Vancouver Forum: Diane-35 birth control

oh yeah, I just wanted to add that when I did break out a teeny bit not long ago, I got my 1st period off of the pill a few days after that (it took four months). And, my breakout wasn't bad at all. Hopefully it stays like that.

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k.. soo i just read almost everyones story.. im about to take my diane35 tomorrow and i am freaking out... i dont want to gain any weight what so ever.. my doctor said that you cant gain any weight from the pill it is impossible and that i will only feel bloated before my period as i did before when i wasnt on it... i dont know what to do, i do have ance but it is not that bad.. reading your stories make me not want to go on it....

Thanks so much for your story, Girl29--it's so reassuring to hear about successful stories about coming off Diane. I've been following a diet very similar to yours and I've noticed that it makes a huge difference. The week I stayed with the diet most strictly was the week I had the clearest skin. All sorts of other things cleared up on the diet as well (a little eczema on my fingers, as well as allergies). Stress management also seems to be helping a lot.

With the diet and skin care regimen combined, my skin actually looks better overall than it did before I got off Diane. I'm washing my face with green tea, using Apple Cider Vinegar as a toner, moisturizing with pure aloe vera and giving myself honey facials every other day. My skin looks and feels great. I have a few bumps but they're really tiny and not at all inflamed...you have to go extremely close in the mirror to even see them. I'm very happy with the results so far.

One month off Diane and counting...Will keep you posted.

Christina

I've been on Diane-35 since august of last year. I went to my doctor and just said "look, i can't deal with this bad skin anymore" He reccomended either anti-biotic treatment, topical treatment or diane-35. Being a huge activist for not using anti-biotics when they're not necessary, (it breeds super-bugs) and being a lifeguard in the sun all day, we decieded that Diane-35 was the best option for me. It took about 3 months, but my skin is now clear. I still have some scarring from the worst of my acne (any advice for getting rid of this?) but other than that, it's perfect and I love it. I feel confident again. I actually talk to guys, which is a HUGE feat for me:P I've noticed some people commenting that it didn't clear up their acne and they seemed very disgruntled about this. This means that your acne isn't caused by an excess production of hormones. There are several triggers for acne, and if one of yours is your period, then Diane-35 will probably work for you. I've only gained a few pounds since starting Diane-35, but I attribute this to not having anything to do all winter:P. The Pill actually can't cause weight gain, only water retention. Sex drive also decreses with age, with the most significant drop happening around the age of 16 -18.
I have to say, though, it worries me to have to stop Diane-35. I'm not planning on it in the near future, as i have no reason to stop, nor a back-up plan (I'll be starting work as a guard again in less than a month) so I think, for now, it's best to stay on it.

So, what you want to say (Chris and Girls29) is that you can improve, and I mean really improve, your skin without using Diane 35? Can you, please, specify in details, if possible, what kind of diet are you 2 following? Thanks!

It's been my experience and my friend's experiences that Diane-35 BLOWS for helping acne.

It did absolutely nothing and I was on it almost a year. Oh right, it did make my leg hair a lot coarser and I broke out in hives for the first month.


Alesse is supposed to be better. To save money, you can try getting the pills at a youth clinic if you qualify.

My advice to those with acne is to read up on www.acne.org. They discuss a lot of different ways to approach controlling acne-meds, diet, OTC products- and one of them is bound to work for you.

This is going to sound weird, but I do a semi Paleo diet for acne and it makes my skin crystal clear. I avoid most grains and refined sugars.

For those of you haveing issues with Diane35 drop down to Diane25 and those getting good effect should immediatly jump up to Cindy50.

