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Hi girls,I have an appt with the derm next week, and honestly, I'm scared of what she'll recommend me to take. I recently got off bcp (ortho tri c low) and as a result, I broke out really really bad, especially on my back. My face is so oily, that in a matter of an hour, I have to blot. I really am hesitant to go back on something that messes with hormone levels although all your comments are making me think otherwise. I have feeling that my doctor will tell me to take oral antibiotics, but I would like to ask her about sprolactone. Do you think it'll help bacne? Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
Well, just to keep everyone updated, I have been on 200mg of spironolactone for three weeks now (before that I had been on 50-100mg for about a month). I also take desogen bc pills (although, I am thinking of switching back to Ortho Try Cyclen). My skin is really starting to clear up. A pimple began forming yesterday and surfaced this morning, but it is not cystic and I think it is likely from the Retin-A micro I have been using as of late (I just upped my dosage from 0.04% to 0.1%). There is no active acne on the right side of my jaw (but many red marks - boo) and just one active pimple on the left side of my jaw. The rest of my face looks good (knock on wood), but then again, I've never had acne troubles anywhere else. My acne has always been pretty much jawline acne. Hopefully, by the time I update again this time next week, my skin will be even clearer with no active acne. Good luck to everyone else on spiro.
uwbadger
p.s. For redmarks I highly recommend a skin lightening gel (2% hq) by the neostrata line. If you are interested in trying it let me know and I will post the website I use. And, just for FYI, I follow the following regimen:
Morning- Wash face with facial, anti-bacterial cleanser (no bp or sa) by the Neostrata line, apply topical antiobiotical (clindamycin) lotion and then apply skin lightening gel (with hq) to non-active areas.
Evening - Wash face with Neostrata cleanser, apply topical antiobiotical lotion, wait a few minutes and then apply retin-a micro (.1%). I also apply a neostrata smoothing cream to non-active areas.
I also work out pretty consistently (6-7 days a week) and watch what I eat very carefully. I can honestly say that this has not had any affect on the occurrence of my breakouts one way or the other. Exercise and good eating habits are good for health, but I don't know that it has any positive (or negative) affect on acne. So, for those of you that fear your diet may have an impact on your skin oilness, I sincerely doubt that it does. I have seen zero change since I changed my lifestlye two months ago.
Ales05 ~ I would try suggesting a different BC pill to your gyn when you are there. I am currently taking Ortho Lo along with my Spiro and have had no adverse side effects. The Sprio dosage levels in Yasmin are not high enough to really do much for your acne, or so I have heard. With Ortho Lo & Spiro my periods were a little different for the first 3-4 months, but now they are back on track and very predictable.
There are MANY options for birth control and I think you should discuss at length with your gyn, especially if this is the first time you will be using it. I've been on 'the pill' for 10 years now and don't have any complaints. It's a strange thing to talk about, but it's your body, make sure you feel comfortable with your decision after leaving your doctor's office. You can do some research online, too, to find out more about your options and that will give you a better foundation for asking questions when you go in.
Good luck to you!
I have read some of the postings on this med. My fam doc thinks I have PCOS (why couldn't they have figured this out when I was younger? . Hormonal Acne, Hair on sides of my face, sudden unexplained weight gain in my mid section, blood tests were not all normal. I have what one would call mild...and very rarely moderate acne. I have pretty much taken everthing but refuse to take accutane.
Now I am on month2 of mino...if it doesn't work I have to go the my derm.
Now what have your side effects been on Spiro?
Also do you have to take the bc pill while on it? I hope not because that rules me out then.
Thanks
Hi there,
Yeah, my docs also think I have PCOS, which is why I am on spiro rather than accutane. Derm said accutane wouldn't really do anything for me in the long run anyways.... My acne was mild, but after I finished with my antibiotics, which really didn't do much, it came back worse... And so it is maybe moderate now- have red marks to show from that one break out. I would suggest talking to the derm/gyn/endo right away to get you set up with spiro before this happens to you with the antibiotics- b/c those really won't do much if you have PCOS since it is your hormones that need to be controlled. The mino only buys you time, and hopefully the same experience won't happen with you as did with me when I got off them. B/c of the PCOS, my gyn put me on bc pills to regulate the menses. if you are sexually active they suggest that you use a bc b/c the spiro can have effects on the baby... talk to your doc b/c other forms of bc might be okay. If you want to get pregnant though, I don't think they will recommend you taking spiro. But metformin might help in some ways (don't know too much about this)... Hope this helps.
