Is There a Role for Antiandrogen Therapy for Hidradenitis Suppurativa? A Systematic Review of Published Data

In 2019, a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of antiandrogen therapy for treating hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa, a disease that affects the apocrine gland-rich skin areas and is believed to be influenced by hormones, especially androgens. The primary therapeutic options identified were cyproterone acetate, spironolactone, finasteride, and metformin. The review included one randomized controlled crossover trial and seven case series. However, the studies did not provide strong evidence-based recommendations for the use of antiandrogens in the treatment of this disease, suggesting that more randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the role of hormonal treatment as an alternative or concomitant therapy with antibiotics or biologics.