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 10, 2011

Pros:

Got rid of 100% of my acne and I have had stubborn acne since I was 12, I'm 20 now.

Cons:

-Vaginal dryness

-Nocturia

-Took almost 5 months to work

Overall, great pill. Just be sure to get your electrolytes checked to check if your potassium is within normal limits. This pill can increase potassium in the body which can lead to cardiac problems.
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July 4, 2011

Pros:

*AMAZING
*cleared my acne up 100%

Cons:

*only side effect is getting my period more often

I love this stuff. Before starting this I could not go near dairy, it would break me out like crazzzzzy. But now I can eat any kind of dairy I want! I love it! This had made my skin way less oily. Before this my face looked like an oil spill, it was gross, and now by the end of the day if I don't touch it up it is only kinda oily. This along with tretinoin had cleared my acne up 100%! And you can read my review on tretinoin on the other page!
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June 22, 2011

Pros:

Clearer skin
Less cystic acne
Lighter periods

Cons:

Sore breasts
Longer periods
Vaginal dryness

I started taking 50mg of Spiro 3 months ago. I'm now into my second month of 100mg. My breasts are sore all the time, don't seem any larger though. My period is lighter, but lasts 7-9 days now when it used to be 4-5. My skin is finally clearing up and I have only had a few along my jawline but nothing unmanagable like before I started this medication. I am now experiencing vaginal dryness that just started and that's annoying. It's never been an issue before but now sex causes some discomfort. I'm 37 and very sexually active with my husband. Thank goodness for KY jelly and LOTS of foreplay. I didn't notice a difference in my skin until I started taking 100mg. With 50 mg I was still breaking out almost as badly as before I started taking it. I don't take BC with it, just Spiro alone. If you suffer from hormonal acne, give this a try. It takes a long time to start working for most. For me it's taken 5 months to start noticing a difference. I guess the cons are worth the clear skin so I will keep taking it. I still break out before my period, it's not a miracle drug and you won't wake up looking like a supermodel, but it does help. Please don't write a review after taking this RX for a week. It takes far longer than that to see good results. I had a bad breakout after 2 months in places I usually don't break out like on my cheeks and forehead. I haven't experienced any nausea or felt light headed or any bad symptoms like some. Just sore boobs and an eternal period! Oh and feeling like there's a cotton gin in my vagina. But my skin is clear!
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June 22, 2011

Pros:

Clears pimples
Lost water weight
No bloating
Minty taste
Only 1 pill a day

Cons:

None

I have only been on this for a week so I know its too early to write a review but I just had to share my experience so far. I am so excited because so far it's been a MIRACLE PILL!! I had a beautiful clear face up until I turned 25 (I am now 35), and then started getting bad cystic acne. When you all of a sudden get acne after your teen years it is usually because of a change of hormones. I have tried everything and my last resort was Accutane but decided not to take it and switched Dermotologists. This new doctor gave me a prescription for Spiro (100mg) and Tazorac. I noticed an immediate difference, my pimples have gone away and there are currently none coming in, which is an absolute miracle! Even my complexion is more radiant! And NO side effects. Its really crazy! Im so happy with the results so far and can't wait to see what is still to come.
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June 16, 2011

Pros:

Cleared acne
Slightly fuller breasts
Life changing

Cons:

A little bit more thirsty

I had clear skin my entire life until I hit the age of 21. Suddenly I had horrible acne all over my cheeks, jawline and around the sides of my mouth (at all times, not just during period). It was so bad that I rarely left my room, and I wouldn't even let my boyfriend see me unless the lighting in the room was extremely dim. Suddenly, I stopped hanging out with friends and couldn't even bare going into the grocery store. My face itched constantly because of the severity of my acne and the irritation it caused. I literally felt that if this condition continued, life wasn't worth living. I felt like a monster. I dealt with this for a year, accumulating pitted scars and hyperpigmentation, until I decided I needed to take something orally. After reading many reviews I took the leap and asked my dermatologist for spiro. I was afraid of the side effects I'd read about, but I personally didn't have to deal with them. The only side effect I've noticed is a slight breast enlargement (I was a medium A cup, and now i'm a B cup..so it was nothing too drastic). It also makes me a little bit more thirsty, so i keep a bottle of water on my night stand. It took about 2 months of taking 100 mg at night for me to begin to see results. My skin began to clear and the size of my acne decreased. At 3 months, things were looking much much better. I've now been on 100 mg for 5 months and my skin is 90% better. I still get an occasional pimple, but i'm not complaining. I can now live my life without obsessing over my skin in the mirror for hours each day. If I had known about this medication earlier in my case of acne so I wouldn't have to deal with the ice pick and boxcar scars I now have acquired. I hope my review is helpful to someone out there who may be experiencing a loss of confidence due to acne. It may not work for everyone, but It worked amazingly for my type of acne (adult onset, more acne each day). I will continue to take spironolactone.
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June 12, 2011

