Spironolactone
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Spironolactone is a type of oral medication called an anti-androgen that is sometimes prescribed to females. Androgens are male hormones that are present...

Spironolactone is a type of oral medication called an anti-androgen that is sometimes prescribed to females. Androgens are male hormones that are present in both males and females that lead to more acne, and spironolactone helps reduce androgens.

It is usually taken once or twice a day, around the same time(s), preferably with a meal.

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July 6, 2013
LOVE THIS MINTY PILL.

Pros:

No Breakouts/blackheads
Smaller Pores
Glowing Skin

Cons:

NONE

I have had acne since I was 11. It is mild, and only on my face, but very stubborn. I took minocycline and sulfa drugs, as well as using topicals like retin-A and clindamycin to combat it, but the only thing that made a dent in it was birth control, which cleared me about 70%. However, I was still getting breakouts on my chin and jaw line and I had black heads on my nose and chin. I didn't want to start college with poor skin so I went to a new dermatologist. She immediately gave me Spironolactone (50 mg/day) and differin (topical). I did get the initial breakout. I got new pimples for about 2 days, about 7 separate large pimples and then I just had to wait for them to heal. I called my Dr. again and she prescribed Doxycycline (200 mg/day) and clindamycin. It was over and done with in about a week. The initial breakout acne was different acne than I had experienced, it was cystic and in different places than I was used to, but once it cleared, with help of the Doxy, the Differin at night, clindamycin in the morning and of course, my BFF spironolactone, my skin looked so great. I love my skin now, I am so thankful for everything this drug has done. The black heads are gone, my pores are so much smaller, my skin feels so soft and smooth and it glows! People have even commented on it "glowing." And this is only my 3rd week! I love this drug SO MUCH and its so cheap! Ask your doctor!
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June 27, 2013
This was my "miracle" pill

Pros:

Cleared my skin
Noticed it controlled oil on my face
Doesn't damage the liver or at least it is very rare to cause any harm

Cons:

Very weird periods and irregular
My doctor said it might cause lupus-like syndrome

My dermatologist prescribed Spironolactone 25mg because I have a history of Liver disease and he said this pill is "water based" and wouldn't cause any damage to my liver. However, he said I couldn't get pregnant because of the serious birth defects in the male fetus, so I didn't want to have any babies back them and started taking Spironolactone. My acne was gone, my face wasn't oily at all. I had pretty nice skin and I didn't have a "purging" stage at all. Acne just started clearing up. I was the happiest until I had irregularities with my periods. I was scared, but I didn't know what was causing it until my dermatologist explained the pill could be the reason. He suggested to go back on antibiotics and give Spironolactone a break. Then, my nightmare began again. So far I've tried Solodyn, Doryx and now I'm on Bactrim. My acne slowly started to come back. I have huge pimples and I've had huge cysts on the side of my cheeks that without thinking it too much, I have my derm inject some cortisone on them because those suckers hurt (not to mention the fact that they look disgusting.) I recommend it (Spironolactone,) but maybe it is a good idea to take breaks because some side effects can become more serious. In my case, I would like to get pregnant within this year, so definitely I can't take it.
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June 15, 2013
Finally a perfect treatment!!

Pros:

Clears skin!
Reduces Oil
Little to no side effects

Cons:

It can take awhile to see results, but worth the wait if your acne is hormonal!

I've been on spiro for 5 months I have been taking 100 mg daily and am currently still at this dosage. I started spiro three months after completing my accutane course. Unfortunatly I broke out after the accutane. I started the spiro and started to clear up after a month of use. Since then I'm not getting cysts or big pustular acne. I get a couple white heads here and there but the full benefits of spiro can take up to 9 months to show themselves. So I'm looking forward to having clear skin long term!! UPDATE: I've now been using Spiro daily for 14 months now. Still at the 100mg dose. It's managing to keep my skin nice and breakout free. I can't thank this medication enough. It completely rid me of the paranoia and fear of looking in the mirror in the morning and not knowing what I was going to face. I will admit I get a white head every couple of months. That's nothing to complain about! I do not have any side effects from the medication at all. All my blood results have come back perfectly. I love it!
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May 18, 2013
Amazing!!

