using acne medication while on birth control pills

xmrth · 10-10-2008, 05:44 PM

I have googled this countless times and worded it every way I can think of but all I can get is information on how to use birth control pills as a means of getting rid of acne.

Does anyone use medication for acne WHILE they are on birth control pills? Acne medication is an antibiotic... and antibiotics weaken birth control pills.
Last time I was at the dermatologist he said to me "well, there ARE a few cases of pregnancy while on this combination but it's not necessarily -because- of the combination" and that was just one opinion... he was kind of wishy-washy on the subject like he didn't want to say for sure.

Well my skin is driving me crazy and I have a dermatologist appointment with a different dermatologist this time and I want to know if this is something I want to do. I'm really having a tough time deciding what I want to do.

I feel like I didn't get a straight answer from the first dermatologist and I'm also finding NO information in google like I said... and I'm wondering if it's something that might actually be able to be used together. Does anyone know? Anyone use them together?

purpleduckie · 10-10-2008, 05:47 PM

can you just switch birthcontrol? diane 35 makes skin look amazing.
yes, antibiotics weaken bc. it's a fact. i know 3 girls who got pregnant because of that. i wouldn't risk it.

um, there are many different reasons for acne. if it's solvable by antibiotics then i would think you can get off of it soon. why not jjust use condoms until then?

**BellaDonna** · 10-10-2008, 06:02 PM

You should ask your pharmacist- they would know best. They usually provide more accurate information than even doctors do.

There have been several times that my general doctor prescribed me medications that interfere with BC and didn't even mention it. The Pharmacist was always the one who was on the ball and told me accurate information about its possible effect on BC.

JadedStar · 10-10-2008, 06:13 PM

Yes, antibiotics weaken BC's. However, antibiotics only works for certain cases of acne. Many people who used to be put on ab's for acne saw very little improvment. If you want to continue the BCs, and have clearer skin, I advise researching a different acne treatment.

If it is really bad acne, you might want to look into accutane. But with accutane you MUST have a very strong birth control method because of the likelhood of birth defects.

If it is mild, there are many many things out there that help these days.

10-10-2008, 05:44 PM	#1
xmrth Offline Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: mid-ish USA Gender: Female Posts: 1,500	using acne medication while on birth control pills I have googled this countless times and worded it every way I can think of but all I can get is information on how to use birth control pills as a means of getting rid of acne. Does anyone use medication for acne WHILE they are on birth control pills? Acne medication is an antibiotic... and antibiotics weaken birth control pills. Last time I was at the dermatologist he said to me "well, there ARE a few cases of pregnancy while on this combination but it's not necessarily -because- of the combination" and that was just one opinion... he was kind of wishy-washy on the subject like he didn't want to say for sure. Well my skin is driving me crazy and I have a dermatologist appointment with a different dermatologist this time and I want to know if this is something I want to do. I'm really having a tough time deciding what I want to do. I feel like I didn't get a straight answer from the first dermatologist and I'm also finding NO information in google like I said... and I'm wondering if it's something that might actually be able to be used together. Does anyone know? Anyone use them together?

10-10-2008, 06:02 PM	#3
BellaDonna Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: U.S. Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 6,583	You should ask your pharmacist- they would know best. They usually provide more accurate information than even doctors do. There have been several times that my general doctor prescribed me medications that interfere with BC and didn't even mention it. The Pharmacist was always the one who was on the ball and told me accurate information about its possible effect on BC. __________________ "Well behaved women rarely make history." "Friendship should be a refuge, not an ordeal." Please see the forum rules for posting on enotalone:http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php

10-10-2008, 05:47 PM	#2
purpleduckie Offline Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canada Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 1,309	can you just switch birthcontrol? diane 35 makes skin look amazing. yes, antibiotics weaken bc. it's a fact. i know 3 girls who got pregnant because of that. i wouldn't risk it. um, there are many different reasons for acne. if it's solvable by antibiotics then i would think you can get off of it soon. why not jjust use condoms until then?

10-10-2008, 06:13 PM	#4
JadedStar Offline Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: On a star far, far away... Posts: 16,339	Yes, antibiotics weaken BC's. However, antibiotics only works for certain cases of acne. Many people who used to be put on ab's for acne saw very little improvment. If you want to continue the BCs, and have clearer skin, I advise researching a different acne treatment. If it is really bad acne, you might want to look into accutane. But with accutane you MUST have a very strong birth control method because of the likelhood of birth defects. If it is mild, there are many many things out there that help these days.