Never ever heard anyone talk about this topic in this way. I'm very thankful you explained this. I had a hormonal test done recently which came back normal. This acne thing feels like a lost battle and I've pretty much excepted it as a normal part of my life at 28 years old. If it's genetic, there's not much I can do.

@NYS30

3 жыл бұрын

Hi emily. What are the details of the hormone test you did? Bcs a complete hormone checkup is very expensive in my country 😭😭💰 Is the DHEA & Testosterone test sufficient to detect hormonal imbalances? Because I have had acne since the last few years, mostly on my jawline & neck area. Frustated.

@shazmeh5949

3 жыл бұрын

Accutane?

@tg7112

3 жыл бұрын

😞😞😞 at 28 I'm planning to start the pill for the first yime in my life. Because I have tried everything else under the sun for about 15 years yet as I speak, I am dealing with 0.5-1cm diameter wide acne on my chin, forehead, jawline and even under my eyes. I pray we get blemish free skin someday

@shannonrose6794

3 жыл бұрын

I feel the exact same way he’s the only person who’s explained hormones and acne properly I’m 25 and feeling the same way

@merysarivera1354

3 жыл бұрын

Panthotenic Acid in high dose is magic!!!

This is all great advice! I have noticed that cutting sugar, milk and processed carbs from my diet and exercising constantly improved my hormonal acne.

@princessmaude_

3 жыл бұрын

Same!!

@Selsmittenxo

3 жыл бұрын

Same as well!.

@sweetcherrylipz

3 жыл бұрын

Yes this helped, I’m vegan and I exercise often it has helped my acne, cleared my skin. I no longer get those large pores on my cheeks and painful lumps on my jawline. Also stop smoking too.

@Vampybattie

3 жыл бұрын

This didn't work for me

@yannah159

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I know this is a true tale because I lived it when I was on keto and exercising.

Yes, I had this problem. Went on the pill in my early 20s, got off pill and had two lovely boys. Was acne free until I hit my late 30s, then out of the blue terrible hormonal acne. Went back on the pill for about a year. It helped but never got rid of it totally, so I decided to get off. I’m 42 now and I can honestly say it was terrible dealing with hormonal acne. I’ve finally gotten a handle on it but it was a real struggle. It really messed with my self esteem and I have such empathy for anyone dealing with it. Watching my diet (food sensitivities), sticking to a BASIC skin regimen (cleanser, moisturizer, spf) and taking a few supplements have seem to work for me now.

@gabriellanoelle1606

3 жыл бұрын

Which supplements did you find to help your acne?

I’m 53 and have had acne since I was a teenager, I was on accutane twice and my cystic acne always came back. I’ve tried everything including antibiotics, and vitamins and everything I could think of. I’ve run out of options. Problem skin is so overwhelming at times. greetings from Canada🇨🇦

@OlaRalu

3 жыл бұрын

Have you tried spironolactone? It works great for hormonal acne!

@allysonbrown9159

3 жыл бұрын

My gosh I’m the same. Am about to turn 40 and have started to resign myself to the fact that maybe i should just accept it as a part of my life. Roaccutane has been the best option for me but same as you, it comes straight back after. It can be extremely overwhelming can’t it no matter how long you live with it. Have tried absolutely everything by the book! Thank you for sharing xx

@NYS30

3 жыл бұрын

Rhalou did u took some blood test before took spiro?

@hamisharmsharp5829

2 жыл бұрын

I’d recommend cutting out gluten from your diet for a month and see if this helps you 🌸

@syndhya

Жыл бұрын

Infini RF stopped mine.. i still have scars though 😢

If you have been on The Pill for acne, I would like to know your experience & thoughts. Comment below. Video discusses the pros & cons of the Pill. Are we just holding back acne? What happens when you stop the Pill? How can you control acne then? I see two peaks of acne scarring, one in the late teens to early twenties, due to teenage acne. The other peak is in the late 20s to mid 30s. The cause? Hormonal acne, adult acne. Difficult situation for patient & their treating dermatologist. Dr Davin Lim Dermatologist, Brisbane Australia.

@lorellerhys20

3 жыл бұрын

about to hit 40 here..been on the pill for my hormonal acne for a few years now..it has helped keep my acne at bay esp around the chin area..i decided to stop and give a break just this last 2 months and holy ish..my skin has gone haywire and breakout all over my chin..the cystic kind..immediately went back on the pill now and been using the Aztec clay mask to dry out my zits..this sucks so bad 😖

@ceciplusu

3 жыл бұрын

The pill has been the only thing that worked for me 😭 I’m afraid to go off it bc my acne was so bad

@itsmypearl

3 жыл бұрын

B.C pill increased my hyperpigmentation. Helped along with other acne treatments, B.C alone wasn’t strong enough

@ekay3784

3 жыл бұрын

@@ceciplusu Me too, i switched to a different (or lower dose) BC pill not specifically for acne to see if my skin would react.. and boy it did, i broke out in the worst way i could've imagined. painful and inflamed breakouts everywhere so i switched back to Brenda.

@reginaw5085

3 жыл бұрын

The pill is the only thing that helped me. Immediately the acne comes back if I stop it. The solution is to get pregnant real quick when off the pill. My skin was great in pregnancy. Are there any studies what will happen in menopause when I have to get off the pill?

Loved this content. Most doctors don't talk about this, and make us feel like we're broken. Thanks you!

I´m 34 and acne-free because of the pill, currently taking Bella face. I started with BC around 8 months ago, but before that I was totally against the pill, I was and AM scared of the side effects like cancer and such.. so I tried EVERYTHING.. supplements, benzoil peroxide, accutane, went vegan, then vegetarian, I do yoga to try to keep my stress levels at bay.. and nothing worked! so I got tired, went to the gyno and he prescribed the BC.. I think is also fair to say that I suffer from endometriosis and have a 3 year old child. So, now, I honestly feel so much better, no acne, no crazy mood swings because before the pill my mood was crazy specially before my period. It was insane. Like, about to end myself insane.. but now my periods are normal..idk but.. the pill kinda changed my life for the better..but Im still somewhat scared to get other side effects...I honestly dont want to stop taking it.. living with acne not only hurts ur self steem, is quite painful and makes daily living difficult..so...yeah.

