The Oral Contraceptive Pill – ‘the Pill’
Who is it for?
Some types of oral contraceptive pills combining oestrogen and progestin will help improve acne symptoms in women.
The combined oral contraceptive pill can help women whose acne seems to be partly related to their hormone changes.
All combined contraceptive pills will help acne but one type of oral contraceptive called co-cyprindiol can be particularly useful where sensitivity to androgen hormones is thought to be making acne worse.
How does it work?
Co-cyprindiol contains an anti-androgen (cyproterone), so blocks the effects of androgen – the hormone that causes sebaceous glands to produce too much sebum.
In other types of combined oral contraceptive pill, oestrogen helps reduce the flare up of acne that can occur due to hormone changes around or between periods.
How is it used?
You should use co-cyprindiol or other types of contraceptive pills for four to six months before you notice a significant improvement in your acne.
What are the side-effects?
The side effects of co-cyprindiol and other oral contraceptives include:
- breast tenderness
- weight gain
- mood changes, such as irritability or low mood
- in some patients oral contraception increase the chance of blood clots, this is more common if you smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure and/or have a family history of blood clots