Antiandrogen
Reviews
4.1
1330 Reviews
Antiandrogen
Efficacy
68%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Antiandrogen
Side Effects
High
Antiandrogen
Acne.org’s Real World Take
“Spiro” has been shown to work in a real and noticeable way most of the time. However, messing with hormones is messing with hormones and it’s best to proceed with caution.
Antiandrogen
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Read All About Spironolactone
Compare To Other Treatments
5
51%
4
28%
3
10.1%
2
4.9%
1
6.1%

Used Spironolactone? Rate It:

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November 25, 2012

Pros:

clear skin, no more pimples

Cons:

it takes a few weeks (maybe a month or more) to work

I'm 40 years old and have battled with acne on and off since I was 18. The only 2 times in my life I had beautiful perfect glowing skin was during my 2 pregnancies and for some period after. I was on tetracyclines (on and off) for many years but I guess my body became immune to it wasn't as effective as before. I was sick and tired of antibiotics, which was the only thing my dermatologist offered other than the topical creams. I suggested tetracycline (after doing some research) but she refused because she couldn't check my liver functions. Thank God my PCP was open-minded and prescribed spirolactone 25 mg at first (didn't work) and then 50 mg. It's been almost a year and I couldn't be happier, my skin has been clear for months!! If you suspect your acne is hormonal give spirolactone a try. I've had blood work done 3 times and I have no problems. I'm finally acne free.
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March 6, 2012

Pros:

Completely clears acne
actually clears chest acne and back acne as well!!
lose weight initially
no oily scalp anymore

Cons:

some talk about tumors in rats??
blood tests

I never write reviews atually this is prob my first one but I had to testify to the amazingness of spiro, this drug has changed my life, literally like others , have had acne since 6th gade and Im talking back chest face, it was horrible constantly hiding my skin, I tried every rx known to man and even 6 cycles of accutane, yes 6, and accutane does work...it just doesnt last much beyond when you stop taking it an of course is extremely dangerous.. anyhow, if I only would have known about this drug YEARS ago!! I have to say this is a miracle drug.. I hope it works for you!
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October 14, 2011

Pros:

- helps HORMONAL acne
- cleared up face about 70% in 3 weeks
- cleared up light body acne around neck & chest

Cons:

- side effects (not everyday or consistent)
*dizziness
*nausea
*headaches
*light headedness
*fatigue
- cannot take over the counter meds for headaches or pain (talk to dr about alternatives)
- watch potassium levels & intake of high potassium foods (potatoes, tomatoes, avocados)
- lots of peeing (this drug is a diuretic)

It's really worth a try if you are suffering from hormonal acne. I had acne as a teen, it went away, & then poof...I woke up with crazy acne at 26 yrs old. My acne is not severe but at 26, having lots of tiny bumps all over my face was not cool! I tried several topical treatments (Metro Gel, Epiduo, ViDerm) for 6 months before I gave in & decided to take oral meds. My list of Cons may seem like a lot but the side effects did lessen once I adjusted the dosage that worked for me. My doctor first prescribed me 50mg 2x's a day. The side effects made me super uncomfortable for the first week, so I called my dr and she suggested that I just take the 50mg once a day instead. This helped lessen the side effects by A LOT. So pay careful attention to any symptoms (good idea to keep a daily log of how you're feeling for the first few weeks) & let your dr know if you're not feeling bright eyed & bushy tailed....even if you're not positive that you're feeling crappy due to the meds- take note! I've read a lot of reviews with people gaining (or losing) weight but I have not seen any change in my weight so far. The time period for results may differ according to each individual. It only took me a few weeks to notice my skin clearing up & others say it takes a few months. BE PATIENT. I have great insurance so it was at no cost to me. According to other reviews, seems pretty cheap ($5-$20) if you have insurance. TIPS: - drink PLENTY of water: you may get headaches b/c of dehydration. If you don't like drinking a lot of water, try some gatorade. - watch intake of caffeine & alcohol - keep daily log of any symptoms, tell your doctor ASAP about any severe or consistent side effects - do not take this if you're trying to get preggers
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July 28, 2011

Pros:

Cleared up the acne I'd been battling for 8 years (it started when I turned 30).
Keeps blood pressure down (mine was borderline, so was a good thing for me)
Protects against hair loss
My forehead is no longer an oil slick, nor my hair

Cons:

None, really. I'm not wild about taking meds in general, but this one is worth it. I did have one massive breakout after I started taking it (though- it was also a hugely stressful time) but it didn't take that long to start working for me.
Must remember to take consistently

Completely cleared up my hormonal acne- topical treatments did nothing.
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April 5, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne and blackheads/comedones
Cheap

Cons:

Messes up my menstrual cycle
Insomnia

I know it sucks to hear, but you MUST be patient with spiro. I came here to give spiro a negative review after 1 month but after seeing other people warn to be patient, I decided to wait longer. After a frustrating initial breakout in the first month, I'm now almost completely clear in month 4. I'm 29 and have had acne for more than 15 years which of course has been maddening. I have moderate acne on my face and body and very "congested" skin with LOTS of comedones. Spiro has slowly cleared my skin which is awesome, after struggling with this crap for so many years! I was taking 100mg but was getting my period every 2 weeks so I dropped down to 75mg. It seems to be working just as well. So my advice is to give it time to work even though it's frustrating to wait :)
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December 14, 2010

Pros:

~It cleared by skin instantly.
~I like the minty flavor.
~There are no serious side effects to be concerned about unless you are already chronically ill or are an elderly.
~Now I can eat food that I like to eat again, such as chocolate and pizza without fear of breaking out from it.
~Dry mouth. Always take water with me. Fruit really helps rehydrate, even better than water.

