Drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Bri...
• June 26, 2013

For Birth Control "My experience with Yasmin has been really well. I didn't gain any weight as some people are saying they did. I had mild acne, and now my face is perfectly clear, give or take a monthly pimple. One thing was that I did get VERY moody the first 2 months of taking it. I was not my usual happy self. I didn't want to be touched, and everything was a problem for me. But after the 2 months, I went back to myself. I've been on it for 7 months now, and I'm very happy with it."

• roy...
• April 23, 2008

For Acne "I have been taking Yaz for about two months now. I stopped taking birth control about two years ago and started to break out with acne horribly. I was on the patch and gained about fifteen pounds. I lost all of that weight and now am 117 lbs again. I was worried that I would gain weight after losing it, so my dermatologist told me to use Yaz. Yaz has been wonderful. I have not broken out severely, maybe one or two on my chin. It is completely fabulous for acne and for birth control."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I'm 3 months in on Nikki after switching from an IUD. Acne is about the same, but that's never really been a huge issue. I still have spots here and there, but nothing crazy. I didn't spot, and my periods (which I didn't have on IUD) are light, regular, and only last 3-4 days. What I really wanted was to clear up my mood swings. Once a month, I broke up with my poor boyfriend. I literally went crazy and couldn't think straight. But since I've started this pill, I've had no issues."

• Emz...
• April 29, 2021

For Acne "My doctor put me on Yaz for post-pill acne and said to try it for 3 months and see how I liked it. It made my skin terrible for the first 2 months. Extreme purging of acne on my chin and jaw. It also made me very emotional. I was so close to stopping taking it, but I wanted to remain hopeful after the 3-month period that things would get better, so I suffered through the purging. I’m just about to start month 4, and I have had no acne for the last 2 weeks, and my skin is almost perfect. I’m stuck with some post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the purging, but concealer can cover it up while my vitamin C serum does its thing. My face feels so soft and completely clear as of right now, and my period is so light with minimal cramping. My insurance covers almost the entire cost of it, so I’ll stick with it for a while and see if it keeps my skin clear! Definitely worth a try if you’re willing to go through the purging for a while, first month or two."

• Sin...
• December 2, 2020

For Acne "I’ve been on this Nikki birth control pill for about 3 weeks, and so far the side effects suck. It makes me feel more depressed, stomachaches, and it’s really hard for me to eat without feeling nauseous. I switched from the birth control Junel Fe, which did nothing for my skin. I’m also currently on spironolactone (have been for 3.5 months), which has helped my skin a lot. However, since switching to Nikki (Yaz generic), my skin has started breaking out like crazy. The zits I’m getting are huge, and some are painful. (I have 4 zits on my face right now that came out of nowhere.) Before I switched, I wasn’t getting these kinds of zits. However, I will say that I have a lot of hope! First of all, I was expecting an initial breakout. Breakouts are a common initial side effect of switching BC pills. From reading other reviews, most people say it gets worse before it gets better. I’m sticking with this. A few months from now, I’ll post an update on here to report on how my skin is doing."

• Joa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I was taking Yaz for almost 7 years, and I loved it! My weight never changed, my skin was beautiful, normal sex drive, no cramps, 3-4 days periods. In 2013, I saw some weird spots on my face, after the consultation with a doc, it turned out to be melasma (nothing dangerous, but it doesn't look good). One of the most common causes is oral birth control. It wasn't the Yaz, just birth control with a higher amount of progestin. I switched to Mirena, and that was the worst decision ever! Acne, mood changes, gained 20 pounds in 3 weeks. I'm going back on the pill this month, and we will see how it goes, I will post about it in about 6 months."

• Ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2021

For Acne "I’ve written on here twice before. Once about 2 weeks after starting Yaz when I started to break out after having perfect skin (I’ve been on Accutane three times, and my skin was finally perfect), and then again at the start of the second pack when things got better... or so I thought. I’m on the third week of my third month, so basically meaning that I’ve been taking Yaz for almost 3 months, and man oh man, my skin has been the worst it’s been while on Yaz this month. I have bumps all around my mouth and jaw, which I understand is hormonal. The texture of my skin is oily and bumpy, and it makes me super self-conscious. I’m giving Yaz three more weeks, and if I don’t see serious improvement, I’m getting off of it and will try something else. Besides the acne, I do like Yaz (no bloating, no weight gain, has helped with my period, which is why I went on birth control in the first place), but I just want perfect skin again. Good luck, everyone!"

• xob...
• July 12, 2009

For Acne "I have taken Yasmin for 4 months. The 1st month had increased acne, headaches, nausea, tender breasts, and slight irritability. Halfway through the 2nd month, skin started to improve and side effects stopped. My period came on the 2nd day of taking the white placebo pill. Usually, the week before my period, I have painful cramps and have to take painkillers, this time there was no bloating or cramps and pain. On the 3rd month, my skin is starting to heal and look a lot clearer, periods are normal and pain-free. Only mild discomfort half an hour before my period starts. Yasmin will make your skin breakout when you first start taking it, but it will start to improve. After I wash my makeup off, I can't believe how clear my skin is."

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2012

For Acne "I had terrible hormonal acne to where I got a new zit or cyst on a daily basis. I never wanted to leave the house, and I could hardly interact with my boyfriend or friends. Yaz used to keep my skin clear, then I stopped taking it because I was afraid of health risks, but my skin was so uncontrollable (even on a raw vegan diet, lots of water, yoga, etc.) that I really didn't care. The first month my cheeks broke out, and I was worried if it would work again, but now, at month three, I can eat chocolate all day, wash my face whenever, and I don't get more than a whitehead here or there that goes away in a day, and it's only getting better. Yay to Yaz! Just give it time!"

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2012

For Acne "I had terrible hormonal acne to where I got a new zit or cyst on a daily basis. I never wanted to leave the house, and I could hardly interact with my boyfriend or friends. Yaz used to keep my skin clear, then I stopped taking it because I was afraid of health risks, but my skin was so uncontrollable (even on a raw vegan diet, lots of water, yoga, etc.) that I really didn't care. The first month my cheeks broke out, and I was worried if it would work again, but now, at month three, I can eat chocolate all day, wash my face whenever, and I don't get more than a whitehead here or there that goes away in a day, and it's only getting better. Yay to Yaz! Just give it time!"

• Vic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Best thing ever. Lifesaver. Game changer. I tried other BC but had the worst PMS (PMDD) - heavy, painful periods, depression, anxiety, and acne, which would lead to skin infections/inflamed skin for 2-3 weeks; I was miserable all month. Once I began taking Yaz, it felt like a veil lifted. Horrible PMS became a thing of the past. Physically, my boobs maybe went up a cup, and my skin cleared up. My periods weren’t as heavy or painful. I didn’t have as much of a sex drive, but for me, being sane was worth the trade-off. For me, the brand name worked best. Hands down."

• Hap...
• January 14, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "So far, it has been good for me. Please understand that everyone will respond differently to any type of birth control. I had severe PMDD. I'm talking about suicidal thoughts and actions during the week of my period. When my period ended, my PMDD symptoms would just disappear (this is different for any woman with PMDD). While on Nikki, I have no PMDD symptoms, I just had regular PMS. Be aware that this state can change from month to month because PMDD is very complex. There was no EXTREME amount of emotional instability for me. This is one of the reasons why I'm ranking it so high. My last birth control gave me acne, and Nikki cleared that up for me within a month. My sex drive is perfectly fine as well. The only thing that I see as a drawback is that I've been having a few migraines with it. But I have chronic migraines, and when I switch, this typically happens for a few months, but then it slows down. Side note: Nikki is generic for Yaz. They're the same birth control."

