The Use of Hormonal Antiandrogen Therapy in Female Patients with Acne: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

March 2018 in “ American Journal of Clinical Dermatology ”

Joyce H. Park, Amanda Bienenfeld, Seth J. Orlow, Arielle R. Nagler

hormonal antiandrogen therapy HAAT combined oral contraceptives COCs spironolactone antibiotics acne birth control pills Aldactone

TLDR Hormonal antiandrogen therapy for acne is underused and can reduce the need for antibiotics.

In the 10-year retrospective study of 672 female patients at an academic medical center, hormonal antiandrogen acne treatment (HAAT), including combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and spironolactone, was found to be underutilized as a first-line therapy for acne, with antibiotics being the most common initial treatment. The study revealed that patients who started HAAT at the study site had a longer mean antibiotic duration (250.4 days) compared to those who were already on HAAT before the study (192.0 days), showing a significant inverse relationship between HAAT use and antibiotic duration (p = 0.016). Overall, HAAT was associated with a shorter cumulative antibiotic duration (225.5 days) compared to the control group (302.6 days), suggesting that HAAT can reduce antibiotic use in acne treatment and should be considered for earlier initiation to support antibiotic stewardship.

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Research cited in this study

6 / 6 results

research Hormonal Therapies for Acne

26 citations, October 2016 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Hormonal treatments can improve acne, but they come with potential side effects and risks.

research Is Hormonal Treatment Still an Option in Acne Today?

31 citations, June 2015 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Hormonal treatments are effective as a second-line option for moderate-to-severe acne in females, but should be used with caution due to health risks.

research Hormonal Therapy for Acne

96 citations, September 2008 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”

Hormonal treatments, including birth control and antiandrogens, can effectively treat acne in women.

research Acne: Hormonal Concepts and Therapy

118 citations, September 2004 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Hormones, especially androgens, play a big role in acne, but most acne sufferers don't have a hormone disorder. Hormonal treatments, including birth control pills, can be very effective for women whose acne doesn't improve with regular treatments.

research Endocrinological Evaluation and Hormonal Therapy for Women with Difficult Acne

30 citations, December 2001 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Hormonal therapy is a good option for women with severe acne, especially when there's a chance of hormone imbalance.

research Interaction of Spironolactone with Rat Skin Androgen Receptor

23 citations, July 1979 in “Canadian journal of biochemistry”

Spironolactone reduces the number of androgen receptor sites in rat skin by blocking them with its metabolite.

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