Cons:

~Do not take potassium supplements, but do worry if your multi-vitamin has a low dose in it. And you don't need to worry about eating bananas, just don't overdo it. However, I am avoiding coconut water, which has a high amount of potassium in it and it was my favorite drink.
~Men can't take it.

Before I took spiro, I had many large cysts continuously forming, one after the other. But after the first night I began spiro, my acne was gone by the next morning, and I have had no breakouts since. This was a miracle medicine for me. I know it takes longer to work for others, but for me, it worked instantly. Either way, research and my own case study has shown me that this medicine works for the majority of women who take it whether instantly or in the near future.
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April 14, 2010

Pros:

clears your skin!! stops those big painful pimples from growing

Cons:

none so far

A little background, i'm a female in my early 20s who have suffered from acne for maybe 8 years now. I have tried different topical medication, minocin, birth control, low dosage accutane for oil control, and nothing has really worked. Finally, i did my own research and asked (demanded? lol) my doctor prescribe me this. He was somewhat reluctant as its not a traditional acne medication and suggested I should try full dosage accutane first, but knowing the harmful side effects of accutane, I really wanted to try this first. Plus, based on my research, jawline acne is caused by hormones, so I wanted to try something that'll target the hormone issue. I've been taking 100mg once a day for 12 days now, and I have already seen a dramatic difference. Since the day I started taking spiro, I have had ZERO new nodular acne growth. Still small white heads here and there, but prior to spiro, I've had consistent breakouts on my jawline that were bumpy, painful, and lasted forever. I'm still working on keeping my skin hydrated and waiting for the hyperpigmentation from previous breakouts to fade, but seriously, if you have suffered from long term acne, try this before you give up!
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November 30, 2009

Pros:

Clear skin, less oil, smoother texture, reversed the post menopausal issues, "girled" me back up.

Cons:

None that I have found!

I am 57 years old and had long since been through menopause. Taking Spiro has re-feminized me along with reducing facial oil, clogged pores, and cystic breakouts. I had had 4 courses of Accutane over several years and still the breakouts came back. I have high BP and need a diuretic so this does everything for me (150 mg). I would give up all my other meds to stay on this stuff - wish they had given it to me sooner. I have beautiful skin that has no breakouts and seems to have gotten firmer and smoother since starting Spiro. Also, the growth rate of the hair on my legs has slowed, my breasts got firmer, my eyebrows don't need to be groomed as often, the facial hair that had gotten worse, is gone...basically, the Spiro has evened out my hormone levels - I love it.
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September 30, 2009

Pros:

Gets rid of acne. Slows down oil production.

Cons:

Irregular periods. It impacted the duration and flow of my period. I had two periods in one month and none the following month. Initial breakout.

I've tried a lot of products and was tired because nothing seemed to work. I am 38 years old. It took about 2 months before it started to work, but my acne went away completely and I get no more breakouts. The issue with my period is the only real negative. I'd like to encourage the people who get the bad initial breakout to hang in there. It will work.
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November 26, 2016
Don't want to imagine my life without it
Spiro changed my life. It has changed my skin and confidence in ways I never thought possible. I can actually go somewhere without foundation now if I need to. I do still prefer wearing foundation when I can because of some scarring and uneven coloration, but knowing that I don't absolutely HAVE to is so liberating. I used to not even enter a grocery store without makeup on. A GROCERY STORE. That's how dibilitating it was. I would put makeup on immediately after a shower or right before bed so that my own boyfriend wouldn't see my skin. :/ My skin controlled my life, but now I am free. My skin is not perfect, but it is a million times better...and there are days when it looks downright amazing. I still have mild scarring, some redness (that I've always had), and blackheads, but it is overall so much CLEARER! I will occasionally get isolated pimples here and there, but NO MORE BREAKOUTS!!! And no more deep, painful, monstrous cysts!!! For a year and a half now I've had wonderfully low-maintance skin. One spiro a day and a good moisturizer (Clinique Redness Relief for me) after showering and I'm set. When I shower I use Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser, but to be honest, I don't even wash my face aside from when I'm showering anymore. I can get away with falling asleep in my makeup and my skin is still clear!! I don't do this intentionally, and maybe if I didn't at all my blackheads would be even less noticeable (lol), but I'm just saying the fact that I CAN is incredible. My skin is clearer, my routine is little to no maintainance, and my confidence is through the roof. It's amazing going to sit down at a restaurant and not even think about my face. I am so happy and so fearful of the day I have to stop this medication. **note: Spiro DID make my skin absolutely god awful at first. I thought it was bad before, but after starting this drug it was horrendous. I read these reviews beforehand though so I knew that this was a possibility and I think being prepared helped me push through it. It took a good 3-4 months before I started to feel clear and confident. I know that sounds like an eternity to wait but believe me, the end product makes that crappy waiting period look like a microscopic smudge in the grand scheme of it all. You can do it!! It is so worth it!!!!
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January 18, 2017
First of all, I apologize for my English which is not very good because I am French. I am 23 years old, I have been taking the Jasmine pill for 5 years and I have never had acne in my teens. My dermatologist has prescribed spironolactone because Doxiciline didn’t work My dermatologist made me do a biopsy (thinking that it could be a mushroom of the repeated use of cortisone cream) which demonstrated the absence of fungi. I also did a hormonal blood test showing no abnormality either ... My acne covered my face, forehead and cheeks with a grainy set, buttons bigger than others not piercing and an oily layer. This doctor prescribed Spironolactone in addition to Jasmine pill to control androgens. After 5 weeks at 100mg and two weeks at 150mg no results. My skin is always covered with this grainy layer with pimples at the bottom of the cheeks and in the middle of the forehead. Always this rough coat and those bigger buttons on the forehead and lower cheeks. And still as many tears every day for two months now ... Do you think this is normal that after 6 weeks under Spironolactone there are no results?

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.

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.