Going back on the pill due to acne?

[ByDreamyMintNewt]

Hi,

After my third child was born in 2024, my husband had a vasectomy and I haven't been on birth control since. However, I'm struggling with my skin.

I always had acne as a teenager and in retrospect it only really cleared up when I went on the pill at 19. I'm not covered in acne, but am getting spots pop up fairly regularly and also generally feeling oily in the day and have some rosacea. I use various products and look after my skin and use azelaic acid which helps a bit, but still look nowhere as clear skinned as when I was on the pill.

Is my only option to go back on the pill? Will I ever be spot free again otherwise?

Thanks!

Try Skin + Me first. I gave in and got a prescription for the pill after 2 years BC free due to my very painful hormonal acne.

As it was hormonal, I had rejected a 6 month prescription of antibiotics, wrongly assuming it's hormones right, couldn't be bacteria?

I couldn't bring myself to take the prescription to the pharmacy (PMDD, definitely made worse by hormonal contraception in my case) and start all over again.

Decided to try Skin + Me, had tried dermatica in the past but didn't get the right treatment. Skin + Me prescription had an antibiotic, azelic acid and can't mind the other ingredient. 4 months treatment was all it took to totally clear my skin. Massive difference after 2 months. Stopped after 5 months as I'm not the best at sticking to routine.

I did try skin and me before, but I think they just gave me niacinamide and azelaic acid. I was breastfeeding at the time though, maybe they could prescribe me something stronger now that I'm not?

Thanks for the reply.

I feel like I should have put my age in the original post too in case it's relevant. I'm 36.

you need to find out the cause of the acne.

A condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome is often responsible for acne in adulthood and if you were to see a dermatologist they should check to see if you have PCOS. The pill may help in that it has anti androgenic qualities so that will calm
the skin and redness down.

Thank you. I know that 'bad skin' just seems to run in my mum's family - all pale afflicted complexions. I'd be surprised if I have pcos as I've always conceived easily and don't put on weight easily (those are the symptoms I've heard of before being associated with it!) but I would like to know if there was an underlying cause beyond unlucky genetics though.