Spironolactone versus doxycycline for acne in women
Official title: A randomized, double-blind, multi-center comparative effectiveness study of spironolactone versus doxycycline hyclate for the treatment of acne in women
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11169688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial compares two commonly used oral acne medicines—spironolactone and doxycycline—to find which helps adult women get clearer skin with fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $681,600 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AR079752-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women aged 21 and older with persistent moderate-to-severe acne who are willing to take oral medication and attend clinic visits are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, those with only mild acne, men, or anyone with contraindications to either drug may not benefit from or be eligible for this trial.
What this research studies
If I join, I would be randomly given either spironolactone or doxycycline without knowing which one I receive, and clinicians at multiple sites will follow my progress. The study will measure changes in acne severity, record side effects, and collect samples to look at effects on the skin and gut microbiome. Researchers will compare how well each medicine clears acne and whether long-term antibiotic use is linked to adverse outcomes. The goal is to help patients and doctors choose safer and more effective oral treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could identify a safer and more effective oral treatment for women with moderate-to-severe acne and help reduce unnecessary long-term antibiotic use.
How similar studies have gone: Both antibiotics and spironolactone have been used successfully in prior studies and clinical practice, but direct randomized, head-to-head comparisons are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Margolis, David Joel — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Margolis, David Joel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Acne: how skin oils, bacteria, and the immune system interact
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Acne: how skin bacteria, fats, and immunity drive lesions
A large NIH-funded effort at UCLA/UCSD is studying how skin bacteria, fat metabolism, and the immune system interact to cause acne, with plans to translate findings into better treatments.
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Spironolactone vs doxycycline for acne in women
A multi-center trial compares spironolactone and doxycycline to treat acne in adult women to find which works better with fewer side effects.
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A small research grant is developing a highly specific enzyme therapy to kill the acne-causing bacteria without disturbing good skin or gut bacteria.
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Th17 extracellular traps and skin bacteria in acne health
A study in people with acne aims to understand how specific skin bacteria and immune cells interact to fight acne-causing germs and how this could lead to better treatments.
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New bacteria-targeting enzymes to fight acne
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.