This is a very controversial topic. Birth control is obviously pretty important in the role to plays to prevent pregnancy. However, hormonal birth control problems is a pattern I see in my treatment room all the time when it comes to skin health. It is one of the first questions I ask my clients because it plays such a huge role in our biochemistry. Is your birth control breaking you out?

I hear over and over ladies going on the pill to help their acne problems because they are at a complete loss. Little do they know of the band-aid affect this plays on their skin and doctors will never tell you the detriment to your body’s micronutrients for years to come. Skin health always relates back to (you guessed it) gut health! ?

I went on birth control at the age of 16 to help with severe cramping. Not only did the medicine not help with the cramping, it would isolate 2-3 other symptoms and make them much worse than ever before. By the age of 21 I finally realized that it was not for me and I stopped taking it cold turkey.

*Before I go any further, please understand that this is a very personal decision that only you can make. But, I want to make sure you know every aspect of what exactly happens in your body and most of all, what doctors aren’t telling us.*

I have been diving into women’s health on my segment called Beauty S’cool that I release every Friday to teach as much as I can about skin health (and health in general). I feel it is so important to spread the word about women’s health, our cycles and what is “normal” or not. If you haven’t previously read the blog posts or seen the previous IGTV’s, peek at those so all this makes more sense!

It is so important as a woman to understand what happens in our complex system internally, so the external makes sense. I feel it is my job as an Esthetician to be the “investigator” and dig deeper beyond the surface of the issues. Which is ironic because my job is considered to work on the “surface”. I consider myself to have a more holistic approach to skin and its wellbeing and I look at nutrition, fitness and lifestyle as a whole. Hence the reason I am loving this women’s health series so much?

Types of birth control and how they work:

To make more sense of the types of birth control and basic information, check out this website here. There is some mature content, so please use discretion and be over the age of 18 years.

Androgen vs Estrogen birth control

When it comes to the pill specifically, there are two types. There is a “mini pill” and a “combination pill”. One website says “Combination pills contain both a synthetic estrogen and a progesterone. Together they work to prevent the release of the egg (ovulation) during the monthly cycle. Without an egg, there can be no pregnancy. The hormones also cause changes in the uterine wall, reduce breakthrough bleeding and keep certain hormone levels from spiking. As the name implies, progestin-only (or the mini pill) contains only progestin. It also contains a lower dose of the hormone than the combination pill.”

More progesterone is great for those who are estrogen dominant and need balance. However, for those who already have too much testosterone (aka androgen), this would result in much more oil production and even worse flare-ups. Over-active oil glands and dead skin build up results in the perfect acne storm and clogged pore heaven. Not what we want!

Synthetic estrogen is responsible for the following:

• Preventing the pituitary gland from producing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) so that ovulation doesn’t occur.
• Supporting the uterine lining to prevent mid-cycle breakthrough bleeding.

Synthetic progestin is responsible for the following: 

• Stopping LH production from occurring in the pituitary gland so no egg is released.
• Causing changes to the uterine lining which make it harder for an egg to implant.
• Limit the ability of an egg to be fertilized by sperm.
• Causing cervical mucus to thicken, hindering the ability of the sperm to travel.

These combination of hormones are available not only in pill form, but also as a patch or vaginal ring.

For women who choose to use the progestin-only birth control, they can take this in pill form or in the form of an intramuscular shot, implant or intrauterine device.

Major Differences
It’s important to note that combination pills are more effective for pregnancy prevention than the “mini pill” (or progestin-only birth control). It also prevents breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle more efficiently than the mini pill.

So why would anyone opt for the mini pill? 

Certain woman have a sensitivity to synthetic estrogen and as a result, may not tolerate the combination pill. In these cases, progestin-only birth control makes the most sense. The mini pill is between 87% and 99.7% effective in preventing pregnancies.

The mini pill is also popular among mothers who are currently breastfeeding and do not plan on having another child at that given time.

While combination pills are designed to be taken at the same time each day, it’s more forgiving than the mini pill. A few hours one way or another (while not recommended) typically will not change the efficacy of the combination pill, the mini pill however is much more sensitive. As a result of taking the pill late, early or skipping a dose altogether, it’s more likely that breakthrough bleeding will occur and protection will be breached.

