Acne and Birth-Control Pills

There are two types of birth-control pills, those that contain male hormones and ones that contain female hormones (estrogen). The following describes the differential effects of the two birth-control pills on acne.

Male Hormone (Androgen) Birth-Control Pills: These pills will increase acne breakouts by increasing oil production by the skin*. The advantage of taking these pills is that they have fewer side-effects (such as blood clots and migraines).
Examples: Ovral, Lo-Ovral, Lestrin, Norlestrin, Norinyl

Female Hormone (Estrogen) Birth-Control Pills: These pills will lower a woman’s production of testosterone and thus the skin will decrease oil production. Therefore, these pills will often improve acne.
Examples: Enovid-E, Ovulen (high-dose estrogen), Enovid, Demulen (medium-dose estrogen), Orthonovum, Ortho Tri-Cyclin, Orthocept, Yasmin (low-dose estrogen)

* There are exceptions to every rule. Some women’s acne may actually improve while using male hormone birth-control pills.

**Women will often find that their acne gets worse after discontinuing use of female birth-control pills.