How do oral contraceptives help treat acne?

For some women who experience worse acne outbreaks during menstruation, oral contraceptives might be prescribed as treatment. Levels of hormones-especially androgens like testosterone-are often increased during menstruation, which causes sebaceous glands to produce an overabundance of an oily substance known as sebum that then clogs pores. Oral contraceptives stabilize hormone levels and can reduce the amount of androgens the body produces. That means that the sebaceous glands are no longer over-stimulated, which helps reduce the chances of developing acne.