Expert: Diane Cheryl - 8/27/2010

Question
my daughter recently went on birth control, aviane.  she almost immediately started breaking out.  when i contacted her obgyn, she prescribed another bcp, ocella. my daughter does seem to have hormonal issues (periods heavy, excess hair) but she never had a real acne problem before. her obgyn said she could switch mid-cyle or at the end of her cyle, that it was up to her. i asked which would help the acne problem since that is her biggest concern (she went on the pill to help with her period, she is not using it for birth control) at this point she just wants her face to clear up the fastest way possible. she leaves for her freshman year of college on monday and is anxious. she is in the first week of her second pack using aviane.

Answer
Hi Liz,

I just realized that your daughter probably has gone off to college already. What did you end up doing? I wonder if she should not be using birth control for help with her period. There must be some other way or options to help with this. I really don't recommend any kind of hormonal birth control methods because of side effects and risks. Please email me at CHERYL51@aol.com and we can talk more by email. Hope to hear from you soon.

Diane Cheryl