A recent study notes that contraceptives could help heal acne, or could make it worse—it all depends on which type is ingested.
According to the study, the contraceptives’ effectiveness against acne is dependent upon the hormones in their formulation.
In the study, published recently in Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, the authors examined the impact of contraceptives such as hormonal intrauterine devices, the vaginal ring, depot injections, and birth control pills among 2,147 study participants—each of whom were using a contraceptive during their initial consultation for acne, according to a media release from Curology.
The research team suggests, per their research, that hormonal intrauterine devices (such as Mirena) and depot injections (like Depo Provera) worsened acne on average; participants taking oral contraceptives, such as Yaz or Ortho Tri-Cyclen, reported improvement with their acne; and other oral contraceptives (such as Levora, Previfem, and Seasonale) more often did not help with acne or, in some cases, worsened acne.
“Many women make decisions about contraception without knowing the potential effects on their skin,” states lead author David Lortscher, MD, dermatologist and CEO of San Diego-based online skincare provider Curology, in the release.
“These results will provide better information to patients and their doctors as they make decisions about which birth control is right for them, whether they access their birth control prescriptions online via emerging technologies or in a doctor’s office,” he adds.
[Source(s): Curology, PR Newswire]
