type of birth control that  it is adjusting to, this could be the pill, patch, mud, or injection, among several other options. Typically it would be linked to hormonal acne "some of the most common are Norgestrel, Norethindrone acetate, and Levonorgestrel. It’s also common for women who start taking birth control to have an initial acne flare as their bodies adjust to the hormones. After two to three months, most women find their bodies adjust to the hormones and their skin settles down." (Nurx). So it is not always permanent. Yet there have also been studies that prove some people have the opposite reaction with birth control when it comes to acne "Combination birth control pills and other birth control methods containing both progestin and estrogen have proven very effective in controlling both non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne. The mix of hormones help reduce androgens in the body. This, in turn, reduces sebum production, so pores are less likely to get clogged and acne is less severe, or eliminated entirely."

Answer 1

According to Bioclarity, some types of birth control can contribute to acne, but taking birth control doesn't directly cause acne. Because of hormone fluctuations, "As pores fill up with excess sebum, the oily substance may combine with dead skin cells, debris, and P. acnes bacteria, and begin the formation of a pimple." "Since hormonal fluctuations are a major cause of acne due to increased amounts of androgens, the level of hormones in birth control can affect the frequency and severity of acne breakouts." In conclusion, this is an exaggerated/ misleading statement because birth control doesn't directly cause acne, it just depends on the person's hormone levels.  

https://www.bioclarity.com/blogs/clear-skin/can-birth-control-cause-acne

Answer 2

According to Dr. Anna Klepchukova, intensive care medicine specialist and chief medical officer, Birth control that contains a progestin that has an androgenic effect on your body is likely to increase the chances of acne breakouts. 

Apart from acne, androgenic effects can consist of balding and unwanted hair growth. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several types of birth control pills to treat acne. All of them are combination oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progestin 

Choosing the one best for each individual may require some research on their part and a conversation with a doctor or gynecologist. 

The same birth control could have different effects on different people, just like any other medication. 

Source: https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/sex/birth-control/can-birth-control-cause-acne 

Answer 3

This is all depending on the persons genetics as some people get super bad acne while others naturally don't get as much acne. There are also different types of birth controls that cause different side effects so it's very important to look at the side effects and ingredients for everything you're consuming.

Comments

There are also lots of studies on different birth controls, and you can access some of this information by asking your doctor !

---

What are your sources for your fact-check?

Answer 4

According to the article from Flo, "Different pills have different chemical formulations, and the side effects these chemicals can have can vary from person to person." The article continues on to say that some birth control doesn't contain the same ingredients and that some might contain more progestin or estrogen that can give an "androgenic effect on your body." Androgen is a male sex hormone. 

Flo

The article written on the Westlake Dermatology website by dermatologist Doctor Melinda Conroy, provides 4 types of FDA-approved birth control for acne which are, "Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Estrostep, Yaz, and Beyaz. This shows how not all birth control can help reduce acne and these 4 FDA-approved can be used for this purpose. Doctor Conroy also says that "Birth control pills that contain only progesterone may cause acne." Saying that usually pills that only contain progesterone it leads to higher chances of producing acne as progesterone, "can raise body temperature and increase sweating in addition to increasing sebum production. Combined, this often makes acne worse."

Westlake Dermatology

From the research I did, I concluded that it depends on the type of birth control you take and how your body responds to it is what determines why some people have certain symptoms and some don't such as acne. Also, birth control that contains progesterone can lead to acne developing. If someone is serious about taking birth control to reduce acne or is scared to take it because of the effects, they should try speaking with their doctor and a licensed dermatologist. 

Answer 5

Many medications contain a variety of chemical ingredients, and each person will react differently to these chemicals' side effects. This explains why some people use birth control pills without developing acne, while others do.

The number one health app, Flo, has been recognized for themes like this and has cycle prediction and menstruation monitoring features. They have also investigated this subject, claiming:

 There are many different birth control choices on the market. While they all prevent pregnancy, not all birth control choices contain the same ingredients. Most hormonal birth control contains estrogen and progestin. Different contraceptives use different types of progestin, and each type of progestin can affect your body differently. There are some contraceptives choices that can increase the chances of acne breakouts by containing a progestin that has an androgenic effect on your body. 

(https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/sex/birth-control/can-birth-control-cause-acne)

How each individual's body responds to the contraceptive will differ depending on that person; thus, we can't solely justify birth control as the main cause of acne.

Answer 6

Health line's article adds "Birth control use and acne breakouts are linked, but in most cases it’s for positive reasons". The health line article above provides the information that acne and birth control can be linked, or that chronic acne can be treated with birth control. Nothing was said directly about the birth control pills causing acne. 

