how to treat post-pill skin
It’s a far too common experience I hear of day in and day out, both in clinic and in life! Many of us started on the pill at a very young age, continued throughout our teenage years and early twenties, then once we made the decision to come off, we’re in our mid-late twenties experiencing significant skin changes, such as acne and/or dermatitis and at a loss for what to do!
There are several contributing factors, so to begin with, let’s take a look at how the pill works. Although there are multiple pill types which contain different synthetic hormones, for the most part, they have a similar effect on our hormonal production - shutting it down! This is something we need to get straight - one of the ways the pill works is by preventing us from ovulating which is why it’s so effective in preventing pregnancy, although this is info many of us didn’t get told (or perhaps didn’t care for!) in our early teens.
With the prevention of ovulation, we aren’t experiencing the normal hormonal fluctuations of a female menstrual cycle, and once we stop, these hormones become dysregulated and go into overdrive, leading to an increase in sebum production, causing oily skin and acne. When it comes to skin conditions like perioral dermatitis, another common unwanted response to stopping birth control, this is most often caused by the disruption of our gut microbiome from being on the pill. Other factors which also exacerbate these skin concerns include the depletion of essential nutrients which are critical for skin health, as well as the increased burden on the liver, whilst it works hard to excrete the synthetic hormones used in birth control.
symptoms of post-pill skin concerns
The most common response is acne, and if it does occur, it is usually within 6 months of stopping the pill, although it can be longer dependent on a number of factors, such as whether you are undergoing any treatment, taking supplements and how long you were on the pill for.
The acne might be localised to the chin area which is common for hormonal concerns, but due to the excessive sebum production, it could be anywhere on the face, neck, chest and back, and can range from mild to severe.
Less common than acne but still very prevalent is perioral dermatitis, which presents much more dry, irritated, itchy and red, compared to acne being oily and inflamed. We know how much skin issues can affect our confidence and wellbeing, so unfortunately our mental health is often also affected (especially with the cascade of hormonal changes exacerbating this!).
Chances are, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you are likely also be experiencing digestive disturbance. Most commonly, I see chronic and significant bloating, and in some cases constipation, another contributor inhibiting the hormonal excretion process.
HOW TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE
To get sustainable results, we must find and treat the root cause! 99% of the time, this is treated via the gut! So first point of call, would be functional stool testing which can be done with a qualified naturopath or nutritionist. This provides us with a really clear and detailed analysis of what’s going on inside the gut, so I can put together a tailored treatment plan for you.
HOW TO TREAT IT AND CLEAR YOUR SKIN FOR GOOD
A tailored gut protocol is almost always a part of your treatment plan, including supplements and dietary modifications. We also then need to ensure we are addressing any contributing factors, by replenishing depleted nutrients (think magnesium, fish oil and zinc) to support healthy skin, as well as provide some added support to the liver to ensure efficient detoxification.
Finally, and in all cases, we must support the nervous system, through a combination of lifestyle modifications and supplementation (think meditation, breath work and magnesium), as a dysregulated nervous system is a major barrier to healing.
Fortunately, and I want to stress this point, it doesn’t have to be this way!
I often hear people say they’ll wait and see how they go, and then go through years of discomfort and negative effects on their confidence trying to address the problems on their own. If I could give you one piece of advice based on both my own mistakes and what I see in clinic - get individualised support BEFORE you stop hormonal birth control.
Natural medicine is so effective in this space and can significantly reduce the impacts of stopping the pill by addressing the areas mentioned, such as supporting gut health, replenishing essential nutrients, and supporting our liver detoxification, prior to stopping hormonal birth control. I like to work with my clients for a minimum of three months (alongside their GP), before they stop taking the pill - after all, prevention is always a better option than treatment! It is worth mentioning also, all supplements are not created equal! Be mindful of self-prescribing and using chemist or online purchased products. Working with a qualified naturopath or nutritionist gives you access to practitioner-only products which are regulated and tested for their quality, safety and efficacy.
If you’re someone who is struggling with acne or perioral dermatitis, or you’re considering stopping hormonal birth control but concerned about how you might react, book a FREE 15min discovery call here and let’s chat. And finally, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to check out my own before and after treating post-pill perioral dermatitis!
