Yasmin and Acne

Although Yasmin is not approved for use in treating acne, healthcare providers can prescribe it "off-label" as an acne treatment. Yasmin contains drospirenone, a progesterone hormone that works to counteract the effects of certain "male" hormones (which all women have in low amounts and that may cause acne). Therefore, Yasmin is likely to help treat acne by working against these male hormones.

Yasmin Birth Control Pills

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.

(Ocella™, Syeda™, and Zarah™ birth control pills are generic versions of Yasmin. The information in this article applies to Ocella, Syeda, and Zarah as well.)

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.

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