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Original poster

Has anyone taken Dianette for acne?

22 replies

ErickBroch · 06/10/2019 20:33

Hi all! I am on my first month of the Dianette pill for combined contraception and for acne. I don't have cystic acne, but spots everywhere still mainly around my lower jaw and cheek area.

Anyway - I just wondered if anyone else has used it for this purpose and when/if they saw changes? Thank you!

OP posts:

FatherFintanFay · 06/10/2019 20:36

When I was a teenager. It took about three months to show a difference but it did work well once it had kicked in.

sofiathe2nd · 06/10/2019 20:38

Yes, it worked great for acne but had the most godawful impact on my mental health

Laquila · 06/10/2019 20:40

I took it for years back when I was late teens/early twenties, for acne and birth control. It worked well but eventually NHS GPs got cautious about prescribing it due to the DVT risks, so I went to a lovely doctor in Hendon who didn’t ask any questions 😳 in retrospect that was perhaps not v responsible. TBH I thought it was no longer prescribed now.

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AryaNoOne · 06/10/2019 20:40

I used to take it for acne and painful periods. It was great for both, especially my skin. My doctor won’t prescribe it any more as I started getting migraines (assumed to be unrelated but contraindicated) and I miss it! Like a PP it took a while to kick in for acne but I saw big improvements once it did.

Original poster

ErickBroch · 06/10/2019 20:43

Thanks everyone I really didn't expect so many replies! I was on the depo injection for 3 years and loved it but was not good for my acne and flared it up all the time - seemed to get worse as it went on too. I still haven't got periods back yet but I am not looking to have a baby any time soon so no problem there.

Glad to hear it helped with skin! I am aware of the DVT risks and discussed them thoroughly with my doctor and the signs and symptoms of an issue - thank you all :)

OP posts:

slowco4ch · 06/10/2019 20:57

It worked fantastically for me. The only thing I'll say upfront and previous poster said expect an impact on your mental health. Specifically first 10 days of cycle. Once you get past 3 months it usually eases but worth knowing! I think these days they'll only allow a year max, I was on it for 3 years.

OakElmAsh · 06/10/2019 21:01

Is that not removed from the market? I was in it for 10 years (for PCOS not acne) but I had to come off it in 2013/4 as it was no longer recommended in France where I was living at the time... Will look and try to dig out why...

Original poster

ErickBroch · 06/10/2019 21:03

Thanks all - mind feels pretty good currently, I did have that issue with microgynon30! Will keep an eye on it.

@OakElmAsh I am aware it is not on the market everywhere in Europe, but is in the UK. I have done a lot of research on it so honestly thank you for letting me know but I have read a lot about it and am very conscious of looking out for any signs of DVT.

OP posts:

Queenoftheashes · 06/10/2019 21:07

Not dianette but went from depo to Lucette which is a low androgen pill (think this is similar to dianette properties) and it completely cured my acne. Used to get regularly huge cystic acne on jaw and neck. Was grim.

SunshineAngel · 06/10/2019 21:11

Not Dianette, but I started on Yasmin about 18 months ago.

I struggled with my skin for years, the GPs tried everything bar birth control (which they told me WOULD NOT WORK, and they wouldn't prescribe it to me because they are a Catholic practice. I can link to their website if you need proof of this - as friends are often disbelieving when I tell them that's even legal!)

I got into a r'ship so needed birth control for that reason last year, so I get it from Lloyd's online pharmacy.

It wasn't even what I got it for, but within 4 months my skin was completely and absolutely clear - at the grand old age of 28, after struggling terribly for 14 years, and it ruining what should have been the best years of my life.

Ionacat · 06/10/2019 21:11

Yes I took it for acne, it worked really well - took a while but then was ace. (In hindsight, I’d had a gradual reduction as the acne was very much hormonal related.) I had no side effects either.

bananamonkey · 06/10/2019 21:13

Yes when I was 18 for a good few years, it was a miracle for my really awful acne. I had perfect skin for the first time! Things might have changed but when I was taking it it was no longer being prescribed as a contraceptive, only for acne with contraception as a bonus. Also it wasn’t something you could take long term so after a couple of years I changed to Femodette then tried various ones since. I had no issues with it.

OakElmAsh · 06/10/2019 21:15

@ErickBroch wasn't trying to scare monger at all, I didn't realise it was still on sale in the UK
And while I was googling I see there was a later legal challenge to the French ban, so I don't know if that's still in place
I do remember being told when I started on it that it's effects on PCOS symptoms (which I had) and acne symptoms (which I didn't) would take 9-12 months to become visible... that turned out to be true for my PCOS symptoms

honeybunlatte · 06/10/2019 21:15

I took it for several years, had a very funny turn on it (thought I was having a TIA) and now suffer with terrible migraines and cannot take the combined pill ever again. Go with caution. It's has been linked to quite a lot of strokes in young women.
On another note my skin was lovely while I was taking it. But is just as bad as before now I don't.

tappitytaptap · 06/10/2019 21:15

Yes years ago and found it worked really well but like other posters was told it was no longer licensed for acne.

Lighteninginabottle27 · 06/10/2019 21:16

Not directly related to your question but along a similar line I've developed acne at age 36 probably due to having a coil. I'm tired of the side effects of contraception now and have an appt to ask for a referral to be sterilized. I've recently started Differin cream and my lips are so dry. I take a couple of days off but it's like taking a medication to fix the side effects of another medication etc.

youlittlecharmer · 06/10/2019 21:54

I'm on a generic version now but yes, it works fantastically. I came off it for 2 years while I tried the coil and my PCOS symptoms, including acne, were so bad I gave up on it. Within 4 weeks back on dianette my skin was clearing up.

Grafittiqueen · 06/10/2019 22:00

Yes, it worked brilliantly. It also worked well for my sister's friend.

However I was taken off it as not safe to be on for long.

drivingtofrance · 06/10/2019 22:06

Another option to try for hormonal acne in females is Spironolactone.

It is only relatively recently being prescribed for acne (in the UK at least).

I am now 50 and have suffered with oily, acne prone skin since early teens. Tried Dianette -worked amazingly btw.

I did have a couple of DVTs - although it turns out that I do have a blood clotting disorder anyway so would have been way more likely to suffer problems. I just didn't know at the time.

Spironolactone acts on the testosterone which causes the oiliness. Took me a while to get it - I was referred to a dermatologist who was amazing. Within a few weeks of starting the Spiro my skin was perfect. No side effects. Ace.

Lisa4717 · 28/07/2023 15:50

I went on this pill at 16 for my skin. Stayed on it till 23/24 and my skin was perfect. Now I’m 31 and get the odd breakout but it did wonders for my skin - healthexpress.co.uk/dianette

Laquila · 30/07/2023 17:35

@drivingtofrance Did you get a referral to an NHS derm from your GP?

@Lisa4717 I was on Dianette for years when I was you get - used to get it from a lovely private GP in Hendon, when I think it was already discouraged on the NHS because of the DVT risk 😳

My skins never been as good as each time I was pregnant though - I don't know what that says about me/my skin triggers but I wish I could recreate it.

Mary46 · 30/07/2023 17:49

Yes found it good but think doc had concerns on liver being on that long term. Hard know.. I got coil fitted then. Im.still prone to cysts and boils!! Im 50

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