Birth Control: Tri-Cyclens and Acne Reduction

Acne outbreaks usually begin during puberty when androgens (male sex hormones) are released into the body in large quantities. Androgens are produced by the ovaries in women and can excite the sebaceous glands into over-producing oil, called sebum. Sebum is important because it helps to moisturize skin and hair, but excess production can clog the pores and lead to the formation of acne.

The week prior to menstruation is when women usually see a leap in acne outbreaks. These outbreaks are hormone-related. Stress can also affect the levels of androgens, resulting in further breakouts. One method for managing hormonal outbreaks is using oral contraceptives, specifically ortho tri-cyclens that are FDA approved for the treatment of acne.

Ortho tri-cyclen pills provide advantages beyond just preventing pregnancy (note, Ortho tri-cyclen does not always prevent pregnancy and there are serious risks involved):

• Less acne, iron deficiency anemia, and premenstrual tension
• Periods may become more regular
• Reduces risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers, noncancerous growths of the breast, and ovarian cysts
• May be used to control timing and frequency of periods
• May protect against osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)

Ortho tri-cyclen works in the prevention of acne because it contains estrogen, a hormone that neutralizes the effects of androgens. Because androgens excite sebaceous gland production, the neutralizing effect prevents this from occurring and results in fewer to no outbreaks of hormonally-caused acne.

Oral contraceptives should be taken once a day at the same time each day. 21 of the pills provide the delivery of the hormones and the final 7 are a placebo allowing for the period when menstruation should occur. It is important to use oral contraceptives as exactly directed in order to receive the most benefits.

Another method of contraception, the Patch, works similarly as the pill despite a different method for delivery. It is not approved by the FDA as a treatment for acne as ortho tri-cyclen is. The patch is placed against the skin of the buttocks, stomach, upper outer arm or upper torso once a week for three weeks in a row, and removed for the fourth week.

While long-term research is not available as yet, researchers assume that the patch will have similar advantages to ortho tri-cyclen, including reducing acne outbreaks by neutralizing androgens in the system.

As the body adjusts to hormonal changes created by oral contraceptives, women often experience some side effects, including:

• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness
• Weight gain and/or water retention
• Spotty darkening of the skin
• Mood changes

Side effects usually disappear after 2-3 cycles. If your side effects are bothersome after this time or if heavy bleeding occurs, continue taking your pills and call your physician.

No long-term studies have found disadvantages of using the patch for contraception, but researchers believe that it will have similar negative effects as oral contraceptives. A person should always consult their physician before deciding on which method is best to serve their acne needs.

**Extreme care needs to be taken if you choose to take oral medications as many lead to depression and suicidal thoughts. Those who are prone to depression or who are going through pressing/challenging times in their lives should use only to topical derma treatments. For more treatment options, click here.**

A much safer and topical acne treatment, Dermatologists agree, are three-step acne fighting kits. These are an excellent way to treat acne without the harmful side effects or dangers of oral drugs. A 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide kit is ideal, and we strongly recommend our solution, Tru-derma, as it is backed by all of the research and information on the Acne-Resource Center. Click here to learn more. By doing this, you effectively exfoliate the top dead layer of skin, exposing the bacteria. The second step is generally applying a toner which works to help cleanse the freshly opened pores and exfoliated skin. The last step is a restoring cream made of 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide that works to kill the bacteria associated with acne, and prevent it from coming back.

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