Yasmin and Acne: An Overview
Yasmin® (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription
birth control pill. In clinical studies, acne was reported as a common side effect of Yasmin. However, sometimes Yasmin is used "
off-label" to treat acne.
Acne as a Yasmin Side Effect
More than 1 percent of women taking Yasmin during clinical trials reported acne as a side effect of the contraceptive. However, it is not clear if acne is really a
Yasmin side effect, as acne may have occurred just as frequently (or more frequently) in women not taking the drug.
During studies of most medications, some people are given the real medication, while some are given a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients). The people in the study do not know which they are given. Obviously, this would not work well for birth control pills, as it would lead to undesired pregnancies in the women taking the placebo. Using a placebo helps researchers compare the side effects in people taking the real medication to the side effects reported in the people taking the placebo. Without a placebo, it is difficult to know if any particular problem is really a side effect of the medication.
Yasmin as an Acne Treatment
Yasmin is not approved to treat acne. However,
Yaz®, a similar birth control pill that contains the same active ingredients in slightly different strengths, is approved to treat acne. Logically, it is reasonable to assume that Yasmin is also safe and effective for treating acne. Both medications contain drospirenone, a progesterone hormone that works to counteract the effects of testosterone and other male hormones. These male hormones are present in all women in low amounts and may cause acne. Yaz (and therefore Yasmin) probably work to treat acne by working against these male hormones.
