Can Finasteride cause cystic acne due to hormonal changes?

Question

I started using finasteride 2 months ago and noticed my mild acne getting worse and turing into moderate -severe cystic acne. Do you think there is a correlation between the two or is it just a matter of coincidence? Have any of your patients reported this?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

finesteride doesnt cause acne, it can decrease the rate of certain cancers.

All of my accutane/isotretinoin/acne patients do our accutane protocol from emeragecosmetics (where we do free skincare consults daily) and peels like aerify/cosmelan/enlighten.

Acne requires a combination approach to get long term improvement.  For all patients on isotretinoin, we require them to be on skin care such as vitamin C (Skinceuticals Phloretin CF, EmerageSkin AOX-C), glycolic cream (jan Marini bioclear, EmerageSkin enzymatic polish) , kojic acid serums (Skinceuticals phytoplus) and hyaluronic acid serum (IS clinical hydra cool serum, Skinceuticals B5, EmerageSkin hyla B) in the morning and retinols  (reve skin 1.0 and sente biocomplete serum) and salicylic acid (reveskin acne purifying enhancer), growth factors and peptides (anetageMD, EmerageSkin Re-Fit Face/Eye) night.

All of our patients get clear+brilliant non ablative laser along with a microsecond YAG laser such as aerolase or laser genesis and microneedling with PRP or microneelding RF like intensif or fractora monthly to help improve breakouts, speed the healing process, and improve scarring and facial redness while on the isotretinoin/accutane.  LED light therapy, cosmelan/enlighten/AERIFY peels, salt facial or dermalinfusion can be done as well to speed up the improvement. I suggest tyou go to an expert who combines skin care, lasers, microneedling, PRP, and facials while on oral medications for acne.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Epameinondas Bonaros, MD · Answer

Acne patients usually benefit from treatment with finasteride. The latter reduces DHT, the androgen that binds to androgen receptors on the oil glands, stimulating excessive oil production that can clog pores and cause acne.However, that is not always the case.There are other pathways in the genesis of acne, and that is why in a study, a minority of the patients receiving finasteride saw their acne worsen.I suggest you get advice from a qualified doctor on the matter.

Can Finasteride cause cystic acne due to hormonal changes?

Answers (2)

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