Yaz and Acne: What Users Say

• Lan...
• February 6, 2020

For Acne "3 months ago I was scrolling through the comments on this website in hopes of finding hope for my hormonal cystic acne. I was diagnosed with PCOS after going to various doctors for my horrible acne that was painful, all over my jawline and especially my chin. It scarred horribly and took forever to go away. I was then prescribed Yaz. When I first started, I could count for 10-20 cysts on my face. 3 months later, I don’t even have 1 active cyst on my face. The only reason I’m not giving this a 10/10 is the first month was terrible. I was constantly nauseous and even threw up a few times. It also caused an initial breakout that was worse than anything I experienced before (even though my doctor insisted it wouldn’t get worse.) Besides that initial purge and nausea - I don’t have anything but good things to say. I’m finally getting my confidence back with clearer skin. This was amazing for me. I hope it works for you as well."

• pim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2019

For Acne "Okay guys, I desperately searched this site two months ago when my acne was horrific. I had started Yaz for the acne and it instantly got worse for the first month, and it felt really hopeless. BUT, it’s been 3 months now (the amount of time they say to wait) and it’s so, so, so much better. Please stick with this if you have hormonal acne, it helped me so much."

• Iwa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2020

For Acne "I started taking Yaz along with antibiotics to cure my acne 3 months and a couple of days ago. I’ve read the reviews here religiously, saying it would get better after 3 months. This is not the case! My acne got worse as soon as I started taking it. Month 1 was terrible, also 2, and now I honestly see no difference. Please tell me if someone shared the same experience. I don’t know what to do."

• Chk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2020

For Acne "I am almost finishing my 4th pack of generic Yaz, and I’d love to report better news, but my acne is not better, actually worse. All over my upper neck and jawline, which is hormonal acne - which is what I thought this BC specialized in! And I’m 32, so this shouldn’t be happening like I’m some teen in high school with acne. Definitely started the BC journey and saw it purging and getting “worse” before better. But then 4 weeks ago, my acne got terrible. I have tons of activity and surface whiteheads and even some cystic acne. I told myself I would try to complete 5 months, but I just don’t see this getting better. Yes, my skin has improved from when I had a really bad episode of acne 4 weeks ago, but it's still pretty bad. What a disappointment. I’ll report if anything changes..."

• Chk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2020

For Acne "I am almost finishing my 4th pack of generic Yaz, and I’d love to report better news, but my acne is not better, actually worse. All over my upper neck and jawline, which is hormonal acne - which is what I thought this BC specialized in! And I’m 32, so this shouldn’t be happening like I’m some teen in high school with acne. Definitely started the BC journey and saw it purging and getting “worse” before better. But then 4 weeks ago, my acne got terrible. I have tons of activity and surface whiteheads and even some cystic acne. I told myself I would try to complete 5 months, but I just don’t see this getting better. Yes, my skin has improved from when I had a really bad episode of acne 4 weeks ago, but it's still pretty bad. What a disappointment. I’ll report if anything changes..."

• Chk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2020

For Acne "I am almost finishing my 4th pack of generic Yaz, and I’d love to report better news, but my acne is not better, actually worse. All over my upper neck and jawline, which is hormonal acne - which is what I thought this BC specialized in! And I’m 32, so this shouldn’t be happening like I’m some teen in high school with acne. Definitely started the BC journey and saw it purging and getting “worse” before better. But then 4 weeks ago, my acne got terrible. I have tons of activity and surface whiteheads and even some cystic acne. I told myself I would try to complete 5 months, but I just don’t see this getting better. Yes, my skin has improved from when I had a really bad episode of acne 4 weeks ago, but it's still pretty bad. What a disappointment. I’ll report if anything changes..."

