Coming off the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is a huge step, one that happens for a
multitude of reasons. Either you’re getting ready to start a family, not feeling quite
yourself or ready to get to know your body and cycles without the pill! Then sets in
the fear, what if my acne returns? As a general rule whatever you were experiencing
prior to going on the pill be it acne, heavy periods or irregular cycles - you can expect
things to return to how they were within a 3-6 month time frame.
Seeing a naturopath can help this transition off the oral contraceptive pill by working
preventatively 3 months before stopping the pill to ensure you body has everything it
needs on board for healthy hormone production and skin health to make things a bit
smoother and the decrease the severity of any symptoms that do return.
Why Does Post-Pill Acne Occur?
Post-Pill acne occurs because natural DHEA and Testosterone production surge
once off the pill when the brain re-establishes its connection with the ovaries. Due to
this the sebaceous glands of your skin have heightened sensitivity to the increased
androgens. Androgens then bind to these sebaceous skin glands and stimulate
sebum (oil) production that is thick and pore clogging leading to acne. Further, it is
exacerbated by nutritional deficiencies created from OCP use in EFA’s, B’s,
Magnesium, Vitamin C and Zinc which further increase the risk of acne occurrence
post-pill due to skin cell health(1).
Nutrients to Optimise for Skin Health
Preventatively prior to coming off the pill optimising all the nutritional co-factors for
skin health will ensure your body has all of the requirements. This includes ensuring
high levels of Essential Fatty acids, B Vitamins, Magnesium, Vitamin C, and Zinc(5).
Further the use of specific probiotic strains have been studied showing 40%
improvement in acne within an 8 week timeframe as an additional layer to treatment
that supports a healthy skin microbiome and decreases an increase in acne
occurrence(6), showing the need for a holistic treatment plan covering many bases to
ensure acne control.
Dietary Changes
Naturopathically, all aspects of diet, lifestyle and correct supplementation must be
addressed. Dietary changes in relation to acne control post-pill are extremely
powerful in the prevention and exacerbation of acne. Some areas to consider in
regards to diet changes include:
Going Dairy Free: Working preventatively to give acne the least conditions to thrive,
removing dairy from your diet will assist in decreasing Insulin-like Growth Factor 1
(IGF-1). High levels of IGF-1 have been correlated with a higher count of acne
lesions in women due to the effect it has on increased sebum production(2). Dairy is
specifically indicated as just 3 small servings of dairy a day are associated with a
18.6% higher increase in IGF-1(3).
Blood Sugar Regulation: Eating to optimise blood sugar levels (this does’t only
apply to diabetics!) by eating balanced meals high in protein, healthy fats and
carbohydrates every 3-4 hours will assist in decreasing acne breakouts. By
optimising blood sugar regulation it decreases the likelihood of Insulin resistance
which has been shown to lead to heightened inflammation and higher free
testosterone which leads to more sebum production and thus more breakouts(4).
Working with a naturopath is key to make your post-pill journey smoother treating the
original root cause of your acne for long-lasting results of healthy hormones and
healthy glowing skin. By optimising your nutrition, your supplement regime and
having a treatment plan tailored to you and your post-pill journey means that you can
come off the pill easily, without the breakouts or the stress!
References:
1. Palmery M, Saraceno A, Vaiarelli A, Carlomagno G. Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Jul;17(13):1804-13. PMID: 23852908. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23852908/
2. Kim H, Moon SY, Sohn MY, Lee WJ. Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Increases the
Expression of Inflammatory Biomarkers and Sebum Production in Cultured Sebocytes. Ann Dermatol. 2017 Feb;29(1):20-25. doi: 10.5021/ad.2017.29.1.20.Epub 2017 Feb 3. PMID: 28223742; PMCID: PMC5318522.
3. Beasley JM, Gunter MJ, LaCroix AZ, Prentice RL, Neuhouser ML, Tinker LF, Vitolins
MZ, Strickler HD. Associations of serum insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like
growth factor-binding protein 3 levels with biomarker-calibrated protein, dairy product
and milk intake in the Women's Health Initiative. Br J Nutr. 2014 Mar 14;111(5):847-
53. doi: 10.1017/S000711451300319X. Epub 2013 Oct 7. PMID: 24094144; PMCID:
4. Kumari R, Thappa DM. Role of insulin resistance and diet in acne. Indian J Dermatol
Venereol Leprol 2013;79:291-299 https://ijdvl.com/role-of-insulin-resistance-and-diet-
in-acne/
5. Podgórska A, Puścion-Jakubik A, Markiewicz-Żukowska R, Gromkowska-Kępka KJ,
Socha K. Acne Vulgaris and Intake of Selected Dietary Nutrients-A Summary of
Information. Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Jun 3;9(6):668. doi:10.3390/healthcare9060668. PMID: 34205209; PMCID: PMC8226785.
6. Rinaldi F, Marotta L, Mascolo A, Amoruso A, Pane M, Giuliani G, Pinto D. Facial
Acne: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on the Clinical
Efficacy of a Symbiotic Dietary Supplement. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2022 Feb;12(2):577-589. doi: 10.1007/s13555-021-00664-z. Epub 2022 Jan 21. PMID:
35061237; PMCID: PMC8850513. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8850513/
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