@ComeToMyCupcakeParty

11 ай бұрын

I’m 30 and have really bad acne. I’ve been considering going back on BC. It also worked really well for me for acne but I had what I’ve side effects unfortunately. I’m happy that it helps with the moodiness for you. I get really extreme PMS too and anxiety so bad leading up to my period and crazy mood swings too. I felt it got worse on BC especially in the beginning, and then mellowed out. I did have other positives like my pre menstrual migraines completely went away. But I also had side effects like my sex drive completely went away and having an orgasm became downright impossible even on my own. If you’re tolerating it well and the pros outweigh the side effects then I say yay! I tolerated the BC for a while until I felt like I didn’t want to deal with it anymore and unfortunately my acne came right back. I’m still looking for a solution that I can tolerate. I felt the pill made me really irritable and I don’t like being that way cause I also have a young child which requires a lot of patience.

@kimberlymorgan6895

11 ай бұрын

I was on and off BC for years. I truly believe it caused my PCOS which popped up out of the blue in my 30s. There’s still so much we don’t know about BC. Try your best to get a low dosage (no more than 1.0) and detox Ever once and a while from the BC

Went off the pill and definitely saw a resurgence of my acne. Still working on getting it under control and would love more advice on that

Omg someone that actually explains it well and clearly. Thank you for understanding that the pill isn't a miracle solution. I came off the pill due to side effects and have been struggling with adult acne ever since. I've tried retrieve and doxy, and nothing is working... it's so disheartening.

@kstayblessed

3 жыл бұрын

Naomi Weber I'm thinking about getting back on the pill, but also got off because of not wanting side effects

This is incredible information - it feels so relieving to hear the validity behind what you’re going through! I took myself off hormonal birth control 6 months ago and my acne is now out of control. I did it to get to the bottom of my hormone issues, I hope to find the discrepancy and begin treatment/supplementation to regulate my hormones. Hopefully this will rid my acne and cure all the other issues I am facing due to my hormone imbalance. And you’re right Dr Davin - it’s not talked about enough!!! Thank you!

the way you explained instances of hormonal acne in people with a seemingly-normal hormonal balance made a lightbulb go off in my head. you're an excellent science communicator and i really appreciate you sharing your personal insight here in this channel!

I went on Accutane when I was 16 to deal with teenage acne and it was a lifesaver. However when I was 22, adult hormonal acne hit and I've now been on the pill for 2 years to keep that at bay. I get terrible migraines and I want to get off the pill but I'm so scared of my acne coming back. Definitely effected my self esteem and mental health, to the point where I'd rather take the risk and get migraines :'(

@joaaaaas

2 жыл бұрын

Same, i stopped the pill after 7 years because of the migraines. Was off of it for 8 months and i cant deal with the acne anymore i just got back on the pill. Believe me i tried EVERYTHING and it cost me so much money and time but nothing worked

@eulartte

Жыл бұрын

​@@joaaaaas spriloactone many said that it good for acne

Dr. Lim, can you please make a longer video on hirsutism caused by hormonal imbalance? Specifically, intracine system vs. endocrine system please.

I am so thankful for you to explain this, I have never heard anyone else talk about this. I am 26 now, and I have been struggling with acne since I was 15. I tried various types of pill, but none was really helpful. I'm just here to say that, yes, acne is a real struggle that seems endless. I surely belong to the adult female group who experiences acne.

I would love for you to have a live q&a session with your audience. I am a resident dermatologist and i think i can learn a lot from that.

Hello, I was told by my endocrinologist that with hormonal acne (PCOS related) isotretinoin is not very effective, that in most cases the acne will come back due to high androgens

@keillanhadden798

3 жыл бұрын

True

@AlinaAhmad9918

3 жыл бұрын

Oh, no one ever told me that! Thanks, I've been feeling like the unluckiest person putting up with horrible side effects and still being in the 1% it doesn't cure.

@lalaland8169

3 жыл бұрын

How would you know if you have hormonal acne?

@leahbackup4112

3 жыл бұрын

happened with me. cleared up but came back a few weeks-a month after i stopped

@Jordan-yn2eb

3 жыл бұрын

This has happened to me (two rounds of accutane and acne has returned in a hormonal pattern). Currently trying spironolactone and I'm hopeful this will help as it's an anti-androgen.

Between age 34-44yrs, I’ve been off the pill and suffering from adult acne. Topical gel acne medication helped greatly, for the rest of my face, but not my jawline, and especially during my period and ovulation! The blemishes are getting me down so, I’ve finally caved in and seeking to go back on the pill. But the issue is, when I was on the pill, my weight rose to 317lbs, off the pill, my body weight is normal and easier to stay healthy. I feel better off the pill! It’s loose loose. 😢

Yasmin was amazing for my aggressive hormonal acne but as soon as I came off the pill it returned with a vengeance. I did a lot of research into supplements to balance hormones, stopped taking Yasmin and I have been taking them now for around three weeks. After 1 week I stopped getting new cysts, I couldn’t believe it. And *touch wood* I’ve not had any new ones come! I am just left with more red scarring but I’d much rather that. I watched a lot of KZread videos but the video by Annie Jaffrey I found most helpful. I take the following supplements: Zinc, Magnesium, Evening Primrose Oil, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and B complex. I hope this helps someone else also suffering 🤞🏻

@SN-qc5vb

3 жыл бұрын

Can you link the video please? 🤓

@houseonthemill

3 жыл бұрын

@@SN-qc5vb of course! kzread.info/dash/bejne/p2Z1tJmjd7jIk9Y.html

@nicolettec6681

3 жыл бұрын

I've been on Yasmin for 4 years now. I'm 29 and I'm so scared of my acne returning when I stop the pill to try to get pregnany in the future

@houseonthemill

3 жыл бұрын

@@nicolettec6681 if you had hormonal acne previously it’s highly likely it will return when you stop taking yasmin 😔

@vlogmaman2182

3 жыл бұрын

I take the same! Came off the pill.