• Chk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2020

For Acne "I am almost finishing my 4th pack of generic Yaz, and I’d love to report better news, but my acne is not better, actually worse. All over my upper neck and jawline, which is hormonal acne - which is what I thought this BC specialized in! And I’m 32, so this shouldn’t be happening like I’m some teen in high school with acne. Definitely started the BC journey and saw it purging and getting “worse” before better. But then 4 weeks ago, my acne got terrible. I have tons of activity and surface whiteheads and even some cystic acne. I told myself I would try to complete 5 months, but I just don’t see this getting better. Yes, my skin has improved from when I had a really bad episode of acne 4 weeks ago, but it's still pretty bad. What a disappointment. I’ll report if anything changes..."

• Gba...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2020

For Acne "So I was skeptical about taking this birth control due to reading the mixed reviews. I’m glad I took it anyway. I just finished my second pack, and I’m also using a prescription acne cream called Retin-A. My skin definitely cleared up. I had constant cystic acne, whiteheads, and blackheads. I looked like a teenager, and I’m in my mid-twenties. My skin has occasional breakouts during my period week. Nothing crazy, maybe 3 pimples at the most, which is a huge improvement from before, where I would have like 20 at one time. I definitely recommend this birth control. Also, I’m not pregnant ;)"

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2023

For Acne "I told myself I would come back and write a review because I drove myself crazy reading them all. I had terrible hormonal acne on my cheeks and jawline, and nothing worked, including topical products, diet changes, and even other birth control brands. I decided to try Yaz, and let me tell you, it worked so well. The first 3 months it got much, MUCH worse than it was before Yaz. I was so discouraged and miserable, but I held out. The first two months, especially, were terrible. But after my third pack, new breakouts heavily decreased and completely stopped halfway into the 4th pack. I'm now on month 10, and it was so, so, so worth it. I have maybe one breakout a month. Please don’t read bad reviews and think this won’t work for you. People are much more likely to leave a bad review than a good one. Try it for yourself and persist for 4 months. I wish I could tell myself to do it sooner. Good luck!!!"

• Bos...
• November 11, 2015

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I am 21 and have been taking the pill since the age of 16. Two years ago, I began to take Yaz after severe mood swings, depression, and overwhelming sadness and anger due to PMDD. Yaz has been a lifesaver for me! I don't have cramps, my period lasts 3 days at most and is very light (not even enough to warrant the use of a tampon), and my skin is perfectly clear, with the exception of 2 pimples a month around menstruation. But the absolute best part is my mood! I became ME again, a happy, easy-going person who doesn't pick fights with her boyfriend over burnt spaghetti noodles ;)"

• Fli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2019

For Acne "The reason I am on this website is because I've almost finished my 3rd month of Yaz, and my skin is terrible, so I came here to see if others felt the same, and it seems so. I'm just not getting a break from pimples, it's really getting me down. I've read a lot here that the skin improves from here on out, so I will persevere. My moods have improved so much, I am more consistent and balanced. No PMS at all, very light periods too. If you're like me, hang in there a bit longer, I'm optimistic my skin will clear."

• h_s...
• May 13, 2008

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I started taking Yaz 6 months ago for Premenstrual tension syndrome. I think my PMS would last 2 weeks: lots of bloating, lots of acne, and lots of moodiness and crying. Yaz has been life-changing for me. No more PMS, very little breakouts. No more gaining/losing 10 lbs every month. I have lost 20 lbs to date just because I don't have weird cravings, my energy level is back to normal, and I am 5 lbs from ideal BMI. I feel GREAT! I love Yaz and am so thankful to my doctor."

• h_s...
• May 13, 2008

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I started taking Yaz 6 months ago for Premenstrual tension syndrome. I think my PMS would last 2 weeks: lots of bloating, lots of acne, and lots of moodiness and crying. Yaz has been life-changing for me. No more PMS, very little breakouts. No more gaining/losing 10 lbs every month. I have lost 20 lbs to date just because I don't have weird cravings, my energy level is back to normal, and I am 5 lbs from ideal BMI. I feel GREAT! I love Yaz and am so thankful to my doctor."

