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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March 28, 2009

Pros:

Some improvement.

Cons:

More periods.

I've been on spiro for almost 6 months and even though I see 'some' improvements I am not as happy as everybody else on here. I have been on 100mg/day since day one. Had a severe initial breakout (I looked like I had chickenpox all over my body: face, neck, shoulders, back, you name it). After about 1.5 months I noticed a big improvement but I started having my period every other week, each lasting for 7 days. This means I am on my period roughly 14 days out of a month, which causes breakouts constantly (mainly the 'before period' breakouts). They are all over my face and sometimes my shoulders. Am I the only one with not so happy results? I would hate to increase the dosage because then I would probably have my period for a full month every month, and I don't want to be on the pill. HELP! Any suggestion would be helpful!
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March 18, 2009

Pros:

Clear skin, less oil in skin,less cystic type acne,fewer hormonal breakouts,smooter overall skin,less amount of facial hair(eyebrows,ect.)

Cons:

dryness, thirsy more often, only available for women.

Works great for hormonal acne. I have tried a few other oral meds for my acne and this is the only one that seems to work. I use to have pretty severe acne when I was 16-18 years old. Now Im 20 and I have been on spiro. for almost 2 years now. It not only has helped to clear my skin but it helps with oil. I rarely feel the need to wash my face in the middle of the day. I definitly recommend this medication to anyone who tends to break out around their period.
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March 9, 2009

Pros:

I've been on this drug for three weeks now, increasing my dosage. I've lost ten pounds and kept it off. My acne goes away faster, and my skin is less oily. Breasts have gotten a little bigger.I have high hopes for this medication!

Cons:

Skin gets dry if you don't hydrate. Every time I've upped my dosage I break out a little and then it gets better. Urinate more often, muscle twitching has increased a little.

I have not been on this medication for long, but I do think it will improve my acne. The weight loss is great. I do have excess hair on my face but have not been on it long enough to see improved results for that. I do notice my acne increases on my face in unusual places I don't usually break out on when I increase my dosage but that goes away fairly fast. So far I'm excited and am hoping for great results! The benefits outweigh the risks/side effects so far.
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March 6, 2009

Pros:

Targets the underlying hormonal etiology of acne & it's not costly.

Cons:

The first few days I experienced some bladdar discomfort, but I always have always consumed a lot of water, so the frequent bathroom trips is normal for me.

I have been on Spiro for only 2 weeks; the dosage is 50 mg twice a day. I have not noticed any significant improvement as of yet, but I am patient and will give it time. I have noticed that my skin and hair are less oily. The number of new pimples has increased since taking Spiro, but the pimples start to dry up right away. I also have some painful nodules under the skin, but they seem to be drying up as well. I am also on the generic form of Yasmin - Ocella. I am hoping the combination will be effective.
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March 2, 2009

Pros:

Inexpensive, has really reduced oil in just a few weekes on a low dose, skin also looks much clearer, you lose any water wt you've been carrying. I might give it a five in a few months but I just haven't been using it that long.

Cons:

Muscle cramps if you don't stay hydrated, go to the bathroom a little more often, have to check potassium levels every few months.

After reading all the postings on this site my sister and I decided to try spiro. We have tried everything else and nothing has helped for very long. So far, I've had a little bit of a breakout when I first started but now my skin is really starting to look clearer. I wanted to start low (25 mg/d) to avoid any major side effects or break-outs in the beginning and I just now bumped it up to 50 mg/d. I'm really excited that I've already seen such a difference on just these low doses. I plan on getting up to 75-100 mg/d eventually. The part I'm most excited about is that my skin hasn't been getting oily and gross half way through the day when usually I want to wash my face and redo my make-up by then.
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March 1, 2009

Pros:

I've been on Spiron for a couple of years - and it has greatly reduced my oiling skin - I have very few acne breakouts now - just the scares leftover

Cons:

My dr ramped me up to 200 mg at first - after a few months, my heart started racing - couldn't climb one flight of stairs without my hearbeat increasing to 130 bpm. So I've backed down to 100 mg/day - and have increased my exercise - doing well.