Pros:

Cleared up my chest, back, and face
You can take it for life
Does not dry out skin

Cons:

Bad initial breakouts
You have to take it every day

This pill has been a miracle drug for me! I am 23 and have suffered from horrible cystic acne for as long as I can remember. Like everyone else, I have tried everything. I have seen multiple dermatologists but nothing ever worked for me. Finally, I decided enough is enough and I made an appointment at a dermatologist office in downtown Chicago. I explained to her that my acne has always been pretty severe. I have always broken out on my face, back, chest, and arms. It has always seemed to flare up right around my period and then it would clear up the week after my period. As soon as I mentioned this, she recommended Sprio. She told me that it would take 3-6 months to see the full results, so I needed to be patient. I was hopeful! She started me on 50mg of Spiro for the first two weeks and then bumped it up to 100mg in combination with Atralin gel and cerave lotion. The first two months were hell. My chest and back flared up the worst I have ever seen and my face was a mess. I went back to see her after two months and she added the antibiotic Monodox and bumped up the Spiro dosage to 150mg. Now I was finally starting to see some results. By 3 and a half months, my chest and back were perfect. Not one single blemish. My face is now the best it has ever been! I still get a few small bumps on my face, but I am confident that those will clear up as time goes on. I went back to see my derm and she added Aczone gel to use in the morning. She compared this gel to microdermabrasion. She said all my scarring should be gone within 12 weeks. I am absolutely thrilled with my results!!!
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May 16, 2013

Pros:

Clears up acne beautifully.
Makes you thirsty, which forces you to drink more water (always a good thing!)
Helps if you suffer from PCOS

Cons:

A bit expensive with no insurance
You may end up peeing a lot (it's a diuretic)
Do not take if you're pregnant or have kidney issues

This pill was a miracle for my skin. I was prescribed this pill for acne and hirtuism. I'm prone to hormonal acne, and pretty much tried everything. I started using Spiro (along with Epiduo) about 2 years ago. I was put on 50mg/2x per day, which didn't do anything. I upped it to 100mg/2x day, and the changes began. For a few weeks, I had HORRIBLE purging; I would take photos of my face every week, and it was rough. I guess between the oral and topical, it was extra bad. But around the 3rd week, things began to clear up. For over a year, I didn't see one pimple. The dark spots left over from prior breakouts finally had a chance to lighten up. I also noticed my period became regular like clockwork (I've always been very irregular). As for the hirtuism, I honestly didn't notice too much. I think I was paying more attention to the acne. My only cons: It depletes your potassium, so you may end up with leg cramps (or wherever on your body). Also, you should get your blood checked maybe twice a year; the medication can mess with your creatinine numbers.
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April 7, 2013

Pros:

my skin already looks better

Cons:

have to be careful about getting dehydrated

My face never broke out until I started taking birth control a couple months ago and this has already helped my face in a period of 48 hours! I just hope I don't get an initial break out in a couple of days :( the only thing I don't like so far is being so thirsty all the time
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April 6, 2013

Pros:

cleared hormonal acne
fast results
inexpensive ($10/month)
no initial breakout

Cons:

a little dehydration

Birth control made my hormonal acne 10x worse than it had ever been, even after taking it for half a year. I take 50mg of spiro every day and now I am finishing my first month - my skin is way noticeably clearer. Less and less breakouts every day, and they go away much faster. The dehydration isn't even enough for it to bother me, and drinking water is good for your skin anyways. Using this as a supplement for Ortho Tri Cyclen, and also using Aczone as a topical which has worked wonders.
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April 2, 2013

Pros:

• it gave me almost perfect skin
•does not dry skin
•not expensive ($5 for me with my insurance)
•small pill
•works on hormonal acne

Cons:

