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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February 17, 2011

Pros:

Works fast
Easy to swallow
Cheap

Cons:

Heard it causes tumors in lab rats
The "Possible" side effects
Doctors visit

I am using this medication with Retin A .025 gel. My doctor gave me a low dosage of 20 mg vs 50 to 100mg. He told me since I was a petite woman that I didn't need more than that. At first I was concerned that the dosage was too low, but it actually worked for me. I don't know if it's the combination of the two products or if it's actually this product alone that cleared me up. I have NO SIDE EFFECTS! :) I saw results in 3 days!!!
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February 17, 2011

Pros:

Cheap, Effective, Awesome!

Cons:

It is a diuretic, so you will need to drink more water. This also means you may get headaches, and there are other side effects. May be hard to get a doctor to prescribe it to you.

This should only be prescribed by a doctor. You have to take it every day and wait a few weeks for results but they do come. For me, it was spironolactone with Loestrin birth control that did the trick, since my acne is primarily horomone-related (I break out about once a month for a week or so... hmmmm). This pill is prescribed for blood pressure and hirsutism (overly-hairyness in women!) so you may get some odd looks from doctors and pharms who don't know that it also treats acne. The doctor who prescribed it to me several years ago said this: it somehow counteracts the spike in testosterone which causes women to break out along their cheek and jawline before their menstrual cycle, that it effects potassium levels so you really don't need to take extra postassium when you're on it, that it is ESSENTIAL to drink more water when you take it and finally it does not need to be taken forever - after a few months you wont' need to take it anymore, at least for a while (I took it for a few months and was clear and didn't get it prescribed again for 2 years). You shouldn't drink on it and it may worsen acne very briefly when you first take it. That's pretty much everything you need to know!
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February 12, 2011

Pros:

Completely clears acne
Reduces oil
CHEAP

Cons:

Hardly any...dehydrates me quite a bit

DO IT. I am now 4 months in and my skin is 100% clear. I recommend to anyone, especially for women over the age of 20, when acne is caused solely by hormones. This stuff is cheap and it is pretty much a miracle cure. I love it! Don't put it off and ask for it from your doc and stop wasting tons of $ on soaps and creams that don't work (like I did)
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January 28, 2011

Pros:

Clears hormonal acne
BEAUTIFUL SKIN
Makes body hair finer
Easy to take
Works well with birth control
You begin to drink a lot of water

Cons:

Side effects: excessive peeing, lightheaded/dizzyness, HEADACHES, tiredness/low energy
Worry about the black box warning
Worry about potassium levels increasing
You need to drink a lot of water

I have had acne since hitting puberty and last year (at age 22) I realized it was only getting worse. I don't get many pimples at one time, but the ones I got were ALWAYS deep and sore, but not to the point of being cysts. I take extremely good care of my skin but no matter what I would have 3-5 or more breakouts per week, especially if my stress levels were high. The pimples would stay "active" for about a week at which point the only way to make them go away or stop hurting was to release the plugged nastiness. After, they would dry out and scab over but the scabs and marks would last for weeks or even months no matter what treatment I used. Even when I was having a "clear" day my skin looked broke out because of the marks. When I began dating my current boyfriend I became even more conscious of my acne and decided I had to try something. I experimented with several different birth controls but none made a difference. Finally I went to a new dermatologist with pretty low hopes (I hadn't had good experiences in the past). I researched different medications on the net and went to her with a list of things I wanted to try. She listened carefully and agreed with the medications I asked for, one being Spiro (started at 50mg/day) and the other a mild retin-a topical (Ziana). The first few weeks the side effects were AWFUL (listed above) but my body adjusted and they completely subsided after a couple months. I'd say at about 3 months my skin was 90% clear. The Ziana was fading what marks I had left and my skin was looking amazing for the first time in my life! I went in for a checkup and the doc said since I'd adjusted so well she would bump me up to 100mg/day. That was about 7 months ago. My skin has been 100% CLEAR since I got bumped up...it's AMAZING!!!! I feel so confident and pretty now :) This drug will not be a miracle for everyone and it does have its downsides, but if you can keep faith and find the right doctor, you may have the miraculous results th
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January 26, 2011

Pros:

