Coming off the pill and watching your skin break out is frustrating, and it can feel like a step backwards. It does not have to be this way. With the right plan, you can come off the pill with confidence and clear your skin from within.
So many women come to me saying the same thing. They went on the pill for clear skin, or to settle a difficult cycle, came off it months or years later, and suddenly the breakouts arrived with a vengeance. It is confusing, it knocks your confidence, and it can feel like your body has turned on you.
Here is the reassuring part. Post-pill acne is common, it is well understood, and it is temporary. Your skin is not broken. It is adjusting. And there is a lot we can do to make that adjustment smoother and shorter.
While you are on the pill, your natural hormones and your oil (sebum) production are suppressed. For many women, that means clear skin. When you stop the pill, your ovaries wake up, and you experience a temporary surge in androgens, the hormones that ramp up oil production. More oil plus a rebound in sebum means breakouts.
The timing tends to follow a pattern. Post-pill acne usually starts around month three, peaks around month six, and can take 12 to 18 months to settle on its own. The good news is that, with the right support, you do not have to wait it out simply.
Important: Not all acne after the pill is “post-pill acne”. Some women have an underlying hormonal condition, such as PCOS, that was masked by the pill. This is worth identifying with your GP, because it has wider health implications and changes how we approach your skin.
Post-pill skin changes show up differently for everyone. These are the signs we see most often:
Hormonal acne tends to cluster around the lower face, jaw and chin.
A noticeable jump in oiliness as sebum production rebounds.
Painful, under-the-skin breakouts rather than surface pimples.
Blackheads, clogged pores and uneven texture across the face.
Breakouts that worsen at a particular point in your returning cycle.
Changes in mood, energy, periods or hair as your hormones rebalance.
To clear your skin and keep it clear, we look beyond the surface and address what is actually fuelling the breakouts. There are usually four drivers at play, often more than one at once.
When you stop the pill, androgens rebound and rise. These hormones drive oil production and are often the main culprit behind post-pill and hormonal acne.
The pill shrinks pores and dials down oil. Coming off it, your skin over-corrects and ramps oil back up, which feeds breakouts for several months.
Synthetic hormones can worsen insulin resistance, which in turn pushes androgens higher. Steadying blood sugar through food is a powerful lever for clearer skin.
Your gut and liver clear hormones out of the body. If these are sluggish, hormones recirculate and inflammation rises, both of which show up on your skin.
In our first consultation, we thoroughly explore every aspect of your well-being, delving into factors such as stress, sleep, diet, and other lifestyle components. We focus on what hormones are at play through case taking and also functional pathology testing. Hormones are complex and all related; to know what is going on means you get clear skin, fast.
Once we have all the background information and testing details, I create a highly individualised post-pill acne treatment plan. This plan takes each and every aspect of your health into account. Our treatment plan will also focus on the other body systems that impact your hormones: digestion, liver, detoxification pathways, sleep, energy, and stress response.
Nutrition and herbs are immensely helpful to bring about change quickly; this, with diet, can make the biggest impact on clearing your post-pill acne.
Following the implementation of your initial post-pill acne treatment program, we schedule regular catch-ups to review results, address any changes or questions you may have, and align with your skin goals. During these sessions, we also assess the need for any additional tests, including functional pathology tests, and adjust your treatment plan as necessary for optimal progress.
I suggest reaching out before stopping the pill. If you went on the pill initially for acne, painful or irregular periods, I recommend we meet at least three months before stopping. This gives me time to understand the initial reasons why you were put on the pill in the first place and address the drivers of your hormonal imbalance to bring about clear skin.
If you had picture-perfect skin and regular pain-free periods, one month prior to stopping is perfect to connect and discuss the best plan for you.
By reducing inflammation and supportive diet measures, you can see improvements in the first few weeks; however, the lasting change will take at least 6 months.
Working together, here is what we aim for as your hormones find their rhythm again:
Fewer breakouts and a noticeable shift in your skin’s overall health.
A clear plan so stopping the pill feels considered, not scary.
