Birth control pills can help treat acne, but some types are better than others

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Birth control is one of the standard treatment options for patients with hormonal acne.

Birth control can help with acne because they regulate the hormones that cause excess oil in your skin.

Although other pills may help, the FDA has only approved three types for treating acne: Yaz, Estrostep, and Orth-Tri-Cyclen.

It's possible that birth control can make your acne worse. And sometimes, your skin will get worse before it gets better when you start the pill.

This article was reviewed by Olivia P. Myrick, MD, who is a clinical assistant professor with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone.

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When topical acne treatments fail, birth control is an option that can be very effective for many acne sufferers.

"Physicians have been prescribing birth control as a treatment for hormonal acne for many years," says Lavanya Krishnan, MD, FAAD, of Arya Derm in San Francisco. "It is one of the standard treatment options for patients who have hormonal acne."See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: How to find water when you're stuck in the desertSee Also:There are three types of birth control. Here's how each type works and how well it prevents pregnancyHome pregnancy tests will expire, but you may still get an accurate readingA chemical pregnancy is a miscarriage, but doctors say it's a good sign if you're trying to get pregnant

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