Is The Pill Causing Your Breakouts?

Disclaimer: This article discusses the contraceptive pill only in the context of skin health and acne management. I am not advising on contraception choices or suggesting anyone stop their prescribed medication for contraceptive purposes. If you have been given the pill as a treatment for acne and it is not working for you, this post explores alternative options for supporting your skin.

If you're struggling with acne and you’ve been handed the contraceptive pill as a ‘solution’, you are far from alone. For decades, the pill has been the go-to recommendation for hormonal breakouts, oily skin, and adult acne. And while it may help for some, it’s not always the magic fix it’s made out to be.

In fact, for many (myself included), it can do more harm than good.

How the Contraceptive Pill Affects Your Skin

The contraceptive pill changes your natural hormone balance. That includes the ones responsible for sebum production, inflammation, and cell turnover.

This can go either way really. Some pills reduce oil production and calm breakouts and others (especially progesterone-only pills) can do the complete opposite.

If you've noticed your skin breaking out more than ever while on the pill, or your usual routine isn’t cutting it anymore, this might be why. Don't forget, if you're on the progesterone only pill this can be a real trigger for acne if you're acne prone. Do you break out just before your period? Well that tends to be caused by progesterone! So, when we are taking the progesterone only pill, guess what...? Yep... You're constantly breaking out.

And it’s not just about spots. Many people report dullness, dryness, pigmentation, or changes in sensitivity. Some even notice their skin becoming more reactive, red, or uneven in tone.

Hormones affect the skin far more than we give them credit for, and synthetic hormones? They don’t always play nice.

The Progesterone-Only Problem

While combined contraceptives can sometimes help with breakouts, the progesterone-only pill (POP - as in the one you take consistently without a break) is a different story. In my experience (and my own skin journey), this type of pill can be a real trigger for breakouts and skin imbalance. It can also thin the hair, flatten the mood, and create a general sense of being "off".

Of course, this isn’t true for everyone. But if you're nodding along, it’s worth speaking to your GP and considering alternatives.

Acne Isn’t a Birth Control Problem

Let’s get one thing straight: acne isn’t caused by a lack of contraceptive pills. If your skin is breaking out, your body is trying to tell you something. Suppressing that message with synthetic hormones might give you temporary relief, but it rarely solves the deeper issue.

And no, coming off the pill doesn’t mean you’re doomed to lifelong acne either. This is what I thought would happen to me, but with the right products, and a little time, my skin has really calmed down!

I always say, with anything linked to hormones, you want to give your skin three to six months to settle down before you start thinking that 'this is permanent'. Whether it be going on or off the pill (or any contraception for that matter), pregnancy, miscarriage and breastfeeding, you have to give your skin time to normalise.

There Are Better Solutions

There are other ways to treat acne without turning to hormonal birth control, here are some of my favourite skin-friendly tools I recommend in clinic:

SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum

A medical grade serum combining a retinoid with salicylic and lactic acid to treat breakouts, texture, and signs of ageing in one. It helps keep pores clear and skin calm, without the traditional ‘retinoid reaction’.

SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads

Ideal for a weekly skin treatment. These medical-grade pads help unclog pores, brighten post-inflammatory pigmentation (like the red marks that get left behind with spots), and support clear skin without disrupting your barrier.

Nimue Problematic Range

One of my go-to professional systems for acne-prone skin. Designed to rebalance oil production, exfoliate gently, and soothe inflammation. The Nimue Cleansing Gel and Conditioner are a brilliant start even if you use nothing else.

Skinade Clear

A daily supplement that supports acne-prone skin from within. It combines omegas, MSM, and key nutrients to balance inflammation and reduce breakouts. Great for hormonal skin that feels like it needs support from every angle.

If you're on the pill and your skin is suffering, please know that it’s not you. And you are not stuck.

Skincare is personal, but a good place to start is understanding what your hormones are doing and supporting your skin both externally and internally.

I would say, you need to focus on...

• A consistent skincare routine with barrier-respecting, medical grade actives

• Regular professional treatments tailored to your skin

• Nutritional support through high quality supplements

• Possibly reevaluating your choice of contraception with the help of your doctor

  
  

Acne is multi-layered, but there are kinder, more sustainable ways to manage it than masking symptoms with synthetic hormones.

Want to get to the bottom of your breakouts? Book a free online Skin Check-In with me and let’s make a plan that actually works for your skin and your lifestyle.

No pill required.

Thank you so much for reading,

Emmaline