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Hi everyone! Now I've been on spiro for one month and a half. Here are my results so far: I'm breaking out much less than I used to, I'd say about 70 percent less. My face is dry. I'm using a very intense moisturizer. Overall, I think is working already, even though the doctor told me that results are visible after 3-4 months.
Kelly, where are you??????????????? Please keep me posted of your results!!!!!
I have been searching all over the internet for info on Spiro. I just got back from the derm yesterday and he gave me a prescription for Spiro. I am on Yasim and my face has been perfectly clear until last month. I took Accutane last year and have had no problems until last month. Last week, my face cleared and when I went in yesterday, this is what he gave me.
I am going to Chicago for Spring Break in 3 weeks and don't want to start Spiro if it's going to make my face worse. I forgot to ask him when I was in there. Anyone's experiences or tips would help me out. Thanks!
Laura
Sorry i haven't been on here for a while
I've been taking spiro for about 8 weeks now,so that's 2 months.The massive breakout seems to have died down abit but it's still worse than what it was before spiro because before i didn't have any on my forehead and only a couple on my chin;it was the sides of my face that were worse.Now i still have afew on my forehead and chin that the spiro has caused.
I'm not going to give up yet because hopefully i am seeing some change for the better compared to the breakout it caused.I'm hoping that i'm at some kind of turning point I'm definetely going to give it until the end of next week anyway because that will be coming up to 10 weeks.Basically i can't say what's happening at the moment though.I'll keep you informed though.
I can say that my period last week,which was my second period on spiro,was much lighter than before spiro.The flow just wasn't as heavy at all!Has anyone else experienced that or is it something that can be explained?
Laura: spiro shouldn't make you break out more. It may even be possible to see some results in 3 weeks (although it takes 4 months to see the full effect). I've been on it for 1 and a half months, I guess it's working. An excellent website is www.hormonehelpnyc.com They have an acne question with lots of spiro info. What's your dosage? I'm taking 150mg.
Kelly, I'm glad to hear about you!!! Just hang in there, you know it takes a loooonnnggg time for some people (4 months....) before you see a change.
Hi Girls - My question is not directly related to Spiro but here goes. I ama on my fourth month of Diane. During the "off week" of taking the pills (a couple of weeks ago) I developed a huge cyst on my jawline. I am so upset about this and I know that a lot of you girls are experiencing cysts so I wanted to know what you put on them. The are the kind that looks like a pea under the skin and are red but do not pop and do not come to a head - very annoying!!!! Does anybody else experience these and, if so, what do you do for them. It has been two weeks and it is going down but darn it takes a long time. I have been putting Duac lotion on it which doesn't seem to be doing anything and I ice it everynight. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
Kelly
In regard to periods, I have seen changes in mine also. When I took my first Spiro pill I was about a week away from supposing to start my period, but I started it the next day! There was also one month in there that I didn't have a period at all, I think it was the 2nd month. That was kinda scary for me since I am sexually active. The routine now the last 3 periods has been for them to start several days earlier than I'm expecting, then they go away for like 2 days and come back for another few days. however! I just started my period yesterday and so far it is the 'normalest' one I have had since starting Spiro. Prior to Spiro I always started on a Wednesday. My flow has definitely been lighter, which is kind of nice since then it doesn't last as long. I don't know what exactly would explain this, although I think it's safe to assume it's hormone related. Oh, one more thing about them. The first 3 months I had these horrible horrible cramps like I've never had before. All I could was lay on the couch in a ball it was so painful. I don't know why this happened, but it hasn't happened since then. HTH
Hello,
I've been on a combination of 200mgs of spiro and yasmin for four months now and couldn't be happier. My skin is flawless and the marks from my moderate acne days have all but faded thanks to daily mild exfoliation with Proactiv Cleanser and application of Proactiv BP cream (2.5%) morning and night. I don't used any other Proactiv products (you can buy them seperately in Oz) and use Netrogena sensitive moiusteriser twice a day.