• Lor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2020

For Acne "I was using Trinessa for 15 years, and it was wonderful. They stopped manufacturing that about a year ago, the pharmacy switched me to TriSprintec. I was on it for 8 HORRIBLE months, where I got cystic acne, which I had never experienced before, on my face, chest, and back. I tried every topical solution and wash, which did absolutely nothing. I was so insecure and thought this was my life now. One of my friends suggested I switch birth controls, and I switched to Loryna. I continued to use acne topical solutions on my skin while using it, so I saw some results, but my skin felt dry and itchy, and I was still getting some new acne marks (although less than before, and they didn’t turn cystic). In the third month, I decided to stop using the acne products to see what the birth control did on its own, and IT WAS A MIRACLE, I literally cleared up in like 4 days, guys. I also had no other side effects on this birth control other than an occasional small headache. Highly recommend this birth control."

• deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Acne "I only took Yaz for 1 month and 1 week and had to stop due to an explosion of pimples on my cheeks and jawline that I never had before, along with severe pelvic and leg pain and severe depression. My hair was also falling out like crazy. I am now 1 week without birth control, and my mood has increased substantially, and all of the side effects went away. Yaz also made me get a yeast infection on my face, resulting in my breaking out in red, bumpy, itchy, burning hives all over my face, making the acne look worse than it actually was. I am now on steroids for the infection, along with an antibiotic for the acne (Bactrim), which I have taken before, and waiting for these to kick in as I’ve only been on them for a week. Moral of the story: Yaz wrecked my face."

• raq...
• October 27, 2020

For Birth Control "So this is my first time taking birth control, and I'm 19, and I'm only starting my second week on Syeda. So far, it has been very bad for me. I already have anxiety, and so far it has made it 100% worse to where I feel like I'm backtracking with my mental health, like I can't control it. My acne is starting to have redness, and I never really had that before, and I'm eating so much. I'm getting my birth control changed ASAP and would not recommend."

• Mer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I've been taking Yaz for almost a year now, and I am very, very happy with it. I have pre-existing mental health diagnoses that were extremely exacerbated by PMDD. About 10 days before my period, I would become absolutely dead exhausted, severely depressed, with constant muscle and joint soreness, and terrible cramps and heavy bleeding during menstruation. All these symptoms are almost eliminated after taking Yaz. As an added 'plus,' most months I don't get my period AT ALL, which is a real blessing. The only thing I wish would work for me is the acne reduction... I still struggle with the cystic, hormonal acne, and Yaz doesn't seem to have helped that. STILL, if you struggle with PMDD, Yaz is definitely worth a try!"

• spe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2016

For Acne "I have struggled with acne since I was fifteen, and nothing I would take or use helped it ever, and I did not want to take Accutane. My doctor suggested I take birth control to help clear my skin, and this has made my skin completely clear, and I'm very glad. I did break out worse for the first three months, but then my skin was completely clear. I did not gain weight, in fact, I lost two pounds at first, and it did make my boobs bigger, and they were sore at first, but nothing terrible. The only problem I have is that it does make me really emotional the week before or the week after my period, but nothing extreme, just irritability, sometimes crying at random things."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2020

For Acne "I’ve done Yaz twice. The first time I did it was a year ago, and I went on it for acne. It worked wonders for one of my friends, but for me, it made my acne so much worse (usually isn’t the case). I had tiny little dots all over my face, they wouldn’t pop, they wouldn’t turn red. It was literally like freckles but whiteheads all over my face. I had no idea it was breaking me out. I thought, “Wow, good thing I’m taking this. I can’t even imagine how much worse my face would be without it.” Man, was I wrong! I stopped for forgetfulness reasons, and a year later, here I am. I started taking it two weeks ago, this time for birth control reasons. My skin has been clear and fine for months, and bam, I got hit with the tiny, impossible whitehead zits overnight. I didn’t piece it together until last week. Back off of it and my skin is great again. Would not recommend!"