Unlike combo pills, the mini pill only delivers a lower amount of hormone. The cervical mucus (which thickens as a result of the hormone) is only impacted for about 24 hours. This is why taking the mini pill at exactly the same time each day is so important.

When it comes to making the decision that’s right for you, your physician or pharmacist can help you decide. Most women choose the combination pill if they have no negative reaction to synthetic estrogen and are not breastfeeding. Source.

The long term side effects of hormonal birth control for women

The next following information was researched from Alisa Vitti, HHC, who is the founder of Flo Living and wrote the books “Woman Code” and “In the FLo” which I highly recommend. She created an app to track your cycle and understand how to exercise, eat and plan your work according to the phase you’re in. This information comes from her blog with links to all research ⬇️

“A new study on a male hormonal contraceptive injection sparked a discussion this week that drew focus to the kinds of side effects women experience from their birth control methods. The male study participants suffered mood changes, acne, and suppressed fertility post-trial. These side effects were viewed by the researchers, and experts, as reason enough to halt the study completely.

Multiple studies on female hormonal contraceptives have concluded that women do experience unwanted side effects. I was glad to see the reaction this week – women being honest about their experiences, demanding to be taken seriously, and saying “enough is enough.” Women do not deserve these side effects any more than men do. Every year new brands, types, and formulations of hormone-based birth control are released and women are pressured to use them. We are conditioned to believe that suffering is part of being a woman and so we tolerate more than we should, and instead we should have a zero tolerance policy on feeling bad in our bodies.

How many women know that these side effects? Mood changes, acne, suppressed fertility post-pill – are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the negative impact hormonal birth control has on the female body. We are quite familiar with the short term, sometimes near-immediate, negative effects – like bloating, weight gain, mood swings and nausea – but fewer of us are aware of the long term impact of hormonal birth control, the kinds of issues it can be difficult to reverse even when you come off the pill, and can impact your long term health.

1. Damaged microbiome – hormonal birth control acts just like an antibiotic in your gut, destroying the essential microbiome balance. If your doctor prescribes the pill for PCOS specifically, you will find it will only worsen the problems of weight gain and insulin sensitivity, because of the impact on gut flora. Just recently research revealed the pill can trigger Crohn’s, a symptomatic disease of imbalance in the microbiome. The microbiome is a new frontier for medicine, and more and more research is getting published that shows a healthy microbiome is necessary for good physical and psychological health. Repairing a damaged microbiome, while not impossible, takes time. The impact of the pill on the microbiome will last long after you stop taking it without concentrated, focused actions to replenish good gut bacteria.
2. Increased inflammation – if you are prescribed the pill for cramps, PMS, or other common period problems (as many women are), you should know that those issues result from hormonal imbalance and inflammation in the body. The pill does not treat these root causes, but can mask the symptoms you experience. This puts you at higher risk of the big diseases of inflammation – heart disease, cancer and dementia – later in life. You need to tackle cramps and PMS as soon as possible, from a  functional medicine standpoint, with the right food and supplements. 
3. Micronutrient deficiency – hormonal birth control prevents the absorption of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals. It robs your body of B vitamins, magnesium, and vitamin C in particular, which has short and long term impacts on your health. These are essential for hormonal health and can lead to infertility issues post-pill. Once you’re micronutrient deficient, and prevented from absorbing what you need even from additional supplementation, you are set up for poor physical and mental health. It takes a nutrient dense, targeted diet after stopping using hormonal birth control to replenish your body’s reserves and repair the avenues of absorption.
4. Suppressed ovulation – research has shown that consistent ovulation protects women’s long term health, especially when it comes to avoiding issues like osteoporosis, heart disease, heart attacks, and breast cancer (all top killers of women). Hormonal birth control (except, sometimes, the hormonal IUD) suppresses ovulation. Suppressing ovulation for years, decades even, has long term consequences, even if ovulation returns shortly after you come off the medication. Exposure to synthetic hormones plus a lack of exposure to the body’s own hormone cycles is the root cause. Ovulation is important, not just for when you want to conceive.
5. Masked reproductive health issues – the pill is not a real treatment for reproductive health issues – from PMS to PCOS. Hormonal birth control can help manage symptoms for some women, but it is only a band-aid solution. This can be dangerous, because it can mask issues long term, if women are not diagnosed prior to being prescribed hormonal birth control. Once you come off the method, the problems will return and potentially have worse symptoms than before, as well as becoming harder to treat and resolve. It’s better to tackle these problems head-on and not wait until you’d like to conceive or suffer the long-term health consequences.

