3 replies to this topic

[Cane Corso]

Hi,

I've been on 200mg of Spiro daily for 8 months now to treat a lovely combo of: hirsutism, hair loss and cystic acne (go me lol). It's been amazing at improving all that, but these past couple months I've noticed some darkening on my chin and a bit near my temples. I wear proper sunscreen and sunhats to protect myself and haven't tanned this summer (I'm already a light olive complexion anyway). I'm not on birth control, haven't been in over a year and I never had this issue while on bcp.

Has anyone else noticed melasma while on Spironolactone?? I have a dermo appointment but not for a while, and couldn't find any info online linking the two, just talks about estrogen + bcp. I have read before that it can make your skin sensitive and cause skin on palms and soles to peel which I've noticed, so that's why I figured it might be the spiro?

Thanks for any feedback!

[Brandy]

Anything that messes with your hormone levels can lead to melasma, so yeah, it's probably contributing to it in much the same way as oral birth control pills and pregnancy does.

[Green Gables]

Spironolactone mutes androgen receptors and it is slightly estrogenic. If you are experiencing melasma (and you're SURE it's the spiro) then it is because your estrogen has a bit too much sway in your hormone balance. You may want to talk to your doctor about reducing your dose to 175mg.

It is FAR more likely, however, that you just aren't 100% protecting your skin from the sun.

Uncontrolled sunlight exposure is considered the leading cause of melasma, especially in individuals with a genetic predisposition to this condition.

If you have a predisposition to melasma, which you probably do, you should be using a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, 50+ spf or higher, whether or not you are "going outside" or driving or staying in the shade, whatever. You also need to reapply every 2 hours. You have a good start with the sunscreen, but most people are not religious enough about it to prevent sun damage and melasma.

Also if you are using any cleansers or lotions with active ingredients, nearly all of them will make you more sensitive to the sun. Salicylic acid, retinol, AHA, etc.

Edited by Green Gables, 11 January 2013 - 02:55 PM.

[Sonja Pauly HHC]

I was on Spiro for a few years. 100 mg 2x day and wasn't on any birth control. When I went off spiro, I started getting terrible melasma.