Acne

1 medicine

Acne is a common skin condition caused by blocked, inflamed hair follicles. Hormonal treatment can help when breakouts are driven by androgens, especially in women.

Diane 35

Cyproterone, Ethinylestradiol

2/0.035mg

Diane 35 is a womens health medication containing Cyproterone + Ethinylestradiol, available as 2/0.035mg tablets.

from $1.03 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Acne is a common skin condition in which hair follicles become blocked by oil and dead skin cells, producing spots, cysts, and inflammation on the face, chest, or back.
  • Hormonal fluctuations, particularly androgens that stimulate the sebaceous glands, are a leading driver, especially in women. Breakouts often worsen around the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or after stopping hormonal contraception.
  • For hormonally driven acne, an anti-androgen such as cyproterone, often combined with ethinylestradiol, can be more effective than topical treatment alone.
  • Persistent or severe acne, especially deep cysts or scarring nodules, needs professional assessment rather than self-treatment.

What causes it

Acne develops when hair follicles become blocked by oil and dead skin cells, creating the conditions for spots, cysts, and inflammation to form on the face, chest, or back. It affects people of all ages, though breakouts are most common around puberty and can persist well into adulthood.

Why hormones matter, especially for women

Hormonal fluctuations are a leading driver of acne, particularly in women. Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil, which creates the conditions bacteria need to thrive and pores need to clog. This is why breakouts often track the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or stopping hormonal contraception.

For women with hormonally driven acne, treatment aimed at the hormonal cause can outperform topical products alone. Cyproterone is an anti-androgen that reduces the hormonal signal driving oil production, and it's commonly combined with ethinylestradiol for this purpose. This combination sits within the broader field of women's health medicine, where hormonal balance affects the skin as much as any other system.

When to get advice

Persistent or severe acne, particularly deep cysts or scarring nodules, needs professional assessment rather than self-treatment. A clinician can distinguish hormonal acne from rosacea and other look-alike skin conditions that call for a different approach.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.