Treatment of acne with cyproterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol

Tablets containing 2 mg cyproterone acetate and 0.05 mg ethinyl estradiol in a calendar package of 21 days were used as an oral contraceptive to treat acne. The series comprised 20 patients. The women were 18--43 years of age, and all had acne which had previously been resistant to therapy. The treatment was continued for 6 months. Serum testosterone, 17-OHCS, 17-KS, serum ALAT and gamma-GT were recorded prior to the treatment at 3 and 6 months. Ten patients responded well to the treatment, 5 responded moderately well, 3 experienced no change, and 2 became worse. The serum testosterone level fell during the therapy and the ALAT level rose, though only one pathological ALAT value was recorded.