22 February 2026 : Review article
Comparison of Substances in Combined Oral Contraceptives Used in Acne Vulgaris, Hirsutism, Migraine, and Dysmenorrhea
Patrycja Wójcikiewicz
ABCDEF 1*, Gabriela Durlej BCDEF 1, Małgorzata Satora BCDEF 1, Rafał Tarkowski AE 2, Krzysztof Kułak AEFG 2
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.949520
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e949520
Table 1 Summary of studies describing the effect of hormones in different combined oral contraceptive pills on acne vulgaris.
| Study | Year of study | Research group | Substance and a dose | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plewig et al []2 | 2009 | 377 women with moderate comedonal acne of the face | 0.03 mg EE+2 mg CMA | COC containing ethinylestradiol and chlormadinone acetate could be great treatment for acne vulgaris |
| Palacio-Cardona et al []3 | 2017 | 120 women 18–30 years old with acne vulgaris (median: 19–22, 39% were afro-descendants, 21% used non-prescribed topical presentations for acne, 12.5% had a history of estrogenic disease, and 22.5% had a history of smoking. Median weight was 57 kg, height 1.60 m, and BMI 22.2 kg/m | 20 μg EE+2 mg dienogest | The study showed reduction in the number of facial lesions in women with acne |
| Sanam et al []6 | 2011 | 45 women with acne vulgaris – DSG+EE/46 women with acne vulgaris – LNG+EE | 150 mg DSG+30 mg EE vs 150 mgLNG +30 mg EE | Progression in acne was bigger in the group applied pills containing DSG+EE |
| Koltun et al []8 | 2011 | 893 females aged 14–45 years with moderate facial acne | 20 μg EE +3 mg DRSP | COC pills containing 20 μg EE and 3 mg DRSP in a 24/4 regimen more effectively reduced acne lesions than placebo |
| Moubasher et al []9 | 2020 | 20 women with acne vulgaris | LNG+EE or LNG alone | After 6 months of LNG+EE therapy, a statistically significant reduction in testosterone levels and acne scores (GAGS) was observed compared to the group receiving LNG alone |
| EE – ethinylestradiol; CMA – chlormadinone acetate; COC – combined oral contraceptive; DSG – desogestrel; LNG – levonorgestrel; DRSP – drospirenone. | ||||