Does Femara (letrozole) cause acne?

If you have used Femara (letrozole) and experienced an increase or decrease in acne, please tell us about it here. Be sure to include as much information as possible, including when you started taking Femara, the dosage, other side effects you experienced, and anything else that might be relevant.

27 Replies to “Does Femara (letrozole) cause acne?”

  1. I finished five days of 5mg tablets of letrozole on cycle days 3-7. I am now on cycle day ten, and have never had to much problem with acne. My chin is completely broken out. It started probably on cycle day 8 and got much worse with time.

    1. I took letrozole day 4-9 , 5mg and on day 10 started breaking out like crazy!! Chin, on my upper cheeks and some above my brows. I never get more than 2 near my period. Assuming it’s because of the surge of estrogen after blocking it for 5 days.

  2. I am on my second cycle of Femera, 5mg twice a day days 2-5 I broke out with a lot of under the skin acne on the lower part of my cheeks and sides of my forehead around day 10, which came out and then started to fade towards the beginning of my next cycle, but was still there then I started the second cycle and had a breakout on my chin around my mouth and a few on my neck! So it is fair to say I did have a lot of breakouts with femera as I don’t normally get breakouts on the face

  3. I am on my second round of Femara, and I have never had blotchy skin like I have now. All around my chin, sides of my face and a couple of pimples on my forehead. I normally have very very clear skin.

    5mg, days 5-9.

  4. I started Ferma last month and noticed blotchy red patches on checks and forehead and just a discomfort on my face…as well as an increase of acne under nose and on forehead….the most intense is a spread of acne on my upper chest right above my breasts ….I have not had acne since I was 14 and am 30! Freaked me out a bit but sounds like a typical syptom reading through the above comments

  5. I took Femara for the first time this cycle from days 4-8 and started getting under the skin acne from day 11 onwards. All my acne are on my chin. I am on day 15 and I still have a bumpy chin.

  6. It’s been 5 week since taking letrozole and the acne is getting worst. I’ve never had acne before. I have also blotchy red patches on checks and forehead acne. Would it go away?

  7. I am just finished my 3rd round of femera and I am starting to think that is whats causing me to break out. I usually get the occasional pimple but now its like too many. I normally have oilier skin, combination but lately I also feel extra oily. I get it on my back, on my forehead, a couple on my cheek. All in the areas that I usually break out, but it’s happening all at once usually more right before or after I ovulate. I’m afraid to wear make-up to make it worse. I don’t know what to do. I have clindoxil and proactive and they aren’t even helping.

  8. I started using letrozole like 2 months ago, i have a hormonal acne but was able to clear my face before i use letrozole and now its back and worst of all i got it all in big, huge, bumpy pimples and a lot on my cheeks its like one after another and another even i do had acne before but its never been like this. I dont know what to do anymore as nothings seems to work to cure this.

    1. I have been on tamoxifin for breast cancer: Side effect urinary tract infections, then anestrozole: side effect: joint pain now I have been on letrozole for 8 months with no side effects until 3 months ago. I have never had acne even in my teenage years. I have a year and a half left to go. (5 years total on estrogen blockers) I also experienced acne on letrozole and my oncologist said I was the only patient who experienced that side effect. (Hard to believe) He took me off for 2 weeks and my face started to clear up. I am now on anestrozole again, taking it for only 6 days and I am experiencing frequent urination and burning. I am waiting for my doctor to return my call to see if there is anything else available to me. The acne was horrible. All over my face and neck. I was ashamed to go out of the house but I had to so I tried to hide it with makeup.

      1. You are not the only one! I’m taking it for breast cancer and I immediately broke out all over my forehead and now my cheeks!!

  9. I am on my 3rd cycle of femara. I started with 5mg and increase every month. I have never had any issue with acne up until now. I am cycle day 32 currently and I have been breaking out the week before my period each cycle.

