---
title: Does hydrochlorothiazide help control premenstrual acne? | Niyora
description: No. A double-blind study of 21 patients found that taking this water pill for 10 days before the period did not reduce premenstrual acne flare-ups.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/hydrochlorothiazide-and-the-control-of-premenstrual-exacerbation-of-acne-1972/
---

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- Does hydrochlorothiazide help control premenstrual acne?

Non-randomised trial, 1972

# Does hydrochlorothiazide help control premenstrual acne?

No. A double-blind study of 21 patients found that taking this water pill for 10 days before the period did not reduce premenstrual acne flare-ups.

 Moderate study design

21 patients with premenstrual acne

## What they did

In a double-blind study, 21 patients took either hydrochlorothiazide (50 mg twice daily) or placebo for 10 days starting a week before their menstrual period.

## What they found

Hydrochlorothiazide did not reduce premenstrual acne. There was no relationship between fluid retention and acne flares, and reducing fluid retention didn't help the acne.

## What it means for you

The water pill hydrochlorothiazide doesn't work for premenstrual acne, suggesting that swelling or fluid retention isn't the cause of acne flares. However, this study is very old (1972) and quite small, so findings might be different with newer treatments or larger groups.

21

Patients

50mg

Twice daily dose

10

Days of treatment

## About the study

Original title Hydrochlorothiazide and the control of premenstrual exacerbation of acne Authors Jelinek JE Journal Archives of dermatology Year 1972 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested Hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg twice daily for 10 days before menstrual period, compared to placebo Read the paper [doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1972.01620040051010](https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1972.01620040051010)

## Topics

[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

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Does spironolactone help PMS symptoms?

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Is bromocriptine effective for premenstrual syndrome?

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