Pros:

Clear Skin
Less Oil

Cons:

Dry hair
Weight gain (about 10 pounds)

I am 35 and struggled with acne my entire life. This drug cleared my skin like nothing I have tried before (and I've tried EVERYTHING). As an added bonus, my face no longer feels like an oil slick half way through the day. The main drawback is that I didn't realize early enough that I would need to change my hair care routine. All of the sudden, my hair is dry and straw-like. But I'm learning to use conditioner, and I'm confident I can get it under control. All in all, I am very happy I started this medication, and wish I could have found it years ago. Now I need to figure out how to get rid of the acne scars :/
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June 11, 2011

Pros:

Controls oil production
Cleared my skin/acne
No harsh side effects

Cons:

A higher dose was required to achieve the clearest results
Still need to be very careful not to get pregnant, studies have been shown that it may alter a male fetus

This drug is wonderful. My skin is 100% clear right now as I'm writing this. My derm started me at 25mg about 2 months ago, I was also taking Loestrin 24 fe at the time. The 25mg did nothing for me whatsoever. He bumped it up to 100mg a day about a month ago, I had a very bad initial breakout. 2 weeks ago I decided to pair the 100mg of spiro with Ortho Tri Cyclen birth control and my skin has been absolutely beautiful. A brief overview of myself, I've had moderate persistant acne since I was 12 and have been on accutane 3 times, (along with everything else on the planet) I never knew a drug could keep me as clear as accutane without the harsh side effects. After my accutane courses my acne would reappear on my cheeks/chin/jawline. Instead of trying ANOTHER hopeless accutane course, we decided to give the spiro a shot. SO happy I did.
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June 5, 2011

Pros:

works quickly

Cons:

i didn't experience any negative side effects

I was so skeptical of this because I have literally tried everything to clear up my cystic, painful acne. Accutane twice, a variety of strong antibiotics, all the acne fighting products out there. I've battled acne since I was 11. After I have my 3rd son 5 years ago, my acne became worse than it's ever been. I couldn't really do much because I was nursing. Then I had another baby, so I was nursing still. I finally took the advice of a friend and saw my midwife, and she suggested this. Within 4 days, my skin cleared up. I couldn't believe it. She started my on 25mg per day, but after a bad breakout during my first cycle, she bumped me to 50mg. I've been at that does for 4 months now and the only time I get a pimple is when I forget to wash my face. But even then, it's a tiny whitehead and is gone the next day. Not even any breakouts during my period aside from that first month. I couldn't be happier about this! I've seen some other reviews that say they also started birth control with this, so I thought I'd throw out there that I don't use birth control.
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May 31, 2011

Pros:

Only thing that has really worked.

Cons:

None that I know of.

On 50 mg twice a day paired with Cephalexin. Use Aczone a couple times a week. I've had acne for twenty years and have tried everything over the counter and been to the dermatologist countless times. Been loving this routine and have only gotten one zit in the last month. I can finally let people see me without make up and can take pictures at the pool now. It is totally amazing. I hope it keeps working!
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May 28, 2011

Pros:

Clears hormonal acne
Works quickly
Reduces bloating
Sex drive increased
Mood improved

Cons:

Dries skin (may be a pro for oilier skin)
Breast size increased (may be a pro for some)

I have been taking Spirinolactone for 10 days now, and I feel like I have finally found my miracle cure. I first developed acne at 13. I've been on Accutance twice, at 16 and again at 26. Both times my skin was clear for about a year afterwards, then the acne came back. I actually went to the derm to ask for another round of Accutane. She thought my acne was hormonal and suggested I try Spiro first. If it didn't work I could give Accutane another shot. Well, as it turns out she was right on the money. I'm thrilled with the results so far. I noticed an improvement within a day of starting. 10 days in, I'd say my skin is 70% clearer. All the cysts are gone (cysts on the jaw, chin and neck are a sign of hormonal acne). My back and scalp are 100% clear. I have a few small pimples on my face and chest. My skin overall feels drier and slightly rougher, but nothing that some moisturizer can't fix (nothing at all like the dry, cracked skin on Accutane!). Spiro is an androgen antagonist. It will only work if your acne is hormonally based, i.e. you have too much testosterone, and it can only be used by women. It also corrects other hormonal symptoms. My mood has improved. I feel happy and serene. My hair is softer and silkier. Bloating has gone down - I used to retain 10 lbs of water during my cycle! I'm hoping that continues to improve. The only side effects I've noticed are sometimes feeling light-headed and sleepy, but it's very mild and goes away quickly. And I do feel a little bit thirstier, but I just drink more water. If you have hormonal acne, please give Spiro a shot. For me, it's been a total win. I take 100mg a day.
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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