Combined oral contraceptives for the treatment of acne: a practical guide.

Many therapies exist in the arsenal of drugs available to dermatologists for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Among them, hormonal therapy stands out as a unique and highly efficacious treatment modality. Although some dermatologists may be hesitant to prescribe hormonal therapies, they can be safely and appropriately used in eligible female patients to treat acne vulgaris. Herein, current issues regarding the hormonal treatment of acne in the form of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are presented, and a practical method for implementing this therapy is proposed. Specifically, drug selection, associated risks, benefits, monitoring, and counseling are discussed, with emphasis on the practicality of use in the clinical setting.