How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Hi everybody,
I am thinking of starting Ortho Tri-cyclen in a few days (period is coming up)....
About a month or so ago, i went on Alesse and it wreaked havoc on my face.
I'm pretty convinced it was Alesse itself that caused the trouble.
I'm hoping not all birth control pills will do this to me.
I hear there is an initial breakout from any birth control pill? How bad is the initial breakout, and how long does it last?
I ask this because I'm hoping that Ortho Tri-cyclen does not do to me what Alesse did.
I took it only for two weeks because my skin was terrible!
I could deal with an initial breakout, but not to the point of making my acne from mild to moderate-severe!
Any comments would be appreciated.
I'm so scared of the first few months - I hear at about 4-6 months, the acne usually clears somewhat.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Granted, I'm on topicals which help a lot. But the most I've broken out when starting the pill (which I've done like 4 or 5 times) is a zit or two. My dermo says it takes 5 months to see improvement.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by chyna_dawl
Hi everybody,
I am thinking of starting Ortho Tri-cyclen in a few days (period is coming up)....
About a month or so ago, i went on Alesse and it wreaked havoc on my face.
I'm pretty convinced it was Alesse itself that caused the trouble.
I'm hoping not all birth control pills will do this to me.
I hear there is an initial breakout from any birth control pill? How bad is the initial breakout, and how long does it last?
I ask this because I'm hoping that Ortho Tri-cyclen does not do to me what Alesse did.
I took it only for two weeks because my skin was terrible!
I could deal with an initial breakout, but not to the point of making my acne from mild to moderate-severe!
Any comments would be appreciated.
I'm so scared of the first few months - I hear at about 4-6 months, the acne usually clears somewhat.
My daughter cleared in the first month of ortho-tricyclen and that was cool but then she broke out in month 2 and it got worse and worse until she quit in month 4 when she started accutane. It got really bad. We didn't want to stick around for 6 months to see what would happen. She was going to stay on it but I didn't want it to still break her out when she went off the tane.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Thanks for the comments...
I'm so scared my acne is gonna get really bad like with Alesse.
I'm pretty sure it was that particular pill however.
I heard it is pretty androgenic.
I'm just hoping my initial breakout isn't horrible - since the reason I want to go on it is to CLEAR my acne (not make it worse).
Arrrrggghh... this is so frustrating.
Wish this acne would just go away.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
I know how you feel! I'm about to start Yasmin on Sunday and I'm kinda sketched out about the whole "initial breakout period". I've been on 100mg a day of Spiro for about a month and a half, and my face is slowly getting better (still getting pimples, but at least they are smaller) and I don't want Yasmin to mess that up! And yes it is beyond frustrating, I've been doubting that my face will ever get better.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
i just started yasmin a week and a half ago and im also concerned about this initial breakout the special few get. I know its pretty soon to tell a difference i guess, but, i do notice that my face is alot calmer..although i got two "almost" new zits but i use the proactiv sulfer refining mask as a spot treatment at night and it totally makes them go away!(but thats a different story though, ill probably write about it in its own thread) so anyway, it makes me/everyone on b.c. a bit uneasy because i dont know when to expect this breakout if im going to get one...its different for everyone so just hope for the best!!
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
I have been on Yasmin for 3 months, and honestly, I have never had more pimples at once in my life.
On top of this, my thick hair is falling out like crazy.
I am going to the doctor on the 20th to see if this is supposed to stop anytime soon.
I am trying to be patient, but it's getting very frustrating!!!
BTW.. Results vary. Yasmin may work well for you. Try it out yourself before letting someone else's experience change your mind.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
I'm so scared of trying any birth control pill now....
Arrrrgggh - i can deal with the nausea - but the severe breakout?
Thats the whole reason I want to go on the pill - to avoid getting more acne.
How frustrating.
Alesse killed my face - went off it after two weeks - 1 month later, my skin has still not healed much.
I'll probably try Ortho Tri-cyclen.
If that doesn't work...... I don't know what other options I have left.
Accutane is a no says the derm - I went on it once already.
It kept my skin clear for about 1 1/2 years.
So frustrating.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by chyna_dawl
I'm so scared of trying any birth control pill now....
Arrrrgggh - i can deal with the nausea - but the severe breakout?
Thats the whole reason I want to go on the pill - to avoid getting more acne.
How frustrating.
Alesse killed my face - went off it after two weeks - 1 month later, my skin has still not healed much.
I'll probably try Ortho Tri-cyclen.
If that doesn't work...... I don't know what other options I have left.
Accutane is a no says the derm - I went on it once already.
It kept my skin clear for about 1 1/2 years.
So frustrating.
please dont get down too much!! the breakout dosnt always happen to every one...im trying yasmin right now because its one that ive heard many good things about on the boards...but still some people say it didnt help them...im trying it anyway...its only been 2 weeks but havent noticed anything bad yet...im just wondering when this breakout usually comes, but i hope it dosnt.
you should probably try the Ortho one or yasmin, if the Alesse didnt work one of these might...there all slightly different
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Ive been on ortho-tri cyclen for a week now to help with my acne. I really dont think i have had a "breakout" from it although i do have one big zit but that may not be from the pill. Im so happy that i havent felt nautious or anything from it like everyone says. I suggest taking it at night possibly before you go to bed-it lessens side effects. Just a suggestion to possibly help you. good luck. let me know how it goes-ill keep you updated too.
