Acne.org Products
Hi,
I'm completely new here at this forum. I just started Spiro 3 days ago. I'm wondering if anyone knows how long one should be off it before attempting to get pregnant? I'm 38 and would like to start trying in January. Will the Spiro help clear up my acne in just a couple of months? I'm also on Bactrim and Benzaclin topical cream.
Thanks for any info/suggestions.
I just wanted to share my story. I had mild acne in highschool and it was easily controlled with differin and birthcontrol. I was acne free until I hit 24 and then all hell broke loose! I got really bad cystic acne and had to go on 80mg of Accutane a day for 6 months. Although I didn't have bad side effects, my face was left with scars. I have tried lazer tretments but none have shown much progress. I didn't breakout for a year after quitting accutane and then all the sudden the cystic acne was back. I started breaking out in June and was devastated about having to go through this whole process again. I went to the college health center and the nurse put me on 50 mg of spironolactone and erythromycin a day. I also am using Yasmin. All I can say is I wish I had found this drug a long time ago. I have tried averything else and nothing has helped like this. I would read everyone's success stories and thought it would never happen. Within a month of taking these meds, my face cleared up and I don't break out at all anymoe. I have a less than 3 little spots a month. And, it shows that a lower dose still does the trick for a lot of people. Also, I dont have insurance and these meds aren't expensive like accutane. I spent over $2500 taking Accutane- all out of my wallet! I spend maybe $30 a month now. I tried the regimen, proactiv, differin, benzaclin, tetracyclin, glycolic peels and accutane. This is the best thing I have found yet. For women, breaking out after there 20's and all the topicals aren't helping, it's probably hormonal. Now that my face is clear, my battle with scars rages on. I have had 3 $500 lazer tretments to stimulate collagen but I haven't seen much of a difference. It has been about 9 months since the first. I am going to try needling next. Anyway- I hope this helps.
Anyone have any advice on directly asking your doc for spiro? I can't see a derm (insurance...), just a GP, but she's generally been pretty cool.
My situation: I'm 24 years old. Had acne as a young teen, which responded to BP and antibiotics. Went away, but has come back with a vengence the last 2 years. I don't have particularly oily skin, or whiteheads/blackheads, just 3-4 (at any given time) deep cysts that sit around FOREVER. I don't qualify as having severe acne, because the number of blemishes at any given time is low, but i ALWAYS have some!!
Have tried many different things:
differin - face turned red and peeled off
retin a - ditto
topical eryothromycin - allergic!
bp - helps a bit with the more "surface" acne, but i still get these deep painful cysts that last a loooong time/
mircette - constant bleeding
yasmin - maybe helps some? hard to tell. i LOVE it in any case, as it makes my periods sooo regular and easy.
I don't want to try accutane. I have a history of depression (controlled, but i have to take meds and probably will forever) and don't want to risk it. I really don't like the idea of long-term antibiotic treatment... resistance and all that.
So, Spiro seems like it might be a good option. But I'm fairly sure my doc will not have heard of it. Any suggestions for how to bring it up? Can i just flat-out ask?
thanks for any suggestions!
LauraB
This site has been very helpful to me. I started spironolactone yesterday 100 ml/day. My derm suggested I try this but also warned it does not work for everyone. I am currently on tetracycline and will continue on this for a couple of weeks while on spiro as Dr. indicated that would be fine. I suffered from hormonal migrains until taking the depo b/c shot--not realizing that the shot has been known to cause acne-as I had acne b/f the shot I didn't really worry much. I found a post from Holl that sounds so much like me. As I have no active acne right now--I do not want to get an initial breakout from the spiro. I will let everyone know how it is going for me. Thanks for the info on this site!
Well am i sure glad i found this forum!
As of yesterday i got my spiro perscription! i'm a tiny little person 5'3 and 110 lbs. so they thought to start me off on 50mg (2 X 25mg tablets a day) I'm also on 200mg of minocycline a day and Diane 35. Topically i've been using Benzamycin gel every night and Dalcin T on my forehead (thats clindamycin) every morning.
So yup. i'm going to try to kick some acne ass now! mine is very very mild, only a couple of pimples active at any time and i heal quite quickly. I'm just sick of the persistance of weekly breakouts.
I'm on a pretty heavy regimen..anyone else have some experience with this? the heavy regimen PLUS spiro?
i'm just curious about side effects
hey girlies, i have been on spiro for a month and 2weeks, and as soon as i got my period, i broke out like MAD...cysts(i think) all on my left and right cheeks. They still havent cleared and im worried....im not using any topicals atm, im just letting it all clear itself.
Also does Spiro make u lose weight because im pretty sure ive lost a few pounds and its not good, im quite skinny naturally, so im worried.