I’m on the Pill, I’m 22 and I have horrible hormonal jawline and forehead acne . I feel stuck bc I have tried everything.

@capricegeneva6992

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly same 😞

@kstayblessed

3 жыл бұрын

Emily Arriaga You still have acne even on the pill?

@emilyarriaga9889

3 жыл бұрын

@@kstayblessed yes ! I have hormonal imbalance so that’s what breaks me out. For me, I needed to cut down on high carbs and high sugars ! Since those two play a big role on cystic acne

@kikaycravings

3 жыл бұрын

Same here...don’t know what to do now...I tried so many products but nothing change. I’m thingkibg to take pill again. ☹️

@msi8311

3 жыл бұрын

What about isotretinoin?

I had fairly mild breakouts when I was a teenager. Being very self-conscious, I went on the pill, I think at around 16 or 17. I came off at 21 and seemed to be back to 'normal' after about a year with mild breakouts again. For various reasons, my skin is now the worst it's ever been (I know hormones are a contributing factor due to my medical history), but I am desparately trying to hold off going back on the pill because I know it will only delay the inevitable. Plus, the pill sucks for SO many other reasons! I know a lot of my skin conditions are not necessarily directly related to the pill (I'm 25 now), but those are my reasons for not wanting to go back on. Editing to say: thank you for covering this topic, Dr Lim! And also for asking for our stories. Much appreciated!

I have had acne since I was 14, and I’m 24 now. I had been using topical adapalene all throughout that time but still had flare ups. Over the last year it became the worst it has ever been. My cheeks and jawline were just covered in painful bumps. It really just made me not want to leave the house. I went on the pill about 3 months ago and I’m finally seeing improvement, while on tretinoin as well. I’m terrified of going off the pill and my acne coming back went I want to start a family ☹️

You're talking about me...I'm in my thirties. Tried nearly everything; soft Lazer treatment, expensive products, the pill, herbal products, cutting sugar, carbs, etc...I'm seeing some improvement, though, now that I'm in a better space mentally and emotionally. My problem is scarring, but it's been self-inflicted; due to emotional battles. I've given up on products and treatments, trying not to stress over it, but it has affected my confidence in a major way. I've always been an extrovert, but not any longer.

Love that you talk about this. I’m 33years old now and still have hormonal acne, It started since puberty hit so I was 13yo. Was on Dianette and Yasmin pill for a few years but acne got very severe around 17yo. So had 3 to 4 rounds of accurate as it kept creeping back after a year or so, eventually was told I’m in a small percentage of people that accutane doesn’t work for. So I was left feeling like there’s nothing I could do! Although it’s less severe now i still get monthly breakouts :-(

@ShamaKhan-rq4vc

2 жыл бұрын

Now ur skin is clear?

This is me 🖐️. Went off the pill after 13 years of continued use, by the end I disliked the way the pill made me feel. It's taken me almost 2 years to get my skin back under control. Can't live without my Tretinoin 🙏

Thank you so much for all that in-depth information! I've been suffering from hormonal acne since I'm a teen, went on the pill for about 8 years, went of it about 3 years ago (I'm 26 now) and still struggling with controlling my acne. I've been prescribed all kinds of topical creams and was on antibiotics (doxy) for 3 1/2 months but nothing worked so far. I do notice I break out less when I eat healthy, less dairy and less sugar, but one week before my period I break out no matter how clean I ate the weeks before -.- It's so frustrating! Wishing everyone who is suffering like me lots of love and good luck to fix their skin

Thank you for this video! I started contraceptive pills on my 20’s for its contraceptive effects only. Last year, during lockdown (47 yo) I stopped taking it. Three months with huge and painful acne... when I saw blood spots on my pillow in the morning I’ve decided, with my gynecologist, to go back with pills. I met my acne-free skin again. Seems I’ll reach 70’s under pills... Thank you for your explanations on so many different procedures and treatments!

@Curvymonalisaa

5 ай бұрын

Which pill were you on like the name ?

I completely agree with your point. I was on pills for about one year to control my hormonal acne and got off the pill thinking that it was under control. Oh man, it came back after three months and was even worse than before. Now I am taking the slow conventional approach of exercising, cutting sugar, and applying Adapalene cream daily. Like you said, taking pills is more like masking the problem but eventually the things we swept under the carpet need to be vacuumed out.

@kstayblessed

3 жыл бұрын

How is the adapalene doing for you?

@tessaaluuu3973

3 жыл бұрын

@@kstayblessed It is working well. I am off adapalene now and my face is clear

Excellent explanation! Nerver heard before!Specially the last part of the video!! Thanks 😊 Dr Lim!! 🤩👏🏼👏🏼

I went off the pill earlier this year after using it for 10 years. My skin was fine in the first few months BUT NOW it’s terrible. I have hormonal acne on my jaw line that I’ve never had before. My OBGYN said this might be my new normal. I treated myself to a facial this morning to help with extractions. It’s been almost 9 months, I would have thought things normalized by now. Please post more about how to treat acne and rebalance after stopping the pill. New sub! Glad I found ur channel 👋🏼

@onionseggplant6595

3 жыл бұрын

I hate that 'new normal' BS. Pardon my language. Our faces are inflamed and doctors are saying it is normal? I refuse to believe it. I'm gonna be trying to find a cure until I find it. I've already descovered something: vitamin d helps with fungal acne. These were tiny bumps on my forehead that sometimes would get super inflamed. That problem is solved now. Moving on, I need to get rid of my deep jawline cysts and I'm gonna do it. I'm ready to go 100% raw vegan and 100% carnivore to try if any diet changes will work for me. I will never accept it, I will never give up.