If you suffer from hormonal acne, I highly recommend both Yasmin and Spiro as after close to ten years of suffering from acne, I've finally found my miracle cure. I have a question for women on this forum who have had children and have used spiro. How long before trying to conceieve did you stop using spiro?
Surfergirl
p.s this is a great thread, very informative and useful to hear all your comments.
I thought I would share my experience.
I've been a spiro user for a long time. The first time I was on it, I didn't use any BC pills with it. I took it at 200mg./day and my face was completely clear for 6 months. Then, I started getting mild breakouts here and there. When I completed the first year, my breakouts were no longer mild. My left cheek was covered in cysts, I could not believe it! My derm prescribed some antibiotics and I got off of spiro for 2 months. I started again last year, this time with Diane-35. The same story, I was clear for a year. Now, it's coming back again. No cysts yet but many small pimples around my nose but I know the deal, it's coming back. Still, It is the best thing I've even taken for acne.
Hi Everyone,
I am new to the boards, and interested in learning more about your experience with Spironolactone. I am a 35 year old woman and have have mild-moderate acne since I was a teenager. Over the years I've tried everything including topicals and anti-biotics. The AB's were the only things that cleared me up but unfortunately I had bad reactions to 3 different kinds, everything from hives to drug induced hepatits last year. A couple months ago, my Derm convinced me to try IPL (Intense Pulse Light) treatements for my worsening acne. After the 2nd treatement my face completely erupted in the worst acne I've ever had in my life. I was too embarrased to go to work for a week. After all that, they told me my acne is most likely hormonal related <wish they would have told me that before $1500.00 for IPL treamtments that made everything flare up worse!!> and that I should try Spiro. I've been afraid to try any oral meds due to all my allergic reactions but at this point I am desperate to try anything...
So, long story short, I started on Spiro on 2/14. They have me on a low dosage due to my medicine sensitivies. So for now it's 2 - 25 mg pills a day. I am still having breakouts but not nearly as bad as after the IPL. I have noticed the breakouts I am getting seem to come out of nowhere and some go away fast but some are stubborn and the size of dimes that won't go away!! I am going for weekly cortizone injections to keep new cystic painful acne at bay. Hoping that soon the Spiro will kick in. Unfortunately I have a couple dents as a result of the shots but know they fill back in after a couple months. Meantime, I have a ton of red marks that will also fade but with no make-up on to cover them up I am really a sight to see. I could handle those better than the raised bumps that keep popping up.
Guess I'm wondering how long it takes for Spiro to really kick into gear. Are there any of you out there who have tried Spiro and it didn't work at all? Should I believe them that 50 mg a day for now is enough to make a difference?
Any advice would be so helpful. I'm a single woman, otherwise attractive and healthy but have been living like a recluse for the past 2 months because I'm so embarassed!!
Hi Greeneyedlady,
I am 31 and have been on 100mg of Spiro per day for about 8 weeks and Yasmin for about 6 months (which is equivalent to approximately 25mg of Spiro). It took about 3 weeks before I noticed a difference from the Spiro (less oiliness and no more breakouts).
Most experts agree that anything less than 100mg of Spiro per day will not usually be beneficial for acne treatment. Hopefully, you will be able to increase your dosage eventually, once it's determined that you will not have an adverse reaction. This stuff has really helped a lot of women whom have all tried every over the counter and prescribed acne medication in the book with no results.
Here's a really good link to check out to read more about acne/hormones.
http://www.hormonehelpny.com/column/acne.htm
Let us know if you have more questions!
Hi Ladies! Kelly, how are you doing?????
I've been 2 months on spiro. Here are the results so far: first of all, this is the quickest acting treatment (for acne) that I have taken. I can't say I'm 100% clear, but I'm not complaining. I've lost weight, which I don't like so much, I'm too skinny. I used to pee a lot, but now it looks as if things have gone back to normal. Overall, it's been a very good treatment. I hope there's still more improvement. Good luck!!
