Acne Health Center

Birth Control for Acne

Tips for Maximum Benefit

Use these tips to get the most benefit from your acne treatment:

• Continue taking other acne treatment prescribed by your doctor. An oral contraceptive targets only part of the acne problem.
• Be sure to precisely follow the schedule for taking birth control pills. Doing so provides the maximum benefit and safety.
• Talk with your doctor about possible side effects of the birth control you're considering. These can include breast tenderness, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, or an initial, temporary flare-up of acne. It's important to know what to expect.
• Tell your doctor about any other medications you're taking. Some can interfere with the effectiveness of an oral contraceptive and lead to an unwanted pregnancy. Taking some types of birth control pill together with oral tetracycline (an antibiotic) may make it necessary to use a back-up form of contraception.