health related question for girls

ut0pia · Mar 7, 2010

I have a dermatologist appointment tomorrow for my acne, which has started to break out very recently..I was looking at information online about acne causes and the symptoms I have, it looks to me like it may be hormonal, but of course I will find out for sure tomorrow. I know a lot of times doctors prescribe birth control pills for hormonal acne, but I was curious if the dermatologist will suggest that or if I have to specifically ask- I am not even sure if he is allowed to prescribe that to me since I thought only an OBGYN can do that....
I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with BC to help clear up acne?? Did it help? Did your dermatologist prescribe it or OBGYN?

sneakymom · Mar 7, 2010

I know dermatologists use it. The one my kids go to does that.

Both of my teenagers have struggled with acne. My oldest was able to control it with prescription washes. My youngest, the washes did NOTHING.

So in Dec, I was worried she was going to have to go on BC. Instead the doctor put her on Accutane. Which freaked me out at first, but I have to admit her skin is a whole lot better than it was a month ago. Hers is due to overactive oil glands in her face. Sometimes it would get a little worse when she'd get her period- but not a huge amount over what she already had on her face.

Cheryl

emrldsky · Mar 7, 2010

Most doctors will want you to have a yearly pap smear while you're on birth control, but if you've recently had one from your OB, you might be able to talk to the dermatologist about BC and fax the paperwork.

At least, that's been my experience with BC.

Winchester · Mar 7, 2010

I can't help you with the BC pills. But I can commiserate with you. I've not had really bad acne, but you would think that with me being in my 50s, that I would no longer have any problems with flare-ups. Nope, still get them from time to time. Frustrating as all get out.

If your dermatologist can't help you with the BC pills, call your GYN. emrldsky's idea of faxing the info is a good one.

ut0pia · Mar 7, 2010

I had a pap late last year at my GYN, I dont' want to make another appointment with her

I hope BC pills help my acne as far as I know nothing the dermatologist will give me will help except for BC pills and accutane- which accutane is scary to me. Well, I don't want to say nothing will help, but my idea of helping is stopping the break outs, and what the dermatologist would give me is something to make them heal faster, not prevent them.
The strange thing is, at the same time my acne started acting up is when I started to get PMS- I had never had it before in my life, but last time in combination with severe acne right before my period, I was also extremely irritable and crying for no reason- I broke down in tears only because I dropped a towel on the floor in the gym locker rooms last time..
Acne has cleared up since then probably until the middle of my cycle again

pushylady · Mar 7, 2010

I knew someone who was prescribed BC as a young teenager for her acne, and it helped her a lot! It sounds like yours is definitely connected to hormones as it gets worse with PMS. Good luck at the dermatologist.

catlover19 · Mar 7, 2010

I have been on birth control to help acne since I was 17. I tried everything, including accutane. Accutane worked really well but it made my skin very dry as well as my lips, plus I had to go in for blood tests and stuff once a month. As soon as I got off it, my acne came right back. My dermatologist prescribed the pill for me after that, and it completely cleared it up. I was on diane 35, which is a high dosage thats made especially for acne. It is quite expensive though if you don't have a drug plan. I paid $43 (canadian) a month for it. I went off the pill for a while and my acne came right back. I decided to go back on diane 35 and it cleared right up so I switched to aviane because its only $9 a month. It works good too, but for the first month I broke out a bit. I find with this pill that I still get the occasional pimple, where with diane 35, I never got any.

If you have any questions about anything to do with bc and acne, just ask. I will answer any questions you have either in this thread or you can pm me.

ut0pia · Mar 7, 2010

Originally Posted by catlover19

I have been on birth control to help acne since I was 17. I tried everything, including accutane. Accutane worked really well but it made my skin very dry as well as my lips, plus I had to go in for blood tests and stuff once a month. As soon as I got off it, my acne came right back. My dermatologist prescribed the pill for me after that, and it completely cleared it up. I was on diane 35, which is a high dosage thats made especially for acne. It is quite expensive though if you don't have a drug plan. I paid $43 (canadian) a month for it. I went off the pill for a while and my acne came right back. I decided to go back on diane 35 and it cleared right up so I switched to aviane because its only $9 a month. It works good too, but for the first month I broke out a bit. I find with this pill that I still get the occasional pimple, where with diane 35, I never got any.

