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I've been suffering from mild to moderate acne for most of my life. I'm now 29 and it seems that at the start of fall, my skin will start breaking out into small bumps which sometimes become large cysts from around the end of November and won't quit until the spring. My skin is completely clear during the spring and summer months. I've heard that jawline acne is hormonal and I have taken oral contraceptives in the past to mitigate it with succesful results. I have recently started taking Spironlactone and am on an oral contraceptive pill called Minulet. I'll keep you posted on the results. Also, is there any reason why my skin only breaks out during the fall and winter? I seem to be moisturizing enough.
I've been suffering from mild to moderate acne for most of my life. I'm now 29 and it seems that at the start of fall, my skin will start breaking out into small bumps which sometimes become large cysts from around the end of November and won't quit until the spring. My skin is completely clear during the spring and summer months. I've heard that jawline acne is hormonal and I have taken oral contraceptives in the past to mitigate it with succesful results. I have recently started taking Spironlactone and am on an oral contraceptive pill called Minulet. I'll keep you posted on the results. Also, is there any reason why my skin only breaks out during the fall and winter? I seem to be moisturizing enough.
How many mg are you taking?
Not sure the dose but I'm in Korea and my dermatologist was a little surprised when I asked him for a prescription for spironolactone. I told him that it's been proven to reduce hormonal jawline acne so he prescribed it. I take one a day around the same time of day.
The dose is very important. If you aren't getting enough mg, you may not get the results you are hoping for. Doesn't your bottle of pills state the mg?
Medication here in Korea is usually distributed in small packets rather than an actual bottle. So no, the mg is not stated. However, after a week's use, I am beginning to see a change in skin. It seems to be starting to clear up. My large cysts are beginning to go away and my complexion looks better. We'll see how we do in another week.
I originally posted this in another forum:
Hi, everyone! I came here to vent and for some support/advice. I've been suffering from acne since I was about 12 years old, I'm 20 now. My skin is excessively oily on a day to day basis. I think it has been made worse by Doxycyline. I've only been taking it for a about 2 weeks, but I am noticing that my brow/eyelid area are especially bad now. If I wipe the oil away once I have to do it again in less than 30 minutes. It's bad enough to where I can't really wear makeup. As far as my acne goes I have 2 small cysts right now along with a larger lesion that I cannot get rid of. I figured it was time for Spiro. Went to the clinic at my college to get a prescription. I ended up with the same Dr. who prescribed the Doxy. She told me she had never heard of anyone using Spiro for skin! After doing all of 5 minutes worth of research she said that there were "a few cases" she found, but that she hadn't heard of it in conjunction with an antibiotic. So basically, because I don't have insurance to go to a derm, I'm stuck with the Doxy for 2 months. She said that she "may" switch to the Spiro if the Doxy shows no improvement. I'm not holding my breath. This Dr. come off as a know it all even though she obviously is inexperienced. She threw the "BP wash" line at me immediately when I came to her a few weeks ago. On that note, I got a $65 prescription for Oscion filled (it was written months ago before my insurance ran out but they wouldn't cover it). Meanwhile, I'm frustrated. I've spent all this money (that I obviously don't have) trying to control the oil/acne yet I can't even get a $35 prescription for something that may be effective. What can BP/Doxy do for cysts and oil?
Also, here in Korea and Asia, I am a professional singer and do major television performances and need my skin to be perfect. This is why I am on spirolactone. However, I hear that it changes the voice and that it can cause a woman's voice to lower! This is not good for me considering I am pop soprano! Does anyone have any experience where their voices were lowered?
I'm on my third week of spiro and my skin is almost completely clear! I'm back home from Korea in the U.S. and bought Neutrogena Rapid Clearing Gel and that seemed to really speed up the healing process. The only problem now is that I have been developping indented scars on my cheeks. I started a course of "Cool Touch" 6 months ago. I've only done it twice so far. Does anyone know of any other solutions for indented scars?
