Birth control pills for acne?

[kjane]

Thanks for the information. My family doc was really no help so I plan to go to a derm dr. He did offer Ortho Novum to me so I'll give it a shot. I appreciate your input. Are you using anything topically that you would recommend to reduce the redness?

[kjane]

Originally Posted by BorderGirl

In my experience they are no miracle. I've been on Yasmin and it helped a little, now I'm on Desogen. Ortho Tri Lo was awful for my skin.
All in all I've done much better with topicals and spironolactone.

What topicals have you used and what is spironolactone? I've used tazorac which helped after I went through the redness and peeling stages. I still get flaky from those topical things but flakes are better than gross zits. It's funny that I have this problem so severely in my early 30's. My kids took my body, and my face!!!!! UGH!! Thanks for your help! Let me know if you found anything that had a big impact. I know I make things worse by picking and popping when I know I should just leave it alone. I'm working on that issue right now.

[kjane]

Originally Posted by karigirl

what about diane 35? its a birth control pill specifically FOR acne..

Haven't heard of it but willing to try anything. My doctor said when you have hormonal acne theres nothing you can do topically to help. I'm not sure I agree with that. He IS good about giving me a script for anything I feel I'd like to try bc he know's I check out a lot on the net to get info. (Sometimes I feel I know more than he does.) He has a great complexion so I know this isn't his expertise. I gotta get to a derm dr. I hate REFERRALLS!!!!!! My insurance makes you jump through HOOPS to get coverage. Anyway-----Thanks!

[BorderGirl]

I use Differin Cream. I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin and it is the only topical I can use. No peeling or redness and I never get zits with it, but I still have blackheads and some bumps.
Spironolactone is a diuretic that they discovered binds to testosterone so your body can't use it. As far as what your doc said... I definitely have hormonal acne. I have Cushings Disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. But before they figured all that out I was already on Differin and it helped me tremendously.

[tulip75]

Ortho Tri Cyclen worked miracles for me. Nothing really worked before. I took that from 1999-2002. I stopped taking it when I got an IUD, and my skin has been a been an increasing nightmare ever since.