Between Birth Control Pills, Shots and Acne
One of the most common skin
problems, especially for teenage girls, is acne. Dermatologists, or skin
doctors, treat acne, often prescribing specific medications for it, such as
creams, antibiotics, gels, and even birth control pills.
Yes, birth control pills.
You might think that acne is one of the listed birth control
side effects, but now there is evidence that shows that birth control
pills can be used to treat acne. Reason being, both birth control and acne
center around the level of hormones in the body of females, so using this
knowledge, doctors have figured out that certain birth control pills can help
to stabilize hormones enough to cause acne to disappear. Not all birth control
pills are alike, though, so doctors will have different recommendations for
different people.
Birth control pills, also known
as oral contraceptives, are taken every day when prescribed for their intended
use. They contain hormones such as estrogen and progestin, which the female
body naturally produces on its own. Both of them work to stop ovulation, as
well as to stop the female body from releasing an egg, and progestin also
changes the uterine lining to prevent sperm cells from reaching the egg.
The male hormone, androgen, has been shown to have
responsibility in the development of acne in girls, which is where the birth
control pills come in. The way that oral contraceptives work to clear up acne
is by reducing androgen in the female body. When used, they increase the amount
of SHBG (sex hormone binding globulins) in the body. SHBGs prevent testosterone
from converting into dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is what causes acne to
form.
Even though all of the birth control pills work fairly
similarly, each one has a different combination of the female hormones, thereby
causing them to work differently for different people, so make sure to consult
with your dermatologist and get a birth control brands list from them before
deciding which of them you decide to use for your acne.
Birth Control Side Effects
Birth control pills can come with side effects such as
changes in mood, breakthrough bleeding, dizziness, nausea, breast tenderness, a
lower sex drive, and weight gain. Acne, however, is not one of
these side effects. More serious birth control side effects are
possible, including heart problems, certain types of cancers and blood clots,
so make sure that when you take birth control pills, you are getting regular
checkups and doctor’s visits.
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