The Acne Journal

Before coming to our clinic, Hannah (photo below) had worked with a dermatologist for months to get her acne under control. She tried several things to help clear her skin: antibiotics, Retin-A, and various topical prescription products. When nothing worked, her Dr. recommended an IUD (a birth-control implant) in an effort to regulate her hormones and control her skin. 

The IUD didn't work. In fact, it made her skin much worse. Hannah's "before" pictures below show her skin...

I have hormonal acne - can you still help me? 

This is a question we get asked often. It's hard to understand how treating acne topically can help breakouts that are caused by something internal, like hormones. 

Hormones definitely do play a role in acne flare-ups: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), high-androgen birth control, pregnancy, miscarriage, breastfeeding, fertility treatments, hormone replacement therapy, testosterone, and emergency contraception pills are some of the...