Going Back on the pill...ugh

I would look into food allergies/sensitivities. The skin in the biggest detoxifier in the body. If you have food issues--they'll come out through the skin.

I know; I have many, many food sensitivities and one food allergy. I can't always avoid eating something I shouldn't--especially when I go home to visit and am on the road. I always know when I've been "really" bad and have eaten more forbidden foods than I should have because my face breaks out. Other people I know who have food sensitivities have also told me it's the same way for them--that they break out if they eat something they shouldn't.

Find a naturopath who will test you for food allergy/sensitivities and see what your body is unable to handle.

I used to use a lot of different RX meds from my dermatologist for my "acne" problems over the years. I've learned since going off all pharma drugs that my acne is directly related to eating foods that my body doesn't like.

You can also detox your body; that will also help. You might have more acne at first until most of the bad toxins are out of your body. Bentonite clay is very good, either as a powder or a liquid. Or Diatomaceous earth works wonders for detoxing--and it gets rid of parasites. Make sure you take PLENTY of water with either one, though, so you avoid constipation. You can also use Milk Thistle--I'd suggest a fairly heavy dose at first, like 600 mg, 6 pills/day. This is what my daughter currently takes. She needs to do a daily detox but doesn't (I drink black, green, or rooibos tea every day, so I always get continuous detoxing, as well as drinking 1 Tbsp lemon juice in hot water in the morning before breakfast to help clean out my liver, gallbladder, and kidneys). If you like cilantro and parsley, incorporating them more into the food you eat will also help, as they are natural chelators.

Those are a few ideas you could explore rather than taking birth control pills.

I couldn't take birth control pills for anything, first because I have a genetic liver mutation but second because I would always become horribly sick when I took them. There are side effects to taking birth control pills. Some of them start appearing during perimenopause (40s/50s), some after menopause (like brittle bones/osteoporosis). Do some checking/researching before making your choice.

Yaz worked great for that with me but not Yasmin. Weird because they are supposed to be the same drug just different amounts of pills.

I am with you on the pill though. I had Essure done but I stay on the pill because my periods suck. I just started Seasonique. With this one I will only get my period every 3 months!! yay!!

If your OB will just ask YOU which brand to go on, I'd get a new OB. You don't have a medical degree and extensive knowledge of the different brands and their hormone combos -- the OB does. Your OB should be the one recommending a brand to try based on your previous experience on the pill.

I'm 40 and am on Orthocyclen. It's a steady dose throughout the month rather than the increasing doses (ortho tricyclen). I rarely have issues with my skin (not so much when I'm off the pill) and it seems to do a better job of managing my PMS symptoms (headaches, digestive issues, etc.). I asked my OB at my last appointment about being on the pill so long and at my age. He said that the risk of issues (heart attack, stroke) is low as long as those things don't run in my family (they don't). He did say there is evidence that longer term use of the pill can lower your risk of ovarian cancer. So, there's that. Good luck!

I don't know how it helps for acne, but I like Loestrin FE and they now make a generic that is really affordable. I don't notice personality changes while on it and my periods are normal to light and last about 3-4 days. My doctor put me on Lo Loestrin but I bled all the time as did a few of my sisters when on Lo Loestrin.

Yaz/Yasmin was the only pill that cleared up my acne prone skin. Everything else gave me cystic acne in addition to the other random acne that I had. Try Dr. Gross's extra strength Alpha Beta peel pads in addition to Benzoil peroxide. My skin is finally clear. I would not go on the pill at your age (my age too).

Loestrin 24 got rid of my adult acne. Completely. It's the only reason I haven't switched bc methods. I don't ever want to be on Accutane again - during that, you still have to be on bc. That said, birth control pill side effects are different for everyone. Good luck finding something that works. (Acne sucks, you're not alone.)