Abstract

AbstractThe estrogens contained in oral contraceptives are known to be potentially beneficial in the treatment of acne. Despite this, some women develop worsening of acne when taking oral contraceptives. Studies have shown that certain progestogens contained in commonly prescribed oral contraceptives are androgenic, while others are noriandrogenic, and that androgens are the only stimulus for direct sebaceous gland development and secretion. We undertook a clinical study involving 25 women with acne in an attempt to correlate the onset or worsening of acne with the type of oral contraceptive used by each. Evidence from this study indicates that androgen-dominant oral contraceptives are potentially acnegenic, while estrogen-dominant oral contraceptives are beneficial.