A Comparison of the Relative Efficacy of Antiandrogens for the Treatment of Acne in Hyperandrogenic Women

The study compared the effectiveness of two newer antiandrogens, flutamide and finasteride, with cyproterone acetate (CPA) in treating moderate to severe acne in hyperandrogenic women. Forty-eight women were randomized to receive either CPA with ethinylestradiol, flutamide, or finasteride for 1 year. Results showed that flutamide and both low and high doses of CPA significantly reduced acne severity by 59-71%, while finasteride showed a lesser reduction of 36%. All treatments were well tolerated, indicating that low doses of certain antiandrogens, particularly CPA and flutamide, were effective for this condition.