Contraceptive methods and incidence of acne

Pathogenesis acne – it is multifactorial, during which the synthesis of  androgens and sebogenic hormones plays an important role. Given the effect of some types of contraceptives on hormonal signaling pathways, the choice of contraceptive method may affect the prevalence of the disease and severity of acne in women. However, according to a recent study, acne can also be a reason to discontinue contraceptives, which can have very different effects on the disease in different forms.

• Acne-contraception link: a study
• Contraceptive Methods and Frequency Acne Development: Results

The link between acne and contraception: a study 

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in women who were prescribed contraceptives according to the  Data Optim Clinformatics Data Mart.

The study assessed the incidence of acne during the first year after starting hormone therapy in girls/women aged 12-40 who were taking contraceptives for the first time and had a history of acne.

Based on the mechanism of action contraceptive drugs, scientists have suggested that combined oral contraceptives will have a positive effect on the course of acne, intrauterine copper coil – neutral effect, progestin preparations, intrauterine device with levonorgestrel, implant with etonogestrel negative will affect the course of acne.

Read also: What medications can cause drug-induced acne

Comparative characterization  was carried out and the association of various methods of contraception, such as combined oral contraceptives, copper intrauterine device and levonorgestrel intrauterine device, with clinical features of the development and severity of the disease was determined.

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Investigators also assessed 

the severity ofacne and the need for topical therapy and oral antibiotics of the tetracycline class during the first year  taking contraceptives.

Contraceptive methods and acne incidence: results

The study involved 336,738 women. Among the total number of contraceptives prescribed by them 

82.9% constituted COCs, 10.6% - IUD with levonorgestrel, 2.1% - copper IUD, 1.9% - implant with etonogestrel and 1.3% -progestin preparations, 1.2%-DMPA injections.

Read also: Acne in women of reproductive age: features of the disease

Acne has been reported in 

2-8% of study patients, predominantly among young adults.

 

 

Scientists analyzed the effects of 

combined oral contraceptives, progestogens, etonogestrel implant, DMPA injections, non-hormonal copper intrauterine device, and levonorgestrel intrauterine device, and compared impact of their effects on the incidence and severity of acne.

The use 

of                                       Intrauterine copper coil was associated with the use of topical and oral tetracycline antibiotics during the study. Compared to taking COCs, in patients with an installed intrauterine copper coil the risk of developing clinically significant acne increased by 14%

. Against the background of the use of an intrauterine device with 

levonorgestrel

 the risk increased by 9%.

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The risk of acne when using contraception was higher among patients switching from using combined oral contraceptives to other methods, compared with the same indicator among patients using COC for the first time for one year. Read also: 

Topical retinoids for acne

Thus, it becomes clear that, compared with the use of an intrauterine device, taking combined oral contraceptives has 

a moderate protective effect regarding the frequency of occurrence, severity of acne, and also reduces  the need for antibiotics. However, the difference in percentage

 between these two methods of contraception is not so great.

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