Drug Therapy for Oily Skin (Seborrhea)

Oily skin can be suppressed by hormones or hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills) with antiandrogenic effects. Estrogen-emphasized birth control pills or birth control pills with additions of an antiandrogen (chlormadinone acetate: weaker-acting; cyproterone acetate: stronger-acting) have a positive effect on excessive skin oil production.

The use of stronger-acting antiandrogens should be limited to cases of severe acne (e.g., acne vulgaris) or male-type hair loss (androgenetic-type alopecia). Other therapeutic options are offered by certain retinoids – derivatives of vitamin A – in particular isotretinoin.

For more information, see “Hormonal contraceptives” (contraception) and “Acne.”