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

The study compared the efficacy of four antiandrogen regimens in treating acne among 48 hyperandrogenic women. The regimens included combinations of cyproterone acetate (CPA) with ethinyl estradiol, flutamide, and finasteride. Over one year, all treatments significantly reduced acne severity, with high-dose CPA showing the most marked improvement, although not significantly more than low-dose CPA or flutamide. Finasteride was less effective than the other treatments. No side effects were observed, and menstrual function, blood glucose, and liver enzyme levels remained normal. The study concluded that most antiandrogenic regimens effectively treated acne in hyperandrogenic women, with finasteride being the least effective.