Doc Holiday

Chris here. To Josiane: I agree with H's advice to check out acne.org. There's a forum there on diet approaches to skin clarity. Another super site is acne-advice.com. The thing to remember about diet is that it's an individual thing: some food will cause problems for me but not for you and vice versa. There's a write-up on the science behind the diet on both sites, but the general idea is that certain diets help to balance hormones, which simultaneously decreases oil production and inflammation. The general idea is what H refers to as the "Paleo" diet: avoiding dairy and sugars--both refined sugars and those found in grains, legumes, nuts and many fruits. Some people can achieve clear skin by making minor modifications (that is, they can tolerate yoghurt, whole grains, legumes, etc. but have to pass on milk, cheese and all refined sugars), other people seem to need to be more strict about it (they have to avoid nuts and legumes, and certain fruits, not to mention all dairy and red meats). The diet plan on acne-advice.com is less restricting than the one Jade outlines in the one of the forums on acne.org. But even Jade emphasizes the particularity of the diet approach to clear skin: Everyone is different and you really have to experiment with what works for you. Some people don't even need to make "permanent" diet changes: they find that a paleo or raw veggie diet helps them to detox the liver and other organs, and that they can gradually start introducting many of the foods back into their diet.
After maintaining beautifully clear skin for over a month, I decided to come off my diet this weekend (sister's b-day party): I ate bread, I ate ice cream, cake, chips, etc. My face, although not a disaster, has broken out again. It didn't happen before I ate this stuff. So if I didn't have the idea before that food was a problem, I do now: It's back to my vegetable juices and salads for several weeks.
So check out the sites for a more detailed guideline of a complexion-friendly diet. Remember to drink plenty of water during the day if you're not already, and to keep your stress low. Let me know if you have any more questions.
So the update: a few break-outs (forehead and chin) owing to going off my diet. Nothing serious...I'm going back on my diet to clear up again...will report back. :)

Hi, I went on a break for the pill a couple of years ago.. very big mistake! I started getting acne, at first I didnt know what was wrong.. but then I got it I started using Yasmin and it honestly did not work my acne. I usually dont have side effects of pills (at least not Yasmine and the one I took before). Im considering to a transition to Diane 35 in a week.. can someone please help me! Should I do this? I mean I dont want to gain weight, do u gain weight cos you eat or because of something else. I love my sex drive, does anyone why the decrease in sex drive?

hsd diane-35 caused any women to desire sex more?

one woman said her breast got fuller and firmer, and she chose to date more men as a result.

another woman, realzing that she had less risk of pregnancy, lost her virginity and went through a string of men before an accident led to marriage.

so my conclusion is the Pill improves a woman's chances of getting game.

none of these women are promiscuous.

the purpose of birth control is to prevent pregnancy, so that women can get the full benefits of having semen, the cheapest form of antidepressant, deposited in their vaginas.

my friends skin cleared up so much from this pill it was unbelievable... my other friend who had very bad acne just started and in 2 weeks you could start seeing a difference... but both gained weight...

Hi there...

Yes, I am basically trying to keep a healthy diet. I don't consume any gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, among other things), stay away from dairy most of the time (every once in a blue moon I'll indulge a bit) most refined sugars, junky food (though I'll indulge very rarely, same as above). I DO try and eat a lot of raw veggies and fruits (trying to aim for between 5 and 10 servings a day), and mostly eat a veggie diet (though I am not vegetarian). I do also try and eat a lot of fish, plus veggie sources of protien - beans, nuts. My main staples include leafy greens, fruits, other veggies, beans, nuts, rice, fish, some chicken, some soy...

I also take a variety of vitamins and supplements: Calcium/Mag/Vitamin D supplement, copper, iron supp., zinc, B-100 complex, Milk Thistle (liver detox herb), Vitex (balancing hormone herb - good for coming off of the pill), Omega 3 fish oil capsules, Evening Primrose Oil. I take the Omega 3 caps and Evening Primrose Oil o a rotating basis (not at the same time).

Also, I've found a really great skin regime that works wonders for my skin. My skin hasn't looked this amazing in a LONG time...even when I was on the pill. A friend of mine gave me a some samples of some stuff that has been amazing...

Anyway, that is an overview in a nutshell!

Girl29: I think its great, that you have that disipline, but I cannot cut out everything i like! But I think its really cool that you can do it. 

dd: Why did they gain weight? Did they have cravings?

Ive realized that there are two Chris. I will be ChrisE. I posted questions for both girl29 and dd.

It's really not so bad, actually. It sounds restrictive, and maybe it is, but there are so many good foods and recipes out there that make it seem like you are eating normally...really! Also, one of the reasons I do not eat gluten is because I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. So, cutting out gluten is just a given. But seriously, even with all of the food I cut out of my diet, I never feel deprived or hungry, and it's not like I'm suffering or wasting away. And, I ~do~ indulge once or twice a month (with dairy or sweets, etc), so it's not like I am totally giving up some stuff. It's just in very small amounts every once in awhile.