I originally posted this in another forum:
Hi, everyone! I came here to vent and for some support/advice. I've been suffering from acne since I was about 12 years old, I'm 20 now. My skin is excessively oily on a day to day basis. I think it has been made worse by Doxycyline. I've only been taking it for a about 2 weeks, but I am noticing that my brow/eyelid area are especially bad now. If I wipe the oil away once I have to do it again in less than 30 minutes. It's bad enough to where I can't really wear makeup. As far as my acne goes I have 2 small cysts right now along with a larger lesion that I cannot get rid of. I figured it was time for Spiro. Went to the clinic at my college to get a prescription. I ended up with the same Dr. who prescribed the Doxy. She told me she had never heard of anyone using Spiro for skin! After doing all of 5 minutes worth of research she said that there were "a few cases" she found, but that she hadn't heard of it in conjunction with an antibiotic. So basically, because I don't have insurance to go to a derm, I'm stuck with the Doxy for 2 months. She said that she "may" switch to the Spiro if the Doxy shows no improvement. I'm not holding my breath. This Dr. come off as a know it all even though she obviously is inexperienced. She threw the "BP wash" line at me immediately when I came to her a few weeks ago. On that note, I got a $65 prescription for Oscion filled (it was written months ago before my insurance ran out but they wouldn't cover it). Meanwhile, I'm frustrated. I've spent all this money (that I obviously don't have) trying to control the oil/acne yet I can't even get a $35 prescription for something that may be effective. What can BP/Doxy do for cysts and oil?
Well, she is obviously inexperienced if she has never heard of using Spiro for acne. It's all over the Internet and all she would have to do is call up a dermatologist and ask. If I were you, I would just go in there and tell her what you want, that you have done the research and you want Spiro. Don't take no for an answer. Go in with some research print-outs if you need to, some drug facts, anything you can find online to support her giving it to you. Or, maybe you can get in and see a different Doc, if you have that option. I'm not sure about Doxy but I think for you, Spiro would be more effective. Tell her that if the topical and Sprio are the issue you'll stop the Doxy to get the Spiro. Worth a try, I think!
Good luck!
Hello all! Such wonderful encouragement here--I had to join in!
I'm a 40ish mom of two and I have suffered with cystic acne for most of my life. After my hysterectomy, my face cleared up and then....BOOM! I started breaking out worse than I ever did before!! I immediately went to the dermatologist and explained my past history (I've been on everything except Accutane) and told her that I was ready to use Accutane. I used Accutane for approximately 2 months with some AWFUL side affects--SEVERE joint pain, heartburn, etc. Although I loved the results, I could not continue taking Accutane. She put me on Spiro, Epiduo and Doxycycline. I've been taking it for approximately 2 weeks and I'm loving the results. I'm getting a bit of dry skin, but I really need to be cautious when applying a thin layer to my skin...oops!
I'm here for encouragement and God love you all. I know what you're going through and it's terrible to have to hide beneath the mask of acne. Underneath is such a wonderful person and it's great to hear success stories!!
I'll keep you posted on my progress and much love to you all!
I'm only fifteen, I've had acne since age 11ish. My brothers are on accutane and my mom is on 100mg of Spironolactone. It seems to run in the family.
Well so far I haven't had an effective experience with Spiro. I've been on it for approx. a month now. I used to take 200mg of Minocycline and use differen at night, and that was working well but I still broke out a little. Then last month my derm changed it to 50mg of Spironolactone and 100g of Minocyline and Retin-A-Micro at night. Within the last week my chest back and shoulders broke out MASSIVELY. Acne was never a major problem on my chest but now I'm too embarassed to wear anything with a slight dip to it. It's all on my upper chest and neck part so only a hoodie can really cover it up. It's b een like this for past week and I know it isn't from Minocycline because my body is used to it, and Retin-a only goes on my face. I also noticed with my face that I'm getting break outs in a different area every week and my skin is peeling, and my mouth is splitting. So far not so good. I've been trying to tough it out but shouldn't it start turning around soon?
I've been on spiro for almost 6 months and I can't believe the difference in my skin. It took probably 4 months to really see any improvement, though. Your dosage may be a little low - not sure because of your age - but I had to be bumped to 150mg to get good results. If it helps, I noticed the difference on my chest and back before I noticed my face getting better.
Hi there, everyone! (This got long; sorry! I'm just so excited!)
I'm going to ask a few questions that may've already been asked, but I just found this forum and I've scanned through several pages (they go all the way back at least to 2004!) and don't have the time nor patience to scan more! It won't let me skip several pages ahead!
