title: Use of Oral Contraceptives for Management of Acne Vulgaris: Practical Considerations in Real World Practice.
abstract: Acne vulgaris may be effectively treated with combination oral contraceptive pills (COCs) in women. COCs may be useful in any woman with acne in the absence of known contraindications. When prescribing a COC to a woman who also desires contraception, the risks of the COC are compared with the risks associated with pregnancy. When prescribing a COC to a woman who does not desire contraception, the risks of the COC must be weighed against the risks associated with acne. COCs may take 3 cycles of use to show an effect in acne lesion count reductions.
authors.affiliation: The Dermatology and Skin Care Center of Birmingham, 2470 Rocky Ridge Road, Birmingham, AL 35243, USA. Electronic address: juharper@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral
keywords: Acne vulgaris; Hormones; Hyperandrogenism; Oral contraceptives