I also just set up a log, tracking my experience on spiro, if you want to check it out in the regimen section.
Well, I have been on the spiro for almost five weeks. My face was really improving there for a while.....and then I woke up with a pimple this morning. Boo. But, on the bright side, I have to say that my skin is much better overall. I have not had any serious breakouts in a few weeks and the right side of my face is totally clear (red marks and some whiteheads remain, but overall greatly improved and no cysts). I have to say that one pimple right before my period is not so bad relatively speaking.
I am also on Retin-A micro to help with the whiteheads and redmarks. So far, so good. And, I use a glycolic smoothing cream. I just started using it a week ago and it seems to be helping. Let's hope it continues to do so.
If anyone has any questions regarding my spiro experience, don't hesitate to let me know. I'm keeping my hopes up for all of us.
uwbadger
hey uwbadger,
i got that cream that you recommended- it says to apply twice a day. what times do you think i should apply if I am taking the retin-a at night? I sometimes use BP in the morning to ward off any new zits so am not sure... how long do i leave it on for?
thanks.
Hi all! I spent awhile reading this thread last night and it is great help. I am 25 years old and have struggled on and off with acne since I was 20. For the last year my skin was a normal persons and I didnt have to worry about it at all. I started Intaglio Skin care which is a system of glycolic acid and it was my miracle! But, the last few months I seem to be getting some hormonal acne only on my chin and jawline and lower cheeks. It is so frustrating because the rest of my skin is perfect.
I guess something with my body is changing and I need to do something about it. I have come to some conclusions by reading this. It seems that if you try Spiro and your skin gets worse you might have an alergy and should stop it right away. I was following Kellys msgs and she was saying that she never had cysts before and now her entire face was cysts so to me that is a red flag to stop. My question is I am not sure why anyone would try something like this if they dont have cystic acne. Isn't spiro only for severe acne?
My acne on my chin and jaw line has gotten pretty bad. A few under ground cysts that kill and irritate and then left over red marks and a few white heads...it sucks. I am a huge makeup user with my acne. I am pretty good at it and cover it so well that people don't even know I have acne. It just sucks because I live by the beach and hate having to apply makeup and worring about it constantly. It is hard to cover a huge mountain of a cyst and people probably wonder what that skin colored lump is on my face...but I dont care, rather that than a bright red freak show of a cyst!
If anyone needs help with makeup tips I can help. I noticed a few girls talking and saying they dont know how to cover or use makeup. I have very fair skin and I know acne looks so red on a fair face. So let me know and I can tell you what products I use.
Anyway I am thinking of going on Spiro or at least Yassmin the BC. Can anyone tell me if Yassmin is supposed to help acne on its own? I would prefer to go on that first and then on spiro later to see what actually helps. If I do that I can let everyone know if I have an initial break out from the BC. I just dont think my chin area could get any worse though.
Well that is all for now I just wanted to say hi and that this is an awesome place to come and see that you are not alone! Take care!
Hi,
Very informative thread! I'm going on spiro. I have a derm appt in 2 weeks, but have some question in the mean time. How long do you have to stay on spiro? It doesn't correct the hormone problem, just keeps it in check right? So if you go off of it your hormones go crazy again?
Just wondering if it is a rest of my life thing.
Thanks!! Love this Site!
hi and welcome hasina and goody2shoes,
hasina unfortunately this is something you have to take your whole life... (or maybe until menopause, i'm not sure). apparently your hormones become more unbalanced as you get older so it is good to start young if hormones are the cause. i heard that if you go off the spiro then after a few days (weeks?) things go back to normal and you become oily again
and g2shoes, yasmin is supposed to help with acne, but it is a very low dose of the same stuff that is in spiro so don't be surprised if it doesn't work that well. though, i have heard many women do well on yasmin alone. your derm will have some recommendations for you, i'm sure. also, i don't have cystic acne and my acne isn't severe either- i am on spiro b/c of hormonal issues which has caused me to have mild to moderate acne (though left red marks) which hasn't responded to anything else. and while accutane is sometimes used for those that resist, spiro really gets at the source of the problem so the derm recommened this to me. it has been working really well so far- just gotta work on those marks
Good luck to you girls.
