Reading all the blogs from today is so encouraging! I'm almost to the three month mark of using Spiro and you guys are right about those first icky couple of months. My face is STILL breaking out. At least 3 a week; however, they are not as painful or large as they used to be and some are even "popable". I went to the derm today and she upped my dose from 75 mg to 100 mg so I'm excited about that! I was using Klaron as a topical and it didn't do ANYTHING! So, my derm prescribed me Finacea in the AM (really helps with inflammation) and Benzaclin at night. She also prescribed a "on the spot" treatment for those nasty flare ups. I go back in September for my 6 month check up and hopefully by then I'll be well on my way to clear skin!!

I just hate worrying about acne. I'm constantly looking in the mirror and touching my bumps to see if they've gone down/gotten any bigger. It's an obsession! I leave for the beach in a few days and I've decided that I'm just going to have to wear makeup down on the beach because I'm too humiliated about my redmarks. My derm told me that there's really no bleaching cream for redmarks, only for brown ones. She said the redmarks would fade away in time. I know from previous experience that my redmarks take at least 6 months to fade.

I'm also worried about my period...it's a week late! Don't worry, there's no chance of me being preggers so I know it's this silly medicine! I wish everyone a good acne-free week!! (ha, yea right)!!

Hi everyone. Yes, these comments are very encouraging! That's great guys. I was thinking after I read ktgrl's comment just how much acne can take over your life. What's the first thing I do when I wake up every morning? Rub my face all over to see what new bumps have come up (why do they always come up overnite?). Then I summon up my courage to look at my makeup free face in the mirror. I can't let ANYONE see me w/o makeup, I mean they'd probably die of fright or something! The other day I couldn't come out of my room to take a phonecall cause I didn't have my makeup on and I didn't want my flatmate to see me. Sad, huh? I have to carry around foundation and concealer in my bag whenever I go out. I hate it when I have to reapply it in public bathrooms cause I can feel everyone staring at me wondering what my problem is. Acne and everything to do with it is humiliating.

However, I think spiro may be the answer for me seeing as it's attacking the problem at the root cause, it can really be a miracle for women whose acne is caused by high androgens. And I know Yasmin has worked wonders on my skin previously. My skin is officially terrible today, I went to work with about a pound of makeup on my face! Not the best look I realize but anything looks better than the warzone that is my face today.

Hopefully in a few months time I'll be able to read this post and this will all seem so long ago...

uh oh, today I'm freaking out a bit, this spiro is doing the strangest things to my skin. I had these underground bumps left over from old cysts kinda like 'dead cysts' and spiro is making them come to the surface, pop, and scab over. And these scabs WONT COVER WITH MAKEUP I wonder if this is a good sign? I mean, it's getting all the crap out from my skin. It just looks so bad though, it doesn't even look like acne, it looks like leprosy. Or the plague.

Today I hate spiro

uh oh, today I'm freaking out a bit, this spiro is doing the strangest things to my skin. I had these underground bumps left over from old cysts kinda like 'dead cysts' and spiro is making them come to the surface, pop, and scab over. And these scabs WONT COVER WITH MAKEUP I wonder if this is a good sign? I mean, it's getting all the crap out from my skin. It just looks so bad though, it doesn't even look like acne, it looks like leprosy. Or the plague.

 

Today I hate spiro

Just remember that it's "purging" your skin- on the other side it'll be better!

Agree! Don't worry about it! I know it's hard to deal with but you may deal with a few weeks of your skin purging all the junk out. I had the same exact thing happen to me and up until about 2 weeks ago, my cysts took FOREVER to heal and it was like they kept reoccuring...Spiro will kick in, just give it TIME and don't give up!

uh oh, today I'm freaking out a bit, this spiro is doing the strangest things to my skin. I had these underground bumps left over from old cysts kinda like 'dead cysts' and spiro is making them come to the surface, pop, and scab over. And these scabs WONT COVER WITH MAKEUP I wonder if this is a good sign? I mean, it's getting all the crap out from my skin. It just looks so bad though, it doesn't even look like acne, it looks like leprosy. Or the plague.

