Androgens and Acne: Perspectives on Clascoterone, the First Topical Androgen Receptor Antagonist

    Leon Kircik
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    TLDR Clascoterone is a new, effective, and safe acne treatment without systemic side effects.
    In a review of clascoterone, the first FDA-approved topical androgen receptor antagonist for acne treatment, it was found to be effective and safe in a Phase III clinical trial with 1,440 participants. The trial showed significant reductions in both non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne lesions at week 12, with 18.4% and 20.3% of patients achieving treatment success, compared to 9.0% and 6.5% with a placebo. Clascoterone works by binding to androgen receptors in sebaceous glands and hair follicles, reducing sebum production and acne without systemic effects. Only 13 mild treatment emergent adverse events were reported, and no systemic anti-androgen exposure was observed. While the study was limited by small subgroup sample sizes and did not consider the impact of other acne therapies, clascoterone is considered a promising new treatment for acne and is also being investigated for androgenetic alopecia.
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      community EMA is re-examining Winlevi (clascoterone at lower concentration)

      in Treatment  8 upvotes 8 months ago
      Clascoterone in Winlevi, a topical AR antagonist, is being re-examined due to concerns about HPA axis suppression in adolescents, but it's unlikely to be banned for adult use in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The European Medicines Agency recommended refusing Winlevi for acne vulgaris, but this may not affect Breezula's approval for AGA.

      community where does the renewed spironolactone hype come from?

      in Research/Science  8 upvotes 3 years ago
      Topical spironolactone is gaining attention as an alternative hair loss treatment, but it's not as effective as other options like finasteride. Oral spironolactone can cause side effects in men, and there are better topical alternatives like RU, Pyril, and CB.

      community 10 months CB and Oral Minoxidil

      in Progress Pictures  112 upvotes 1 year ago
      A person with Alopecia Areata on their beard is using CB-03-01 and oral minoxidil for treatment. Some users question the effectiveness of CB-03-01 for beard hair, suggesting that minoxidil alone may be responsible for any observed hair growth.

      community Clascoterone - what we have right now

      in Research/Science  16 upvotes 3 weeks ago
      Clascoterone is a topical treatment for androgenetic alopecia, showing modest to moderate hair regrowth, and may be available by 2027-2028. It is considered safer than finasteride, with discussions on its effectiveness compared to RU58841 and pyrilutamide.

      community What else is good. Besides the big 3.

      in Chat  35 upvotes 1 year ago
      Key treatments for hair preservation include minoxidil, finasteride/dutasteride, and microneedling, with additional options like specific shampoos, oils, biotin, zinc, tretinoin, clascoterone, and low-level laser therapy. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress, and addressing nutrient deficiencies can also support hair health.

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