Getting OFF Birth Control While Acne Prone?

You have time to stop taking the BC now, though I would do so with the guidance of your OB/GYN, and then start working with a dermatologist to get your acne under control IF that is a problem for you before your wedding

I've thought about doing that however no derma has ever been able to figure out why my skin does what it does. I've seen so many different doctors and they all relate it back to hormonal issues now, possible thyroid problems. I'm a mess, haha.

UGH.. this is happening to me right now. I was on NuvaRing for about 2 years. I stopped taking it about 4 months ago and it completely changed my skin. My face used to be flawless and not very oily. These past few weeks I have been so oily and the pimples keep coming! It's out of control. I've started washing my face three times a day with a scrub and using Neutrogena spot acne treatment which helps. It may not seem like the end of the world but it really is hard for me to deal with my face like this. I stopped taking my BC because of weird side effects and my sex drive is like 100% better off of birth control.

It's great to hear that your sex drive is better! That's definitely optimism! This whole acne thing is a huge bummer though because as girls, we notice our skin problems alot even if noone else does.

I religiously use Paula's Choice products which are wonderful. Look into it if you haven't yet. Her acne stuff has worked wonders on my face when I couldn't find any other answers.

I'll look into it. Its true, my fiance barely notices but I feel like a mess.

Wow. Same here. Started back on birth control shortly after I met FH. Sex drive went DOWN DOWN DOWN. I stopped my BC and my face has been insanity. LOL! I don't want to go back on BC but I might have to. Ugh!

I'm pretty sure this is not on the market anymore, but Accutane did WONDERS for my face. It's a crazy, crazy drug that had a ton of side effects, but in my early 20s it basically cured my mild (but persistent) acne

maybe a lower dose of BC would be helpful? Sorry, I guess I'm not helpful

Accutane is mega looked down upon nowadays and they will rarely write you a prescription for it. I'm taking solodyn which is just an antibiotic that helps with acne after a few months of taking it but even that is a struggle to get a prescription!

I highly recommend getting a good skin care regimen in place. Your regimen should include:

1) A gentle liquid cleanser that does NOT contain sodium C-14 olefin sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, which are too irritating (sodium laureth sulfate is fine). Also, avoid washes that are designed for acne prone skin, because they usually are loaded with irritants, and any beneficial ingredients just get washed away. (Irritants can lead to more breakouts because they lead to excess dead skin build up, and also impair the skin's ability to function normally.)

2) A good salicylic acid product. It must have a pH range under 4 to act as an exfoliant, and not contain irritants like SD alcohol 40 and menthol. (Brands put menthol in products for the tingly feeling it gives, which tricks consumers into thinking that they can feel a product working.) There are almost none on the market. Hands down the best salicylic acid products come from Paula's Choice.

3) A UVA/UVB sunscreen.

Also, I suggest visiting http://www.paulaschoice.com even if you don't want to buy the products. It's a great information resource. Paula has a Beautypedia section in which she reviews other company's products. She backs her opinions with research. Furthermore, she has many great articles which address specific skin care concerns. I've taken her advice for years, and my skin looks great! I rarely get breakouts.

Currently I'm using:

1) Olay's Gentle Foaming Face Wash

2) Paula's Choice Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution (with 2% salicylic acid)

3) Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense (SPF 30)

There are other products in my skin care regimen, but those are the staples.

A note on getting off the pill- When I did, a lot of my hair came out. It terrified me, although no one else could notice. Chances are that it won't be too bad for you

I got off BC a couple months ago since i have been on it forever and my acne has gotten worse. I never have horrible acne but its slowly getting worse, my wedding is in 4 months. I just picked up another prescription because i miss my flawless face

I quit my BC about 3 months ago and my skin started breaking out a few weeks ago. However, I know between now and the wedding, there is plenty of time for my skin to clear back up. Come up with a product routine that works for you without using too many products, and let your body do the rest. We have put hormones into our body for a long time, it will take a little while for everything to balance back out.

In addition, it sounds like you have quite a few stressors... that can be a killer for the skin too. See if you can reduce some stress or do some activities that reduce the stress (yoga, massage, meditation, etc)

Solodyn is good shit. I was on it for over a year and my dermatologist made me stop taking it. Apparently if you take it too long you can turn blue.

I use cetaphil and spot treat with benzoyl peroxide and stay away from salycic acid...I think I'm allergic. One thing I've found is that when I exercise regularly my breakouts are virtually non-existent.

I had to go off birth control almost 3 years ago now because I found out I'm at higher risk of blood clots. I'm still having acne issues with my face and never did before. Mary Kay's Velocity set helps me a lot. I was on an antibiotic (doxycycline) and some prescription creams for a while but I stopped using them because they dried my skin out so much it started peeling and I would get sunburned after 5 minutes outside. My mom keeps trying to get me to have acupuncture to treat the acne. I have no idea whether that would work (no way I'm doing it!) but maybe you'd be interested?

Jillian! Don't scrub! Scrub spreads active breakout!

Glad I'm reading this post now. I going to the doc on Friday to probably get off birth control. I have no sex drive on it and FI is basically begging for me to get off it but I've also been getting very bad headaches/migraines and my primary care doc wants me off it because he says he is worried about me having an increased risk for a stroke (which scares me to death-my dad had one two years ago and is still slowly recovering.) but I definitely dont want acne for the wedding! So glad I have till August

Look into the Clarisonic. It is THE BEST THING EVER. I use it twice a day, with my olay face wash and it's fading my scars.

So glad to see that there is other gals out there with the same problem as me!