If you have any questions about anything to do with bc and acne, just ask. I will answer any questions you have either in this thread or you can pm me.

Thank you! I googled diane 35 and unfortunately it's not available in the US

There was a site where you can order it without a prescription but that's just scary to me. Aviene isn't available here either, but I think that one is similar to Yasmin which also is said to clear up acne. I will see what happens tomorrow

catlover19 · Mar 7, 2010

Originally Posted by ut0pia

Thank you! I googled diane 35 and unfortunately it's not available in the US

There was a site where you can order it without a prescription but that's just scary to me. Aviene isn't available here either, but I think that one is similar to Yasmin which also is said to clear up acne. I will see what happens tomorrow

Aviane is the generic of Alesse. My doctor actually prescribed alesse but I got generic because I no longer have drug coverage.

Good luck at your appointment. I hope they prescribe one for you that will help.

capt_jordi · Mar 7, 2010

I have been on BC for a long time for acne, mood swings, and my period was so bad I would have to miss school the first 2 days of it, and it would just make me miserable. I have been on a few different kinds because my moms doctor would give me samples to try. I really loved being on Seasonique and plan to go back on it pretty soon. It was so nice only having 4 periods a year and I had no problems with acne what so ever and it definitely helped me stay happy it seemed!

ebrillblaiddes · Mar 8, 2010

I went on the pill to space my periods out right (got tired of being on a short cycle and having to be careful about getting anemic from extra periods) and my skin cleared up really well--I'd never had a huge zit problem, a few every month but nothing cover-up couldn't deal with, but I haven't had skin this clear since my age was a single digit number.

I'm pretty sure any doctor or nurse practitioner (or anyone else who can prescribe, if I'm missing someone) can write the scrip. As far as laws and regulations are concerned, it's just a prescription like any other. A gynecologist or women's health clinic would be more likely to have it on hand so you could get it on the spot instead of making an extra stop.

swampwitch · Mar 8, 2010

I would stay far away from Acutane. My nephew was on it for 3 months when it affected his blood sugar and liver and now he has autoimmune diabetes. Wasn't worth it for him.

ut0pia · Mar 8, 2010

I doubt I even qualify for Accutane, I think the acne has to be very severe for a doctor to prescribe it. Mine is not that bad, at the moment I have one zit- that's it. But a week and a half ago I had like 5-6 very painful ones. They do leave scars though, I still have the scars from the zits from last week.
SwampWitch I am sorry for your nephew that's terrible. I know accutane's list of side effects is very scary.

ut0pia · Mar 8, 2010

I just got back from the dermatologist, I got so many meds- oral antibiotics to take twice a day and a cream and Yaz birth control. I am scared now, so many meds. I feel like it's just too much.

esrgirl · Mar 8, 2010

I took (and now take again) Ortho-tri-cylcen lo, and was prescribed Retin-A cream and tetracylene (sp?) the antibiotic. These things worked wonders! I had cystic acne. I still have some scarring from the acne, but I'm glad I got it treated early, or it could have been worse! My gyno prescribed the Ortho, because I also had endometriosis, and the Dermatologist was very supportive of this. Some pills will help you fight the acne, and others might make it worse or make no difference. Give it a try. I think most women find their acne gets a lot better with the pill.

ut0pia · Mar 9, 2010

I started taking all of the meds today- the antibiotic I was prescribed is docycline and the cream is epiduo. I am really hopeful and I feel much better knowing something is being done about the situation.

that it works!

health related question for girls

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