Contraceptives

After writing about one contraceptive pill (Desogen) for acne treatment in yesterday’s post, today I am going to focus on another brand, the Yasmin (or Yaz) contraceptive pill, which has the same synthetic estrogen hormone ingredient as other combined oral contraceptives but contains a different type of synthetic progestin hormone ingredient called DROSPERINONE that is not based on testosterone. Many acne sufferers would argue that Yasmin is the best birth control pill for acne.

Finding the best birth control pill to treat your acne really is just like finding the best birth control pill to prevent pregnancy- it’s an individual affair and one brand cannot universally claim to be ideal for everyone. The effectiveness of a birth control pill for acne treatment depends on how much MALE hormone (androgen) you produce and subsequently, how much oil (sebum) your skin produces. As I stated yesterday, this is the reason why one brand of birth control pill can be extremely effective or in some cases, just not be compatible with the level of androgen being produced in certain women so their acne seems to get worse. Ethinyl etradiol is the synthetic estrogen hormone in contraceptive pills that affects the level of androgen.

If you take a closer look at the YASMIN (Yaz) contraceptive pill, you’ll see that it is a low dose, combined, monophasic oral contraceptive pill that, when prescribed to protect against pregnancy, comes recommended for its for reduced side effects but Yasmin (Yaz) also has a following with acne sufferers. Why? Because this low dose birth control pill, unlike other combined oral contraceptive pills, contains DROSPERINONE, 3mg to be exact, that appears to have an excellent effect on skin and hair.

Another benefit of Yasmin (Yaz) contraceptive pill

During the first half of your menstrual cycle, estrogen produces water in your body and the natural progesterone helps your body to get rid of it. The synthetic progestin in all other contraceptive pills is based on testosterone and does not eliminate water, hence the tendency to put on weight and feel bloated. The synthetic progestin hormone, drospirenone, in Yasmin is less likely to have this effect.

If you decide to switch to the Yasmin (Yaz) contraceptive pill from another brand, YASMIN (Yaz)  should be started on the same day that a new pack of the other brand of oral contraceptive pill would have been started.

Precautions

Yasmin (Yaz) contraceptive pill may increase your potassium levels so READ MORE about the possible side effects and warnings when taking Yasmin then have that thorough chat with your doctor to see if it will be OK for you to change over, (especially if you are currently on other types of medications) There’s also a link on that page that will take you to a site that supplies Yasmin at the best on line price. Yasmin does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases but you knew that didn’t you?

Yasmin (Yaz) Contraceptive Pill is claimed by many women to be the best birth control pill for acne following a decade of good results. It may be that you have never contemplated taking a contraceptive pill for acne, especially if you are not sexually active so as always, no matter how desperate or embarrassed you are about your acne symptoms, discuss your options with a health professional after reading this or any other DIY research information.

PS. Tomorrow I shall explain in simple terms the differences between pill types including monophasic, biphasic, triphasic and combined .

It is widely known that the birth control pill is often prescribed for the treatment of women’s acne but do you REALLY know what causes acne, WHY the birth control pill is prescribed for this condition and which is the best birth control pill for treating acne? This  post will answer the first two questions, tomorrow’s post will help you to answer the third.

The FDA approved the birth control pill for the treatment of acne  in 1997.  If you are considering asking your doctor for one of the popular brands of birth control pills such as Desogen  and Yasmin, there are some facts you should know, especially if you have certain health problems or inherited medical conditions. I’m going to deal with each pill, one post at a time.  This post will deal with Desogen, the next one will address Yasmin, which seems to have a bigger following for acne treatment, due to one MAJOR change of ingredient.
What exactly is Desogen and How does Desogen treat acne?

Desogen is an oral birth control pill that contains a combination of synthetic female hormones to stop an egg being released from a woman’s ovary. If an egg is not released, it cannot be fertilized by a male sperm- so the woman cannot become pregnant. Most women take Desogen to prevent them from falling pregnant but others have found it to be extremely effective for clearing up their acne or significantly reducing breakouts.
Desogen does this by controlling the level of androgen (a male hormone) connected with the production of oil in our skin (from our sebaceous glands). 