Support for healthy androgen and progesterone levels as your cycle returns
Gut and liver support that lifts how you feel day to day, not just your skin.
Support for a regular cycle and the symptoms that travel with it.
You leave knowing what was driving your skin and how to keep it clear.
I’m Lindsay Braid, a naturopath who has spent the last decade learning everything I can about women’s health, hormones and skin. Clear skin from within is my forte. I know how disheartening post-pill breakouts can be, and I know how much steadier the journey feels when you have a clear plan and someone in your corner.
My approach is gentle, evidence-informed and completely personalised. I help women break the prescription cycle and reach clear, healthy skin by treating the cause, not just covering the symptom.
I have been working with Lindsay for over 6 months and she is fantastic!! I’ve learned so much about my skin, my cycle and my overall health. She has helped me immensely in clearing my skin and regulating my cycle. I’ve had a few different health issues arise while working with Lindsay and she’s always been so compassionate and willing to help. I’m so glad I’ve found a Naturopath who I really trust and one who I know will do her best to help. If you’re thinking of working with her I thoroughly recommend that you do!
I’ve been seeing Lindsay for a few months, and she has really helped me clear my skin—I’m amazed! She is kind, understanding, and incredibly knowledgeable. Just as I started my treatment, I moved overseas, and she even adjusted her schedule to accommodate both time zones. I’m so grateful I found her and feel very supported in the process of clearing my skin and improving my overall health. Thank you, Lindsay!!
I've been seeing Lindsay for 9 months to work on my gut & skin health. She is not only very knowledgeable but kind & empathetic, which has been much appreciated after countless visits to GPs who were often dismissive of my concerns. Under Lindsay's expert guidance I have been able to clear my skin & I would happily recommend her to anyone feeling stuck or frustrated & needing support in improving their health.
I have been seeing Lindsay for a couple of months now and highly recommend her services. She is very knowledgeable, dedicated and caring and offers great advice. With her help I am now on the right track to improving my health and I couldn't be more grateful. Her follow-up care is excellent and it is clear that Lindsay is passionate about what she does.
I have been working with Lindsay for over a year now and can definitely recommend if you’re struggling with your hormone health. She is non-judgemental, genuinely caring, and always helpful. Lindsay takes the time to listen and provides thoughtful guidance that makes you feel supported and understood.
Lindsay has been a dream to work with! She's kind, knowledgeable and down to earth. She's helped me balance my hormones post pill and now I understand so much more about my body and what it needs/can pull back from! There are so many habits that Lindsay taught me that I'll stick with for life.
Lindsay was amazing in helping me heal my eczema - I would recommend her services to anyone. She makes you feel heard and provides excellent guidance and support in lots of different areas as well as skin. After years of misery suffering with chronic eczema, I am now almost 100% clear which is life-changing!
Post-pill acne typically occurs 3-6 months after coming off the pill. For some women, the acne can last for 12-18 months. The tricky part is you never know how women will react to coming off the pill. Some find the moment they stop they break out, others breeze through until month 6 and bam – acne. Naturopath Lindsay helps women with acne and post-pill acne. Together we work out a plan before you cease the pill. That way you can come off the pill when you are ready and be confident you are doing all you can to reduce any acne outbreaks.
Post-pill acne can impact any woman on ceasing the pill. If you have had clear skin before the pill you can still experience outbreaks after. Women who were on the pill for acne will commonly experience outbreaks. Women who have come off the pill prior and experienced acne most likely will again. When you stop the pill your androgens surge normally around months 3-6 and that’s what causes the outbreaks, this is the same for all women, regardless of if you did or didn’t have acne beforehand.
It can be difficult to know how a woman will respond to coming off the pill. Because of this Acne Naturopath Lindsay suggests working together for 3 months before stopping. That way you can ensure the foundations of your health are good, that your diet is wholesome and that you managing your stress. Acne is a sign of something deeper going on, when you improve your overall health, you improve your hormones, and your skin and ultimately reduce outbreaks.