@lynnstacks

2 жыл бұрын

I feel like i had the same experience. i came off yasmin (generic) after about 10 years during covid lockdown. the only thing i feel made an impact was probiotics. I still have acne but it's not as egregious. I even tested it by going off of probiotics for a month or so and my acne got eventually got worse after not taking it. also been using tretinoin and I believe that's helped reduce the amount of inflamed closed comedones I get, which is my main problem

Thank you thank you thank you Dr! I think this is what is happening to me, i have tried every oral medication under the sun with no long lasting results, with the contraceptive pill i got better while i was on it, but got a bunch of uncomfortable side effects because of it, so left it, twice. Im currently using adapalene (because neither of the derms i went to visit ever considered topical treatment, which is mind blowing to me). So lets see how it goes. Thank you for your hard work Dr! Unfortunately not many go as in depth to investigate and care for their patients as you, and im so grateful to have found you. Keep up the good work!

I’m exactly the case you are talking about. 10 years on the pill and never an issue with acne, sometimes a few pimples here and there. Now, at 29 years old, coming off the pill I got proper acne. It’s been 9 months and now it’s getting a bit better, the acne is less cystic and more superficial. I used Epido for 9 months and just recently switched over to otc retinol in the evening. Hoping that it will completely clear out in the coming months, but let’s see...

@lolgeselle

2 жыл бұрын

Same situation for me >.

I recommend book Period Repair Manual. Helped me to understand hormones, periods and cure acne natural way 🙏🏼

@shazmeh5949

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. My periods are kinda irregular which makes me think this is what's making my acne worse

I suffer from acne ever since I was nine, suffered for a whole decade and then my dermatologist suggested birth control. I am 33 now, I went off the pill for 3 months and oh boy. So I am back on it to balance my hormones. All creams and prescription things would work for two months or so and my acne would always come back. My mom had acne in her 50s so unfortunately it runs in our family.

@SD-qx7pw

3 жыл бұрын

Im the same way. I dont want to give up on trying things and I know a bit more excercise would be better for me. But I even tried accutane twice and heavy antibiotics and its always been exactly consistent nothing better or worse.

@DottieMinerva

3 жыл бұрын

Same. So frustrating to just get a shitty hand and have to deal with it forever.

@leora2455

2 жыл бұрын

How long did it take to clear?

I just got off the pill for acne and all my acne is coming back 😭 So grateful you made this video !

Thanks for finally explaining hormonal acne being at the sebaceous gland level.

Will I ever see an end to my acne? I have been struggling with acne for 20 years. Now turning 40, still having the same problem. My hormone test came back to be normal. No cyst was found on my ovaries. At first birth control pills worked well. But not anymore.

@keillanhadden798

3 жыл бұрын

Genetics

@zhanglisa4548

3 жыл бұрын

@@keillanhadden798 Unfortunately I am a geneticist myself. It’s not directly linked to a single gene. Multiple genetic factors are involved. My parents didn’t have acne issues for long. But when their genes come together, my genes become susceptible to acne breakouts.

@keillanhadden798

3 жыл бұрын

@@zhanglisa4548u got it double.. we are in the same boat!

Have been on Yaz for almost 10 years for my acne. In my late 20s my adult hormonal acne well and truly kicked in and wasn’t controlled entirely by Yaz. So I figured if it wasn’t helping anymore with my more persistent acne, I should switch for a cheaper alternative. The hormonal acne got much worse. I gave it a few months but went back to Yaz. I have problems with body focused repetitive behaviours and my skin picking is bad. I once had a serious infection from picking acne and was lucky to avoid hospital. I manage it with Yaz, adapelene, and non prescription topical products. My skin is sensitive, and reacts to some actives like vitamin c and glycolic acid. So I am concerned by how I will manage being off OCP while trying to conceive and then pregnant. It’s comforting to know that other people have this concern.

i recently got on the pill for very lengthy and painful periods. it’s cleared my hormonal acne too. i have a decent skincare routine but don’t think i could have achieved this level of clear skin with non-medicinal interventions. you do raise a good point though, as most women won’t be on the pill indefinitely. i don’t plan on getting off it for my acne and period struggles.

Thank you so much for sharing! This is exactly my problem. I have PCOS and I was using the pill and several topics treatments for years (recommended by my dermatologist). Now I have 33 years... I stop taking the pill 10 months ago and I been struggling with my hormonal acne. I'm using azelaic acid, glycolic wash, salicylic acid, adapalene, taking care of my diet... It helps a little but definitely not enough. I'm really happy with this video, is the first time I saw this kind of information from a dermatologist and is really helpful.

My daughter's dermatologist explained the pros and cons of using birth control for acne. The doctor explained the second you go off birth control your acne will come back. Well, my daughter wasn't having any of that. She wanted to stamp out her acne for good. I think the doctor did an excellent job laying out the timeline of how long each course of treatment would take and then let my daughter decide. 1) topicals and topical antibiotics (indefinitely) 2) birth control along with oral antibiotics (until she wanted to conceive) 3) isotretinoin (6-10 months) She went on isotretinoin; consequently, had to be on birth control while taking isotretinoin but the end result was beautiful clear skin. She is off every drug and topical at 16 years old. Ultimately you have to have all the facts and be given choices to you find what is the best course of treatment for you. Good luck!

I have this exact problem and I’m in my early 30’s now and still haven’t found the solution..yet! I’m now seeing a naturopath and taking supplements to help with my endocrine and pituitary gland communication lines, as apparently the pill has stop/switched off this communication from my brain to the endocrine, causing a lack of hormone production - also causes a absent of periods/ irregular periods....however this has taken me a year to discover with my naturopath. So this goes beyond just having acne on the jawline - you need to look at the bigger picture.

Thank you for discussing this! Exactly what happened to me…had great skin but decided to come off the pill because of the blood clot risk with yasmin. Within 3 months I had painful cystic acne, so I rushed back to yasmin and my skin was back to flawless. Now I’m quite frustrated that so many females are given birth control as a band aid, without getting to the root cause. It’s been a month since I decided to come off of yasmin and I’m going to work through and find a ‘natural’ solution. Good luck to anyone facing this, you’re not alone!