Why does acne occur and what does it look like?

On the surface of our skin are little ‘breathing holes’ or pores and ‘pockets’ (follicles) out of which each hair grows. The sebaceous gland in each follicle produces oil or sebum. When too much sebum is produced, these glands become blocked and inflamed which results in pimples, ‘zits’ and blackheads - a chronic outbreak is known medically as acne.  In acute cases, these pustules can result in cysts or abscesses that become infected and scar the skin’s surface.  If the production of sebum can be decreased then the acne is usually reduced also.

Why is the amount of oil produced by our sebaceous glands important?

Since the hormone, androgen, controls the release of sebum, it is not surprising that if there is an imbalance in hormone levels, especially during adolescence, then there is going to be an imbalance in the level of sebum produced. Even though contraceptive pills work effectively on acne treatment, they are not ideal for teenagers to take if they are not sexually active (unless they have had a thorough talk to their doctor first).

Desogen and acne is a ‘balancing act’.

Since Desogen affects the level of the androgen hormone within a woman’s body, it follows that every woman’s body will be operating on varying levels of hormone production so, to some degree,  it is trial and error with a contraceptive medication  such as Desogen for controlling the level of sebum produced and therefore controlling the severity of her acne. It is for this reason that Desogen can be extremely effective or in some cases, just not be compatible with the level of androgen being produced in certain women so their acne seems to get worse.  Ethinyl etradiol is the synthetic estrogen in contraceptive pills that affects the level of androgen.

The birth control pill, Desogen, resolves acne conditions in many women

Doctors prescribe Desogen specifically for the treatment of acne in woman they consider suitable for this combination of synthetic hormones. Woman who can take Desogen will find that this birth control pill balances their hormones effectively and is the ideal drug for helping them to manage their acne.

It should be noted though, that no single treatment for acne, including Desogen, should be relied upon to treat this severe skin condition. A dirty skin, make up and bacteria also aggravate acne so topical products, such as lotions, creams and anti bacterial skin cleansers should be considered for use in conjunction with Desogen.

Always consult your doctor if you wish to try Desogen for your acne treatment and tell him which other medications/topical products you are also using.

As with many medications, however, some women find they do experience various side effects when taking Desogen.
Some common side effects include nausea, headaches, slight bleeding, weight gain (less likely with Yasmin) and possible mood changes.
After taking Desogen for three months, many of these effects disappear but you should monitor your body closely and consider a different treatment, maybe switching to Yasmin, if they persist or if they worsen.

The clearly documented risks associated with all contraceptive pills  must be noted for Desogen also, whether taken for acne or as  your preferred birth control method. These risks include stroke, blood clotting and breast cancer (although the contraceptive pill has positive benefits in reducing ovarian and uterine cancer)

Smoking is bad for you anyway but the risks of developing heart disease increase if you are on the ‘pill’.

If you do take Desogen to prevent acne, take it as prescribed by your doctor - even if you save money by buying  it on line

Missing a dose of Desogen or Yasmin will not have such a bad effect on your acne but it will affect your risk of getting pregnant if you are sexually active.
Check the leaflet that comes with the Desogen pack if you miss a pill and of course, if you are unsure as to whether you can two pills on one day, check with your doctor or medical practitioner. To reduce the anxiety or stress further, it would be wise to use additional contraception at this time.

Desogen is ideal for reducing the painful and embarrassing condition of acne in many women but unfortunately it is unsuitable for a certain percentage of woman. It is probably worth trying though as the benefits can be excellent and it is likely that if you keep in contact with your doctor you will eventually find a combination of the ‘pill’ and a topical skin product that will help you through your acne ‘chapter’.

Come back here tomorrow to see what makes YASMIN different from all the other oral contraceptives and why many women would argue that this oral contraceptive, not Desogen, is the best birth control pill for acne.