Hope everyone else is doing well and keeps posting!
hi and welcome hasina and goody2shoes,hasina unfortunately this is something you have to take your whole life... (or maybe until menopause, i'm not sure). apparently your hormones become more unbalanced as you get older so it is good to start young if hormones are the cause. i heard that if you go off the spiro then after a few days (weeks?) things go back to normal and you become oily again
and g2shoes, yasmin is supposed to help with acne, but it is a very low dose of the same stuff that is in spiro so don't be surprised if it doesn't work that well. though, i have heard many women do well on yasmin alone. your derm will have some recommendations for you, i'm sure. also, i don't have cystic acne and my acne isn't severe either- i am on spiro b/c of hormonal issues which has caused me to have mild to moderate acne (though left red marks) which hasn't responded to anything else. and while accutane is sometimes used for those that resist, spiro really gets at the source of the problem so the derm recommened this to me. it has been working really well so far- just gotta work on those marks
Good luck to you girls.
Hope everyone else is doing well and keeps posting!
Thanks Lolo...I think I will try the Yasmin. I am just so scared to do anything to make things worse you know? It seems like half of what I read are girls saying they cleared right up and the other half say they had this horrible initial breakout. The last thing I want is to get worse. It is bad enough to have acne on your chin, but I do not want to have it covering my whole face. I have been there and it sucks!
I started my period yesterday so the cysts are clearing up and I am feeling more normal. I stopped using my glycolic acid on my chin area bc it was really peeling and hurting...I am now using just the face wash. I think that actually helped. Maybe I was washing and applying to many harsh products making things worse. A few nights ago the inflammed areas were really hurting so I put on a little Neosporin cream and that helped so much. It has a pain reliever in it and antibiotic too plus it helped the dry areas.
Well I hope everyone is doing ok and I will let you all know what happens with the Yasmin.
I've been on BCP's for 20 years now (omg!!), Synphasic for the last few. I have now my second rx filled for spiro and haven't tried it yet. I use Solugel BP 4% one-two times daily and my skin is so sensitive. And broken out.
The derm recommended 25mg twice daily, which seems very low.
My acne isn't pustular or cystic, but rather tiny bumps ALL over the skin. The BP helps, I imagine it would be much worse without it.
I can't decide if I want to try the spiro or not. My acne is so hormonal I can almost set my watch by it
Maybe I should just flip a coin.... Heads spiro, tails....no...
I've been on BCP's for 20 years now (omg!!), Synphasic for the last few. I have now my second rx filled for spiro and haven't tried it yet. I use Solugel BP 4% one-two times daily and my skin is so sensitive. And broken out.
The derm recommended 25mg twice daily, which seems very low.
My acne isn't pustular or cystic, but rather tiny bumps ALL over the skin. The BP helps, I imagine it would be much worse without it.
I can't decide if I want to try the spiro or not. My acne is so hormonal I can almost set my watch by it
Maybe I should just flip a coin....
Heads spiro, tails....no...
Thanks for the encouragement Leigh!
I keep psyching myself out reading up on all the potential side effects. I would have to do a little more research on the potassium/sodium levels of the food (junk) I currently eat. And drink lots more H20. Adding in TMI here , I have a mild heart murmur and get palpatations sometimes. The doctor wasn't concerned... but I am..lol...
Thanks again, I am looking into trying it this time!
Thanks for the encouragement Leigh!
I keep psyching myself out reading up on all the potential side effects. I would have to do a little more research on the potassium/sodium levels of the food (junk) I currently eat. And drink lots more H20. Adding in TMI here
Thanks again, I am looking into trying it this time!
Hi Leigh, thanks again! I've been looking thru lists on the 'net about potassium, high sodium.. what to avoid etc.. I'm wondering how many of you had to make any significant diet changes.
My doc didn't mention any testing whatsoever last week when I saw him...
Found this link on spiro, for those who hate to Google:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsDrugs/Spironolactonecd.html
Seems like everything I exist on is full of sodium, and I don't even have tablesalt in the house. I do believe I read too much. ..lol...
Good luck with your blood test!