@deathtothesystem

2 жыл бұрын

Any update? I'd love to know how you were doing with acne these days

@toppokakashi

5 ай бұрын

Any update?

I started taking pill at 16 for acne then later as birth control..stopped taking it late forties...it definitely help my acne..and certainly no unwanted pregnancies and light periods..my experience very positive .👍

@user-mb9jx5tx9y

3 жыл бұрын

Yes but I heard that it takes some time for your cycle to come back normal (for example if you’re trying to conceive)

@anitasutherland3447

3 жыл бұрын

@@user-mb9jx5tx9y I had no issues conceiving...as soon as I stopped taking the pill I got pregnant .

I've been on the pill for half my life due to hormonal acne and I wonder if there are any health affects that we don't know about yet. Simultaneously, I fear ceasing the pill because it appears to be effective in controlling many hormonal outbreaks.

@user-mb9jx5tx9y

3 жыл бұрын

My exact same issue. I’ve been off for about 2 weeks and I’m worried to see when my hormonal breakouts will return. I want my cycle to come back normal tho

I have experienced exactly what you’ve described in this video. Had acne as a teenager, went on the pill, stopped it after a few years and my skin went crazy. I’ve been trying almost everything for the past 4 years… The pill, topical treatments, oral medication, supplements like zinc and other multivitamins for clear skin… and somehow in the end I started to see some improvements. I still get about 2-3 cysts every now and then but I am going to completely remove diary and sugars from my diet and see what improvement that will bring. It’s so frustrating because the doctors have never explained to me all these things you’ve just mentioned in your video… and my hormone levels were perfectly fine, no signs of PCOS at my last Ultrasound scan… but I still get these cysts every now and then. I will try with the diet and hopefuly that will bring an improvement to my acne. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us :)

@TheRuthyc

Жыл бұрын

The diet is so hard to stick to though! Can't eat a y thing fun. No ice cream, nothing fried, no butter, no candy or baked goods, how I love lemon bars!

Tried to ween myself off the pill twice, suffered with severe acne. Really lost about how to attempt it again.

Thank you for sharing this 👏🏻 Has taken me 1,5 years to get hormonal acne under control after quitting the pill. Worried about getting on other contraceptives now and start all over again. Didn’t have much acne before, started as teen, so taken the pill for 12 years. One product that has helped me after quitting it is Dermalogica’s Superfoliant, but two supplements that has made the biggest difference for me recently is B5 and zink 🙂

♥️ went off the pill due to mood side effects after being on it for about 4 years. Almost 2 years off the pill and I finally have my normal cycle back, but with horrible acne lol. Starting to see results with topical treatments and diet changes, but damn it is rough. Thank you for explaining how you can have hormonal acne and normal hormone levels! Super helpful info

Thank you for making this video. It was so informative and a testament to my life experiences. It was refreshing to hear your video. I've seen many doctors and no one has explained the challenges like you have. Your video no longer makes me feel crazy. This is tough!

I''ve been able to control my acne recently by not consuming dairy and using differin on my acne spots. But I recently started the pill so that maybe I could eat dairy without getting cystic acne :/. Now I'm scared of the side affects...

@anonymouss1253

2 жыл бұрын

I’m dealing with the same thing! I think going back on the pill will hopefully help it

I’m gonna start the pill to help with the endometriosis pain....I do suffer from adult acne so that’s 2 birds with 1 stone ! 👏

You’re telling my life story. I can’t tell you how long my primary care has been telling me that my acne was not caused or worsened in my late 20s and early 30s by mirena IUD. It wasn’t until six years and and permanent damage that my dermatologist helped me get it under control with tretinoin azelaic acid and topical antibiotics. Thank you for sharing this I know when I have a daughter I’m gonna give her all the information available before we start anything.

Thank you so much Dr.Davin Lim. You saved us from those expensive consultations from those dermatologist.

I went on yasmin aged 22 for acne along with topicals worked really well. Exactly as you said came off the pill aged 33, after 6 months went straight back on it as the acne came right back!

@tanyaortiz8053

3 жыл бұрын

Same for me, took less time to see the bad breakouts though, they came back after 2 months :(

@evadeleon1054

3 жыл бұрын

Same with me after 2 months off taking pills my acne is back😭😭😭

There is another side tho, which I think is forgotten in this video. When these women become pregnant the hormones actually balance out in a way that controls the acne. It is actually after the pregnancy when the hormones go back to being out of balance as it was before, the acne will come back.

@drdavinlim

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I do think there are many pathways indeed.

@user-mb9jx5tx9y

3 жыл бұрын

And this is what sucks !!!

Bless you for this video! There's just a handful of derms that would speak about these issues! I live with the acne nightmare for 15 years! 34 now and I am being pushed on to antibiotics, spiro or the pill, even though I eventually want to get pregnant and I am fed up of being poisoned with pills. Hope I'll find a doctor like you to work on my acne one day

sadly that happens to me... what's worse is that acne comes along disappointment from difficulty conceiving as well as maskne, which doesn't help the self esteem... Thank you for the video, really helpful!

Hi Dr Lim, I've had mild acne since I was 17. Never took any meds until a few years ago in my mid 30s when I developed cystic acne on my chin. I was on antibiotics minocycline for 11 months along with differin gel. Had to be taken off antibiotics as I developed v bad folliculitis on shin. Skin did improve in the latter months on this med. few months later went on pill Jasmine but 4 months into this I developed Erythema Nodusum. Was told pill wasn't the cause, reason still unknown. My acne never improved on pill and when I came off it got worse. For last two years I have been on no meds, cut meat out of diet, changed skin care products to Simple Range and eat lots of veg and fish. I now have clear skin. I will say during the acne I had a few v stressful years and I am convinced this is the true cause. I know everyone is different and I never had severe acne but I would recommend dealing with acne in a natural way and not meds. I wish everyone success in their acne journey as I know it is extremely hard on people's mental health. X

I absolutely love your videos Dr Lim! My Melbourne-based derm put me on yasmin at the age of 18 due to my cystic acne and I am still on it at age 25. I am absolutely petrified of getting off the pill when it comes time to start trying for a baby with my fiance but I am hoping my skin routine will help me out. I still got a few bouts of cystic acne since being on the pill but since watching youtube derms like yourself and Dr Sam Bunting, I can now see that that my cystic acne was due to my poor skin hygiene (long-wear foundations, not cleansing, etc). I am now using tret 0.025, azelaic acid and salicylic acid and my skin is the best it's ever been. I also found that blue and red light therapy helped immensely in getting rid of my cystic acne!

