How to Avoid Post-Pill Acne

Making the decision to come off the oral contraceptive pill can be a daunting concept, especially the thought of dealing with the dreaded post-pill acne. For many, the thought of post-pill acne is enough for them to simply remain on the pill to keep their skin acne free.

Post-pill acne can start from the day you take your last pill and frustratingly, it’s unknown how long it will last in each individual. Before we look at what causes post-pill acne, let’s take a look at how the pill actually reduces acne in the first place.

How does the pill reduce acne?

Acne is caused by an increase in androgens (a hormone responsible for sebum production). The increase in sebum production is what causes acne to occur in many. The pill contains synthetic versions of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen which can help to reduce the levels of androgens in the body and in turn, reduce breakouts.

What causes post-pill acne?

There are various factors that contribute to post-pill acne, the most common being:

Nutrient depletion

The pill causes a depletion of many key nutrients including magnesium, zinc, B vitamins and gut microflora all of which are important for skin health. When the body is depleted of these key nutrients, normal processes that maintain healthy skin are altered causing an increase in acne breakouts.

Hormone imbalances

The pill does a wonderful job of disguising any hormonal imbalances you may have been suffering from prior to going on the pill. Once coming off the pill, it can be normal to suffer from various hormonal imbalances for a period of time as your body attempts to figure out it’s new normal.

Synthetic estrogen in the contraceptive pill suppresses sebum production (what causes breakouts) – so when the pill is stopped, a surge in sebum replicates what the body goes through during the teenage years. Enter pimples, breakouts, and in extreme cases – cystic acne!

Gut microbiome imbalances

Research shows the pill depletes levels of beneficial gut bacteria which are vital for supporting skin health. An unbalanced gut microbiome can contribute to post-pill acne by disrupting the delicate balance of hormones in the body. When the gut microbiome is imbalanced, it can lead to increased inflammation in the body, which can contribute to hormonal imbalances that can trigger acne. Additionally, the gut microbiome plays an important role in metabolizing hormones, and an imbalance in the gut microbiome can impair this process, leading to a buildup of hormones in the body that can contribute to acne.

An overwhelmed liver and a toxic environment

Your liver is responsible for not only clearing toxins from the body but helping to clear hormones. When your liver is under stress attempting to pump excess toxins such as synthetic substances, alcohol etc, this can cause hormones such as oestrogen to be shifted to last priority causing it to be recirculated in the body. This process can contribute to inflammation.

Tips for coming off the pill and avoiding acne

While there is no guaranteed way to avoid post-pill acne there are several things you can do to reduce the chances of outbreaks occurring and support your body through this transitional period.

#1 Support your liver: start before you come off the pill

Your liver is under constant stress attempting to clear the excess toxins and synthetic hormones in your body. Supporting your liver will help to reduce the effect synthetic estrogen and progestin can have on your body. Clearing these hormones once off the pill will give your body a kick start in producing estrogen and progesterone naturally once again and help to achieve a natural balance between these two hormones to reduce the change of post-pill acne.

To support your liver, follow these tips:

• Increase your water intake

• Increase cruciferous vegetable intake by enjoying Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage etc.

• Reduce liver loaders such as:

- Caffeine and alcohol

- Synthetic substances

- Househould cleaning products

- Perfume (opt for essential oil blends instead)

#2 Start supporting your gut before coming off the pill

Imbalanced gut bacteria can cause poor oestrogen metabolism and clearance leading to an increase of acne symptoms once off the pill.

To support optimal gut health:

• Consider taking a probiotic

• Increase probiotic-rich foods such as kimchi, kombucha, kefir etc.

• Reduce stress levels where possible. Stress can be a major contributor to poor skin health and begins to impact digestion.

• Ensure you eat adequate fibre from fresh fruits and vegetables to support the detoxification of oestrogen out of your body.

#3 Increase vitamin intake

Vit C, zinc & probiotics are all vital for healthy, glowing skin and as mentioned earlier, these are all nutrients commonly depleted by the pill.

Nutrients to increase*:

• Zinc - supplementation of zinc per day has been shown effective in reducing acne.

• Probiotics

• B vitamins

• Magnesium - the most important mineral to support your stress response and reduce the impact stress has on your skin health. Opt for 300-400mg of magnesium daily in the form of magnesium bis-glycinate as this form is the best absorbed and has little digestive system side effects.

*It’s important to speak to a qualified health practitioner before adding any supplements to your daily routine. Book a consult with me if you’d like to receive a tailored supplement plan.

#4 Exercise regularly

Regular daily exercise can help to eliminate excess toxins in your body as well as improving blood flow circulation, which can help to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin, promoting healing and skin health. Regular exercise can also improve overall hormone balance by improving insulin sensitivity, regulating cortisol levels, and reducing inflammation.

#5 Ditch the dairy

Cow’s dairy contains a protein called A1 casein which in some people can cause inflammation and an increase in acne breakouts. This is due to the inability of some people to break down the protein with the necessary enzymes, triggering the immune system to create inflammatory cytokine and in turn, acne breakouts.

There’s no need to ditch the dairy forever however, eliminating dairy for a period of time can be a super beneficial way to reduce post-pill acne. Some simple and easy dairy-free swaps you can try are:

• Coconut yoghurt

• Almond or oat milk (be careful as these kinds of milk contain added nasties so it’s best to opt for ones without ingredients such as sunflower lecithin.

• Dark chocolate

• Sheep or goats milk cheese and yoghurts

#6 Balance your blood sugar to support hormone balance

This is the most important aspect to keeping your skin in check. Unbalanced blood sugar levels can cause chaos for your hormone levels leading to an increase in cortisol and androgens. The increase in these two hormones in the body triggers acne breakouts.

To keep your blood sugar balanced throughout the day:

• Ensure you are having protein and healthy fats with every meal

• Don’t skip breakfast and aim to have a high protein and lower carbohydrate meal for breakfast

• Snack frequently on healthy protein-rich snacks

• Avoid having coffee on an empty stomach

Note: it is common when you’re undertaking any detox protocol for your body to show an increase in symptoms for a short period of time. When you come off the pill and start to support your body in naturally detoxifying the effects of the synthetics estrogen in the pill, you may notice an outbreak in acne. As challenging as this may be, it can be considered a normal part of the process so stay patient and know you are on the right track.

If you are looking for guidance in coming off the pill and reducing post-pill acne, get in touch with me today. I’d love to support you.