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2020

For Acne "I’ve done Yaz twice. The first time I did it was a year ago, and I went on it for acne. It worked wonders for one of my friends, but for me, it made my acne so much worse (usually isn’t the case). I had tiny little dots all over my face, they wouldn’t pop, they wouldn’t turn red. It was literally like freckles but whiteheads all over my face. I had no idea it was breaking me out. I thought, “Wow, good thing I’m taking this. I can’t even imagine how much worse my face would be without it.” Man, was I wrong! I stopped for forgetfulness reasons, and a year later, here I am. I started taking it two weeks ago, this time for birth control reasons. My skin has been clear and fine for months, and bam, I got hit with the tiny, impossible whitehead zits overnight. I didn’t piece it together until last week. Back off of it and my skin is great again. Would not recommend!"

• Jas...
• January 2, 2016

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I started this pill because I was having crazy mood swings and just not feeling like myself at least 3 weeks out of the month. My doctor prescribed me this, hoping it would also treat my acne along with PMDD. Well, the first month was pretty rough as far as my acne was concerned, but it wasn't as bad as I've read in other reviews. I had a few painful cystic pimples within 2 weeks of taking Yaz. I felt really embarrassed because my old pill (Loestrin) gave me clear skin, and I wasn't used to acne anymore. Well, now I'm about to start my 4 inactive pills, and about 3 days ago my skin just cleared up like MAGIC. I read that it takes about 3 months to level out your hormones. But I finally feel like myself again! No more crazy crying fits!!"

• Jas...
• January 2, 2016

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I started this pill because I was having crazy mood swings and just not feeling like myself at least 3 weeks out of the month. My doctor prescribed me this, hoping it would also treat my acne along with PMDD. Well, the first month was pretty rough as far as my acne was concerned, but it wasn't as bad as I've read in other reviews. I had a few painful cystic pimples within 2 weeks of taking Yaz. I felt really embarrassed because my old pill (Loestrin) gave me clear skin, and I wasn't used to acne anymore. Well, now I'm about to start my 4 inactive pills, and about 3 days ago my skin just cleared up like MAGIC. I read that it takes about 3 months to level out your hormones. But I finally feel like myself again! No more crazy crying fits!!"

• mol...
• October 18, 2014

For Acne "I am almost finished with my first pack of Yaz. At first, my acne seemed to be going away, but now it's just getting worse. My cheeks are all red and splotchy. I have huge cystic breakouts on my chin. I have tried everything to make my acne go away. It's gotten to the point where I feel so depressed, and it's all I think about. I'm hoping after a couple more weeks it will start to improve a bit because right now it is terrible!"

• Kat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I regret ever taking this. Took it for 7 years. Everything was great while on it, but I lost about 40% of my hair volume (telogen effluvium) and had severe cystic acne for 6 months after it. On top of that, it messed with my humor. I felt angry and sad for months. It's now 1.5 years since I stopped it, and even though the condition has improved, I still have a long way to go. I had to cut my hair short, and I'm trying to fix the scarring from the acne."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2019

For Acne "I get cystic/pustule acne from my antidepressant (Wellbutrin), and after no other birth control pills helped clear it, he prescribed me Yaz for acne (and pregnancy prevention). The first 2 months were awful, skin-wise. Although it cleared the acne on my back that the last birth control gave me, it made my facial acne sooo much worse. I went from 1-2 painful cysts a month with 4-5 pustules to around 3-4 cysts a week and smaller pustules. I'm on week 2 of my 3rd pack, and it's almost magic how quickly it's all clearing! My weight has stayed the same, and everything else is fine. It gets worse before it gets better!! Hang in there!"

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2019

For Acne "I get cystic/pustule acne from my antidepressant (Wellbutrin), and after no other birth control pills helped clear it, he prescribed me Yaz for acne (and pregnancy prevention). The first 2 months were awful, skin-wise. Although it cleared the acne on my back that the last birth control gave me, it made my facial acne sooo much worse. I went from 1-2 painful cysts a month with 4-5 pustules to around 3-4 cysts a week and smaller pustules. I'm on week 2 of my 3rd pack, and it's almost magic how quickly it's all clearing! My weight has stayed the same, and everything else is fine. It gets worse before it gets better!! Hang in there!"