Too many problems- any help/advice.
kira x
hey girlies, i have been on spiro for a month and 2weeks, and as soon as i got my period, i broke out like MAD...cysts(i think) all on my left and right cheeks. They still havent cleared and im worried....im not using any topicals atm, im just letting it all clear itself.
Also does Spiro make u lose weight because im pretty sure ive lost a few pounds and its not good, im quite skinny naturally, so im worried.
Too many problems- any help/advice.
kira x
Hi Zubie!
I'm bumping this thread up for you!
Take care!
Leigh
hey girlies, i have been on spiro for a month and 2weeks, and as soon as i got my period, i broke out like MAD...cysts(i think) all on my left and right cheeks. They still havent cleared and im worried....im not using any topicals atm, im just letting it all clear itself.
Also does Spiro make u lose weight because im pretty sure ive lost a few pounds and its not good, im quite skinny naturally, so im worried.
Too many problems- any help/advice.
kira x
yes I have lost a bit of weight on spiro.... It is a dieuretic, so it is not surprising. Perhaps try to drink less water? And dont worry I was still breaking out after 6 weeks on spiro. Good luck.
Hi -
I've been taking spiro for over 2 months now and my skin is clearing-- but I have not had my period at all and it is starting to worry me. I also have puffy dark circles under my eyes and the veins in my arms are pronounced... but my skin is clearing up.
I'm starting to worry about missing my periods.
So my skin is looking better-- but what are the health risks of missing three monthly cycles? I talked to my Derm who sort of brushed off the side effects as no big deal. The dose was lowered from 50mg twice daily to 50mg once daily. Two weeks and still no period.
And yeah my skin has finally started to clear a lot but now I look sick and tired with puffy under eyes--
I drink tons of water, take extra vitamin B and highest quality vitamins, NO potassium, eat healthy-strict healthy-- no processed foods, take essential fatty acids- Udo's Oil,
I exercise, do yoga, drink loose leaf Green tea...
What gives!?
Has anyone had these experiences or Does anyone have any advice?
Hi all,
Has anyone experienced hair thinning on their HEAD on Spiro?
I have been on Spiro 3 weeks, and I have noticed this is happening to me.
I know it works on excess body hair(which I have a tiny bit of excess) but I really dont want to lose my hair!
Directly before starting Spiro, I megadosed with B5 for exactly 1 week, so I guess it's possible it could be from that, but I only noticed my hair thinning last week. I also finished a course of Tane a couple of months ago, but this never happened on my 1st course, and I'd imagine Id have thinning during the course anyway?
So, has this happened to anyone??
Thanks
My derm said havng kids was pretty much the only sure thing to change yr hormones naturally and stop hormonal acne for good. She also said this was probably why there are so many more women with this problem these days - that people used to start families much earlier and now women are mostly late 20s/early 30s.
Has anyone noticed any good/bad changes since getting pregnant? Not high on my agenda right now - just curious to know
I have 3 kids and have noticed a slight improvement in my skin mid to late pregnancy and while breastfeeding. After that's all said and done though, its back to just as bad or worse than it was before. This is a neverending battle. 
I have a derm appointment Monday and was thinking about asking (more like begging) for Accutane because I've had a HUGE cystic blowup for the past 2 months. My skin is literally worse than its been in years. I was also recently diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with elevated androgens so now I'm considering trying the Spiro first. I am extremely reluctant to start Accutane due to the possible side effects. What do you all think, should I ask for it before resorting to Accutane?
Wendy
I was also recently diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with elevated androgens so now I'm considering trying the Spiro first. I am extremely reluctant to start Accutane due to the possible side effects. What do you all think, should I ask for it before resorting to Accutane?
Wendy
Yes!! Ask for it... It has worked wonders for me- I also have PCOS. I also saw one of the leading endocrinologists who specialises in PCOS and she prescribed spiro for me....
Ladies! i need your advice i keep reading conflicting opinions. i have very mild acne (1-3 very small pimples in a week sometimes not even that other times a flare up of 3 or more) it usually clears on its own in a matter of days but my doc. has me set to try spiro because its all near my jaw and on my chin that i break out.
I'm on minocycline and diane 35 already along with benzamycin. Do you think theres any chance of an inital breakout on Spiro? i also have a very bad anxiety disorder thats not under compelte control right now and i don't want to risk a flare up that will make me nuts stressed.
Hey girls, I hope everyone in this thread is doing great! You guys were such a great support for me when I was struggling with my acne. I have FINALLY done a 1 year update on my Spiro log (link in signature). I just wanted to pop in and say hi to everyone here, hope you are all doing well.
Shortee
Hey girls, I hope everyone in this thread is doing great! You guys were such a great support for me when I was struggling with my acne. I have FINALLY done a 1 year update on my Spiro log (link in signature). I just wanted to pop in and say hi to everyone here, hope you are all doing well.
Shortee
Hi Shortee!