For those considering taking spiro, PAY ATTENTION; YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS! I started taking spiro 3 weeks & 1 day ago. IT! IS! A! MIRACLE! I cannot BELIEVE this! I am 35. I've been dealing with "moderately severe" (I call it that. It's moderate acne that tends toward the severe end of the spectrum) since I was about 19. I have absolutely had it with it. I know I don't need to tell many, if anyone, here the impact acne can have on your life. It's a constant war. It takes a wrecking ball to your self esteem and confidence (I'm just beginning to realize just how huge a wrecking ball it's been to mine). It's physically painful. It wears you down. I am financially challenged (that's P.C. for "poor due to health problems") so Accutane was but a desperate longing. I'd never even heard of spiro until this year, after years of research for acne help on the 'net! Why the word isn't out better about this stuff, I don't know. I wish there was something I could do. Maybe I can at least find more acne boards and post. To those of you who go to derms, it would be kind of you to talk to them about getting the word out better! Anyway . . .
After all these years & all the trials and failures I've been through, I was afraid to get my hopes up too much. I actually got my spiro at a free clinic. I didn't really think they'd give it to me, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask and, easily as that, it was handed to me! I got handed a miracle! Since taking it, I've only had one moderate lesion--which never got out of hand; didn't even come to a head and is healing nicely--and 3 or 4 TINY, INCONSPICUOUS, no-big-deal bumps that were gone COMPLETELY in a day or 2! And this is all on 50 MG. A DAY! From all my research, I thought I'd need at least 100 & that I wouldn't see any results for at least 2 months. I NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN ONE DAY! I kid you not! I kept my mouth shut about it, though, for a couple of weeks. I thought it was a fluke. I was imagining things. Whatever. But, NO! It doesn't end there: My hair is shedding much less (I've been losing my hair since I was about 16) AND, I swear, I think it's helping my IBS! I can't find any connection between the two on the 'net, but nothing else has changed, so it must be that!
I can't promise, of course, that everyone else will have these results; in fact, I've seen posts from some who've had no luck, & that makes me sad. But I just wanted to testify that it CAN. I didn't even have to get a blood test or anything; they were just given to me. I haven't been back for a refill yet; that's due soon, so I may have to start getting tested, but who cares?! I'd get tested every day, if I had to! No side effects (bad ones, anyway!) so far, either. So, if you haven't tried it, DO IT!
Here are my concerns, though: Firstly, the dosage. I'm guessing the only reason I've had such results from only 50 mg. is my size. I weigh 99 lbs. (no, no eating disorders! I'm built like a pixy & have always been thin; don't know why). I'm scared, though, that my results might not last at that dosage. Besides, why not go for perfection?! What do you vets think? Should I ask to bump it to 75 mg. or something? I don't want to crash down from this high! At this rate, once my old lesions heal (stupid red marks!! How I hate them! Although they're healing faster than they ever did now!), I'll look like a normal human for the first time since I was a teen! 
Has anyone here started out with fantastic results only to be let down later? If so, what happened?! Do you know what I should do to prevent such a nightmare?! I feel good about my appearance for the first time in many years! My skin is also smoother, almost perfectly balanced as far as oil and the pores are smaller. My skin also feels silky; this happen to anyone else? Bottom line here: I feel so good! I've only had these results for less than a month, & already I feel more confident, happy and am getting reacquainted with enthusiasm! I hadn't realized just how badly acne had been affecting me! I DON'T WANT THIS TO END! If any vet here thinks I should bump up the dose, please say so! Any other comments are welcome, too! So far, this really is, in my opinion, a miracle! WOW!!!!
FOR THOSE WITH BODY ACNE: Just a quick note to say try washing the areas with Head & Shoulders. I got this advice from someone else on the 'net. I figured it was cheap and easy enough to try, so why not? I used to regularly break out moderately on my chest, back, shoulders and buttocks (yeah, lovely, right?). But not any more. Well, once in a great while, I'll get one to three little bumps that go away in no time. Big deal. I tried this on my face, too, but it didn't work there for some reason. It may've helped a little, but not nearly enough. However, it has worked wonders for the body acne. I just buy the trial-sized bottles, as a reg. sized bottle would last so long that I'm afraid the potency would weaken toward the end. This way, I know I have a fresh, potent batch every time. I've been using it with these great results for about 2 years now.
Can't hurt to try. Just use it in place of you usual cleanser on those problem areas. I can't remember how quickly it worked, but seems like it was pretty quick. What'll it hurt to use at least one whole trial-sized bottle?
