HeatherSC

Update: I've been on Spiro for almost 3 years. I had to increase my dosage to 100mg/day for a breakout. I was on that for about 4 months. I've now been slowly weening off the medication for about 6-7 months at a rate of 25mg every two months. My body takes about a month to adjust to a dosage change I've noticed. I'd get minor breakouts after a dosage change but then it would clear up. I was also on a tretinoin cream at night which I've also weened off. I'm now on a clindimycin cream in the morning and a potassium azelaoyl cream at night (which I started using about a month before stopping Spiro). My dermatologist said it's best to slowly ween off of it to give time for your body to adjust. That seems to be working great.

Updated review: I've been using Spiro for about 3 years now with significant success. I had severe cycstic acne after taking myself off of benzyl peroxide and salacylic acid products after using them for years (Don't do them. Your skin gets highly addicted and they cause premature aging). My dermatologist initially put me on 50mg/day and increased it to 75mg/day after one month. I started noticing results after a month of being on it. I didn't notice any initial breakout but my face was in rough shape when starting. By month 3, I was significantly improved and after a year of being on it, I was transformed. It's worth the wait. I was also on a tretinoin (Retin-A) cream at night. I had to increase to 100mg/day for a breakout for about 4 months but I've now been slowly weaning off the medication for about 6-7 months by a rate of 25mg every 2 months. My body takes about a month to adjust to the dosage decrease. I would get a minor breakout but it would even out after about the month mark. My dermatologist also switched me to a clindamycin cream in the morning and a potassium azelaoyl cream at night. I'm weaning off it it due to starting a family and I thought I'd have much more trouble. So far, with such a slow decrease of the medicine my body has responded really well. My dermatologist did the face cream switch about a month before stopping Spiro as to not shock my system too much too. So far so good. I've found this drug to be a miracle for severe/cystic acne. In my experience, it is way better than any birth control pill I've ever been on, which seem to just mess with your hormones quite a bit. I know which medicine I'll be using if I ever have acne in the future. After being on everything as a teen and trying to manage it with over the counter products all through my 20's, this has been a real life saver. Also, diet helps significantly. Limit dairy, processed carbs, sugar and caffeine...which make acne much worse. Try to stick to more lean protein and veggies. A great book to read about that is Clear Skin Forever online. I hope this helps. I've been battling acne my whole life. I'm so grateful for Spiro and knowing that diet plays a huge part of it too. I hope this helps! Older Review: I'm a 33 old female and have managed acne and cystic acne my whole life from age 12. I was managing it well by using a combination salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide products for many years in my 20's. Neutrogena Grapefruit wash, Clean and Clear ointment and Clearasil were my usual products. I'd get an occasional cyst or small amount of acne from time to time, but I started noticing my skin was visibly aging more than my identical twin sister, who didn't use these products. Her skin was completely clear. I did some research and read an online book called Clear Skin Forever, about the harmful effects of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid products for your skin long term. I took myself off of the ointments and face wash and immediately started breaking out. For several months my skin got far worse (with really bad cystic acne) until I finally took myself to a UCLA dermatologist who put me on Spironolactone and a trentinoin cream (along with a sulfur wash in the morning). She also said how harmful salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are and recommended Cera-Ve fashwash and lotion. It took a month to start really seeing results, but I've been on it for a year and my skin is 100% clear. My scars are still fading and I get an occasional pimple from time to time, but it's no where near the level it was before starting it. Every month you will notice it getting better and better. Have patience with it and it will pay off. I took pictures of my face every month to track the progress. From my starting point to where I am now, I have completely transformed. Cystic acne is hormonal, not bacterial, and can't be treated with skin ointments. Spiro helps block the over production of testosterone in the body and it's a miracle drug for people with hormonal acne. I've been on every medication imaginable. Including two rounds of Accutane as a teen. It has always come back. Do yourself a favor and see a dermatologist immediately who's willing to put you on this medication. It's not yet FDA approved to treat acne (it's a blood pressure medicine), so some dermatologists won't prescribe it, but it really works. More research is being done to prove it. Also, avoid getting your skin addicted to salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide products. It's very difficult to ween yourself off of them and they do more harm than good in the long run. I use Cera-Ve face wash and a sulfer facewash in the morning with Cera-Ve lotion. At night, I use Cera-Ve wash and occasionally use an apricot scrub (without salicylic acid) to exfoliate. I have huge pores so this helps. Always use the Cera-Ve lotion after washing. Your skin tends to get dry on this medication but it's a small side effect to the benefits it brings. I gave this medicine a year before I gave a review, and I can honestly say it's changed my life. My dermatologist started me at 50mg a day and increased it to 75mg after 3 months. I'm still on the 75mg/day dose, which works for me.