I am 23. I was on the pill for about 2 years and I left it in april just when quarantine started and had the worst acne breakout in years. It was on my back, my neck my chest and my face and It is finally calming down. I am currently seeing a dermatologist and will be trying topical treatments because I dont want this to happen again.

@weeklyana

3 жыл бұрын

Struggling with the same thing. Chest, neck and back acne on top of face acne. It’s horrible! What do you think has helped your skin improve?

Decided to come off the pill and got a copper iUD instead and my acne came back especially around my jawline. I took Yaz specifically to clear my skin but I still had a few pimples even when I took it consistently. I have been using Differin and I am on week 6 to try and clear up my acne that came back it’s a real thing. I’d be so sad if I had come off the pill trying to get pregnant and couldn’t have used this treatment.

Plz doc do deep explanation on hormonal acne. I am 38years and still suffering from hormonal acne.

I took acutane because my acne was quite severe, I finished the treatment 10 years ago and I did not note the side effects.some years later I had depression but I dont think it was due to acutane. greetings from Spain

I'm38 years old and i've had acne since I remember. I've been on yasmin for 15 years and took Roacutane 4 times. I tried to go off the pill but acne gets really bad. Now its mainly just jaw line but its scarring so much. It's hard to stop taking contraception pill if nothing works. Thank you for explaining 👍

@boganlovestory825

3 жыл бұрын

I had this same problem, I am also asthmatic, I changed my asthma medication with alot of success.

I was on the pill for 2yrs to control my hormonal acne and it did a wonderful job even scarring disappeared. When pandemic hit last year,I wasn't able to visit my doctor to continue the pill so I stop taking for about 4 months now,and it is flaring pretty bad right now,Just made and appointment to get back on the pill,Prolly for life or at least until I turn 50.. One side effect about the pill,Is,It gives you Anxiety sometimes depression and very moody. I hate that I have to feel that why but I love how it clears up my hormonal acne.

I have struggled with my skin since I was 9, diagnosed with PCOS and on Yasmin OCP from age 16 to 28, was not encouraged to take a break at any point, came off to have children and have struggled with acne and blackheads for 3 years, so little help from GPs just telling me to go on the pill, from watching your videos and others I did my own research and have learnt a lot more, i have used environ skin care for years, which breaks the bank but still had horrensous blackheads and acne, have recently started including the ordinary and started using epiduo and antibiotics and finally seeing change, I also have just started electrolysis for hair on my face and finding good results so far, thank you for your videos they are great!

I have PCOS and suffered cystic acne that was difficult to treat even with pills and other topical. Later I changed my diet completely and went on a sugar-free, lactose-free diet and avoided many carbs. Within 3 months not only did the acne subside but the scars disappeared and my GP’s were shocked to see the change. But now I am going to start with Dianette for my hair loss. I am 35 btw.

Yes, this is exactly what I went through. I never had problems with my skin, I took the pill for 6 months and after I stopped I had a terrible case of hormonal acne, so bad I even decided to go on accutane, which I really didn't want to do, but the fear of scarring was big. The pill ruined my life.

@karimkhan7552

Жыл бұрын

which pills

I'm 20, when I was 17/18 went to the gyno, had a cyst on one ovary and multiple small ones on the other one. Been on the pill since then, this year acne had cleared up completely and cysts were gone, so I was advised to take a break with the pill... Acne cane back even worse and I'm just devastated

I am 37 female. Hormonal acne hit when I weaned my last baby. I never had pregnancy acne but did have moderate acne in my 20s before I had my first baby at 30. I tried elimination diet. Didn’t work. Topicals didn’t work. Spironolactone was dangerous for me and made my blood pressure drop dangerously low. Accutane was not an option for me, as I KNOW my acne is hormonal and accutane doesn’t help hormonal acne. So I finally caved to birth control. It’s been 6 weeks and my face is completely cleared up!

So interesting to learn more about hormonal acne. I am one of those woman who suffered from hormonal and from my 13th to my now 29 years. First I was on Diane pil but that one was bad so i switched to Yasmin. Both pills controlled my acne very well! Then around the age of 26 ish I wanted to stop using birth control just because people were reacting on it well and felt better mentally. But that brought back a lot of acne on my face and my upper arms. Also very sensitive to pigmentation so result: a lot of brown spots everywhere and new and coming in more spots etc. Depressing I can tell. Now I'm on a lighter pill which doesn't have any anti androgens and my acne is back but I seem to control it better now I'm not eating diary, have a refined sugar free month and using niacinamide, microneedling for scars. It feels like a never ending story. And i am happy that someone like you can help me understand it better to have a better solution to it. Thank you for that

My hormone test came back normal, but I see huge improvements at certain times of the month and my skin becomes oily and very clogged at others. I also have hair growth patterns on my face but since my acne is more on my cheeks than my jaw, I was always confused as to whether it was hormonal or not. The only thing that keeps it in check is adapalene. Any kind of BHA, AHA or chemical peel makes my skin 10 times worse. Thank you fo this video I would love to hear more about the intracrine reason for overactive sebaceous glands and what the possible solution could be..

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 19. Took the pill for 2.5 years, until several fibroadenomas were discovered in my breasts and one of them removed. After that my doctor told me not to take any hormonal pills without consultation with a breast specialist. Acne period. Then I got pregnant. My acne went away for the period of 3,5 years and then came back :( Now my daughter asks me 'why mummy has boo-boos on her face. Feel so sad. I'll just live from acne to wrinkles.