P.S. By the way, even though you're all strangers, I think you and others who bother to come to places like this and share your stories and offer your advice are great! If it weren't for people like you, I'd have never heard of Spiro! I know that, even anonymously, it's not easy to say, "hey, I've got an ugly skin disease!" Bleh. But you did, and shared your stories and offered your suggestions and advice, and that is wonderful! I've realized that, when it comes to acne, we'd better help each other, cuz the medical community isn't doing much about it, right?
Hey everyone, just got spiro prescribed to me by the derm. This is the last thing Im going to try before Accutane (even though Ive already tried it once). Im on week two of Yaz and so far am not seeing any results, but I know it can take up to 3 months. Also, I recently got all my hormone levels checked, and they checked every hormone except testosterone and everything came up normal.
So, do you guys recommend Spiro for me? Can it help me despite my hormone tests? My acne is moderate... the bumps are inflamed and ITCHY, and Ive had it since I was 10 and Im 17 now.
Also, how long can you take Spiro for? Can you take it for as long as you want or do you need to stop after some time?
Hey all, I'm not sure if this was mentioned before since this topic is 17 pages long and I could not go through all of it 
Here's the thing, I really, really want to try spiro! I am 20 years old and have had acne since I was 14 ish. It cleared up 99% about a year ago which was fantast, although I do not know if it was just natural, because of the topical meds I was using, or becuase I started Loestrin, it's still a mystery to me. Regardless, it was awesome! But then I switched to Yez and my face became a complete mess!! It is 7 months later and my skin is still gross 
I have seen 2 derms and neither would give me spiro! I am calling my ob/gyn tomorrow to see if she can perscribe it to me, and I will aslo stop using Yaz. Now I know Yaz has a small dosage of spiro in it, so does that mean that spiro alone will not work? I'm really starting to lose hope 
Hey all, I'm not sure if this was mentioned before since this topic is 17 pages long and I could not go through all of it
Sounds to me like Yaz is a problem, who really knows though. I haven't been on BCP's in forever, hate them! But my husband is "fixed" so I don't have to deal with it liek so many other women do.
I believe Yaz only has 25mg of Spiro- pretty sure that's what my derm told me.
I wouldn't think though that just because Yaz is causing problems, Spiro would. Seems to me that Spiro has helped more ppl than it hasn't so I think it's worth a try, if you can get it. Sucks how some derms won't give it out. My derm was like, okay. She didn't even give it a second thought. Apparently she has prescribed it to many women and maybe some derms are just new to it. Your OB may give it to you though, worth a try...esp if you express how upset you are and this is affecting your mental health and all that. That'll get em! haha
Anyway, good luck...hopefully something works out.
To the couple of posters who posted right after me . . . if you didn't read my post (and it sounds like you didn't,) please look right above your posts and read the one I made about spiro! YES, you should try it, unless you have a medical condition that would make it dangerous to! It's almost certainly not going to cause harm and it's pretty cheap! I get it free at a clinic, but even if you can't, it's not expensive. It's on Wal-Mart's $4 prescription list, for instance. How much money are you spending on your current regimen? Cleansers? Toners? Special lotions? Spot treatments? Derm. appts.? It adds up.
If your derm won't give it to you, see your doctor or nurse practioner (an N.P. is who gave me mine); go over their heads. Also, it may help if you can print information like what's found in this thread and show whomever you're trying to get the spiro from. If you could find an actual professional article, it'd be even better. Remember, these people work for YOU. They're being paid to serve you, even though their attitudes often suggest otherwise. If it comes to it, demand they give you one seriously good reason you shouldn't try it. If they can't, tell them you want either spiro or another doctor. What's the worst that could happen? You have to find a new doctor? One who actually listens to you? Oh no! 
It's worth it, because it could really work for you. No promises, of course, but if it does for you what it's done for me, you'll be glad you pushed for it. My skin literally looks better every day. By this time next month, I'll have normal looking skin or very close to it. It is a dream come true; I only wish I'd discovered this stuff YEARS ago. Research spiro as well as you can, arm yourself with the facts and PUSH FOR IT! And I wish you the best of luck.
