Acne vulgaris is a common and chronic disorder of the pilosebaceous unit. Standard treatment protocols include topical retinoids, topical and oral antimicrobials, and isotretinoin. Hormonal therapies can be added to the regimen in some patients. This article outlines few effective hormonal therapeutic options for acne. Acne is a chronic condition for many women, and 81% of women report failures with systemic antibiotics.
Recurrence rates after isotretinoin treatment range from 15 to 30%. In addition, women with signs of hyperandrogenism usually do not respond to conventional topical therapy. These women, along with those who report a premenstrual flare of facial acne or have deep-seated nodules of the lower face and neck are excellent candidates for hormonal therapy. Hormonal treatment usually includes four types of drugs: 1) Androgen receptor blockers (spironolactone, flutamide,…