Even if you're curious, you should try it for a week or two... just to see how you feel and if it ~does~ make a difference. Like one of the other posters said, everyone reacts differently to different foods.

Good luck!

Hi guys...
Im so glad i stumbled across this forum- there seems to be very little out there about diane... i actually found this site by typing "diane weight gain" into google!! needless to say that i have put on weight- i actually think i am more unhappy now with my weight than i was with my acne. i have almost conviced myself, especially after reading all your posts, to go off diane. i am now a little worried though, as i had planned on trying for another baby in a few months time. has anyone heard of side-effects to fertility? i hope diane isnt going to make it hard for me- honestly, my skin really doesnt look that much better, if the cost is putting on weight and having trouble falling pregnant then is it worth it??

Hi Alexia,

How did you gain weight, a pill cant make you gain weight?? Did you get cravings?? I want to know why u gained weight?

I'm sorry about the pregnancy but I don't really know. But Im sure your gyno will

Hey girls!

As far as I know, the pill itself doesn't put on weight. But it inhibits the center of satiety and that's the reason you gain weight: you never feel satiated, so you tend to eat more.

Btw, Chris, among the ingredients to avoid in skin care products, acne-advice.com mentions the benzoyl-peroxide, which is exactly the product used in Daniel Kern's Regimen on acne.org :). Don't know how to start and what to try first!

i've almost finished my 3rd month of diane and i am actually really frustrated. i haven't gained weight, and my sex-drive has not decreased at all however my acne has not been getting better. i have acne on my shoulder and forehead and sometimes my chin...i eat a gluten and dairy free diet (for the most part) and lead an active lifestyle. my skin seems to be clearing up and then it will break out worse than before. if anything my skin has gotten worse. i know it takes at least 3 months for diane to work but i am starting to loose hope. it is so frustrating to have no control over my skin. its embarassing, especially around my boyfriend (who loves me with or without bad skin)...i am a confident person but i am so self conscious about my skin...any advice? i have 2 more packs of diane and if it doesn't work i'm going to switch brands...

Hi Josiane,
Thanks for pointing out the contradictory messages on the two sites I recommended. I haven't tried Dan's regimen, and I'm not likely to either. Acne.org is a universal acne web resource. There are forums on Diane, Spiro, Accutane, Dan's regimen, among others. I should have emphasized earlier on that I had the diet forum specifically in mind when I referred to acne.org.

That said, Dan's regimen seems to work for many people. His breakthrough is that a lower percentage of BP seems to be less drying and equally effective. Acne-advice.com will caution against anything that is too harsh/drying for the skin. Dan would probably agree with this advice, but he obviously thinks his combo of 5% (or is is 2.5%?) BP with a moisturizer is gentle enough to not aggravate the skin and cause more breakouts.

Of the two sites, my preference is acne-advice.com. But acne.org is great in that it puts all the info out there on one site so you can compare and also read about others' experiences. If you want to try BP or find that BP works for you, then you're probably okay to use it. In my own experience, acne medications have made my acne worse. These days I'm using only 100% natural stuff on my face (honey, apple cider vinegar, green tea, lemons, coconut oil): I've never had more success with anything else. But that's just me!

Chris E: You seem pretty concerned about the weight gain issue on Diane. I have no idea how Diane or any other pill can cause weight gain. I'm sure appetite is affected in many women, but I think water retenion is another factor. I've been off Diane for more than a month now. I have been skinny all my life--including the six years I went on Diane. I never looked big while on Diane, either--but now that I'm off, I feel about ten pounds lighter...and as far as I can tell I've lost about 5-10 pounds during the month I've been off: how much is water and how much is fat I can't say. The point is, I didn't even realize I'd put on this weight until I lost it after stopping the hormones. That said, only you can decide whether Diane is a good move for you. People are just here to relate how the pill affected them. Everyone is going to have a unique experience.

