4 replies to this topic

[Jessie09]

I have been taking Spironolactone on and off for the last year and a half for adult hormonal acne. I had moderate acne as a teen that mostly cleared up when I was 18. I started getting cystic acne when I was 23 and have been taking Spiro for it. When I first take the Spiro, it immediately clears up my skin for up to 4 weeks, and then my skin starts breaking out again. I don't get cysts, but smaller pimples around my chin and jawline. I never used to get acne in these areas before. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm wondering if anyone else has experience more acne at higher doses.

 

I was just diagnosed with PCOS and with low estrogen and progesterone. I'm not sure if Spiro is the right match for me, given that...

[michi31]

That's interesting. What dose are you on? What's the longest you've stayed on it and has it gotten you clear eventually? Are you on a birth control pill - if so which one? What is your testosterone level?

[Shannanigunz]

It sounds like your best bet may be to see your gyno/family doctor and be prescribed some BCP that are approved for treating acne. I am on one now, Ortho Tri Cyclen, but I am still in the first 4 months and waiting for full results.

There's Yaz, Yasmin, Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, and Dianne 35...to name a few. Your doctor will be able to analyze your hormone levels if you ask for testing, and they can better determine what birth control would be right for you. I wish I had gotten hormone testing done before I switched BCP.

I have also heard that taking a high dose of Vitamins A and D every day (you can purchase at any vitamin or health food store) helps tremendously with hormonal acne in some cases. I'm going to give this a try as well.

 

Good luck!!

[Jessie09]

Thanks. My skin is always good right away when taking it and then starts to get worse, with constant little breakouts. I have stayed on it for up to 5 months taking 50 mg/day, which I am doing now. I tried taking more and it didn't go very well. I attempted to stop it altogether last month and had a terrible, cystic breakout- so I went right back on it. My testosterone levels were normal- the Progesterone and FSH were off.

 

I tried BCP and am now on the Climara Patch and taking oral Progesterone. I'm hoping that I my skin will improved enough that I can eventually get off the Spiro. What do you think?

[Green Gables]

Sounds like you are on the right track with the estrogen patch and the oral progesterone.