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Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Just something I found while surfing the net....
The difficulty with birth control pills is similar to a pregnancy -- the first trimester, or the first 2 months of the pregnancy, or the first 2 months on the birth control pill the acne may flare up. The last trimester, or the 5th and 6th month of the birth control pill, the acne may improve because the estrogens have become dominant. However, 90 days after the pregnancy or 90 days after the birth control pill is stopped the acne may flare up again the same as it was before the birth control pills or even worse. The difficulty with birth control pills and acne is it is a temporary solution that doesn’t stop the acne, just creates a window and a hiatus of the acne that may flare again, often when the birth control pills are discontinued. With that in mind it is good to use a topical skin care program along with the birth control pills, and to speed up the topical skin care program when you discontinue the birth control pills, then continue on for several months with the skin care program to make sure there is no flare-up of the acne.
MAYBE THAT EXPLAINS WHY WE BREAKOUT WHEN STARTING OR GOING OFF IT...
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
That's pretty interesting info. I'm 3/4 the way through a pack of generic ortho tricyclen - I got a few zits at the beginning, but getting a few zits is normal for me. I should be getting my period in a little over a week, and my skin looks really good. I looked at it this morning and was impressed!
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Does spiro cause an initial breakout?My acne is quite mild at the moment so i don't want to make it worse.I just want to stop breaking out at all and hopefully spiro could do this but i'm afraid of it making it worse!!!
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Hey everybody,
I hope I get my period soon - I'm so frustrated.
My acne keeps getting progressively worse - had to drop the topicals because they were aggravating my skin even more.
Why am I still breaking out?
It's been a month since I went off Alesse.
So I guess my next option is trying Ortho - and sticking with it.
My body is so sensitive to hormones.
Its incredible how sensitive my body is.
Anyways, I don't feel like seeing my boyfriend..... he has never seen me like this.
I don't know what to do......
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by chyna_dawl
Hey everybody,
I hope I get my period soon - I'm so frustrated.
My acne keeps getting progressively worse - had to drop the topicals because they were aggravating my skin even more.
Why am I still breaking out?
It's been a month since I went off Alesse.
So I guess my next option is trying Ortho - and sticking with it.
My body is so sensitive to hormones.
Its incredible how sensitive my body is.
Anyways, I don't feel like seeing my boyfriend..... he has never seen me like this.
I don't know what to do......
Frustrated and upset
i totally know what you mean when you say you dont feel like seeing your boyfriend....but please, dont let it stop you...the worst move you can make is hiding from your boyfriend when you think your skin looks bad, because before you know it, youll be hiding next time, and the time after that and pretty soon you will rarely see him and even worse; when the time comes when he eather accedently sees you/or has to see you when your skin is broken out, it will be harder for you to face him..--(sorry, run on sentence)
but its so true, and i only say it because thats what i did and i really wish i just wasnt so embarassed for him to see me when my skin is not so good..im trying to get more comfortable with it, but i wouldnt have to if i just started from the begining... ..maybe you can just tell him its because of the imbalance from getting on/off birth control....he wont judge you or love you less i promise.. he might even be of some comfort if he sees it bothers you.....and dont get your hopes down something is bound to work
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
Since I've started my birth control my skin has never been so bad! It's to a point where I've called into work because putting makeup on just makes it look worse! I am so sad about my skin.. Used to I would be so self concious about a small red spot but now... Oh my... That little blemish looks NOTHING compared to what my skin looks like now. Going in public is not an option for me right now. And calling into work has become frequent.. My body is very sensitive as well. Another thing is the weight gain.. I've always been stick thin due to a very blessed metabolism but now my sides are packing it on and I have become so embarrassed... It is Valentines week/weekend and my boyfriend will be in town but I am considering telling him that I am too sick to see him just because my skin just looks horrible. I've cried many nights over this, shamefully. Fortunatelly I have learned that green tea seems to help quite a bit. I drink about 3 glasses a day and apply the warm tea bag on my skin throughout the day. But all I can really do is not take the pill and see where my skin goes from there. I also found out that my mother had the same issue with breakouts when she first started birth control. I feel relieved to not be the only one.. But i still find myself thinking, "Why me?" Good luck to all of the women out there who have the same problem. Just remember, No one is perfect and crap happens, lol. God Bless.
Re: How bad is the initial breakout from birth control pills?
when i was put on BC along time ago,i was actually put on Ortho Tri Cyclen for my skin because i had terrible breakouts,acne,etcc..and so it totally cleared my skin like right off the bat now even until today its perfect,clear and has never broke out since i been on Ortho.its deff a miracle pill for me but...im wanting to come off it to get pregnant and i have been on it forever and im so scared my skin will start breakin out but good luck to you and remember,everyone is different but wish you luck on it..god bless..