Marie: Sorry to hear about your frustrating experiences. I didn't clear up completely on Diane until I was on it for over a year. To this day I'm not sure if it was Diane or other things in my life that did it (getting older, losing the stress), but I can say for certain that the negative side effects of Diane take awhile to kick in. I was on this pill for SIX years. I did not gain 5-10 lbs of water/weight overnight. I did it over a six year period. Ditto with sex drive loss and depressive episodes. For many of us these side effects do not kick in over night. Some people (like my sister when she tried it for one month) feel side effects right away. I thought I was fine until about 18 months in, when I noticed that my legs were feeling heavier. At the two year point I noticed my pulse was faster than normal. It was just this year--just before stopping this pill--that I made the connection to my moods and decreased libido--symptoms that probably started around the 2-3 mark but which went unnoticed by me because they were so late in starting.
But if you're worried about your skin, and are determined to stay on this pill despite the potential risks, just take a deep breath: It could take up to a year or more to get clear skin.

Chris

Corrections to the foregoing: Side effects like weight gain, depression and lagging libido probably don’t take six years to develop…but they can take several years to become a noticeable problem. It’s hard for me to remember when these side effects manifested in me because when they first emerged I rationalized them away, chalking them up to circumstance. Also, I didn’t notice the weight gain on the scale because I lost muscle density…I was fatter but the number on the scale stayed more or less steady because muscle weighs more than fat. The weight loss I’ve experienced since stopping the pill is dramatic.

Ive been on Diane and my skin cleared up totally and I didnt even get a pimple during my period,  it makes my breasts so full and big (especially after breastfeeding years ago and having saggy breasts after) now theyr e full!  My skin is super soft, no pores, no oiliness, and never a pimple.  I was on spirolactone to block the androgens but that pill made me very weak because it lowers your blood pressure, so i got back on diane.  Sex drive is still the same and my vagina is a lot more wet which is great during sex.  Does anyone have experience with ortho tri cyclen?

hi marie
 i feel the same way ive been on this for nearly 3 months and my skin has got alot worse around my jaw line, did anyone else experinence there skin gettin worse at 3 months and did it clear after that?
i dont know wether i should carry on for much longer as it says you should see a definate improvment in acne after 3 months ?

hello. i tried tri-cyclen for acne but it made my acne worse! since the dosage changes every week by the third week i would have a major break-out! i switched to diane-35 and have been on it now for ~5years. i love it. i would not try anything else.

how long did it take for youy to start seeing an improvement on diane 35 tri cyclen-booooo ?
and did you get any bad break outs?

thanks for your responses everyone, especially chris. i am about to go into my fourth month, however my doctor really does not want me to continue this pill for over 6 months. Since you have experienced many side effects after a longer period of time it is probably a good idea not to stay on this pill for too long. I am just really hoping that my skin will clear up in the next few months. My face seems to have gotten a bit better, however my shoulders are still breaking out. I am trying to be patient, but it is so embarassing especially in the summer. Its hard to always cover up my shoulders and sometimes the bid breakouts are painful...i really don't want long-term damage from this pill so can anyone suggest another brand that may help with skin? I'm considering alesse or try-cyclin, but i will just talk to my doctor. These forums help so much, its nice to know i'm not the only one going through this. thanks girls!

to add to my post.. i have recently started breakin out in loads of whitheads all over my chin and jaw , did any one else experience this, i am just finishiung my thirsd pack ?

Has anyone taken Diane 35 for PCO?  I just got my prescription but I haven't filled it yet. 

I don't have acne and I don't need contraception b/c my husband has had a vasectomy but my PCO sympoms have put me in the hospital many times and I'm getting desperate!  I don't want a hysterecomy! 

Hi HATE ACNE: I have a friend that the same thing happend, she still had the same amount of acne after 3 months, she said it took her about 6 months to clear up. However, she never experienced worse breakouts. Then I have another friend, and Diane didnt really work for her but Yasmin did. If by 6 months it hasnt gotten better, change to Yasmin, maybe thats better for you. I have been on diane for about a week, and my acne has gotten better, but like Chris said everyone has an individual experience. I hope it really gets better, I know how annoying and frustrating it can be.

thanks chrisE, i think im going to try and stick it out for about 6 months because ive heard others say it also didnt work for them until then. Mine began to get better at 2 months then this month it has just got worse, has any1 else expereinced this or know any1 who has.

my acne is getting worse....very worse....very annoying

hey ladies. so i started dianne 35 back in february and it helped my facve at first then i broke out more but now my face is better then ever. i once heard that you have to break out before it gets better. and yeah as well every person is diffferent i guess.. the only side effects i have faced is the odd mood swings, and being tired every alot more. and instead of gettin an appetite increase it actually decreased. but yeah everyone is different i guess