Will Desogen cure my acne?

Do you REALLY know what acne is and WHY the ‘birth control pill’ is prescribed for treating it? Keep using your lotions and creams but do yourself a favour and read about the culprit in the acne war……ANDROGEN…

It is widely known that the contraceptive pill is often prescribed for the treatment of women’s acne and was approved by the FDA in 1997 for this treatment of this condition. However, if you are considering asking your doctor for the popular brand, Desogen , there are some facts you should know, especially if you have certain health problems or inherited medical conditions.

What exactly is Desogen and How does Desogen work in my body?

Desogen is an oral birth control pill that contains a combination of synthetic female hormones to stop an egg being released from a woman’s ovary. If an egg is not released, it cannot be fertilized by a male sperm- so the woman cannot become pregnant. Most women take Desogen to prevent them from falling pregnant but others have found it to be extremely effective for clearing up their acne or significantly reducing breakouts.  Desogen does this by controlling the level of androgen (a male hormone) connected with the production of oil in our skin (from our sebaceous glands).

Why does acne occur and what does it look like?

On the surface of our skin are little ‘breathing holes’ or pores and ‘pockets’ (follicles) out of which each hair grows. The sebaceous gland in each follicle produces oil or sebum. When too much sebum is produced, these glands become blocked and inflamed which results in pimples, ‘zits’ and blackheads – a chronic outbreak is known medically as acne.  In acute cases, these pustules can result in cysts or abscesses that become infected and scar the skin’s surface.  If the production of sebum can be decreased then the acne is usually reduced also.

Why is the amount of oil produced by our sebaceous glands important?

Since the hormone, androgen, controls the release of sebum, it is not surprising that if there is an imbalance in hormone levels, especially during adolescence, then there is going to be an imbalance in the level of sebum produced. Even though contraceptive pills work effectively on acne treatment, they are not ideal for teenagers to take if they are not sexually active (unless they have had a thorough talk to their doctor first).

Desogen and acne is a ‘balancing act’.

Since Desogen affects the level of the androgen hormone within a woman’s body, it follows that every woman’s body will be operating on varying levels of hormone production so, to some degree,  it is trial and error with a contraceptive medication  such as Desogen for controlling the level of sebum produced and therefore controlling the severity of her acne. It is for this reason that Desogen can be extremely effective or in some cases, just not be compatible with the level of androgen being produced in certain women so their acne seems to get worse. Ethinyl etradiol is the synthetic estrogen in contraceptive pills that affects the level of androgen.

The contraceptive pill Desogen resolves acne conditions in many women

Doctors prescribe Desogen specifically for the treatment of acne in woman they consider suitable for this combination of synthetic hormones. Woman who can take Desogen will find that this birth control pill balances their hormones effectively and is the ideal drug for helping them to manage their acne. It should be noted though, that no single treatment for acne, including Desogen, should be relied upon to treat this severe skin condition. A dirty skin, make up and bacteria also aggravate acne so topical products, such as lotions, creams and anti bacterial skin cleansers should be considered for use in conjunction with Desogen.

Always consult your doctor if you wish to try Desogen for your acne treatment and tell him which other medications/topical products you are also using.

As with many medications, however, some women find they do experience various side effects when taking Desogen. Some common side effects include nausea, headaches, slight bleeding, weight gain and possible mood changes. After taking Desogen for three months, many of these effects disappear but you should monitor your body closely and consider a different treatment if they persist or if they worsen.

The clearly documented risks associated with all contraceptive pills  must be noted for Desogen also, whether taken for acne or as  your preferred birth control method. These risks include stroke, blood clotting and breast cancer (although the contraceptive pill has positive benefits in reducing ovarian and uterine cancer)

Smoking is bad for you anyway but the risks of developing heart disease increase if you are on the ‘pill’.

If you do take Desogen to prevent acne, take it as prescribed by your doctor – even if you save money by buying  it on line

Missing a dose of Desogen will not have such a bad effect on your acne but it will affect your risk of getting pregnant.
Check the leaflet that comes with the Desogen pack if you miss a pill and of course, if you are unsure as to whether you can two pills on one day, check with your doctor or medical practitioner. To reduce the anxiety or stress further, it would be wise to use additional contraception at this time.

Desogen is ideal for reducing the painful and embarrassing condition of acne in many women but unfortunately it is just not suitable for a certain percentage of woman. It is probably worth trying though as the benefits can be excellent and it is likely that if you keep in contact with your doctor you will eventually find a combination of the ‘pill’ and a topical skin product that will help you through your acne ‘chapter’.

Desogen

What every girl should know about Desogen – a simple fact sheet

Desogen is one of the more popular hormonal contraceptives which you swallow once day in tablet form. Desogen contains active ingredients, synthetic hormones, which in a female body stop a woman’s egg from emerging from her ovary (ovulation). Desogen not only stops ovulation but also prevents the ‘boys’ (sperm) from actually getting to the ‘gal’ (egg) to do their ‘thing’ (fertilise the egg)

So What exactly IS Desogen?

Desogen is a prescribed medicine that prevents pegnancy in a woman. Desogen is prescribed by doctors for treating other medical conditions but is is used by a large number of women as a convenient method of birth control.

Is there anyone who cannot use Desogen for birth control?

Yes, sorry but Desogen is not for you if:

• you are already expecting a baby or have just given birth to one
• you have had a stroke or your circulation is not in good shape
• you have breast cancer or uterine cancer (these are hormone related cancers

• you have previously tried other hormonal contraceptives and found them to cause you rto be jaundiced

Before you get disheartened and think that no contraceptive ‘pill’ will be suitable for you because you have depression or high blood pressure, for instance, just check with your doctor first to see if he can prescribe Desogen for you. Usually though it is not advisable to take an oral contraceptive like Desogne if you do suffer from diabetes, epilepsy or high cholesterol. If your periods are always irregular Desogen may be prescribed to regulate them but only your doctor or medical practitioner can decide this for you so be sure to give as much information to them as you can beforehand.

Call your GP if….

• you miss two periods in a row (you may be pregnant) or you know that you are definitely pregnant
• you wish to go BACK on the ‘pill’ after having a baby
• you are still breastfeeding and want to go back to taking Desogen (what you swallow can be passed through your milk to your baby). It is unlikely that you will be prescribed Desogen while you are still breastfeeding as some women report a slowing down in milk production.

If I’m taking Desogen for the first time, is there anything I should know?

Yes. 6 things:

1. Use back up! Until your hormone levels adjust to Desogen use added protection against pregnancy. Maybe condoms or spermicides, if you don’t mind these methods for a short while.

2. You will place yourself at a higher risk from heart disease if you smoke, especially if you are 35 or older

3. Other medications, when taken alongside Desogen, may mix up a ‘cocktail’ of drugs that renders Desogen less effective, hence you may not be as ‘protected’ from pregnancy as you think you are! Your doctor will tell you
what is safe and what to avoid (even some vitamins and mineral supplements should be mentioned to him)

4. Please discuss with your doctor HOW LONG you can take Desogen for, as in years and also in what dose. There is a leaflet in each pack that has the usual dose explained clearly and what to do if you miss a dose.
Always take Desogen as prescribed and do not take this hormonal drug at a higher dose ‘just to be sure’!

5. A normal reaction during the first 10-12 weeks may be a little bleeding- no need to be alarmed with this but if the bleeding doesn’t stop or becomes heavier, you know what to do ( see your doctor)

6. You may become pregnant if you do not take Desogen regularly.