15 replies to this topic

[YVE]

Hi

Is there anyone out there using Aldactone to treat acne? My dermatologist prescribed 50 mg twice a day. I have been using this medication for 6 days. My dermatologist also prescribed Deffrin cream which I have been using for about 3 weeks with no major results. now that i have added the aldactone in combination of the diffrin cream, I have an increase of oily skin. Is this a minor side affect of one these medications Or should I have a real concern and contact my dermatologist a call right a way?

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[kristiana]

i don't know anything about that aldactone thing, but i know that after using Differin for about three to four weeks, my face also started becoming oily. I wasn't using anything or taking anything except differin. I think the cream just makes your face oily because what it does is it peels away your skin and unearths clogged pores and brings all the blemishes to the surface to treat. Along with this, all the oil comes to the surface, too.

Anyway, differin didn't work for me, so now I'm using Duac, which is a benzoyl peroxide cream, in addition to an oral antibiotic called doxycycline.

[Medellia]

Hi - I'm using Differin and it is working REALLY well. Give it time, for about a month I saw no improvement, and my skin was oily and bad for a while, maybe even two months, then my skin got extremely dry and started to peel a lot and it was really red and irritated, and then I started moisturizing properly and washing my face with cool water instead of hot, because I guess the hot water was irritating my face and opening my pores, and I gotta say, my skin in better than it's ever been in my life. Obviously this is personal experience so it may not work for you, but give it time if you can, it has worked amazingly well and I'm really happy with the results.

[YVE]

Kristiana i will bring up the Duac and doxycline medication to my dermatologist on tuesday. I don't think anyone has heard of aldactone being used to treat acne. I hope my dermatologist is not experimenting with me. :?
Medellia, If my dermatologist want's me to stay on differine cream then i hope i get the same reults you got. I have actually already gone through the red irritated dry skin. That was the first side affect, I expected that, But i never expected the oily skin. hopefully clearer skin will be the next result. I wish you both the best of luck in long lasting clear skin.
Thanks again

[willis]

how long is the red face phase, then where the skin stops getting clogged?

[Medellia]

my skin was only extremely irritated for about two weeks max, then it totally calmed down. i don't know if you were asking me, or whether that answers your question

[Ubah0ne]

Aldactone is just a generic brand name for the more widely know spironolactone. Spironolactone is mostly used for water retention, but it's also known and used to treat hormonal problems. I'm guessing your derm/doctor prescribed it to you for hormonal adult acne. However I don't really see why your derm/doctor is prescribing it and an acne cream like differing. Adult hormonal acne is very different from "teenage" acne, and if you are suffering from hormonal adult acne it is very unlikely that the differin gel will do anything for your complexion.

If you are suffering from the hormonal acne, I'd suggest going back to your doctor/derm and having her write you another script for something like Diane-35 or Ortho Tricyclin.

[cookie77]

well a person can have hormonal and teenage acne at the same time, which is what I have--if your acne is concentrated around your chin and jawline thats female adult hormonal acne. But i too have some acne on my forehead, so i am on 100 mg of spironolactone, nicomide, benzaclin in the morning, and tazorac at night--and my acne is almost completely gone. And, all the acne i had on my jawline is GONE--thanks to the aldactone. just give it time, and maybe up the dosage, 50 mg didnt do ne thing for me at all. Oh--and i hated differin when i tried it, it just made my face oily too, try tazorac or retin a micro, they worked better for me

[Ubah0ne]

Yes I know both can occur at the same time, but aldactone is prescribed for adult hormonal acne. It can also be beneficial in preventing hairloss and other hormonal imbalance related side effects.

[cookie77]

yeah--aldactone has worked wonders for me (and I dont think i had a particualrly horrible imbalance) i had tried ortho tri cyclin and it did not do a thing! it only threw my hormones more into imbalance when I got off of it--my roommate recently started ortho tri cyclin and she hasnt noticed much skin improvement either--I say if you dont need birth control for sexual reasons dont take it--but everyone is different

[jmcc]

I have to say Aldactone is a MIRACLE for the right person...I had terrible cystic acne from a young age and spent my childhood/adolescence visiting dermatologists...which really did me no good at all. I took Acuntane 2x and it got better but never fully resolved. I finally went to an endocrinologist who diagnosed me w/ adrenal hyperplasia and POS...I went on 50mg Aldactone a day. My face used to be extremely oily and it literally went from oily to dry in about 6 months. I won't even get blackheads! But I found out the hard way you have to stick with it religiously...I was careless and missed a few doses for awhile and got huge cysts on my face so I am now committed to it. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH CYSTIC ACNE TO GET AN EVALUATION FROM AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST..IN MY CASE IF I HAD DONE THIS AT THE START I WOULD HAVE SAVED MYSELF A LOT OF HEARTACHE, SCARRING AND MISERY.