Hi everyone,
I just started using spironolactone for moderate acne. I've been taking it for about 3 days now. It look like alot of Women here have tried it. What do you guys advise me to do or not to do while taking this medication. What to eat and what not to eat? DO I need to make changes to my diet? I'd appreciate all your help : )
Hi everyone,I just started using spironolactone for moderate acne. I've been taking it for about 3 days now. It look like alot of Women here have tried it. What do you guys advise me to do or not to do while taking this medication. What to eat and what not to eat? DO I need to make changes to my diet? I'd appreciate all your help : )
I know a lot of ppl get the blood testing done for potassium levels but my derm said it wasn't really needed, that she had never seen or heard of anyone having an issue and that I could eat whatever I would normally eat.
But...I am eating more potassium rich foods than I was when I first started it so I think I will have a test done when I go back next week- just to be safe.
Really, other than the test which I don't think they do very often like the Accutane testing...just drink plenty of water! Very important!
Hi there-
I went on spiro about a year ago -and at first, it worked well. Then, after a while, it stopped working so I went up to 50 mg. I had side effects at first but they went away after a while (aside from frequent peeing). I also had ataxia but that went away in about a month as with sore breasts.
I stopped it for a few months and went off the pill (which I can't take anymore cuz all hormones seem to screw up my skin)-
My new derm put me on it again- 100 mg and told me to give it at least a month. Nothing happened- oiliness stayed and breakouts were no worse or better.
Soooo- I am on accutane (third time in 15 years).
Spiro frustrated me because you have to watch your potassium intake. I love potatoes (not everyday but), grapefruit, spinach, tomatoes, bananas and don't want to have monitor that consumption. Also, people who have problems with salt in their diet need to be cautious too...and no skim milk!!
The worst was that I spotted almost 3 wks out of the month (did wonders for my sex life); made me thirsty- esp at night; and gave me a fluttering heartbeat after a while.
The second you stop taking it- you break out again.
I didn't want to be on something that you have to take everyday indefiniately.
But, for MANY women with hormonal flare - ups, it works wonders.
Just be careful and know the pros/cons...and also, you cannot take it if you are or become pregnant.
Hi there-I went on spiro about a year ago -and at first, it worked well. Then, after a while, it stopped working so I went up to 50 mg. I had side effects at first but they went away after a while (aside from frequent peeing). I also had ataxia but that went away in about a month as with sore breasts.
I stopped it for a few months and went off the pill (which I can't take anymore cuz all hormones seem to screw up my skin)-
My new derm put me on it again- 100 mg and told me to give it at least a month. Nothing happened- oiliness stayed and breakouts were no worse or better.
Soooo- I am on accutane (third time in 15 years).
Spiro frustrated me because you have to watch your potassium intake. I love potatoes (not everyday but), grapefruit, spinach, tomatoes, bananas and don't want to have monitor that consumption. Also, people who have problems with salt in their diet need to be cautious too...and no skim milk!!
The worst was that I spotted almost 3 wks out of the month (did wonders for my sex life); made me thirsty- esp at night; and gave me a fluttering heartbeat after a while.
The second you stop taking it- you break out again.
I didn't want to be on something that you have to take everyday indefiniately.
But, for MANY women with hormonal flare - ups, it works wonders.
Just be careful and know the pros/cons...and also, you cannot take it if you are or become pregnant.
Skim Milk...why not? My derm didn't say I had to stop eating anything and I eat a lot of potassium rich foods like spinach and bananas.
Hi you guys.
I'm frustrated. I've been on 100mg Spiro for 11 months. YES...ELEVEN months. I had a bad initial outbreak for the first 2.5 months and so the doctor put me on minocycline and then a pill called oracea, which is a slow release doxycycline....just to help get over the IB. After about 6 months my skin really started to clear up. my oil stopped (and still is MUCH better than it used to be). I am on orthocycline as well and use benzaclin at night. well, i didn't post immediately because i thought i was just having a flare up, but i have had a month long nightmare of a breakout...and i'm afraid there is no end in sight. I don't know what went wrong. i am developing acne everywhere again. the good news is my oil production is still low but the bad news is my forehead HURTS, as it is filled with 100s of small bumps, and i got 2 cysts on my cheeks.
I feel hopeless. I have tried everything. I really thought this was the answer but my skin looks so horrible right not I don't know what to do. ....so I came back to acne.org for some support. Have any of you been on spiro as long as i have and experienced the same thing? Any other suggestions?
Sorry for the bad news.......worked great for a while but didn't prove a miracle in the long-haul.....seems like NOTHING ever does. darn it, i was really hopeful this time, which makes it not working hurt so much more!