Clascoterone cream benefits people with acne the most right now, especially teens and young adults dealing with hormonal breakouts on the face or back. It works by blocking hormones in the skin that cause too much oil and pimples, leading to clearer skin with few side effects.
This cream, sold as Winlevi at 1% strength, targets acne vulgaris in patients 12 years and older. It cuts down sebum production, which is the oily stuff that clogs pores and sparks acne. Studies show it works well on both red, swollen pimples and blackheads or whiteheads. In big trials with over 1,400 people, about 20% reached clear or almost clear skin after 12 weeks, compared to just 8% using a plain cream. Results start showing in as little as two weeks, and it stays effective for up to nine months. People like it because it is gentle, with mostly mild redness or dryness at the spot where it is applied, and no big body-wide hormone changes.
Hormonal acne hits hardest during puberty or times of hormone shifts, like in teenage boys and girls or young adults. Back acne patients also gain a lot since the cream covers larger areas well. Doctors recommend it for those who need something beyond regular creams or pills, especially when oil from androgens is the main issue.
New research points to even bigger wins ahead for men with pattern baldness. A stronger 5% version of clascoterone solution showed huge hair regrowth in phase 3 trials with 1,500 men. One trial had 539% better hair count than placebo, another 168%. It blocks DHT, the hormone shrinking hair follicles, right at the scalp without messing with the whole body. This could help guys in early to mid-stage hair loss who want regrowth without pills like finasteride that sometimes cause side effects. Women with thinning hair might benefit too, based on early data, but trials focused on men so far. Approval for hair use could come soon, making it a game-changer after decades without new options.
For now, acne sufferers get the clearest benefits from the approved cream, but hair loss patients stand to gain massively if trials pan out.
Sources
https://www.thefamilychemist.co.uk/product/winlevi-cream-clascoterone/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12691598/
https://theprint.in/opinion/clascoterone-new-drug-root-cause-pattern-baldness/2813671/
https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/clascoterone-5-delivers-strong-phase-3-hair-growth-results
https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/going-bald-scientists-say-this-acne-drug-might-bring-your-hair-back-2833188-2025-12-09
https://www.winlevi.com/what-is-winlevi