 

Today I hate spiro

Just remember that it's "purging" your skin- on the other side it'll be better!

Thanks guys! I'm definantly going to give spiro at least 3 months - I guess even if I'd decided on 'tane I'd still be in the same IB situation right now. Actually the 'leprosy' (haha!) is looking much better today, especially after I used Origins 'Out of Trouble' mask - it's got zinc oxide on it and I think that's very healing. Unfortunately I just felt a brand spankin' new cyst comming on my forehead - I hate that sinking feeling of when you first feel a sore hard bump, and you can't really see anything but you just KNOW it's gonna turn into a bright red monster. Oh, well I just have to be patient, I guess.

Been using 50 mg of spiro for almost a month. I added it to my existing regimen and it's been great. My skin is almost 100% blemish free. I have a lot of dark spot left by acne but that's starting to fade as well.

Hi guys, I just wanted to ask a quick question about this...basically Ive been on Dianette for a good 7 months now, and Im not really keen to stay on much longer if possible. My skin was totally clear (though Ive had a couple of bumps come up when I took a two weeks break to see if I could go without it...) but I don't like the weight gain issues it gives me, plus there is really no need for me to be on BC at the moment!!!

Has anyone here been on dianette and found spiro to be an effective equivalent? From the sounds of it (at my much dumbed down level) they kind of do the same thing by blocking androgens....right?

Also Ive seen one of the side effects can be breast size increase - Im down with that, lol!

Finally, has anyone in the UK been on this for an acne treatment?

Thanks guys!!!

I have been on spiro 9 weeks tomorrow and I will tell you all "stay with it". I take my pill in the morning and I now have Benzaclin that I can put on my bumps in the am and Tazarac at night (which peels my skin). However, I haven't had a cyst/bump in a week and that was only 1 last week. My face looks soooo much better, it's amazing. I was able to not freak out on my birthday which was yesterday. I put my makeup, of course to cover the spots but otherwise I felt really good about it. I too used to wake up and look and touch my face and lately it's been clear. It took me almost 2 months to really see results and I'm glad I hung in there. About a month ago, I was discouraged and depressed and today I feel really good about it. Reading all the blogs from the many women helped me stick with it. I know when I was going through my outbreaks, I read that the medication is working when you do breakout because you face is purging those impurities. My chin was awful, I remember. But yes it's true. It really needs to get all that stuff out so that you can be clear. I really hope there are no awful surprises for me though. I got my period twice last month and not sure when I will get this month but hopefully I don't get too many bumpy surprises. I will keep you all posted.

I have struggled from acne since I was about 20 and am now 31. I have tried several treatments and it always came back. I really hope this one does it.

Hello all, I'm new here.

I have been taking Spironolactone (75mg a day) along w/PCP (APRI) for 3 months. I also applied Retin a before bedtime and Metronidazole 0.75% for morning on my face for about 3 months as well. I still have 1 or 2 breakoust a month is that normal. I have 1 big pimple on my cheek when i woke up last Saturday (I have my PMS this week). I'm so frustrating dealing w/new breakout along w/red marks/old acne scars on both of my cheek. Can any of you give me recommendation as I should increase my dose to 100mg per day? Also, should I stop using the face medication? Thanks!

hi-

i am currently on spiro.. for the past couple months. try it! it really gets rid of oil & cysts. but- GIVE IT TIME. for real. don't give up on it and say it's not working. good luck. keep me posted. also, after a couple weeks your skin will start drying up in weird places (jawline, eyebrows). tell your derma- mine gave me a prescription lotion & facewash to help w/ this.

Hi. I've been lurking on this board and thread for some time now.

Basically I'm just wondering if anyone has switched from antibiotics (with good--practically clear, save for an occasional pimple or two--results) to Spiro and continued the success, with no relapse or worse breakouts.

I've been on Doryx for almost a year now, and I now have practically clear skin. (I used to have mild to moderate acne with no cysts but really oily skin.) However, I know antibiotics are just a temporary fix and shouldn't be used for a long time. Spiro and Accutane have piqued my interest both because of their success rate and their ability to control oil. At the same time, I've heard of people getting bad initial breakouts and/or even worse acne due to the hormonal change.