Well to be quite i honest i don't really know how it's going! One minute i think it's getting better and the spiro's working and then the next i don't!I still have spots on my forehead that i'm not happy about because i wasn't getting them there anymore before spiro.I just can't really say what's happening yet.Been on it now for about 10 and a half weeks.
I've lost lots of weight too which i'm not bothered either way about really.I have had to buy a smaller size pair of jeans!!!!!!!
I'm trying not to worry too much about not being totally clear yet because i'm not at the three month mark yet.I'll let you know what happens
I just started on Spironolactone on Tuesday (two days ago). I thought I could actually see a difference in oilyness today, very slight however. I'm wondering if this is my imagination since my derm told me that it would take about 4-6 weeks to see an improvement in the oil. I hate the oil more than I hate the acne and I know that this is my only hope since smoothbeam laser treatments didn't budge the oil. I've been dreaming of a cure for oily skin for 30 years now. Will spiro make my skin normal or only less oily???? How soon did any of you see results in the slowing of oil production on your skin? Plus, do any of you get oil wells on your face, I call them oil wells for lack of a better term, they are bumps that when you squeeze nothing but oil comes out and it's quit grosse!
Shorty I read your diary, but I didn't get conclusive info about the slowing of your oil production. But thanks for the links!!!
I'm wondering if this is my imagination since my derm told me that it would take about 4-6 weeks to see an improvement in the oil.Plus, do any of you get oil wells on your face, I call them oil wells for lack of a better term, they are bumps that when you squeeze nothing but oil comes out and it's quit grosse!
Hi Kelly, it seems that you're doing better!! Hang in there! About the oil, my skin wasn't so oily, so by two weeks on spiro I had to buy a really rich moisturizer. My acne was moderate, mainly breaking out in chin, sometimes in the cheeks.
Spiro is great, but it takes time to really reslly work, although you can already see improvement in 3 weeks.
Holly,
I think it was just my imagination that I saw a difference in oil after 2 days because today (day 4) I'm still a slick! But I'm only on 25 mg right now and will increase by 25mg every two weeks. You mentioned seeing a marked difference in oilyness after 3 days. What dose did your Doc start you out at, and whatdose are you at now?
bunny....
I had the same thing happen...I noticed a difference in 3 days...
a total reduction in oil in a week!
I had to put more moisturizer on because my makeup had a
hard time spreading across my face...and that is normally unheard of with me!
I have been an oil slick for 36 years...so I know your pain!
I too have the oil wells...but they are occurring less and less now
that the Spiro has been in my system since Dec 13.
I have only 2 pesky zits that seem to want to hang around...but beside that
I am clearer and happier and waaaaay less oily!!!
(plus I smile a lot more now too! )
Holly,
I think it was just my imagination that I saw a difference in oil after 2 days because today (day 4) I'm still a slick! But I'm only on 25 mg right now and will increase by 25mg every two weeks. You mentioned seeing a marked difference in oilyness after 3 days. What dose did your Doc start you out at, and whatdose are you at now?
Holly,
If you started out at 100 mg that is probably the reason you had such a quick reduction in oilyness. Like I said in my last reply, my derm said it would be 4-6 weeks before I see a change in oil due to the slow increase of dosage. Hopefully I will see a change in the oil because I was terribly disapointed when the smooth beam laser treatments were ineffective against the oilyness of my skin. The treatments cost me $1500 and seemed to help the large cyst acne, but I still get the pesky little pimples on my cheeks. So anyone out there contemplating smooth beam, to get rid of your oily skin, save your money!
My derm says the spironolactone will improve the overall texture of my skin, reducing oilyness, reducing poor size, and making my skin look more feminine. Did you get results like that from the spiro?
Do you have to go for blood tests to check your potassium and blood salts?