I started seeing dermatologists with I was 11 - I'm now almost 50 - retin-A & oxy-10 did not work - only antibiotics did - but never took those for acne. It is so cool to have my makeup actually stay all day, I can wear eye shadow, and my eyes no longer sting from the oil.
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February 25, 2009

Pros:

It seems that is working, no regulations like accutane, cheap, appetite supressor so you don't gain weight

Cons:

Irregular period, going to bathroom a lot, waking up thirsty at night

I'm using this drug (100 mg) almost for 6 weeks now, just one day after I stopped my third course of accutane. I had mild acne on my chin after I stopped BC pills, but my main problem was the bumpy skin texture which went from tolerable to horrible after I stoppped the BC pills. I started accutane three years ago, and in 5 months I had the same beautiful skin I had when I was 18. It worked fast. But as soon as I stopped accutane, all the uneven texture came back in a month. I also used tazorac just once or twice and it completely ruined my chin. so I went for the second and third course of accutane (20 mg every other day), but every time I stopped, my chin looked so ugly. Millions of tiny bumps on my chin under the skin that makes it bumpy and wrinkly. So I read about the spiro in this website and asked my derm for it. In my 6th week of stopping accutane and using spiro, a little of the uneven texture has come back but it is not at all as bad as before. I'm sure spiro is working.
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February 14, 2009

Pros:

small. tastes like mint. low dosage. minimal side effects. clear skin after 7 months with minimal break-outage in between (and that is usually related to your period coming)

Cons:

fatigue. depression. (although I'm not certain if it's just me or the spiro talking). definitely tiredness right after taking it.

Opted out of birth control as an option. Derm said that this blocked the androgens (testosterone) that causes hormonal acne. Started taking it August 08. Completely cleared my skin by Feb 09. I have one pimple on my chin that is healing and that is because I forgot to take 3 pills the week before my period. I take 3 pills the week before and one pill thereafter for the rest of the month. Keep a consistent face wash routine going with gentle cleansers and stay free of makeup. I've had to learn the hard way - don't pick your face! At the site of a pimple I apply a dab of Duac with a q-tip and let it go! It's better for you and the pimple. But now that I have been on Spiro, my whole face is clear. Soon I will be looking into ways to fade some of the scars. Best of luck to you. Patience is key. Patience will win in the end.
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February 12, 2009
***Rosie in Virginia...My Dr. told me I absolutely had to stop taking Yaz before I could start taking Spironolactone because it would cause immediate heart problems. Any other oral contraceptive except for Yaz would be fine to take at the same time, according to my Dr., because Yaz contains Androgen blockers and, obviously, so does Spironolactone. This combination is too much for your heart to take. I read your note and am worried your Dr. may not know about this and may not tell you to change your oral contraceptive. My appointment was two weeks ago, so this is current information. I just started taking Spironolactone today. You should definitely check into it to make sure you do not have problems with the rhythm of your heartbeat. That would be worse than acne!
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February 11, 2009

Pros:

Generic version is cheap (at least, it is with insurance), possible increase in breast size, lowers blood pressure

Cons:

Dizziness, vertigo, overdrying of skin, stomach upset, fatigue

I was not connecting my fatigue and concentration problems with this medication until I started reading these reviews. I was on 50mg qd for 2.5 months and have been on 75mg qd up til now. Today, my dermatologist suggested upping the dose to 100mg qd and so I will begin that tonight. I also use Retin-A Micro and Azelex. About 6 weeks into treatment I started experiencing constant, mild vertigo which subsided after a couple weeks. I experience dehydration from time to time--easily remedied. I have experienced an overall decrease in cystic acne, which I used to get frequently mostly along my brow ridge, mouth and chin. However, the rest of my acne has not appeared to subside significantly. I currently have 21 pimples, one of which is cystic, and 8 areas of previous inflammation that are nearing the end of healing. My skin is also dry overall with some flaking. I will stick with it for a for a few more months but it's difficult to feel like the medication I'm on isn't doing e
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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.
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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.
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