25074072
OBJECTIVE	This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of triphasic combined oral contraceptives ( OCs ) containing ethinyl estradiol ( EE ) and norgestimate ( NGM ) and biphasic combined OCs containing EE and desogestrel ( DSG ) in the treatment of mild to moderate acne .
METHODS	This was an investigator-blinded , randomized , parallel group trial conducted at 3 centers in Thailand .
METHODS	Female subjects 18-45 years old were assigned to one or the other OCs and evaluated for efficacy and safety parameters at the baseline visit and after 1 , 3 and 6 months of treatment .
RESULTS	Among 201 randomized subjects , data from 93 subjects in the EE/NGM group and 95 subjects in the EE/DSG group were analyzed .
RESULTS	After 6 months of treatment with EE/NGM and EE/DSG , no differences between formulations were found for the decrease in total acne lesion counts ( 74.4 % vs. 65.1 % , respectively , p = .070 ) or facial improvement score .
RESULTS	More women using EE/NGM showed a decrease in severity of facial seborrhea than those using EE/DSG ( p = .005 ) .
RESULTS	No changes in weight were noted in either group as compared to baseline .
CONCLUSIONS	Multiphasic OCs containing EE/NGM and EE/DSG provided comparable efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of acne .
CONCLUSIONS	However , EE/NGM had a more beneficial effect on facial seborrhea reduction than EE/DSG .
CONCLUSIONS	EE/NGM and EE/DSG are multiphasic OCs , which were shown to be clinically equally effective for mild to moderate facial acne , and the multiphasic combined OC with NGM was more effective for women with facial seborrhea .
CONCLUSIONS	Clinicians may apply the results of this study when considering treatment options for facial acne and seborrhea .

