Birth control pills for women serve dual purpose: preventing conception and treating acne effectively. These pills alter the hormonal levels in the body and can lessen the acne-causing results of testosterone. Normally acne is first observed during teenage when the levels of hormones increase.There is a close relationship between acne and birth control pills. The acne treatments work by regulating the hormonal levels in the body. All the humans possess both male and female hormones. Birth control pills have artificial female hormones- estrogen and/or progestin. These pills are supposed to stop the working of the ovaries that secrete wrong male hormones. This restores the balance between male-female hormone ratio.
Birth-control pills are usually recommended for hormonal acne. Low quantities of estrogen are essential for suppressing the androgens secreted by the ovaries, while the modern versions of progestin agents like desogestrel and norgestimate cause lesser androgenic effects in the body than the older ones. Today only Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Estro-Step have been approved for this purpose, experts state that any low-dose contraceptives are equally effective, irrespective of the formulations. The side effects are usually rare, but in some women there can be brownish blotches, or melasma (hyperpigmentation) on the skin. These can be safely cured by topical bleaching agents.
Birth control pills and acne have their own problematic issues. Acne/ pimple/ zits can worsen by using the birth control pills. Always remember that the acne treatment with birth control pills is just a short-term solution. Talk to your doctor before opting for any acne treatment.