Which pill for teenage DD2 with acne?

[legohamster]

My daughter has been treated for acne on her back and chest for nearly 2 years now with creams and recently antibiotics as well but we haven't seen much improvement. GP has mentioned trying the pill next time if she doesn't improve and I'm just trying to find out (to get a bit of a head start) which would be most suitable for her. I think she could do with an oestrogen based pill because as well as acne she has become quite hairy and looking online, Jasmine has been recommended to readdress the hormonal imbalances.
Just wondered if anyone has any input or experience. I am also a little confused as DD1 was prescribed Jasmine as she was having very heavy painful periods and swollen tender boobs, the very opposite to DD2.

I was in this situation a few years ago and I would recommend she is tested for PCOS? Just in case they are missing something.
I had acne and was hairy.
I was put on the pill, when in reality that was not the best thing for me.
I hope you don't mind me posting this but I wish someone had investigated me further.

Hope your daughter's acne clears up soon.

Thank you for the reply. How are you tested for PCOS, is it just a blood test? Also, if you don't mind me asking, why was the pill not good for you? Would the pill not be of any benefit if she were to have PCOS?

I'm going back a few years now but I used Dianette and it was great. It cleared up my acne and no side effects.

Dianette for sure. It is the only pill which contains anti-androgens (the hormones that cause spots, hairiness etc). She wont be allowed to stay on it for ages but it will work.

I had my ovaries scanned for cysts and a blood test I think. I seem to remember on top of that it was based on characteristics too. If your GP looks confused by PCOS I would push for a referral. My hospital were great.
Treatment varies, I'm sorry I don't have many answers for you.
The pill just messed with my hormone imbalance and I continued to grow cysts without any monitoring which is not ideal.

And YY to getting checked for PCOS. You need to have been off the pill for about 3 months I think before they can test so worth thinking about before getting a prescription...

If really bad ask your doc for roacatin (not sure if spelt properly) My daughter went on it and it was a MIRACLE for her. We had tried everything and nothing worked. Be warned, it is good but it is a very nasty drug..basically it dries up all moisture etc She had to have hospital tests every month and COULDN'T get pregnant (not that she was thinking of it then!) But it was so worth it, she has, and has continued to have, lovely skin and she was a real mess before.

Dianette is great but I had quite bad acne and tried every antibiotic going before I was finally referred to hosp for roaccutane about 8 yrs ago. Roaccutane was the only thing that really worked and my skin never went back to how it was before.

Thank you all for your input, I think I will need to get daughter checked out for pcos, poor thing, she's had other unrelated health problems recently so really could do without this as well. I've been looking at other threads on this forum related to pcos and have read that diet can help, but I'm not clear on whether that means help with the symptoms or to stop the cysts forming.
Also, do you think it would be better to go and see a specialist (gynea) or stick with GP? (btw, we are in France, don't know what pcos is called in french)

I had awful acne in my teenage years and early twenties. I got very depressed about it and it really affected my confidence. My mum didn't seem to realise how much it affected me so I think your DD is lucky to have you so concerned and keen to help. I went back and forwards to GP for 3-4 years trying every lotion, cream, antibiotic etc until finally someone told me about Dianette. I mentioned it to my GP and he just said 'ok, we'll try it' and after 2 months my acne had totally gone and I had lovely skin. It was great but I can't help wondring why he didn't suggest it to me after my repeated trips and the agony my acne was causing, felt quite angry for a while that I could have been spared that.

Anyway, Dianette worked miracles. Changed my life. I was scared to come off it but after 2 years I moved on to Yasmin which is also good for keeping hormonal acne at bay. Still on it in my late 30's!! Ask for one of these for your DD.