Of course I'll be consulting a dermatologist for this information, but I'm moving out of state soon and will have to wait to change my insurance before I can even call for an appointment. So I'm just curious. Thanks!

My skin is getting very VERY dried out on Spiro. My lips especially - I'm going through blistex like mad. Is this because my oil glands are shutting down or just dehydration? Maybe I just need to increase my water intake. Apart from this I haven't had any negative side effects. I felt a little light-headed for the first few days but this soon wore off. I feel terrible about my skin though - I've got 6 active cysts on my face, plus some smaller blind under the skin type zits (wonder what these are called? Mini cysts? anyway, yukko.) I've also got a cyst on my back, and one in my ear. Yes, my EAR It really hurts too. I so wish i could just stay at home until this IB is over

jmonkey, I've never gotten clear from antibiotics so this is just a guess - but I think in that situation you would still get the initial breakout as the antibiotics basically just suppress your acne: all the clogged pores are still there. Maybe you could stay on the antibiotics at first as you change?

Pink Sushi,

If you use lip balm frequently, it will actually GIVE you chapped lips!

The petroleum based products actually irritate the skin. Chapstick and blistex know what they are doing to keep consumers coming back.

Try to find a natural lip balm...Shaklee makes a great one that cured my lip cracking.

Make sure you are not getting your acne topicals near your lips- especially retin a.

Dang...no wonder they feel sooooo sore. Really, they are just about falling off and I never had this problem before spiro. What is natural lip balm? Just one with no petroleum? The only topical I'm using is an AHA creme.

try this... http://www.shaklee.net/veryhealthylife/product/32517

Use Vaseline for areas that are try including the lip.

Vaseline is a petroleum poduct. Thats why its called petroleum jelly. It will not help anything.

Hi Everyone-

It's been about a month since I last posted. I have been on Spiro now for 3 mos. and 2 weeks. I am having a total breakdown right now. Thank goodness for this board because I don't know who else to turn to-- I am usually a happy person but I am at a real low point of depression right now and am not sure how to deal with it. I know it sounds pathetic but I have been crying my eyes out for the last two hours. A quick re-cap: I have struggled with acne for 15 years (25 yrs old now), I have been on accutane 4 times, I am now on 100mgs. spiro, sprintec (orthocyclen generic), and benzaclin at night, I was on minocyclin but have been trying to ween myself off. I thought things had been getting a lot better after a bad initial outbreak. My oil has almost totally dried up. Two weeks ago my skin, acne-wise, looked the best it has in a long time, but now, of course, its a complete disaster. Literally in the last two days my cheeks and chin have hatched a dozen or so pimples or all sorts- mostly deep things with no heads. I am completely freaked out by it and can't explain it. On top of this, over the past three months I have been developing a worsening case of melasma- brown spots on cheeks and upper lip(which some suggested could be caused by the birthcontrol and others say may be worsened by the minocyclin). It makes me cry everytime I look in the mirror- I look horrible. Following my last treatment with accutane my life was starting to come together-- I have a boyfriend and was able to have a social life without living in constant fear of looking/feeling disgusting. Now I don't know what to do. I feel like whatever I do is useless and with this melasma now I feel like even more of a freak. I am falling apart. Please, any encouragement or suggestions would help. I have an appointment with a new derm (i am away from my usual doctor for the summer) on July 8th......but I have to go to work everyday in between then and now and am humiliated.

So sorry for the long post.