The best doctor & acne advice on the planet!!!!!! Thank you for your informational videos. I wish you were my derm!

My doctor put me on birth control at 15 and I currently have nexplanon. I've had severe acne since my teen years but I don't want to go off birth control until my boyfriend and I are ready. So it's like a double edged sword. I've been considering pills like yaz and no ones ever said that acne could relapse after. Thank you so much for the education its really eye opening

@plantchlo5425

3 жыл бұрын

If you ever want to switch to a non hormonal birth control, try a copper IUD! I got one back in November, and it’s been great :) no hormones whatsoever, and even better at preventing pregnancies than regular birth control pills

I used to had chin full of cystic acne. But I did diet, no sugar, less dairy and started exercising. Eventually acne lessen. But, I still get one or two on chin and one or two on jaw line.. I never have clear face. I always have one or two even after doing alot.

@ronnierambodogbros2732

3 жыл бұрын

Hey guys.. I tried a herb.. it's an indian herb.. it's roots of a tree called as ' Shatavari' in hindi.. 'Asparagus' in english language. It really works for hormonal imbalance and eventually prevents acne.. It should be consumed in powder form with milk or luke warm water at morning and night. It really works wonders.

Very very helpful by explaining info that most doctors don’t talk about👍

I was on Estelle for years. It completely cleared my acne. I came off of it @ 35 because it caused melasma. The melasma improved however my acne came back with a vengeance! It's mainly on my chin and it was never this bad, even before commencing the pill. I'm now trialling oral spironolactone and topical tretinoin.

I was put on the pill as a teen to treat my acne. 10 years later, my gynecologist told me I should give my body a 'break' from the pill. I did, my skin got really bad, and the gynecologist didn't know what to do, so she put me back on the pill. But now I'm left with cheeks covered in rolling acne scars. My skin was perfect and clear before I went off the pill, and I had absolutely no side effects.

Doc you are the best ! Really - thanks for the content, you are the only one creating this deep knowledge, very appreciated. I know it is a big ask but would you consider to add subtitles? English is not my first language and when mixed with medical terms gets trickier for me to understand. Thank you upfront !

I have Pcos, i started taking the pill at 20yo because of very painful and irregular periods but never had an issue with acne just a few spots before my period that went away fast. Was on the combined pill for 8 years and decided to stop because i was getting dizzy and had headaches almost everyday. Its been 8 months and i started getting acne 3 months after, really bad. I changed my diet 100%. No sugars, no processed food, no dairy, no gluten, for meat i have fish, chicken and turkey, no eggs. I worked with loads of doctors, ayurvedic, naturophatic, nutritionist, endocrinologist, tried yoga, meditating, journaling, cbd oil, probiotic, drinking more water, specific high quality supplements and NOTHING worked. I spent over 1000£ with all these things. Sadly i gave up and went back on the pill, i am not TTC so i hope the pill works as good as it did last time.

Im one of the statistics 😪.

Ohhh so relatable... Like most people here in the comments, I've tried everything from pills to Accutane to topicals. Pills affected my mood and caused migraines, but after canceling pills, my acne went SAVAGE. Accutane helped a lot but caused nasty side effects such as leg convulsions, insomnia, and nose bleeding. So now I'm back to topicals again, which is not very helpful for my jawline hormonal acne. Actually, It's even got worse. Now I have small pimples all over my forehead and big red bumps on my cheeks. Plus, my skin is all dry and flaky. BPO saved me for several years, but now it doesn't work too. So I'm almost out of options. My last hope is the supplements you mentioned. Also, I will not give up on topicals - maybe in a month or two, they will show some results. God help us in this fight with acne (I'm not religious, but you know what I mean)!

@vickrdable

2 жыл бұрын

how are you doing now? any updates?

@nayad4403

2 жыл бұрын

@@vickrdable I decided to go back to Accutane, two months ago I finished the full corse and feel pretty well! My acne is gone, at least for now. My skin is combi now, but it's also summer, so... Unfortunately. my scalp is back to being oily too 😭 Other than that, everything's fine. Now I have to deal with acne scars 😤

I have the same problem. I'm 29yrs old and never had any problem with acne before. My acne problem started last year when I stopped using contraceptive pills and I never thought of going back to pills. I have tried using acne treatment creams but it's getting worst. Having this acne makes me really feel depressed and awful. :( Now, I'm thinking of going back to pills as I am really desperate to get my acne-free skin back. I hope it works. I have been reading the comments section and I learned a lot from you all and this video really helps a lot. Thank you so much Dr. Lim. I hope you can create more videos like this.

Thank you! I have struggled w acne basically my whole life (I'm 39). Still struggling but tretinoin and azelaic acid helps. I still struggle with harmonal acne every month. Have tried spiranolactone and had bad reactions. Im on IUD and might switch to pill (done having children). And dont love option to try isotretinoin. Wish I could be fully done with acne 🤦‍♀️

So what causes the glands to be set off? I suspect what is considered “acne” in some cases is something else and because it looks like it , it’s treated that way

@vlogmaman2182

3 жыл бұрын

Sugar, dairy and refined foods

I was on the pill since 14. Got off at 29. Hardcore painful cystic acne. Went to derm. Prescribed Spironolactone, gained weight in 3 months and had major side effects. Need to get off. 😭😭😭

Coming out of pills and Acne is back. Starting with Accutane. Your content is fantastic! Very concise yet detailed! Thank you so much!

This is also my story. 2 rounds of accutane and hormonal birth control kept my oily skin and cystic acne minimal. When I decided to go off of birth control my cystic acne flared! It was a horrible experience. I am currently off the pill and using 400 mg of vitex, a multivitamin, and a whole food plant based diet. I sometimes get break outs before my period and during ovulation but it is much less severe. I also use tretinoin at night, benzoyl peroxide during the day, and of course loads of zinc based sunscreen as protection. I am doing my best to stay away from the pill because it my libido suffers when I take it and the the risks are scary. Good luck everyone! I know this is all very challenging.

