Antiandrogen And Hormonal Treatment Of Acne

October 1996 in “ Dermatologic Clinics ”

James C. Shaw

spironolactone flutamide cyproterone acetate oral contraceptives corticosteroids finasteride androgenetic alopecia hirsutism androgen-mediated conditions androgen secretion Aldactone Androcur Propecia birth control pills steroids

TLDR Certain hormone treatments can improve acne and related conditions in women.

The 1996 document reviews hormonal and antiandrogen treatments for acne, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia, particularly in women. It details the effectiveness of drugs like spironolactone, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate in improving acne and other androgen-mediated conditions. Spironolactone showed a 50% to 100% improvement in acne with doses of 100 to 200 mg/day, while flutamide was suggested to be more effective than spironolactone in some studies. Cyproterone acetate nearly completely improved acne at low doses. Oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, and finasteride were also discussed for their roles in reducing androgen secretion and treating skin diseases. The document highlights the importance of patient selection and individualized treatment plans, noting that finasteride is contraindicated in women of childbearing potential. A case study is presented where a woman's acne was controlled with spironolactone and finasteride, but her hair loss showed no significant improvement, underscoring the challenges of treatment. The document does not provide the number of people in the study, as it includes a single case report.

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