Yes, it most definitely can. If the pill has cleared your acne, you can assume the reason you had acne was due to your hormones. Once you come off the pill your ovaries wake up! Your body starts making hormones again, and we see a surge of androgens, these are often the culprit of post-pill and hormonal acne. If you had acne before the pill and are wishing to stop the pill I suggest reaching out and working together 3 months before coming off the pill. This gives you enough time to improve your overall health and diet and work on the other drivers of acne.
It’s best to start working on everything that impacts hormones before coming off the pill. Ideally, 3 months if you had acne before or one month prior if you’ve never had acne. Ensuring you have a well-rounded diet, each meal is balanced with protein and fat. Having regular bowel movements, and consuming a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to support the liver and digestive health. Managing stress and ensuring enough rest and gentle movement are all keys to happy hormones! Remember on the pill you are in chemical menopause – your hormones have flat-lined, so you can’t take any herbs or supplements to work on hormones. If you want to create a plan to balance your hormones contact Acne Naturopath Lindsay she helps countless women clear their skin naturally.
It’s important to remember our hormones don’t work independently of our overall health. Sleep, stress, food, gut, and liver health all have an impact, so working on these will improve hormones. Hormonal acne, most of the time is due to a rise or sensitivity to androgens, supplements like zinc, peony, nettle and licorice can be immensely helpful. So can ensuring healthy progesterone, with the likes of magnesium and B6. You can also jump on to my newsletter to receive my top hormonal acne supplements.
Post-pill acne typically occurs 3-6 months after coming off the pill. For some women, the acne can last for 12-18 months. The tricky part is you never know how women will react to coming off the pill. Some find the moment they stop they break out, others breeze through until month 6 and bam – acne. Naturopath Lindsay helps women with acne and post-pill acne. Together we work out a plan before you cease the pill. That way you can come off the pill when you are ready and be confident you are doing all you can to reduce any acne outbreaks.
Post-pill acne can impact any woman on ceasing the pill. If you have had clear skin before the pill you can still experience outbreaks after. Women who were on the pill for acne will commonly experience outbreaks. Women who have come off the pill prior and experienced acne most likely will again. When you stop the pill your androgens surge normally around months 3-6 and that’s what causes the outbreaks, this is the same for all women, regardless of if you did or didn’t have acne beforehand.
It can be difficult to know how a woman will respond to coming off the pill. Because of this Acne Naturopath Lindsay suggests working together for 3 months before stopping. That way you can ensure the foundations of your health are good, that your diet is wholesome and that you managing your stress. Acne is a sign of something deeper going on, when you improve your overall health, you improve your hormones, and your skin and ultimately reduce outbreaks.
Yes, it most definitely can. If the pill has cleared your acne, you can assume the reason you had acne was due to your hormones. Once you come off the pill your ovaries wake up! Your body starts making hormones again, and we see a surge of androgens, these are often the culprit of post-pill and hormonal acne. If you had acne before the pill and are wishing to stop the pill I suggest reaching out and working together 3 months before coming off the pill. This gives you enough time to improve your overall health and diet and work on the other drivers of acne.
It’s best to start working on everything that impacts hormones before coming off the pill. Ideally, 3 months if you had acne before or one month prior if you’ve never had acne. Ensuring you have a well-rounded diet, each meal is balanced with protein and fat. Having regular bowel movements, and consuming a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to support the liver and digestive health. Managing stress and ensuring enough rest and gentle movement are all keys to happy hormones! Remember on the pill you are in chemical menopause – your hormones have flat-lined, so you can’t take any herbs or supplements to work on hormones. If you want to create a plan to balance your hormones contact Acne Naturopath Lindsay she helps countless women clear their skin naturally.
It’s important to remember our hormones don’t work independently of our overall health. Sleep, stress, food, gut, and liver health all have an impact, so working on these will improve hormones. Hormonal acne, most of the time is due to a rise or sensitivity to androgens, supplements like zinc, peony, nettle and licorice can be immensely helpful. So can ensuring healthy progesterone, with the likes of magnesium and B6. You can also jump on to my newsletter to receive my top hormonal acne supplements.