Hi Everyone-

It's been about a month since I last posted. I have been on Spiro now for 3 mos. and 2 weeks. I am having a total breakdown right now. Thank goodness for this board because I don't know who else to turn to-- I am usually a happy person but I am at a real low point of depression right now and am not sure how to deal with it. I know it sounds pathetic but I have been crying my eyes out for the last two hours. A quick re-cap: I have struggled with acne for 15 years (25 yrs old now), I have been on accutane 4 times, I am now on 100mgs. spiro, sprintec (orthocyclen generic), and benzaclin at night, I was on minocyclin but have been trying to ween myself off. I thought things had been getting a lot better after a bad initial outbreak. My oil has almost totally dried up. Two weeks ago my skin, acne-wise, looked the best it has in a long time, but now, of course, its a complete disaster. Literally in the last two days my cheeks and chin have hatched a dozen or so pimples or all sorts- mostly deep things with no heads. I am completely freaked out by it and can't explain it. On top of this, over the past three months I have been developing a worsening case of melasma- brown spots on cheeks and upper lip(which some suggested could be caused by the birthcontrol and others say may be worsened by the minocyclin). It makes me cry everytime I look in the mirror- I look horrible. Following my last treatment with accutane my life was starting to come together-- I have a boyfriend and was able to have a social life without living in constant fear of looking/feeling disgusting. Now I don't know what to do. I feel like whatever I do is useless and with this melasma now I feel like even more of a freak. I am falling apart. Please, any encouragement or suggestions would help. I have an appointment with a new derm (i am away from my usual doctor for the summer) on July 8th......but I have to go to work everyday in between then and now and am humiliated.

So sorry for the long post.

If I were you, I'd definitely go back to taking the full dose of Minocycline. I wouldn't think about weaning myself off until my skin was clear from Spiro first. I know 3.5 months seems like a long time, but it's really not enough time to tell whether Spiro will work for you or not. I was taking 200 mg + doxycycline and didn't start seeing real improvement until about 5-6 months in. As far as the melasma, I'm sorry but I don't have experience with this or any advice. Hopefully someone on the boards can help you! Hang in there

Hi Everyone-

It's been about a month since I last posted. I have been on Spiro now for 3 mos. and 2 weeks. I am having a total breakdown right now. Thank goodness for this board because I don't know who else to turn to-- I am usually a happy person but I am at a real low point of depression right now and am not sure how to deal with it. I know it sounds pathetic but I have been crying my eyes out for the last two hours. A quick re-cap: I have struggled with acne for 15 years (25 yrs old now), I have been on accutane 4 times, I am now on 100mgs. spiro, sprintec (orthocyclen generic), and benzaclin at night, I was on minocyclin but have been trying to ween myself off. I thought things had been getting a lot better after a bad initial outbreak. My oil has almost totally dried up. Two weeks ago my skin, acne-wise, looked the best it has in a long time, but now, of course, its a complete disaster. Literally in the last two days my cheeks and chin have hatched a dozen or so pimples or all sorts- mostly deep things with no heads. I am completely freaked out by it and can't explain it. On top of this, over the past three months I have been developing a worsening case of melasma- brown spots on cheeks and upper lip(which some suggested could be caused by the birthcontrol and others say may be worsened by the minocyclin). It makes me cry everytime I look in the mirror- I look horrible. Following my last treatment with accutane my life was starting to come together-- I have a boyfriend and was able to have a social life without living in constant fear of looking/feeling disgusting. Now I don't know what to do. I feel like whatever I do is useless and with this melasma now I feel like even more of a freak. I am falling apart. Please, any encouragement or suggestions would help. I have an appointment with a new derm (i am away from my usual doctor for the summer) on July 8th......but I have to go to work everyday in between then and now and am humiliated.

So sorry for the long post.

Hang in there!!! We have all been there- I am still experiencing some breakouts after 9 months on spiro & years before that of tinkering with topicals & antibiotics. Some days I just want to hide, & I'm a teacher, so no dice. I have spent days where I did everything I could to stay at least 10 feet from anyone! Just keep up with your meds, drink lots of water, do your best make-up & keep your chin up. Remember that it's not as bad to others as it is to you. I would also call that derm & ask them to put you on the cancellation list to try to get in sooner. Keep us posted!

so i went to a new derm yesterday, thought i would update on the new regimen she gave me. I was kind of overwhelmed by all the new stuff...but am hopeful it will create some positive changes.

Mornings:

BCP- I think I may be switching to Yaz next pack???

