It’s a little known fact that coming off the contraceptive pill after long term use can give you acne, even if you’ve never suffered with bad skin before. With 81% of women in the UK using the pill as their chosen method of birth control, you’d expect to hear more about the side effects after stopping it.
Women come off the pill for various different reasons, but statistically most people who come off the pill are in their 30’s and have usually been taking the pill for many years. Experiencing acne in your 30’s can be very distressing as people often only associate getting spots with being a teenager. This can make people feel very self-conscious and want to run back to the pill, which for most people isn’t a long term solution.
Whether you suffered from breakouts before you went on the contraceptive pill or were blessed with crystal clear skin, it is likely that you will experience a flare up of breakouts whilst your body adjusts. Don’t lose hope, we are here to help offer you some alternative treatment options to get you through the transitional period your skin goes through when coming off the pill. First off, it’s helpful to understand the physiology behind what’s causing your skin to break out:
Hormone regulation
Your body is trying to regulate your hormones. The contraceptive pill suppresses the body’s natural hormones and in particular, Testosterone. When you come off the pill your body has to return your hormone levels back to normal, unfortunately this usually results in an over production of testosterone to begin with.
Sebum Overproduction
The overdrive of testosterone causes an overproduction of sebum. Sebum is the natural oil produced by the skin, that keeps our skin protected and hydrated. Too much sebum leads to oily skin and frequent break outs.
Zinc depletion
Long term use of the contraceptive pill is known to deplete the body’s levels of the vitamin zinc. Zinc reduces the specific bacteria on the skin which is responsible for breakouts and is essential for healthy skin.
Disruption of the Microbiome
By now you’ve probably read about the importance of gut health for all health concerns. Well, the pill disrupts the health of the gut by altering the good bacteria in the intestines leading to inflammation and issues with the skin.
With all of this activity in the body it’s not surprising that these pesky spots are rearing their ugly head, but what can we do to get rid of them? Here are our top recommendations
Skinade : Targeted Solutions Clear
Skinade Targeted Solutions Clear is a revolutionary skin care product that works to treat acne from the inside out. Its’ powerful scientifically proven ingredients work to regulate hormonal imbalances, reduce inflammation, regulate excess oil production, detoxify the dermal layers of the skin and boost the immune system. Skinade comes as an oral sachet to mix with water and a tablet to be taken daily and a 90 day supply is recommended.
AHA’s, BHA’s & RETINOLS
For best results we advise combining an internal treatment such as Skinade with the right topical products. Alpha Hydroxy Acids like glycolic and lactic acid and Beta Hydroxy Acids such as salicylic acid speed up the cell turnover of skin exfoliating dead skin cells. This stops the increased sebum from getting blocked in pores casing whiteheads and blackheads. Retinols and retinoids are a form of vitamin A which stimulate cell turnover but they also help your skin to regulate its natural oil (sebum) production AND contain anti-inflammatory properties which clear up active acne pustules.
LED light therapy
LED light therapy is a quick and effective in clinic treatment which combines Blue light which kills acne bacteria, red light which reduces inflammation and near infra-red which stimulates collagen and new skin cells.
Combining these methods will help your skin return to its normal functions and remain healthy and clear, putting those dreaded post-pill spots firmly in the past!
