4th October 2004
Most progestins are derived from testosterone. They have slightly different chemical structures, so some act more like testosterone than others. (They still can decrease testosterone though by shutting down the ovaries).
Ortho Cyclen has norgestimate which isn't very androgenic. The two progestins that are *theoretically* safer for people with acne to try are desogestrel and drospirenone (which is the theoretical best because it is the only progestin available in the US which isn't derived from testosterone; it is derived from spironolactone so that it not only shuts down the ovaries, it binds to testosterone coming from the adrenal glands to lower it even more). Pills with desogestrel are Desogen, Cyclessa, and Mircette. Yasmin is the only pill with drospirenone.
You also have to look at the estrogen dosage. It can help counteract the testosterone effects of the progestin.
And keep in mind this is all theoretical. How you react to a given pill might be different than how most people react.
Ortho Cyclen has norgestimate which isn't very androgenic. The two progestins that are *theoretically* safer for people with acne to try are desogestrel and drospirenone (which is the theoretical best because it is the only progestin available in the US which isn't derived from testosterone; it is derived from spironolactone so that it not only shuts down the ovaries, it binds to testosterone coming from the adrenal glands to lower it even more). Pills with desogestrel are Desogen, Cyclessa, and Mircette. Yasmin is the only pill with drospirenone.
You also have to look at the estrogen dosage. It can help counteract the testosterone effects of the progestin.
And keep in mind this is all theoretical. How you react to a given pill might be different than how most people react.
