3 Steps to Support Post-Pill Acne Naturally
If you’ve decided to read this blog post then I’ll have a guess that you are experiencing post-pill acne yourself and want to know what causes it and how to get rid of it!
What causes post-pill acne?
The Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) suppresses sebum (skin oils) which means it lowers them down to “childhood levels” while on the pill. Ideal right but also a little bit concerning considering adults are supposed to have more sebum than children. When the OCP is stopped, sebum production can surge due to an increase in androgen production.
What does this mean?
This means that after stopping the pill sebum production is up-regulated which can persist for months if not treated. In my clinical practice, it usually gets to it’s worse around 3-6 months. Often the skin is completely normal after stopping the pill for months and then BAM it creeps up out of no-where.
Once the 3-6 month mark is reached it’s important to know that you are over the hump and it gets better from here —don’t give up hope.
Note: Due to the temporary surge in androgens (male hormones) this is a time where you may be mistakenly diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Supporting Post-Pill Acne Naturally
Ideally, it is best to start a protocol 3 months before you come off the Pill although it’s never too late to start treatment if you are experiencing post-pill acne.
1. Consider nutritional supplementation
One crucial side effect of the OCP is that it depletes key nutrients due to the impact it has on nutrient absorption, utilisation and nutrient level requirement.
Nutrients depleted by the OCP include:
Folate
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Magnesium
Selenium
Zinc
The best and easiest way to restore these is through a high-quality multivitamin supplementation. As a Nutritionist and Naturopath, I only recommend and prescribe practitioner only products which are of the highest quality.
Zinc specifically targets post-pill acne due to its effect on killing bacteria in the skin and reducing androgens and testosterone. Ensure you take a quality Zinc supplement of at least 30mg. I always recommend having this prescribed by a qualified practitioner to ensure copper is balanced alongside zinc.
DIM (diindolylmethane) is another key nutrient which is a natural androgen-blocker. It is a phytonutrient from broccoli and can assist as a natural treatment for post-pill acne.
2. Avoid foods that encourage acne
A1 cow’s dairy is one to consider as it contains an inflammatory protein called a1 casein which can stimulate mask cells and spikes a hormone called 1GF-1.
Sugar, like dairy, spokes IGF-1 and can increase the likely hood of acne.
3. Focus on stress management
Oral contraceptives have been shown to raise cortisol levels and impact your stress response; When your baseline cortisol level goes up, your body becomes primed for stress. Increased stress can lead to increased breakouts.
Add at least one stress management practice into your day such as a nature walk, meditation, reading, breathing techniques or simply 20 minutes of sitting on the couch with your favourite cuppa tea - whatever works best for you! Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep and avoid electronics and bright lights 2 hours before bedtime.
If you are looking at coming off the Pill or have recently come off it I have created an e-Book specifically for you —Your Essential Guide to Transitioning off The Oral Contraceptive Pill. This educational guide walks you step-by-step as you come off the Pill so that you don’t have to experience the post-pill symptoms, nourish your body of depleted nutrients and restore a regular menstrual cycle and promote ovulation. Find it here.