  10. This is my 1st cycle on Letrozole and I have experienced a major increase in acne all over my face (chin, forehead, cheeks, nose) and my skin complexion is now greasy and shiny. I usually have very clear skin when not on Letrozole. I have taken 5 mg of Letrozole from CD 3-7 (5 days). I have actually experienced far more symptoms with Letrozole than I did last month with Clomid. My current symptoms are irritability, headache, hot flashes, gas, bloat, acne, and decreased sex drive. Just hoping that going through all of this is worth it in the end. Praying for our first bfp!

  11. I started letrozole last month and noticed acne on my back mostly and some on my shoulders. I haven’t had acne since I was a teen. It hasn’t gone away and I’m now on my second round with letrozole and I can feel and see new bumps on my back. I don’t have any other symptoms that stand out.

  12. I’ve been on letrozole for 4 weeks for breast cancer – I have acne all over my chin, cheeks and forehead. I have never really had a problem with acne and definitely not at my age (58). It seems to be related to the letrozole – I haven’t introduced anything else new to my diet/lifestyle.

  13. I take .5 a week just to make sure I don’t get gyno. And my acne on shoulders and upper back is fucking freaking out. I did 6 weeks of my test cycle without letro, no acne breakouts at all. I’m going to stop taking it.

  14. Married for 3 years. TTC.
    Took my first cycle of femara last month. I usually have the occasional spot before my period, but this time i broke up soo badly around my chin (cystic, pustular acne) and sides of my forehead.

    Definitely sure its because of the femara. Now am not sure to take it for another cycle or not. 🙁

    1. Did you end up taking it again? I just had my first round of 2.5 mg on day 5-9 and got a large increase in acne on my face.

  15. I’m on my 2nd round. 7.5mg I normally have very clear skin. On CD8 of my first round I broke out all over my face I think I counted 11.. i freaked out. I am now on CD9 of my 2nd round with 6 pimples. My husband even said what’s going on with your face lately. 😣 I hate this side effect just praying we get our second miracle out of this.

  16. I started out with Tamoxin but my oncologist changed it to Letrozole once daily. I’ve been on Letrozole for over a year and I just realized that this med is the one causing my chin acne. I get horrible, large, red pimples on my chin. but this time I also got several little white pimples on my chin. I was blaming it on menopause, but after reading this and other sites on Letrozole, now I know. Acne at my age, ugh!

  17. I was on anastrozole for seven months. through that time I experienced many side effects mostly the swollen up. For that my doctor switched me to Letrozole thinking it was better. Now I am on my 2nd week and acne spread started to break up on my body. More in between my breasts (breast bone). It’s so itchy. I never had in my life acne. Now at this age is so annoying. My question is: would it get worst down the road? I still have 4years+.

  18. Did 4 rounds clomid, no unusual acne.
    After second round femara at 7.5mg, noted cycle day 9 red pimples and small flesh colored pimples on my upper back and neck where I don’t usually break out. Looks like I had a mild skin reaction to something…

  19. I have been taking 5mg of letrozole once a day days from days 3-7. Currently on my third day taking it and my acne is terrible. Usually I have pretty clear skin. I have many large pimples under the skin on my lower cheeks and a few smaller ones on my forehead. I haven’t changed anything else except started taking letrozole. Not happy 🙁

  20. I started taking letrozole for breast cancer 2 1/2 months ago, and have daily breakouts.
    These are mostly on my nose, but also chin, cheeks, and breastbone. Some are cystic-type bumps, and others (especially nose), are pus-filled. Very embarrassing! I am 69.

  21. I am taking 2.5mg days3-7 and I’m currently on day 6. My face is breaking out so badly! Under the skin painful pimples on my chin and left cheek. I’m worried it’s only going to get worse when my estrogen surges after stopping it!

  22. So terrible to say everyones struggle makes me feel better? I have been on femara 2.5 for four cycles now, and my acne is killing me! Usually I get two on my chin around my period, but now it’s gotten to the point where it’s forehead, cheeks, chin, hairline! And they’re scaring. So terrible!!

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