Which birth control pill is best for acne?

What are the best and worst contraceptive pills for acne?

Living with acne can be a frustrating and mentally draining experience. But there are a number of treatment options available. And for some looking into birth control for acne can be an option. Certain contraceptive pills can help alleviate the symptoms of acne, and birth control pills for acne can also be prescribed solely for that intention.

On this page, we’ll discuss which pills may be beneficial for your skin and acne symptoms, which aren’t and what to do if you take a pill that makes your skin worse.

Medically reviewed by

Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead

Yasmin, Lucette, Dretine and acne

Yasmin, Lucette and Dretine all contain the same synthetic versions of oestrogen and progesterone - ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone respectively. They are all 4th generation pills, and so may be beneficial for skin problems including acne.

The Yasmin pill may help acne according to one study on the active progestogens found in combined contraceptive pills. You can talk to your doctor about Yasmin and acne if it’s a benefit you would want from a contraceptive pill.

The Lucette pill may also be beneficial for skin and acne problems. Many women have reported online about acne side effects caused by certain contraceptive pills they’ve taken. However, some women find that they have a better relationship with Lucette and their acne symptoms.

This may be largely in part to the fact Lucette is a 4th generation pill. It’s possible that women may have to try different contraceptives before they find the one that works best for them.

Qlaira and acne

Qlaira is a combined contraceptive pill that can help with heavy or painful periods, but Qlaira may help with acne too. Each Qlaira pill packet contains different types of pills - some contain estradiol valerate (oestrogen), some contain both estradiol valerate and dienogest (progesterone) and some pills contain no hormones at all. These ‘empty’ pills are taken with the intention of helping you get into the habit of taking a pill each day.

Dienogest-based pills like Qlaira may help with skin problems like acne. Certain side effects associated with other contraceptive pills are also less likely when you take Qlaira. This may include vaginal dryness, appetite increase, weight gain, cramps, mood changes and reduced libido.

However, Qlaira can cause more oestrogenic side effects including breast fullness and tenderness, headaches, fluid retention, tiredness, irritability, nausea and bloating.

Cilique and acne

Cilique is a Norgestimate-based combined pill, making it a 3rd generation pill. So it may not be as good for skin problems as certain 4th generation pills, but it may also help. People respond to contraceptive pills in different ways, and it’s important to keep in mind what doesn’t work for someone else might work for you.

Cillique also contains the same active ingredients as Cillest, which was discontinued.

What is the relationship between the Cilique pill and acne? Cilique may help with the symptoms of acne and other androgen related skin disorders.

Evra Patch and acne

The Evra patch is another 3rd generation contraception, but it isn’t a pill that you swallow. Evra is a contraceptive patch you apply to the skin, containing hormones that are absorbed into the bloodstream over the course of seven days.

One study on Evra and adolescents found that the contraceptive method was well-tolerated and provided excellent contraceptive cycle control. 33% of women in the study who started the process with acne or skin problems reported their symptoms had reduced since starting Evra.

Marvelon, Gedarel and acne

Marvelon and Gedarel are also third generation pills. They contain desogestrel, a synthetic progestogen. Desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol for acne might be a good combination because they reduce the risk of acne symptoms, but also reduce the chances of developing a series of other oestrogenic side effects.

Marvelon may help with acne, with one study finding that women who took Marvelon had significantly reduced acne.

NuvaRing and acne

NuvaRing is the brand of contraceptive ring used in the UK. It’s a small ring that is placed inside the vagina which releases hormones over 21 days.

The type of progestogen found in NuvaRing, called etonogestrel, may help some women with skin problems like acne. According to Clue, an app that tracks your menstruation cycle, ‘an analysis of three studies, people using the birth control ring for three to 13 months report less acne than people using the pill (P).’

However, in the NuvaRing patient information - acne is listed as a potential side effect. Again, what works for some women might not work for others.

Rigevidon, Microgynon, Ovranette and acne

Rigevidon, Microgynon and Ovranette are all second generation hormonal contraceptive pills. But how do they affect acne?

A dermatology solution website conducted a poll of 2,000 women who suffered from acne. In the survey, 65% of participants reported Microgynon had no impact on their acne symptoms, 19% reported it had helped a bit, 6% reported Microgynon had noticeably improved their acne and only 10% reported it made their acne worse.

On the flip-side, some women have also reported that Microgynon can give them acne, or that it makes their acne worse. But Microgynon acne isn’t the only side effect associated with the pill, it can cause a number of other progesterone related side effects too. Always read the patient information leaflet prior to use.

Does Rigevidon help acne, or does the pill Rigevidon make acne worse? Because Rigevidon is a second generation pill, it may affect women in a similar way to Microgynon. Rigevidon is typically one of the first pills a woman might be prescribed, and most will get on fine with it. However, it can cause certain progestogenic side effects because it contains older versions of progesterone - these can include mood swings and acne.

It’s a similar story with Ovranette and acne, which is another second generation pill. The majority of women won’t be affected adversely by Ovranette, but certain side effects can happen and this does include acne.

Loestrin and acne

Loestrin is a first generation pill that contains ethinyl estradiol and an early version of progesterone, norethisterone.

First generation pills are no longer approved for use in the UK, because safer and better tolerated contraceptives have since been created. However, Loestrin may help with acne and it carries a relatively low risk of progestogenic side effects.