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For women, the decision to take oral contraceptives is a personal one, with many reasons factoring into their decision. Some women opt for hormonal birth control simply to manage their acne, a method that has proven to work in some cases at least temporarily, but it also carries number of potential severe adverse effects. Using OC as acne remedy is according to FDA regulations OFF LABEL what means it has NEVER been tested for this applications and ling term site effects have not been established. So do you know why and how “pill” seems to help with acne at least for some women? And what happens once you put down the pill?
Acne is the result of a hormonal imbalance, which is why many people notice increased symptoms at certain times of their lives and many women even at certain times of month. Is it puberty, or monthly period, after the baby or during the perimenopause…women get acne..The function of certain hormones can directly affect the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum, an oily substance that travels through the pores to help skin function in a healthy manner. When these hormones are out of balance, they can cause the sebaceous glands to produce too much sebum, which may clog pores. Combined with dead skin cells, dirt and debris, these oil-clogged pores create bacteria, which often results in an inflammatory reaction, which appear on the skin as pimples.
In order to keep acne from forming, the relationship between hormones and the sebaceous glands must be a harmonious one. Many people use birth control to treat acne toforced this relationship even if temporarily..
To put it simply: hormonal birth control provides for more estrogen in women system and since the hormonal culprit in overstimulating sebaceous glands are androgens (testosterone- and yes women produce testosterone too as men also produce estrogen just in a different amount.) this “ extra estrogen “ balances” “extra” androgens in yiur blood and forces the balance in those hormones levels. This reduces the impact of androgens on the sebaceous glands, thereby improving acne. Like pretty much anything in life, however, there are good and bad aspects that come along with the use of birth control to treat acne. And remember this balance is “ force” and temporary…
The Pro: Hormonal birth control will reduce the amount of pore-clogging oil that is created.
Birth control increases globulin, a protein found in the blood that bonds sex hormones, such as testosterone, an androgen. Because testosterone directly affects the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum we want to keep testosterone levels as balanced as possible in order to keep those glands from going haywire. Taking birth control that contains estrogen or progesterone will lower the amount of androgens produced by the body, which results in less impact being made on the sebaceous glands, and ultimately, acne.
The Con No. 1: Your acne will likely return as soon as you step away from the pill.
When many women begin taking oral contraceptives (OC’s) they witness an acne flare up due to the influx of hormones being delivered to the body, and guess what? The same happens when these hormones are taken away. When you stop taking OC's, hormone levels become disrupted, which can then contribute to an acne breakout. Without the high estrogen levels to manage the androgen produced by the body, the sebaceous glands can cause oil-production levels to go into overdrive, which can lead to breakouts. Because birth control impacts the body hormonally, changes in the amount or frequency of that medication can end up affecting the body, and oftentimes the recurrence of acne symptoms is one of the first complaints women have when going off this type of contraceptive.
I The Con No. 2: Long term use of OC carries a number of health hasards
Some immediate side effects are:
If you are currently taking oral contraceptives but are considering going off, you can minimize the impact of this step by adding AcnEase to your skincare regimen several weeks prior to stopping. As your body starts to adjust to the absence of the hormones provided by the OC's, AcnEase will help to reduce any "acne fall out" from cessation of OC's by working as a buffer between these hormones and the sebaceous glands, and will not negatively impact the protection afforded by OC's during this period. In addition to minimizing the negative impact of fluctuating hormone levels on sebum production, the ingredients in AcnEase have natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. This combination of effects is responsible for the ability of AcnEase to prevent new pimples from forming, while treating existing acne, no matter how mild or severe your symptoms may be.
Of course, AcnEase is not intended to be an alternative to contraceptive birth control, but if you are taking oral contraception simply to alleviate your acne symptoms, it is by far the best and safest replacement of pill you can take it easier on your body, and achieve long-term results with AcnEase.
We want to hear from you! Have you turned to oral contraceptives to treat your acne? What was your experience going on, and off? Tell us in the comments!