However, in Art of Skincare's article titled Acne Lesson 7: Is Your Birth Control Pill Giving You Acne?, the text states "Most forms of birth control can have the potential to cause cystic acne and weight gain in those who are susceptible. Birth control is typically categorized as estrogen or progestin dominant and has varying degrees of androgenic (or testosterone-like) effects." This says that depending on the person and birth control pill they decide to take, it can possibly cause acne. Which means that not all birth controls can cause acne, it depends on the person and kind of birth control pill they are taking. 

https://artofskincare.com/blogs/learn/acne-lesson-7-is-your-birth-control-pill-giving-you-acne?srsltid=AfmBOoqsKEf5VX00Y23YjXITB1_Hc6Df0QuR2JIBRYPdaau0xdyRo5ml

Answer 7

Unlike the clickbait for this article, birth control pills don’t usually cause acne. In fact, the hormones in typical birth control are often used as treatment for acne. 

Dr. Robert B. Topham begins with "Any time a woman begins to take an oral contraceptive, it takes a while for the regulating effects to kick in. Until it does, your hormones continue to fluctuate, which means that androgens may still rise and lead to acne. Over time, your birth control pill will do its job and stabilize your hormones and your acne." With that, it gives some reasoning for why some users claim the pills cause acne. He then goes on to say, "when the pill contains progesterone only, commonly called the “mini pill.” In some cases, the lack of estrogen in the pill may allow for higher levels of androgens and, therefore, the potential for hormonal acne." Again, this may be the cause of people’s distress and opposing views of pill intake. 

In favor of birth control, Natalie Silver explains how it “can be used as an acne treatment in women because it controls hormones. This means that it can reduce the amount of acne-causing androgens in the body." Which supports and reiterates my initial statement. Given this information, it can be inferred that those who are taking birth control may actually benefit from it instead of the opposing claim. Dr. Robert B. Topham agrees, "hormonal birth control pills are considered an effective treatment for acne in some women. In fact, using the pill to treat acne has been an accepted FDA-approved practice for many decades.” That again provides clarity over the reality and connection between acne and birth control pills. In addition, the text deduces that these pills effect acne in a more positive way than the article portrays. 

Despite the title, studies have shown that birth control doesn't always lead to acne but potentially can. Although there are some cases where birth control has that side affect, it is very much based on the kind of pill and person. Thankfully, if someone experiences acne as a result of intake, there are many other options out there with more or less hormones depending on their individual needs. 

https://www.healthline.com/health/acne-caused-by-birth-control#6

https://www.holladaydermatology.com/blog/does-hormonal-birth-control-cause-acne

Answer 8

While the use of birth control and acne has been linked and tied together it is only in regarded for the positives. An article recently created by the healthline recently announced that FDA approved birth control pills have been used to treat acne. However it depends on the type of acne you have since acne could be caused by a hormonal imbalance which birth control can regulate this acne and imbalance. However according to Medical News Today the type of birth control you take can have different affects depending on the acne your treating. In 2012 31 studies were conducted on 12,579 people for the research of birth controls treatment on acne. Study's showed that while some multiple forms of contraceptives would improve significantly improve more acne there are those won't have the same affect. Though while these pills are generally safe they can have some side affects depending on the person.

medicalnewstoday.com

Answer 9

 The claim that birth control pills cause acne is misleading. When looking at the article that it provides tends to lead to the opposite of its claim. The article Can Acne Be Caused by Birth Control? stated, “For women, birth control can be an option for treating acne because it regulates hormones that cause breakouts” (Healthline). For some women birth control pills are a way for them to be able to control their acne and prevent it. The reason they mentioned that birth control pills assist with women and their acne is because of hormones like androgens that both men and women have. That hormone is the main thing that causes teens to have acne during puberty. Bith control controls those hormones that allow acne to be more preventable. It also mentions that different types of birth control pills prevent or cause acne. There are birth control pills that are low androgens that allow you to be able to prevent acne issues. Effect of birth control pills on acne in women | Cochrane also has provided information where they explain why pills do tend to cause acne, but also show the tests are research they have done.

 

Answer 10

https://www.healthline.com/health/acne-caused-by-birth-control#6

https://www.mdacne.com/questions/does-missing-birth-control-cause-acne

https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7002-how-do-birth-control-pills-help-with-acne#:~:text=Birth%20control%20pills%20that%20contain,%E2%80%9D)%20can%20make%20acne%20worse.

all 3 of these articles have a bottom line saying that birth control doesn't cause acne but rather can but used to help control breakout (ance.) however the last article, scripps, states that "Pills that contain only progesterone (the “mini-pill”) can make acne worse." none of the articles state that birth control will be the cause of peoples acne. the information provided from the claim article talks about how when you first start hormones your body may take a few month to adjust to the new hormones. this doesn't state that this will cause acne. it may get worse because your body is adjusting but in the long run taking birth control can help to regulate the ance. all birth control contains estrogen and progesterone hormones that fight against androgens, a common male hormone found to cause acne, but is also present in both men and women. scripps says that "Birth control pills that contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone reduce functional androgen levels, thereby reducing sebum production and acne." The claim that birth control causes acne isn't true in the long run of taking the pill. the data provided also proves that a factor for taking birth control is to regulate and control acne.