Comparative Effectiveness Study of Spironolactone Versus Doxycycline for Acne
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2026-06-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Acne is common illness of adolescents and young adults which is associated with substantial
morbidity. While topical treatments are often sufficient for mild acne, moderate to severe
acne often requires treatment with systemic medications such as oral antibiotics, hormonal
therapies such spironolactone, and isotretinoin. Sebum overproduction is fundamental to the
pathogenesis of acne with associated disordered keratinization and subsequent microbial
colonization and inflammation resulting in the clinical manifestations of acne. Given the
influence of hormones on sebum production, therapies that address these underlying hormonal
factors such as spironolactone and oral contraceptive pills represent an underutilized
treatment option for women with acne and could help decrease the use of long-term oral
antibiotics in this patient population. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the
comparative effectiveness of spironolactone versus doxycycline hyclate (tetracycline class
antibiotic) for women with acne.