Adult hormonal acne: spironolactone vs combined OCPs

Two first-line options for hormonal acne in adult women. Spironolactone targets androgens; combined oral contraceptives suppress ovarian androgen production. When to pick which.

1 min readReviewed May 2026

By Sarah Editor, MA Journalism, Certified Menopause Coach · Medically reviewed by Jane Smith, MD, MD, NAMS-certified · menopause nams

LicensedCA +2 moreVerify credentials →

Last medically reviewed: 5/15/2026 · Last updated: 5/15/2026 · Next review due: May 2027

Disclosure: Jane Smith, MD declares no financial relationship with the telehealth providers featured in this content.

Affiliate link Advertiser Disclosure: This site is reader-supported. We may earn an affiliate commission when you sign up for a service through links on our site. This does not influence our editorial recommendations or medical reviews. Read our full disclosure.

Two first-line options for hormonal acne in adult women. Spironolactone targets androgens; combined oral contraceptives suppress ovarian androgen production. When to pick which.

How we work — three pages, three answers