A: According to the Campus Health Pharmacy, oral contraceptives (OCs or the “birth control pill”) can be an appropriate and effective treatment for acne in some people. OCs lower serum testosterone levels (male sex hormones present in both males and females) in the body which may result in less acne. Topical preparations (i.e., Benzoyl Peroxide 5% or 10%), peeling agents (i.e., Retin A) and antibiotics are also useful for controlling acne. Most patients seeking acne treatment at Campus Health use a combination of treatments such as 1) topical preparations and oral contraceptives, or 2) topical preparations and oral antibiotics. Only severe cases of acne would be treated with a combination of oral contraceptives and oral antibiotics.
A note of caution: If you plan to use OCs as a method of pregnancy prevention and plan to continue taking oral antibiotics to control acne (or for any other reason), oral antibiotics MAY REDUCE the effectiveness of the OC. In order to avoid getting pregnant, it is best to use a backup method of contraception during oral antibiotic use and for one week after oral antibiotic treatment has ended.
If you are interested in finding out more about the use of OCs for acne control or want some advice as to whether OC use is an appropriate solution for you, schedule an appointment with a health care provider who specializes in general skin care. To make an appointment at Campus Health, call (520) 621-9202.
