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Should Teens be Popping Birth Control Pills to Have Flawless Skin? |
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Here's what you need to know about 'the pill' for treating zits.
Q. How do birth control pills work for acne?
A. In very simple words, it is the hormone testosterone that stimulates acne outbreaks.
Although very less in females as compared to males, it is very much present and tends to shoot up just after puberty and in the late teens. Birth control pills reduce the amount of testosterone in females and maintain proper hormone levels. This is how they work and clear up those pimples.
Q. Is it advisable for girls in their early teens to consume birth control pills?
A. No. Consuming birth control pills is harmful for girls in their early teens who have not reached puberty. Growth and normal pubertal development is severely hampered. It is only after a teenager begins menstruating on her own that the risk of these pills is minimized. In fact it is considered to be quite safe for older teens and adults.
Q. Do birth control pills have advantages over regular topical treatments for acne?
A. As birth control pills work on hormones, they may sometimes work better than topical treatments for acne. Complaints like dry skin, irritation, crusting, peeling, redness and blistering are not something that you would associate with pills. If you have tried other treatments and failed, you might like to turn to this one. But please educate yourself about these pills before you decide.
Q. What are the side effects of birth control pills?
A. Consumption of birth control pills may have the following side effects:
* Weight gain
* Fluid retention
* Nausea
* Dark patches on skin
* Vaginal bleeding
* Depression
These effects are compounded if you smoke.
You need to be aware of these before you pop birth control pills. You must stop their use if problems seem to be on the rise.
Q. What are the long term effects of birth control pills?
A. Continual consumption of birth control pills over a long period may cause:
* Blood clots
* Strokes
* Heart attacks
* Anemia
* Worsening of diabetes
However studies have shown that these are very rare occurrences.
Q. As a teenager, I need contraception as well as flawless skin. It seems perfect to use birth control pills. So why not?
A. If you have read through the side effects of birth control pills and they don't seem to be too hard on you, you can very well go ahead and use them to your satisfaction. With contraception and clear skin, it's certainly a two-birds-with-one-shot. But in your zest don't ever forget that these pills do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. They are never a substitute for conventional precautions.
Q. I want the benefits of birth control pills for acne but without the contraception or side effects. Any alternatives?
A. If you do not wish to use birth control pills either for their side effects or for moral religious reasons, you can opt for alternative anti-androgen treatment for acne. Over-the-counter anti-androgens are available, as well as laser and light treatment at specialty centers. But since they tend to be more expensive, most people tend to just pop the ubiquitous birth control pills.
Q. Can boys use birth control pills for curing acne?
A. Males, don't even think of it. If you consume birth control pills meant for women, there could be tragic changes in your hormone levels.
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