The treatment of acne with an anti-androgen/oestrogen combination

Abstract

A combination of the anti‐androgenic progestogen, cyproterone acetate 2 mg, and ethinyl oestradiol 50 mg was found to be highly effective in the treatment of moderate and severe acne in young women. Apart from its actions in controlling acne, it is also an effective oral contraceptive with good cycle control, and as such is taken by the same well established cyclical regimen. Eighty‐six young female patients suffering from moderate to severe acne were treated for 6 months with either the combination alone, or with additional oral tetracycline on an open basis. Both treatments were equally highly effective with 85% of all patients showing moderate clinical improvement or better. Twelve patients (14·%) exhibited healing during the treatment period, eleven of these had moderately severe acne on recruitment. Drop‐outs and side‐effects were relatively common. Side‐effects were of the type associated with an oestrogen‐progestogen combination, such as cycle disturbance, breast tenderness, headaches and weight‐gain.