• kel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 15, 2020

For Acne "I've been using Yaz as a form of birth control but also for my moderate, persistent acne (tried everything in 5 years). I would say the first 3 months were terrible. My acne has never been worse, so be prepared. But now, I'm 7 months into it and my skin is the clearest it has been in years. I still have pimples, but they are really small and go away in a day, and it could also be because I'm eating really bad at the moment. The only negative thing is it has made me a bit more anxious and prone to crying. Even if my gynecologist says it's impossible, I've noticed that I'm way more sensitive than before. Even little things make me cry. But anyway, I suggest you try it if you don't want babies and acne. Just be patient, I know it can be tough the first months, but it's worth it! I also haven't noticed a gain in weight, and I guess it's because it is a low dosage pill. Good luck!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2020

For Acne "I was prescribed Yaz a month ago due to hormonal imbalance, cystic acne, and water weight. I just finished my first pack and wanted to share with all of you. I have lost some water weight, and my mood/hormones have leveled so much! Before, I was around an 8 around PMS, but I haven’t felt above a 3 in weeks. This acne, however, is horrible. It has completely wrecked my skin. Every day, I have new cystic bumps along my cheeks and jawline. My doc wants me to give it a full 3 months, but I seriously don’t know if I can continue with my face like this. I’m 30, not 15. I have been using BP and been prescribed Retin-A to help. I am beyond embarrassed by it, so hopefully it gets better. Before Yaz, I would get maybe a handful of cystic acne around my period, but I have a new bump every day since I started."

• MRG...
• August 17, 2010

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I suffered with PMDD for over 20 years. This included bad acne, terrible mood swings, recurring infections such as bladder and yeast, having to be bedridden the entire week prior to my period, terrible joint pain, and water retention. I had seen all types of doctors, given tests for diabetes to STDs- as they couldn't figure out what was ailing me. I had doctors recommend Prozac and large amounts of Ibuprofen... none of this helped. It was by luck, my doctor was not available and I saw a different physician that prescribed Yaz. I can honestly say this medicine has CHANGED MY LIFE. I feel like a new person and spent 20 years in pain. Thank you Yaz for giving me my life back- I LOVE THIS MEDICATION AND MY NEW LIFE!"

• roy...
• April 23, 2008

For Acne "I have been taking Yaz for about two months now. I stopped taking birth control about two years ago and started to break out with acne horribly. I was on the patch and gained about fifteen pounds. I lost all of that weight and now am 117 lbs again. I was worried that I would gain weight after losing it, so my dermatologist told me to use Yaz. Yaz has been wonderful. I have not broken out severely, maybe one or two on my chin. It is completely fabulous for acne and for birth control."

• Emz...
• April 29, 2021

For Acne "My doctor put me on Yaz for post-pill acne and said to try it for 3 months and see how I liked it. It made my skin terrible for the first 2 months. Extreme purging of acne on my chin and jaw. It also made me very emotional. I was so close to stopping taking it, but I wanted to remain hopeful after the 3-month period that things would get better, so I suffered through the purging. I’m just about to start month 4, and I have had no acne for the last 2 weeks, and my skin is almost perfect. I’m stuck with some post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the purging, but concealer can cover it up while my vitamin C serum does its thing. My face feels so soft and completely clear as of right now, and my period is so light with minimal cramping. My insurance covers almost the entire cost of it, so I’ll stick with it for a while and see if it keeps my skin clear! Definitely worth a try if you’re willing to go through the purging for a while, first month or two."

• Joa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2014

For Birth Control "I was taking Yaz for almost 7 years, and I loved it! My weight never changed, my skin was beautiful, normal sex drive, no cramps, 3-4 days periods. In 2013, I saw some weird spots on my face, after the consultation with a doc, it turned out to be melasma (nothing dangerous, but it doesn't look good). One of the most common causes is oral birth control. It wasn't the Yaz, just birth control with a higher amount of progestin. I switched to Mirena, and that was the worst decision ever! Acne, mood changes, gained 20 pounds in 3 weeks. I'm going back on the pill this month, and we will see how it goes, I will post about it in about 6 months."

• Ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2021

For Acne "I’ve written on here twice before. Once about 2 weeks after starting Yaz when I started to break out after having perfect skin (I’ve been on Accutane three times, and my skin was finally perfect), and then again at the start of the second pack when things got better... or so I thought. I’m on the third week of my third month, so basically meaning that I’ve been taking Yaz for almost 3 months, and man oh man, my skin has been the worst it’s been while on Yaz this month. I have bumps all around my mouth and jaw, which I understand is hormonal. The texture of my skin is oily and bumpy, and it makes me super self-conscious. I’m giving Yaz three more weeks, and if I don’t see serious improvement, I’m getting off of it and will try something else. Besides the acne, I do like Yaz (no bloating, no weight gain, has helped with my period, which is why I went on birth control in the first place), but I just want perfect skin again. Good luck, everyone!"

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2012

For Acne "I had terrible hormonal acne to where I got a new zit or cyst on a daily basis. I never wanted to leave the house, and I could hardly interact with my boyfriend or friends. Yaz used to keep my skin clear, then I stopped taking it because I was afraid of health risks, but my skin was so uncontrollable (even on a raw vegan diet, lots of water, yoga, etc.) that I really didn't care. The first month my cheeks broke out, and I was worried if it would work again, but now, at month three, I can eat chocolate all day, wash my face whenever, and I don't get more than a whitehead here or there that goes away in a day, and it's only getting better. Yay to Yaz! Just give it time!"

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2012

For Acne "I had terrible hormonal acne to where I got a new zit or cyst on a daily basis. I never wanted to leave the house, and I could hardly interact with my boyfriend or friends. Yaz used to keep my skin clear, then I stopped taking it because I was afraid of health risks, but my skin was so uncontrollable (even on a raw vegan diet, lots of water, yoga, etc.) that I really didn't care. The first month my cheeks broke out, and I was worried if it would work again, but now, at month three, I can eat chocolate all day, wash my face whenever, and I don't get more than a whitehead here or there that goes away in a day, and it's only getting better. Yay to Yaz! Just give it time!"

• Vic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2019

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Best thing ever. Lifesaver. Game changer. I tried other BC but had the worst PMS (PMDD) - heavy, painful periods, depression, anxiety, and acne, which would lead to skin infections/inflamed skin for 2-3 weeks; I was miserable all month. Once I began taking Yaz, it felt like a veil lifted. Horrible PMS became a thing of the past. Physically, my boobs maybe went up a cup, and my skin cleared up. My periods weren’t as heavy or painful. I didn’t have as much of a sex drive, but for me, being sane was worth the trade-off. For me, the brand name worked best. Hands down."

• deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Acne "I only took Yaz for 1 month and 1 week and had to stop due to an explosion of pimples on my cheeks and jawline that I never had before, along with severe pelvic and leg pain and severe depression. My hair was also falling out like crazy. I am now 1 week without birth control, and my mood has increased substantially, and all of the side effects went away. Yaz also made me get a yeast infection on my face, resulting in my breaking out in red, bumpy, itchy, burning hives all over my face, making the acne look worse than it actually was. I am now on steroids for the infection, along with an antibiotic for the acne (Bactrim), which I have taken before, and waiting for these to kick in as I’ve only been on them for a week. Moral of the story: Yaz wrecked my face."

• Mer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I've been taking Yaz for almost a year now, and I am very, very happy with it. I have pre-existing mental health diagnoses that were extremely exacerbated by PMDD. About 10 days before my period, I would become absolutely dead exhausted, severely depressed, with constant muscle and joint soreness, and terrible cramps and heavy bleeding during menstruation. All these symptoms are almost eliminated after taking Yaz. As an added 'plus,' most months I don't get my period AT ALL, which is a real blessing. The only thing I wish would work for me is the acne reduction... I still struggle with the cystic, hormonal acne, and Yaz doesn't seem to have helped that. STILL, if you struggle with PMDD, Yaz is definitely worth a try!"