The use of hormonal agents in the treatment of acne

Lauren A Hassoun; Dev S Chahal; Raja K Sivamani; Larissa N Larsen

doi:10.12788/j.sder.2016.027

The use of hormonal agents in the treatment of acne

Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2016 Jun;35(2):68-73. doi: 10.12788/j.sder.2016.027.

Authors

Lauren A Hassoun¹, Dev S Chahal², Raja K Sivamani³, Larissa N Larsen⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
² School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
³ Department of Dermatology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, California, USA. lnlarsen@ucdavis.edu.

PMID: 27416311
DOI: 10.12788/j.sder.2016.027

Abstract

Hormones and androgens play an important role in the pathogenesis of acne. Multiple hormonal modulators are now available for the treatment of acne. The efficacies and side effects of currently available hormonal agents are reviewed here including the use of oral contraceptives, spironolactone, flutamide, cyproterone acetate, finasteride, and cortexolone 17α-propionate. Hormonal therapies are an efficacious treatment option for acne among females. With the growing need to reduce antibiotic exposures, hormonal therapies should be more widely studied and incorporated into acne treatment strategies.

Keywords: acne; androgen; hormonal; oral contraceptive; sebum; spironolactone.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acne Vulgaris / drug therapy*
Administration, Oral
Contraceptive Agents / therapeutic use*
Cortodoxone / analogs & derivatives
Cortodoxone / therapeutic use
Cyproterone Acetate / therapeutic use
Dermatologic Agents / therapeutic use*
Female
Finasteride / therapeutic use
Flutamide / therapeutic use
Hormones / metabolism*
Hormones / therapeutic use
Humans
Male
Meta-Analysis as Topic
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
Propionates / therapeutic use
Spironolactone / therapeutic use
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Contraceptive Agents
Dermatologic Agents
Hormones
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
Propionates
Spironolactone
Cyproterone Acetate
Finasteride
Flutamide
Cortodoxone
Clascoterone