Effective

Cons:

Could raise potassium levels

My skin is clearing up! Nothing else worked. I have not really noticed any side effects because I get thirsty a lot and pee a lot anyway. I have not gone in for blood tests to see if it has affected my potassium levels. Hopefully everything will be normal so I can keep taking this amazing medicine! My skin feels smoother than it has in years! Not only did it begin to heal but a lot of the inflammation went down pretty quickly. Yay!
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January 20, 2011

Pros:

Skin/hair less oily
Clear skin (after prolonged use)
Inexpensive

Cons:

Food Intolerance
Dry skin
Weight loss
Thirst/FREQUENT urination
Initial breakout HORRIBLE!
Took over a year to see results

I've waited 18 months to write my review because I know this medication takes time to work. The initial breakout was the worst I'd ever experienced (see gallery pics). Though after about six months, the cysts subsided and my skin remains cyst free. I do struggle with hives on my face due to the food intolerances caused by Spiro - though I'm keeping a food journal to better target/avoid my triggers (wheat, soy, tomatoes seem to be biggest triggers). Skin is oil free, though becoming drier and drier - nothing a good moisturizer can't remedy. Overall, yes, women, try this medication, but go into it for the long haul. The benefits come after a good 9 months.
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January 14, 2011

Pros:

no side effects
minty taste
cheap!

Cons:

no cons

i've had some form of acne since i was 15 (i am now 36.) i often had cystic acne, and was on accutane 3 times. about 5 years ago, i started seeing a new derm who prescribed 50 mg of spiro along with my Yaz (which also contains 59 mg of spiro, so 100 mg total/day.) Since then, my skin has never had another break out and cystic acne is a thing of the past. A couple of years ago I tried to go off of it. It takes ab 3 months to get out of your system. sure enough, 3 mos later i began to get cystic acne under my chin! so gross. and sad. so i went back on it. now married and considering getting pregnant this year. so i'm going to have to go off of it, and honestly, i am really scared! i suppose it's a bit of a crutch now, it's so dependable. I've had friends try it and not like it, but i agree with some of the comments here-- for me it has been a miracle drug. and only $10 a month!
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January 9, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne for us females.
No side affects.

Cons:

Nothing. Well, except that they say it can cause cancer. But I have yet to hear a human getting cancer from it.

This stuff works! I'm thrilled to have clear skin. I started getting adult acne around 21 and suffered with it for 4 years, then this little number came along and changed that. I take spironolactone and use a gentle face wash. Awesome.
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January 9, 2011

Pros:

Amazing skin after 3 months (50 mg twice daily)
Makes my hair and face significantly less oily
My boobs have gotten larger (about 1/2 size...may be a con for some people though)

Cons:

Always thirsty
Frequent spotting but no actual period (during second month got two huge cysts right before my "period", which I never get...but now completely clear with NO acne at all before, during or after spotting)
Took a few months before seeing results

This pill is AMAZING! I had light to moderate acne, but now that it's gone I realize how much it affected my confidence before. I can finally wash my face with normal wash and moisturizer, not worry about if I forget to wash my face before bed, or have to worry about eating certain foods, or even have to bother with wearing any sort of facial makeup! My skin is oil-free all day too no matter how stressed I get. I wish someone would have told me about this sooner. For the benefits that I get from a simple pill twice daily, I can live with spotting throughout the month (esp. since it makes me cramp less overall now) and drinking a little more water daily.
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December 29, 2010

Pros:

• Extremely effective
• Affordable w/out insurance
• Zero side effects

Cons:

• Prescription only
• Must not get pregnant while taking

Spironolactone is a breakthrough for acne treatment. It works even better if taken with birth control. I first began to take it in 2003 after seeing my sister's acne clear up, and I have had nearly flawless skin ever since. I will still get the (very) occasional breakout, but I am only taking 50mg/day instead of the recommended 100mg/day for severe acne. My breakouts are also probably stress-related. I believe in spironolactone so much that I will try to find any way to tell random people with acne about it. This medication will change your life even if you only have mild acne. Of course, everyone will respond differently, but I saw improvement within days of starting treatment. Please please please try it. And spread the word to all the ladies who suffer from acne. This is the solution!!!!
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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