I know that many women depend on hormonal birth control to avoid unplanned pregnancy, which is why I have already outlined the best non-hormonal contraceptive options.

If you are currently taking the pill or using another form of hormonal birth control, please follow my steps to transition off, as this will help you avoid the negative fall out for your health and a return of any symptoms you may have experienced before.

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!”

So you want to go off hormonal birth control. Now what?

As someone who has experienced this myself and had hands-on experience with many women going through this phase, it may not be easy. Acne flare-ups are real as your body learns how to adjust and regulate itself. It is not a quick process and some people may be affected very negatively. I highly recommend reaching out to an Esthetician before completely going off this birth control and come up with a transition plan for your skin as you phase off the birth control and into cycle syncing. Work with the Esthetician after coming off the birth control to prevent and maintain breakouts should they come your way.

Also try out Alisa’s 4-day detox to help your body gently rid excess estrogen and try out her advice for eliminating estrogen toxicity in her blogs posts. You can even schedule a consultation to speak with a hormone pro here. Check out her video in the link above for steps of how to transition off. Her (and myself) highly recommend taking baby steps, not going cold turkey. This will make the transition much easier!

Ways to use birth control and reduce acne

For some, going off hormonal birth control is not an option. That is a personal decision for you and that’s ok! So how can you pick a contraceptive option that won’t break you out? This is something you will have to talk to your lady doctor about. The good news? You have this information under your belt to better understand the differences listed above for what may be best for you. Ask your doctor alll the questions and if you’re not satisfied, get a second opinion! You know how your body works best.

Try different birth control options and give your body several months to adjust and really see how it works for you. Every pill and type is different, so find what is a good fit for you.

Other ways to prevent hormonal breakouts

Are there other ways to prevent hormonal breakouts? Girl, you know I won’t write a whole blog post and not give you tips! Here they are:

• Get a custom skincare routine specifically tailored for you. Is your skin over-producing oil? You’ll need different products than someone who is dry and flaky.
• In-person skin treatments to exfoliate, maintain and bring balance. What I would have done to have known an Esthetician when I went through all of this! Treatments are the other half of home care products. Us Esthetician’s work so hard to provide the best treatments for you to balance skin and create an ideal environment that acne does not exist in. Trust them and the process and you will be forever grateful.
• Eat healthy and rid your diet of dairy, sugar and caffeine. Nutrition is everythingg. I love this post here. This will change your life! Also, water, water and more water ?
• Move your body and listen to how you feel. Get a 30-min sweat in as many times a week as possible and then when your body says rest, do so. Are you feeling yoga today? Do you feel like you could run a marathon today? Listen to what she’s telling you.
• STOP PICKING at home. Yikes, I said it. Use an extractor and clean tools not your fingers and when your skin is red, just stop! Nodules under the skin are not to be extracted, so do not try. White pustules are different and the infection needs to be extracted in a clean and sanitary way or it will spread and make matters worse.
• Sleep is so important for your body to rest and recover and also balance hormones! Try getting off electronics an hour before bed, dimming the lights to prepare your body for rest and doing some stretches. It works like a charm.
• Take supplements to balance hormones and manage inflammation like the list posted here. I love how it breaks everything down and explains it. Many of these I recommended to my clients before I ever found this post!
• Take care of your mental health by planting a small garden, going a for walk through the woods or anything you love outdoors to put your phone down and slow down. I’ve been doing this so much more lately post-quarantine since the weather is warm here in Indiana. I feel like a new person.

Conclusion

That’s a lottt of info, but I wanted to make sure you were armed with facts and research before making a decision. Not only that, but knowing the nitty gritty of what is actually happening when you simply see your OB/GYN and get prescribed the pill or another contraceptive.

If hormonal acne is something you struggle with, know this. You aren’t alone and there are answers for you. That’s my job! And it’s what I love. Click here to book and consultation to chat with me about your skin or book a facial. Click here to shop my custom tailored products, for my clients, after years of experience in the treatment room. I see you, I appreciate you and I as always- much love ❤️

-A