100 mgs. spiro

40 mgs. Oracea (apparently it's a time released doxycycline)

Wash with Skinceutical Simply Clean face wash

Apply Skinceutical Phyto+ (for discoloration)

Alternate between finacea and retin-a

Skinceuticals spf30 sunscreen

Night:

Wash with skinceuticals clarifying cleanser

Apply Skinceuticals Phyto+

Benzaclin (in a nice pump bottle)

whew....so much stuff added to the spiro. derm said it will help even out my skintone and correct sundamage. and she swears it wont break me out. famous last words. i am most nervous about changing BCP, but am awaiting an email from my doctor to see what she has to say. I'll update in a week to see how it goes.....3.5 months and counting on spiro.

so i went to a new derm yesterday, thought i would update on the new regimen she gave me. I was kind of overwhelmed by all the new stuff...but am hopeful it will create some positive changes.

 

Mornings:

BCP- I think I may be switching to Yaz next pack???

100 mgs. spiro

40 mgs. Oracea (apparently it's a time released doxycycline)

Wash with Skinceutical Simply Clean face wash

Apply Skinceutical Phyto+ (for discoloration)

Alternate between finacea and retin-a

Skinceuticals spf30 sunscreen

 

Night:

Wash with skinceuticals clarifying cleanser

Apply Skinceuticals Phyto+

Benzaclin (in a nice pump bottle)

 

whew....so much stuff added to the spiro. derm said it will help even out my skintone and correct sundamage. and she swears it wont break me out. famous last words. i am most nervous about changing BCP, but am awaiting an email from my doctor to see what she has to say. I'll update in a week to see how it goes.....3.5 months and counting on spiro.

I am so sorry that you are dealing with the terrible breakouts. My heart went out to you when I read your post above, especially since I just had a long heart to heart with my husband about how I see myself when I look in the mirror. It's a very hard thing to deal with and can definitely put you in a place of deep depression.

In any case, I hope this new regimen works for you. My only worry is.....do you think the derm put you on too much stuff? Between all the topicals, it seems that it would irritate your skin more than help clear it. Just curious how you feel about that.

so i went to a new derm yesterday, thought i would update on the new regimen she gave me. I was kind of overwhelmed by all the new stuff...but am hopeful it will create some positive changes.

 

Mornings:

BCP- I think I may be switching to Yaz next pack???

100 mgs. spiro

40 mgs. Oracea (apparently it's a time released doxycycline)

Wash with Skinceutical Simply Clean face wash

Apply Skinceutical Phyto+ (for discoloration)

Alternate between finacea and retin-a

Skinceuticals spf30 sunscreen

 

Night:

Wash with skinceuticals clarifying cleanser

Apply Skinceuticals Phyto+

Benzaclin (in a nice pump bottle)

 

whew....so much stuff added to the spiro. derm said it will help even out my skintone and correct sundamage. and she swears it wont break me out. famous last words. i am most nervous about changing BCP, but am awaiting an email from my doctor to see what she has to say. I'll update in a week to see how it goes.....3.5 months and counting on spiro.

Changing doctors really helped me. I was on the same treatment with my last doctor for almost 2 years and it just was working for me anymore so I decided to see a female derm and she helped me. I had a bad initial breakout but it's going on 3 weeks, (going on 10 weeks) and I've seen great results. I did get some small pimples when it was period time and my doc told me I can go up to 200mg of Spiro the week before or I can take 150 mg a day instead of my 100 mg. I remember a time when my upper lip and chin was all bumpy, red, spotty and I felt very self conscious. But those cysts/bumps have gone away and now it's so much better. I really hope the 100mg helps you. Ask your derm about Tazarac. It works as a peeling agent and i use it at night. I also use Benzaclin and that works great. Please stay postive for another 2 months and I think that if you don't see any differences, then talk to your new doc again.

I've been on Spiro since the beginning of this past March...and I think overall my skin has been a little better, but there hasn't been as much of an improvement as I had hoped there would be. I am on 100 mg. I also have been having a breakdown (a lot of crying, avoiding going outside, general hopelessness).. It is the week before my period, and my skin is going crazy..the Spiro hasn't stopped the awful PMS breakouts. I am supposed to have a job interview soon, but am thinking of canceling that because it's customer service at a fancy shop.

I can't take antibiotics because I took them for 10 years (part of the problem), and also don't do well with birth control pills. ...