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Getting off birth control---acne?!
I have been on ortho-tricyclen Lo for the last 11 years. Originally went on it for acne. Now that I'm thinking about stopping it, I'm terrified my acne will come back, and googling all the horror stories is not helping.
I was wondering whether anyone could share their own experience, preferably those in a similar situation- starting because of acne, and how your skin reacted after you stopped. Did the acne come back worse than ever? Did it get bad for a few months then resolved?
I read an interesting post about a girl "weaning" off her birth control pills over the course of 6-7 months by cutting her pills in progressively small pieces (http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php/topic/285993-acne-after-bcp-i-weaned-off-bcp/) and was really interested in doing this. However, she was taking desmogen, which is a steady dose hormone. Ortho tri-cyclen lo is not a steady-dose hormone, so I am not sure I would feel comfortable with that.
Any thoughts or personal experiences will be greatly appreciated!
Re: Getting off birth control---acne?!
I went on the pill for acne...and for sex (who's kidding who here?). I was on for about 9 years and when I went off broke out around my jaw line, chest and back. The only thing that made it "okay" was the fact that it wasn't ALL over the face, only the jaw line (which apparently is pretty common when going off the pill. I started using Neutrogena acne body wash, neutrogena acne face wash and benzoyl cream (just on the acne spots) this seemed to make a big difference.
although then I got pregnant and stopped using all that stuff and things are doing okay (yay pregnancy hormones!)
It's really dependent on you and your history with acne. I've always had acne and am also taking OTC. I still get break outs on it, and when I did stop taking it for a period of time, I didn't notice the acne being any worse because I've always struggled with break outs. (Not awful, just a couple here and there) It will be hard to know for sure what your body will do since every one is different and their bodies will respond in different ways.
Good Luck
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Thank you all so much for your responses. I am still worried, but will try to work on it! Also, I don't think I'll be doing the "taper-down" plan as previously planned. I just think it will be too weird, since Ortho-tricyclen lo is not a steady-dose pill, unlike the one that was used by the woman who endorses this method.
Thanks again!
I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen for about 9 years and when I got off, I started breaking out more. It was so bad that I went back on and it got EVEN WORSE. My face exploded. It was to the point where I was ashamed to talk to people and go outside without makeup (which is not me). I had to go on Accutane to finally calm things down.
I'm scared to go off BCP now, even though I'm on a different one.
I've been trying to continue research different people's experiences and some of the things that help them. One of the things that somewhat promising is Vitex- also known as chasteberry supplements. It's an herbal supplement that is supposed to work to help you even out your hormone levels, and in some people even helps them to conceive. I'm also planning to try this once I go off in May.
I have been "weaning" since 1/1/2012. I have been on Oral contraceptive (OC) for almost 18 years. I tried to get off about 8 years ago and was losing hair and having the worst acne of my life. I was so distraught.
Needless to say my blood pressure has been increasing and that can be hormonally related so I wanted to try again. I could not subject myself to the acne so I started doing internet research and found the link you must have found too.
I am on Zovia and took 3/4 of a pill for two months. Now I just dropped down to 1/2 a pill. I plan on doing that for 2 months and then down to 1/4 for two months and then done! I haven't had ANY break outs!! I will say with this latest step down to 1/2 a pill I am having another period but no ACNE. I am fine with the period (I guess I am just PLAIN VAIN). I also have been using apple cider vinegar after I wash my face at night which has made my skin look great overall. I leave my face wet so it is diluted a bit then rinse it off quickly.
I have been married for 10 years-wow and have twin b/g that are 8. We are using condoms-which suck but for the first time in about 8 years I actually felt a bit interested in sex. My libido has been nothing on the pill so we will see what happens.
I truly believe that OC are terrible for your body and have taken away a lot of how I should be/feel. I am so saddened that I took them for so long...I hope and pray that my weaning will continue to work so that I am OC free by the summer!!
I have not told my Dr. She is not the greatest and less hormones to me= the road to better health.