You & Lolo's spiro logs were two of the reasons that I decided to try spiro. it's been absolutely wonderful for me. I've been on it since April '05, and I can't tell you what a difference it's made. Thanks again for writing about your experiences!!!
All the best,
Leigh
Hi,
I just wanted to share my own spironolactone experience.
I'm 37 now and had mild/moderate acne from my pre-teens onward and went through all the usual stuff -- antibiotics, topicals, etc., although it was never severe enough to warrant Accutane. Nothing helped, and the topicals made my skin red, scaly, and itchy. A couple years ago I changed BCP to Zovia 1/35, which didn't help my acne but did have the wonderful effect of stopping my periods. Hurrah! And then a year ago, at age 36, I saw a dermatologist who prescribed spironolactone. He started me off at a low dosage, gradually ramping up to about 200 mg a day. I also changed to a Yasmin-like BCP. My periods came back, and while never heavy they annoyingly dribbled their way through 8 or 9 days.
I noticed a decrease in oil on my face and in my hair pretty soon after starting the spiro, but it was at least four months before I really was sure that there was an improvement in my skin. It was probably six months or more before I was satisfied with the results. I switched back to the Zovia BCP and have regained my period-free life. My dermatologist told me that once the skin is under control, it's usually possible to decrease the spiro. I'm now taking 100mg a day, and my skin looks better than it has since I was 10. I no longer use topical medications, and wash my face morning and night with only a washcloth and warm/hot water, using a tiny bit of Neutrogena on nose and chin. I use a water-based makeup with sunscreen (L'Oreal). I get a few tiny little surface pimples on nose and chin, but if I leave them alone they're gone in a few days.
Like some other people, I have some flaky scalp issues. I was prone to small patches of eczema before the spiro, but it seemed to get worse on my scalp after I started the spiro. My dermatologist gave me a solution to squirt on it when it flares up (Clobetasol Propionate, .05%), and that clears it up in about two days. About a week after using the Clobetasol I get a few pimples on my scalp, but they're hidden by my hair so I don't care.
And speaking of hair -- I used to have to wash mine every day. Now I can go three days between washings! Excellent! What a lot of hair styling time I've saved this past year.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my story since it seems like very few dermatologists out there think of prescribing spironolactone for women with acne.
Hi, I was just prescribed 100mg of spironolactone for my cystic acne. I'm 24 and I've had acne for the past 10 years. I used everything from Retin-A, Differen, PRoactiv, antiobiotics, etc. etc. I would clear up for eventually, but would still have the occasional cystic acne. Now at 24, I'm at my complete worst! I have alot of cysts especially on my jawline, so that's why I was prescribed spiro...for my hormonal acne. I've been taking it for one week now. SO far, I've had a really bad initial breakout! And it seems like my skin is a little bit more oily...maybe its my hormones adjusting? Anyone experience this when they started Spiro?
Wow, this is an awesome thread. I will definitely try SPIRO to control my hormonal acne. Thanks for everyone who participated and shared their experience.
One question for everyone, what do you guys eat?
My main deterrant is that all the food they are banning are my favorites (Salmon, spinach, eggs)
Thanks!
I started on spiro Dec. 14th (100 mg). At first it really seemed to be clearing up my chin (which is the only place I've been breaking out for the past 2 years.) However, about a week ago I got these two huge cysts underneath the skin on both cheeks (right next to my nose). In all my years of dealing with acne (around 10), I have never had any cysts like this. They are each almost an inch in diameter! Anybody have any experience with spiro causing an initial cystic breakout in a generally "breakout free" area of your face? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is just some weird hormonal readjustment and that soon my face will look much improved!
I started spironolactone in June of last year. Immediately, my face dried up a lot, but I still get acne. It's not quite as bad as it was, but it wasn't the cure for me. I've noticed my number of huge and horrible cysts went down after taking it, but overall my face has a lot more mild acne. I noticed most improvement within a few weeks, even though I've heard it can take months.
Hi there ladies,
I've just started on spiro at 100 mg and things are looking good - about half as many spots and no cysts at all since starting. My skin is definitely less oily too which is great. The only thing is, I started my period after about a week and its gone on for almost 2 weeks now!! I should say that before spiro I had been off dianette (diane 35) for about six months and only had one period in that time. Because my skin got much much worse, even than when I was in my teens (I'm 30!!) I went for the spiro after hearing great stuff on this thread. My derm wanted to give me accutane and told me "we don't use hormonal treatment for acne" - what an idiot...when I'd been clear with dianette for years. I had to come off dianete because I'd been on it for 10 years and was getting wierd brown patches all over my face! Anyway, sorry for the rambling message - just wanted to know if any of you had a similar side effect -should be worried or will it go away - I really don't want to come off it - am hating having spots again after so many years
Thanks!