Does anyone know how long breakouts last after quitting bc?

[cmills79]

Hi,

I have currently been off my birth control (Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo) for about 3 months and am expericencing the WORST acne of my life. It just recently started this past month, my skin was fine the first 2 months I got off. I was wondering if anyone here has experienced the same thing? And if so, did your acne ever clear up once the birth control got out of your system? I don't exactly want to get back on birth control because even when I WAS on birth control it's not like it made a dramatic difference in clearing my skin...my skin just wasn't anywhere near as bad as it is now. I was thinking of maybe giving my skin another month and see if it starts to clear up and if not then maybe consider getting back on birth control. So yeah, my question to you all is when you stopped taking birth control did your acne ever get better after a while or just stay worse?

Thanks! I would appreciate any advice.

[loiloi]

Hi. Ortho Tri-Cyclen (called Cilest in the UK) and Diane35 (Dianette in the UK) are prescribed for controlling acne as well as birth control.
They should be withdrawn about 3 months after acne has cleared, and restarted if relapse occurs. Most healthy women can take the pill without problems but it is contra-indicated in heavy smokers and very overweight women and associated risks increase over 35 years of age.
If you have a particular reason for not restarting birth control speak to your doctor about other acne treatments. Oral antibiotics such as Oxytetracycline may be helpful as well as topical retinoids like Differin.
eloise.