Ever since I went on bc for acne I haven’t had breakouts after seeing so many dermatologists and taking tons of antibiotics. Thank god for birth control

@kstayblessed

3 жыл бұрын

I recently started taking bc for my acne only. I hope it clears up my skin as well. How long did it take for you to see results?

@user-mb9jx5tx9y

3 жыл бұрын

@@kstayblessed few months

I wish I found this video sooner! About 5 years ago, I got off the pill (yaz) after 7 years and I went through blazing acne in my mid twenties! It was a terrible time in my life I will NEVER forget. It toke 3-4 years to calm my acne down, and now I think its cured from using topical retinoids. However, there is minor scarring. I regret going on the pill for this reason.

I was on Dianette for years which worked like a dream! But in recent years doctors seem to be quite hesitant to prescribe it and I haven’t found other oral contraceptives as consistently helpful e.g. I still have to watch my diet too whereas on dianette I could eat as much dairy as I liked:) But yes, as soon as I come off the pill the acne comes right back without fail... it’s worst on my chin. Please come back to Ireland some day!

This is my situation 🥺 had well controlled acne on the pill and using differin and I had to stop taking it because of a stroke risk and boom it’s back 😖 I’m at a loss I don’t know what to do, I’m already using differin and it’s not controlling it at all now!

@weirdsider4412

3 жыл бұрын

I’m so sorry... 😭😭😭 💛💐 Could you tell me more about your experience with the stroke risk, like how you found out that was an issue for you?? I’m sorry I’m just totally clueless and really worried about a stroke/heart issues, I’ve only been on the pill for 1 week for the very first time and I’m freakin out. 😭😭😭

@lanaroberts9929

3 жыл бұрын

@@weirdsider4412 sure! I used to have awful migraines with aura (means you have visual disturbances) but they went away for the most part when I got older/went on birth control. However, I had one migraine with aura and mentioned it to my doctor and she immediately took me off the combined pill for good 🥲 was very upset as it totally helped my skin, periods, migraines etc and now they’re all back bad!!

You described exactly my life. Teenage acne, hormones, pregnancy=acne and now in early 30s I started acutane.

So can the birth control help with the hormonal acne when your hormone levels are ok but it s the sebaceous gland problem? Or am i just doomed forever?:(

@raraavis7782

3 жыл бұрын

Have you tried Retinoids? Tretinoin did more for my super oily, large pored skin, than the pill ever did. And I'm 40, so it's not a puberty thing. My skin just never 'normalized' after puberty. My acne went away over the years, but not the excessive oiliness and visibly clogged pores.

@iza4150

3 жыл бұрын

@@raraavis7782 yes, epiduo with adapalene, did almost nothing

@Pari1899

3 жыл бұрын

Iza have you tried it long enough? For the first few months, it didn’t seem to do much for me, but after 3 months it cleared up my face.

@EthlinnTT8

3 жыл бұрын

Something I don’t get is how long do you need to use retinoids for if you have hormonal acne? Say, for a year, and then you won’t need it anymore? Or is it a constant treatment that one needs to use for life (for hormonal acne) as long as acne is still appearing. Is long-term use of retinoids okay?

@iza4150

3 жыл бұрын

@@EthlinnTT8 topicals yes, they have to be used long term and yes they are safe and efficient, accutane it s used like for 6 months or so and high chances the very bad acne wont come back. It still might, it depends but most likely not or not as bad, hormonal or not, cause it stops the sebaceous glands produce so much oil (and hormones make them produce more, that s whay hormonal acnee basically is)

Please, talk about the effect of eating bread with yeast on jawline acne. They look like cysts, very painfull.

This is exactly where I am now. I came off the pill in my early 30s because it was affecting my mood and now I am struggling to control my hormonal acne. My dermatologist also says I have something related to keratosis pilaris on my face- could you talk about that sometime?

I’ve suffered with hormonal acne since my early twenties, which I have been on the contraceptive pill to help control. I am now 33 and my father since died of an embolism so my doctor advised to come of it. What do you make of the bio identical hormones?

This is such a wonderful video. I used to have severe acne on my jawline and my back. My dermatologist put me on spiro and I wasn’t happy about it and she kept increasing the dose until I refused to take it. I went to another dermatologist and he gave me accutane. It was six months of craziness in terms of side effects but they’ll explain this to you before you start the medication. I finished the course. It’s been 3 years. I am in my mid 30th, female and I have clear skin! 😁

This is exactly what’s happening to me now, hormonal acne! I’m 30 and still battling with acne, very depressing. I’ve just recently started my pill again. Drinking lots of water No dairy Cutting sugar Exercise Eating anti inflammatory food ❌❌non of those worked❌❌

@JamieModelvsDirector

3 жыл бұрын

Same here

@annad693

3 жыл бұрын

Same!!!!

@SamanthaRod

3 жыл бұрын

I experienced the same and was sick of the side effects from the pill. I ended up doing an Accutane treatment last year and it was absolutely life changing. I love looking in the mirror and finally feeling comfortable without any makeup on. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner and I spent most of my 20's feeling self-conscious and letting it impact my self esteem.

@gabriellanoelle1606

3 жыл бұрын

@@SamanthaRod How long did you take the accutane? Also did you try other acne treatments like tretinoin/adapalene before accutane or was it just the pill? Thanks! I've been using topical treatments for so long and nothing is working so my derma is telling me to take accutane but I'm kinda scared if I won't get results even after taking it for months...

@SamanthaRod

3 жыл бұрын

@@gabriellanoelle1606 my treatment was for 6 months and yes I had tried plenty of other treatments and accutane was my last resort and 100% worked for me. The side effects were not fun and I just rationalized 6 months of chapped lips, hair shedding and body aches was SO worth having clear skin. I did my accutane treatment in the first half of 2019 and my skin is still clear. I used tretinoin before accutane but it didn't completely help with my acne, but now that I'm off accutane I use tretinoin daily to keep my skin healthy and fresh. Accutane isn't for everyone, but I don't regret it at all and it made such a difference for me that it was absolutely worth it.