Nowadays, more and more people are banning the contraceptive pill from their body because they no longer want those hormones in their body. Logical, because they can affect your body in different ways. But apparently stopping this form of birth control can also affect your hair and skin.
Does quitting affect your skin and hair?
You may experience skin problems or hair loss when you stop taking the pill, but that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to experience any of these problems. It differs enormously per person. “It’s complicated because there are many types of hormonal contraception, containing different types and levels of hormones. And even the same formulation can be different for people,” says dermatologist Hadley King On Mind Body Green.
Why you can suffer from acne
Certain types of birth control (with hormones) can improve hormonal acne if you use them. “Often these contraceptives contain estrogen and progestin. These two hormones are often helpful in combating hormonal acne,” explains King. If you have a genetic predisposition to acne, any increase in sebum production can lead to breakouts. For example, estrogen reduces sebum production, while testosterone actually increases sebum production.
If you stop taking these forms of birth control, the hormonal acne you experience is simply your skin reacting to the lack of estrogen from the birth control and the uptick in testosterone. “If you go off the pill, you lose the benefit they had against acne, which can make your acne worse. In addition, your hormone levels go through an adjustment phase for a number of months after stopping the contraceptive pill, which means that acne can come up a lot during that period.”
Why you can suffer from hair loss
Did you know that hair loss is a common concern for many women? It’s a tricky subject because there are different types of hair loss that are all influenced by different factors. And one such factor is the contraceptive pill. “Abrupt hormonal changes, such as after giving birth or stopping the pill, can cause physical stress. This form of stress can eventually cause you to suffer from hair loss,” says King.
But the good news is that this form of hair loss is temporary. “Hairs are usually in all different phases of the hair cycle, but after this stress, a greater percentage of hairs than usual are joined together. So when it’s time to fall out, more hair than usual falls out.” When does this usually happen? “About two to four months after the stress. The good news is that this form of hair loss is reversible, which means it will grow back!”
Source: Mind Body Green | Image: iStock