Pimples, especially acne pimples are caused by a
multi-dimensional disease that requires both internal as
well as external course of treatment. While external
skin conditions are addressed by topical applications
like acne creams, gels, lotions, etc for exfoliation and
regeneration of facial tissue, the internal problem that
is mostly caused due to excessive production of hormones
called androgens may be treated with low doses of
estrogen that is available in birth control pills. This
is the precise relationship between pimples and birth
control pills. But, as said earlier, the
multi-dimensional malaise requires multi-dimensional
treatments for a better cure where birth control pill
alone may not be the right answer. Medic, therefore, are
now more in favor of prescribing combination therapy for
antibiotic-resistant acne that refuse
to go away.
Hormonal Acne and Birth Control
Pills
One of the commonest form of pill based
combination therapy for hormonal acne consist of oral
contraceptives with anti-androgen medications that
inhibit androgen production in the ovaries and adrenal
glands that put off obtainable androgen from producing
unwarranted oil production in the sebaceous glands. Some
high blood pressure medications with proven
anti-androgenic properties have been found effective in
tackling acne to a great extent. However, these are not
always side effect-free and may produce menstrual
irregularities, headache and fatigue. Being diuretic,
some of these drugs may induce excessive urination but
worst of all, they may cause feminization of male fetus
and should therefore, be used with adequate caution.
Yet another formulation of combination therapy
consists of birth control pill along with smaller doses
of corticosteroids that restrain inflammation and
suppress androgen production by the adrenal glands.
However, with some acne sufferers, corticosteroids may
produce just the opposite effect by aggravating the acne
unless supplemented with oral contraceptives. In any
case, the doctor is the best judge to prescribe the
right combination therapy for the hormonally induced
acne.
Apart from combination therapy, doctors have also
found that low doses estrogen can also help restrain
androgen production by the ovaries while newly
formulated progestin agents are less androgenic than
their earlier counterparts. There are a few side effects
of pimples and
birth control pills as some women may develop
brownish spots on their skin that are caused by
hyper-pigmentation.
Do Birth
Control Pills Really Work?
In conclusion, it must be
borne in mind that taking of birth control pills for
acne is a personal as well as a medical issue. One
should make herself aware of all the pros and cons of
taking such a decision (pimples and birth
control pills) since it involves side effects
that may include moderate vaginal bleeding, fluid
retention to some degree, skin patches, blood clots and even
breast cancer. All things considered, it is probably a
wise decision not to mix up pimples and birth
control pills. The best alternative is holistic
remedies that can treat all the root causes of acne and
offer a permanent cure. Holistic remedies treat the body
as a whole and are really the best way
forward.