•TERRIBLE initial breakout ( 2 months for me)
I recommend using a combo of neosporin and crushed aspirin treatments to help keep inflammation down. Something that helped so much was ice facials alternated with the use of a hot washcloth. I would take an ice cube and apply it directly to my skin in circular motions until it melted. Then I would get a washcloth wet with warm water and repeat. I repeated these 2 steps as many times as I had time for. It really helps with redness and inflammati

This product worked for me when nothing else did. I am 19 years old. I developed severe acne when I was 12, and for years could not find anything that could help my skin, which had a crippling effect on my confidence and self esteem. I would cry about how ugly and helpless I felt all the time. I tried over the counter drugs, every type of pill my dermatologist could find, and accutain TWICE to absolutely no effect. Finally a family friend recommended spiro, and I tried it. After 2 months of terrible initial breakout, my skin suddenly started to clear. Within 2 weeks all of my acne was gone. I cant believe how different and free I feel now that I have clear skin.
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March 31, 2013

Pros:

Okay so I have never written a review before but this site did help me find out about spironolactone about 4 months ago and I am eternally grateful. I have suffered from acne since I was 11. It was so bad that i never went swimming, i wouldn't leave the house without makeup, it actually controlled my life. I was always insecure about it and it prevented me from playing sports sometimes because i didn't want to sweat. I know anyone who has moderate-severe acne has felt these feelings.

Cons:

NO CONS! but using this space..I have tired EVERYTHING: clindoxyl and other topicals, proactive, a million face cleansers and multiple birth control pills. Finally i did research and found the ACNE FACE MAP (Check out!!) I figured my acne was hormonal. In addition to taking 100mg day of spiro, i also am on yaz. I use the proactive spot treatment if I ever feel a zit coming on which actually has no happened in over a month!! My skin is finally starting to clear and scars are healing.

I do notice the occasional bump or LITTLE zit but it is nothing! People have been noticing my clear skin and i love it. On top of getting on spiro now i feel like i should offer some other acne advice which i know have helped me. Cut out dairy and suger foods from you diet. Drink a lot of water and eat lots of greens! wear minimal make up-i know thats hard sometimes.Wash your face only ONCE a day. Deep breathe and exercise to limit stress which causes breakouts. Smile! you are not alone
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March 25, 2013

Pros:

IT WORKS (at the right dosage);
Easy to use - no monthly doctor visits, tests, etc. (vs Accutane);
Only benefits - no burdens;
No side effects;
Worked quickly;
JUST ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!

Cons:

NONE!

IT'S WORTH IT!!! I'm a 33yr old professional female. I've battled some level of acne since I was 12yrs old. On the pill (I believe) it would be contained, but I gained SO MUCH WEIGHT. I didn't realize it until I went off the pill and lost SO MUCH WEIGHT. To combat the breakouts I have done EVERYTHING!!! Benzaclin, Tretracyclin, Retina A, Neutrogena, Mary Kay, Clinique, ProActive (regular and extra strength), Oxy, Clarisonic products and the Mia, chemical peels (glycolic & salycylic), facials (at local spas as well as the Four Season), and Accutane 3 times. Some worked for a time - I have to say I'm a fan of Accutane, it always worked within 3 months, but acne always returned after about two yrs. However, my skin always looked so fabulous for that 2 yrs - but it always came back. I finally read about Spiro. (Last time (2.5 yrs ago) I went on Accut. my derm suggested this, but I was so set on Accutane (b/c I knew it worked) I didn't listen.) Once the acne came back I decided to look into it. I was really nervous about the "initial breakout" - I don't think it happened. I started at 50g 1x day. After 1.5 mos jumped to 100g 1x day - within ONE WEEK the resulft I've been seeking. Initially I noticed the "healing time" was shortened (on just the 50g), but the breakouts still came. Now, no breakouts. The hyperpigmentation seems to be lightening rapidly too. This stuff is great! I do have hormonal acne and my derm explained, if you breakout where a man would most likely wear a beard, spiro is for you.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website