How Birth Control and Pregnancy Affect Your Acne- It's Not What You Think
How Birth Control and Pregnancy Affect Your Acne- It's Not What You Think The birth control pill has been a development that has changed the way women live today. It can also lead to pregnancy affect acne which can be quite troublesome. Just as with pregnancy, birth control pills cause hormonal changes which can affect the skin as well as other body systems. In some women, however, the pill can actually improve acne problems. Acne first develops during adolescence, when hormone levels begin to surge. This deluge of hormones causes the sebaceous glands to go into overdrive. They begin producing increased levels of sebaceous oils that often become clogged inside the glands. When the oils can't escape, acne develops. If fluctuating hormone levels within the body trigger an increase in sebaceous oil production, it makes sense then that any time a person's hormone level is altered there's an increased chance that an outbreak of acne will occur. With women, acne flare-ups are common while they are taking birth control pills and also when they become pregnant. Using the Birth Control Pill to Control Acne You probably never thought of the birth control pill as a treatment for acne. In some cases, it is used for this purpose in additional to the birth control and menstrual regulation benefits. Finding the right hormonal mix for each woman may take a bit of trial and error as you work with your health care professional to find the best birth control pill for you. Women who do take the birth control pill and who notice that their acne is getting worse should discuss the situation with their doctor. Different brands of oral contraception have different levels of hormones and one side effect of some brands is an increase in acne. Switching to another brand can bring acne back under control. And that's why women who have moderate but persistent acne sometimes choose to start taking the birth control pill as a way to help clear up their acne. Any women who is healthy, who is at least age 15, who has begun menstruating and who has made the decision to begin using oral contraceptives can discuss getting a prescription for a birth control pill with their doctor. There are several brands that help clear up acne but only one so far has been approved by the FDA for treating acne and that is Ortho Tri-cyclen. It's important to note that taking the birth control pill as a way to treat acne is an option that is best pursued only after all other acne treatment options have been attempted without success. The birth control pill does have side effects and it must be taken exactly as prescribed to be effective. Acne During Pregnancy Women who have become pregnant often report an increase in acne, too. Many changes occur within a woman's body in an effort to properly prepare the body for the growing fetus. The two primary female hormones at work in every woman's body are progesterone and estrogen. During pregnancy, progesterone becomes the dominant hormone, taking on new roles as the fetus develops. But progesterone is more androgenic than estrogen, which basically means it is more like the hormones found in men. Increased progesterone during pregnancy causes the sebaceous glands to produce more sebaceous oils than normal and that is what can cause outbreaks of acne. If it's possible, the best way to handle acne during pregnancy is to realize that it is a short-term problem that will usually go away once the baby is born. If this isn't possible, discuss your options over with a dermatologist who has experience working with patients during their pregnancy. After discussing your situation, the dermatologist will be able to suggest treatment options that'll make you happier with your appearance and that won't harm your baby. In most cases, after the baby is born, a woman’s skin will return to the same condition as before pregnancy. If acne persists after pregnancy, you can ask use acne treatments which are applied to the skin to clear up any residual acne. In severe cases, of course, seek the counsel of your health care professional.
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