Of a Preliminary Report on Norethynodrel (Enovid) in the Control of Acne in the Female. Presented by Dr. Laurence L. Palitz, M.D., Ph.D. Hormonal effect on acne in both males and females is well established. In 1941, Hamilton (Hamilton, J. B.: Male Hormone Substance: A Prime Factor in Acne,J. Clin. Endocr.1:570, 1941) emphasized the importance of the androgens by demonstrating that eunuchs do not develop acne unless treated with therapeutic doses of testosterone. Subsequent work established beyond doubt that the androgens increase sebaceous gland activity and thus encourage the development of acne and that estrogens decrease sebaceous gland activity and discourage the development of acne. An important source of androgenic activity derives from progesterone which is secreted by the corpus luteum during the luteinizing phase of the menstrual cycle. It has been shown (Smith, J. G.: The Aged Human Sebaceous Gland,A.M.A. Arch. Derm.80:663-671,