[MegsH]

I am 27 years old and have been struggling with acne since I was 15. I am currently using Differin and Aldactone and have been for almost a year. This is the first thing that has truly worked for me and I had TERRIBLE acne both small red bumps and large cycstic acne. I was also taking Doxycycline at the same time but was able to ween off of that because I was having such good results. Both Differin and Aldactone take time to work and I think often people get impatient. I was on them for a full 3 months with no results, then at the beginning of the 4th month my skin instantly cleared up!! It has been clear for months and I only get the occasional PMS bump but nothing like what I use to have!! Aldactone works by getting rid of any extra testosterone you may have in your body (yes, women have testosterone too!). Some women have too much testosterone which throws their hormone balance off, the result is often acne. I am also taking birth control (the Nuva ring) which also helps with the balance of hormones.

Since I had such good results, my sister went to her dermatologist (she lives in a different state) to get a prescription for Aldactone. He was an older guy and told her he had never heard of it so he couldn't prescribe it for her. I have two suggestions if this happens to you. One, tell your doctor to please go get his medical book, look up the drug and read about it. Or two, go prepared with information on the drug from a reputable medical source. When it comes to dermatologists I would recommend someone that is young (has been to medical school in the last 15 years). The treatments for acne have changed tremendously in the last few years and if your doctor is not keeping up with new treatments he's going to give you the same old thing that doesn't work.

BEST OF LUCK!!!!

[jenjenlynn]

Hi

Is there anyone out there using Aldactone to treat acne? My dermatologist prescribed 50 mg twice a day. I have been using this medication for 6 days. My dermatologist also prescribed Deffrin cream which I have been using for about 3 weeks with no major results. now that i have added the aldactone in combination of the diffrin cream, I have an increase of oily skin. Is this a minor side affect of one these medications Or should I have a real concern and contact my dermatologist a call right a way?

[/b]

Aldactone is also called Spironolactone. I used this and had really good results. But I only stayed on it for a month because it messes with your cycle and has detrimental effects if you were to become pregnant. I also read that this medication has caused tumors in lab rats which made me uneasy. I have decided to end treatment after 1 month of using. My skin is still okay, the acne has calmed down, but we will see with time. My husband and I are trying to concieve so this was a big issue for me and I want to detox my body before pregnancy and this needs to be out of your system for at least 3 months before concieving.

[kimberlly]

Hello

I went to my dermatologist at about 1 month, I used differin cream since two weeks, but my face started to become really worst, I had pimples everywhere, even where they didn't exist in past. So I stayed very nervous and sad, and I stopped using differin. But now I realize I shouldn't had stop because my face is even worst. So I decided return to the treatment with differin. I read some comments and I realize that is normal at the first weeks the acne stay worst. I am really sad with myself for given up, I shouldn't had stop.

But now I'm really confused, because I have a new consultation in another dermatologist, and I don't now if I should keep this old treatment with differin or if I should go at this new consultation and make my parents spend more money with me. Please somebody can help me? I need an advice


Thanks everyone
And I'm sorry for my bad english

Edited by kimberlly, 23 July 2010 - 02:52 PM.

[megaworld65]

Hi, just thought I'd add my experience. I am a 35 year old female and have suffered from acne since early teens. I have been on every anitbiotic with no success. I have also been on Aldactone. I am suprised by the low dosage of 50mg. I started on 100mg and then after a while the doctor doubled it to 200mg.

Currently I am on my second course or Roaccutane. My first course of roaccutance was 7 months and I stoppped due to a contact dermatitis. 1 month after stopping Roaccutane my pimples came back and I started on Aldactone again. I have been on Roaccutane since the 1st of March 2010 and at my last appointment my dermatologist said I needed another script. I like to take it over winter due to the sun sensitivity. At my first appointment my dermatologist said I could also take the Aldactone and Roaccutance together. I decided not to, for no particular reason. When I finally finish Roaccutance I will commence the Aldactone straight away.

I'm in Australia and a GP can prescribe Aldactone, but you do need blood tests before you start and then after a month or so.

[blackswan]

Hi

Is there anyone out there using Aldactone to treat acne? My dermatologist prescribed 50 mg twice a day. I have been using this medication for 6 days. My dermatologist also prescribed Deffrin cream which I have been using for about 3 weeks with no major results. now that i have added the aldactone in combination of the diffrin cream, I have an increase of oily skin. Is this a minor side affect of one these medications Or should I have a real concern and contact my dermatologist a call right a way?

[/b]

Well you have to get the right dose of Aldactone. I had that problem before. Then I went back to my derm complaining that it doesn't help, and he increased the dose and also switched me from Defferin to Retin A cream (extra strength). I am so clear now!!! I wish you the same:)