New to Acne at 35 - Should I Go Back on the Pill?

I am a 35 year old, fair skinned woman who has never had acne before besides an errant pimple before my period. Recently I have begun to have pimples around my chin and mouth that are large, but not necessarily painful. They take weeks to go away and I'm concerned about scarring. I have recently stopped taking the pill -- should I go back to taking it or wait another month or two to see if things go back to normal?

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age 35-44 female birth control

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2 Doctor Answers | Asked by Manhattan2749 in Manhattan, NY

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Hormonal Acne

Hormonal acne is a very common form of acne occuring in females between the ages of 20-50. It is very possible that you have hormonal acne and your use of birth control pills was essentially treating the acne for many years. Hormonal acne typically appears as deep cystic nodules in the mid to lower face. As birth control pills have many side-effects which become more serious for women in their 30s, other alternatives are available. Spironolactone is an oral medicine... more

Red pimples around the mouth may not be acne

Red pimples around the mouth may not be acne. Not infrequently this is the begining of perioral dermatitis or a baby form of rosacea. It can also represent a contact dermatitis or an infection. It is best to see a dermatologist for a diagnosis.