Hi I just started on the pill this month (tri-cyclen) and although it was supposed to help me with my acne it has worsened the condition by far. I can't remmber any time in my life that my face has been this bad! And I have also been reading some reviews on the pill onlinne and most of them are not good with reagrds to acne.

So I want to stop the pill and try another one. The thing is I'm currently on day 18 and I really want to stop it asap before my face gets any worse. My question is if I stop it today will I still get my period at the regular time? or will it be delayed? If so by how much? Will there be any immediate bleeding from stopping the pill?

Also if any one can recommend any birth control pills that has been good for their acne I would very much appraciate it...I can then talk to my doctor about it.

Thanks a bunch ...a quick answer is appreciated.

Hi I just started on the pill this month (tri-cyclen) and although it was supposed to help me with my acne it has worsened the condition by far. I can't remmber any time in my life that my face has been this bad! And I have also been reading some reviews on the pill onlinne and most of them are not good with reagrds to acne.

So I want to stop the pill and try another one. The thing is I'm currently on day 18 and I really want to stop it asap before my face gets any worse. My question is if I stop it today will I still get my period at the regular time? or will it be delayed? If so by how much? Will there be any immediate bleeding from stopping the pill?

Also if any one can recommend any birth control pills that has been good for their acne I would very much appraciate it...I can then talk to my doctor about it.

Thanks a bunch ...a quick answer is appreciated.


Usually, the acne worses before it gets better. You need to give the pill several months of use before you see improvment. As far as the "acne review," Ortho Tri-Cyclen is the ONLY pill approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne. Of course, this doesn't mean it's the only one that "works," but realize that it is approved for acne treatments.

You really should finish the pack. You don't have to, however, you'll probably have some period irregularity. You might bleed for a few weeks, or you might not get a period for several weeks.

Anyway, I advise that you continue trying the pill. The pill works in treating acne after several months of use. You're simply not giving it enough time. It's not a miracle treatment.

Diane 35 worked fantastic for me. I don't know why doctors don't prescribe this one more often for acne since that's what it was created for. They found out AFTER that it was good for birth control!

If you stop the pill now you will not be protected and you might screw up your period a wee bit. I would call the doctor and explain your situation before doing anything.

GLSheridan, if it was just a worsening of the existing acne or just a couple of new ones I'd understand...but I've had like 8-10 new pimples pop up since I started using this pill. It's just really bad right now.

Kitkat77, How soon did Diane 35 start working for you? did the condition worsen before it got better?

as for my period, it's due on the 29th...how much do you think it might screw it up/delay if I stop the pill today....a couple of days or a couple of weeks? (I'm hoping to avoid the July 15th -20th dates..)

I'm really hoping to see my doctor on Monday..don't have an appointment but i hope she can fit me in!

Thanks for your answers!

I never had acne and then I got off my birth control pill Alesse to lose some weight and within 3 months I had acne! My hormones were so screwed up so I bit the bullet and decided to try OTC lo and it was terrible. My face got worse. So I got off that and started Yasmin because my derm. wanted my to try it out. For the first month I saw no improvement and then the 2nd month it actually got a little worse but by the middle and end of month 3 I only had 2 pimples a week! My acne was never severe but Yasmin is great you just have to be patient. Most of the people who say birth control is terrible for acne didn't try it long enough. Everyone is different though but I hope you find the right pill. If I were you I would try Yasmin it has helped a couple of my friends get rid of acne too.

I think that Ortho Tri Cyclen was first a birth control then an acne treatment. Any acne treatment will make you get worse before it gets better. I was on the patch and my acne was improved after it got worse. I am now on the pill and I still get a breakout a month. Finish the cycle of the pills.

Well I decided to finish off the pack since I was almost done..the acne hasn't gotten better or worse. It's just that I've had acne ever since I can remember and it's never been this bad! even when I've used other acne medication.

Hopefully it'll be better soon...I'm gonna give this pill another month or so and then depending on the results probably gonna talk to my doctor about switching ...

btw another first time pill use question. The suger pills, do I HAVE to take them? it's just to keep the routine going right? no big deal if I miss them or do I have to keep taking them to make it full effective?

No need to take the sugar pills. You are correct that they're just there to keep you on top of your pill-taking routine. They have no effect on the pill's efficiency.