Almost all of us have been on at least one form of birth control in our life. While birth control is convenient and useful, stopping its use comes with many side effects, some of which are not so pleasant.

Acne is often the most experienced side effect amongst women, but this doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Breakouts can affect our confidence and self-esteem. Read on to find out why we get acne during this time and how we can avoid a potential breakout post-birth control use.

How Birth Control Affects Our Body

Birth control comes in two primary forms, hormonal and non-hormonal. Hormonal birth control includes options like pills, shots, and implants. Most of these prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs; however, this is dependent on the type of hormones used. Birth control is also achieved by thickening cervical mucus or thinning the uterus lining, both of which prevent implantation from occurring (1). Non-hormonal birth control options work as a barrier method to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. These include the copper IUD, condoms, and other products that don't change the body's chemistry.

While non-hormonal birth control options come with their range of factors to take into consideration, hormonal products usually are the ones with a whole range of side effects. Because our hormones' usual function is critical for regulating many processes that occur within our body, any changes to the normal will affect how your body reacts. These include:

• Mood changes
• Weight fluctuations
• Changes in appetite
• Increased risk of blood clots
• Changes in acne production

What Happens When We Stop Birth Control?

So, what happens once our hormones aren't being altered anymore? When stopping birth control, the symptoms will vary between individuals since our body chemistry is different from others. However, most women will experience irregular periods, weight changes, and increased acne production (2).

But what is the reason behind this? Being on hormonal birth control can help regulate any hormone imbalances that may cause acne in your regular life, pre-birth control. Besides other factors like diet, stress, and medication, our hormones are one of the leading influences on how acne-prone our skin is (3).

As soon as you stop using birth control, your body may begin relying on its natural hormone levels once again. However, this significant hormonal shift isn't as instantaneous as we might think: it can take up to three months after stopping birth control for your body to return to normal hormone production (4). The result is abnormal fluctuations in hormones that manifest as breakouts on our face and body.

Acne and Our Hormones

As annoying as it is, most of us have had to deal with acne at some point in our life. These pesky pimples often arise during our teenage years, before our period, and while going through menopause. The reason behind this makes sense. We have the most significant fluctuations of hormones within our bodies during these times, leading to increased acne production. These fluctuations in hormones may influence acne formation in a variety of ways, including:

• Increasing skin inflammation
• Increasing sebum production in the pores
• Stimulating oil glands
• Causes more blockage in pores

Probably the most crucial factor is the increase in sebum production, leading to oilier skin. Sebum production is controlled by glands called sebaceous glands, with receptors that are directly affected by hormones. Excess sebum production can combine with dead skin cells in pores, resulting in blockages. These sebum filled pores are the ideal breeding ground for certain acne-producing bacteria to colonize, resulting in a bout of inflammatory acne (5).

How Can We Combat This?

While excess acne production after coming off birth control usually clears up on its own once hormone levels stabilize, it can still be highly inconvenient. Severe acne forms can generally be cleared up by topical treatments such as acne medication or serums containing retinoids. Most of these products are available over the counter, but if stronger medicine is needed, you may need to ask for a prescription product from your doctor.

There are also several changes to implement in your diet, which may help prevent additional acne from forming. Inflammation-fighting foods containing antioxidants and omega-3 are beneficial for skin health, while other inflammation-promoting foods like sugar, refined carbs, and dairy should be avoided (6).

Another way to lessen the hormone fluctuations is to avoid coming off hormonal birth control multiple times in a short period. This may aggravate the fluctuations leading to increased side effects, so coming off any form of hormonal birth control shouldn't be a decision to take lightly. If switching between using birth control and not is something needed for your lifestyle, a great option is choosing a non-hormonal birth control method to use in the future. It is just as effective, as the hormonal methods, with the added benefit of little to no side effects for you.

The Bottom Line

Coming off birth control can cause many side effects throughout your body, including increased acne production. While expected, it can also be inconvenient and painful. The reason behind this is the relationship between acne and hormone production. Once off birth control, hormone levels take a while to stabilize, which often leads to breakouts.

We can combat this using several options, including implementing some diet changes, using topical acne medication, and avoiding switching on and off birth control. By doing so, it will hopefully encourage hormone balance, leading to clear and radiant skin.