Acne and Birth Control Pills
Acne is a skin condition that involves the sebaceous glands in the skin. It is not a life threatening disease but it can leave permanent marks on the skin.
There are small holes located in your skin’s surface that are connected to the oil glands underneath. The follicles in the pores connect the glands to the surface of the skin.
It is through the follicles that the sebum that removes the dead skin cells from the skin. Small hairs grow through the follicle leading out of the skin. Acne occurs when the follicles become blocked. So what is the relationship between acne and birth control pills?
Acne generally appears on the face but it can also appear on the arms and back as well. When dead skin cells, oil and bacteria come together in a pore, they create a blockage that will cause swelling and inflammation. This is how acne starts.
Acne and Birth Control Pills
Acne and Oral Contraceptives
What causes acne?
No one is a hundred percent sure why some people suffer from acne and others don’t. The belief is that the underlying cause is related to the hormones in the body. When androgen levels in the body are elevated, the amount of oil production in the sebaceous glands increases as well. Generally speaking, these levels do not increase until puberty is reached. In humans, this typically happens anywhere from the age of 11 to 17. Too much oil can cause an influx of bad bacteria growth. Acne has been linked in the DNA of family members. Chances are if one or both of your parents had acne then you will too. Some other causes of acne are products that are too heavy for the skin, improper nutrition, and toxic medications.
Treating Acne
There are several different ways to treat acne. You can purchase acne medicines from many different retail stores. Acne medication is available over the counter and in prescription form as well. It is best to know what skin type you have before you purchase any products to self-treat your acne. It is recommended that you start with the lowest prescription strength and work your way up to stronger ones if need be. You may have some discomfort initially when starting a new acne treatment such as redness and soreness; however, these symptoms often disappear with regular use. If you are suffering from a severe case of acne and the store bought remedies do not work, go see your doctor or dermatologist. Prescription medications used for acne treatments come in many different forms, such as gels and lotions. The dermatologist will take a complete analysis of your skin condition and prescribe what is best suited for you.
Acne and The Pill
One way many women are successfully combating their acne and preventing pregnancy at the same time is with birth control pills. Birth control pills have hormones in them that regulate other hormones that naturally occur in a women’s body. Birth control pills are generally not prescribed as the frontline treatment for acne. They are given after other treatment methods have been tried and have not improved the condition. In most cases, birth control pills are prescribed in addition to other acne medication. Birth control pills contain progestin and estrogen. These hormones change the female reproductive cycle and hormone levels. Birth control pills reduce the amount of testosterone inside the body, and improve acne that is triggered by hormones. When testosterone production is decreased, oil production is reduced. So there is a link between acne and birth control pills.
It is important to make sure you are taking the right combination of birth control pills if you are trying to improve your acne. Some birth control pills can aggravate your acne and make it worse. It is also important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise proper clean hygiene when working to prevent acne breakouts. I hope we have demistified the whole subject of acne and birth control pills.
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