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Hormonal Treatment Of Acne With Oral Contraceptives

We all know that acne starts to develop when there is an increase in sebum production due to the effect of androgens stimulating the sebaceous glands. Oral contraceptives work by reducing the effect of androgens on the sebaceous glands, and therefore interrupt the phases of acne formation.

Oral contraceptives contain a combination of ethinylestradiol and cyproterone acetate, which are beneficial for the treatment of inflammatory acne. Besides that, they are effective contraceptives as well. Talking about killing two birds with one stone! The same drug that helps you in family planning can also treat your acne as well.

Hormonal therapy is suitable for adult women or teenage girls who have gone through antibiotics or topical medications but have not seen much result. Doctors will also determine whether the cause of your acne is primarily due to hormonal reasons. As a guide, if you have irregular menstrual cycles, acne flare-ups just before your menstrual cycle, hirsuitism (excessive hair growth), it is most likely you are a suitable candidate for hormonal therapies.

Currently in the market, the more common oral contraceptives used for acne treatment includes Diane-35, Yasmin, Tri-Cyclen, Estelle-35 and Alesse. Their proven effectiveness and long-term safety profile is suitable for various grades of acne in women.

However, women need to be aware of the potential side effects of using oral contraceptives in their acne treatment. Anyone who wishes to start on hormonal therapy must be examined to ensure that they are not pregnant as the drugs may affect unborn fetuses. Other common side effects include headache, fatigue, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, spotting and sometimes, weight gain. These are usually mild and temporary and will resolve after the first few cycles of treatment. A few women may also experience melasma or brownish pigmentation on their skin. This can be separately treated with topical medication.

By: Angela Tay

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