Expert Recommendations for Use of Combined Oral Contraceptives in Preadolescent and Young Adolescent Patients With Acne Vulgaris
Acne vulgaris commonly presents in early adolescence with the onset of adrenarche. Treatments for acne in this age group typically mirror those in older adolescents. However, while combined oral contraceptives are an effective hormonal treatment for acne vulgaris in young women, the safety of using a systemic hormonal therapy in younger patients for the management of acne has not been established. Concerns include effects on pubertal development and weight, bone health, cancer risks, and psychiatric effects. This Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) consensus project convened a multidisciplinary work group to address these issues and, utilizing a modified Delphi process, to establish best practices regarding the use of combined oral contraceptives in patients under 16 years of age based on available evidence and expert opinion.
Authors
- Sarah Gold (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5907-6937)
- Emmy Graber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6090-3218)
- Kristina M. Derrick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8268-8088)
- Sasigarn Arunchaiya Bowden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6917-5333)
- Dawn Zhang Eichenfield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1511-3804)
- Patricia S. Huguelet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6739-7626)
- Hannah Lu Chang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1090-9838)
- Natalie G. Allen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5515-1469)
- Sarah K. Horvath (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6570-9606)
- Andrea L. Zaenglein (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2507-7130)
- Irene Lara‐Corrales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3210-3413)
- Lawrence F. Eichenfield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2760-0474)
- Alison B. Edelman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5040-7288)
- Leah E. Lalor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1017-8649)
- Megha M. Tollefson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4023-9433)
- Jonette E. Keri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0557-7007)
- Thomas Wallace (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2116-3204)
- Julie Harper
- Karin J. Kartawira
Institutions
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Northeastern University (US)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Nationwide Children's Hospital (US)
- Mayo Clinic (US)
- University of Miami (US)
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (US)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Medical College of Wisconsin (US)
- Cornell University (US)
- Hospital for Sick Children (CA)
- Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego (US)
- Children's Hospital Colorado (US)
- Penn State Health Children's Hospital (US)
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (US)
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Published
- 2026-11-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/pde.70325
- Primary Topic
- Acne and Rosacea Treatments and Effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00