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.
Used Spironolactone? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
February 15, 2013
Cons:
Caused hormonal acne
I'm not totally against this pill. I believe it can help a lot of women if given to the right person. Please please only take this if your acne is truly hormonal( break out bad around your period and/or have acne around your chin and jawline) thanks to spironolaconte I now have hormonal acne. I break out around my period. Before I would never count the days of when my period is now I do and I dread it living in fear of how bad the breakout is going to be. I've been off of it for 6 months now and no improvements. It has ruined my life.
February 14, 2013
Pros:
Oil free, no side-effects, acne finally under control, no initial break-out, clear skin, covered under BC's Fair Pharmacare, finally completely clear. Works if you have previously used anti-biotics, and then your anti-biotics no longer work. I also take Tri-Cyclen. For makeup: use Milk of Magnesia (found in Laxative section) as a toner/primer for makeup. It is non-irritating and controls oil, only contains 3 ingredients. I use Make Up Forever HD Liquid Foundation, and NARS blush. 0 breakouts
Cons:
Have to take at least 4-8 pills a day, because each pill is 25mg. In order for it to work though, you need to take a high amount. I had semi-severe acne, with some cysts around jaw-line and on cheeks/closer to hair line, along with little pimples here and there...but they are gone now!
Kinda expensive
Definitely works for hormonal -related acne. I have tried Spiro before @ 25mg-50mg a day, but had initial breakout, less oil and smaller bumps, didn't completely clear my skin so I stopped. Trying again, using between 100mg-200mg a day. I started with 150mg right away, and I have only had maybe 3 very little pimples in the last month since I started. Scaring is almost gone in 3 weeks. Washing face with Clinique and Cetaphil products. Spiro is the best! Skin looks so beautiful now, thank god.
February 11, 2013
Pros:
Not too expensive
Its not an antibiotic
Cons:
Just reading all of the reviews I can see that you must remember to stay hydrated....this could be a pro too, since most of us should probably drink more water!!!!
I've been on minocycline for years and doxycycline on and off since high school (I'm 35)...adult cystic acne(seems to inflame monthly). I've been on all of the topicals as well. I took a round of accutane when I was 18. I've suffered with cystic acne for years. It always gets better in the summer, but once fall hits its all over!! Over the years I can see that I don't get as many cysts, and that they are not as severe as when I was in my early twenties, however, I'm 35 and I think I'm just over it!! I'm excited to be on my second day and hoping that I do not get the initial break out, but I guess I'll deal with that if it does happen! I will report back every month and hopefully I see results like everyone else!!! EXCITED!!!
February 11, 2013
Pros:
Got ride of my acne completely for the year I was on it. I never had such flawless skin. Also, it helped with bloating and water retention because it's a mild diuretic (can make you look slimmer).
Cons:
Makes skin look a bit older because of diuretic effects (I already have dry skin). Might worsen depression or anxiety (although it didn't for me). I had to stop taking it for two reasons but most people would have no issue with this 1. I started reacting to salicylates (spiro always has minty stuff in it for some reason) and because my doctor thought it might partially be to blame for developing focal nodular hyperplasia on my liver.
It was a godsent. Spiro is the only thing that cleared my hormonal cystic acne. Lathering my super sensitive skin with products never did a thing for me, if anything it probably made it worse. I have been off for a little over a year now and 6 months after I was breaking out again, although it's nowhere as bad as it was before I took it (just whiteheads, no cysts). I'm sad I had to stop taking it, because it REALLY worked. If you've tried everything like me, GIVE SPIRO A CHANCE.
February 3, 2013
Pros:
Clear Skin!!!
Less harsh than Accutane
Cons:
Takes forever to work completely
You have to remember to take the pills EVERY DAY!
I have never written a review before but I want to help other girls who are cursed with acne like me. I have had horrible acne since I was 12. When I was 17, after I had tried every product (name a product, I have tried it) I finally gave in and did Accutane. Accutane works miracles and I was clear for 5 years. I maybe got three zits a year. Then when I turned 25 I decided I was going to get laser hair removal on my face. It wrecked my face. I started breaking out like I did was I was a teenager :( it was the worse decision I have ever made. I decided to take spironolactone before I did Accutane again because Accutane is so bad for you. I am glad I did but just to warn you, it does take a while and it will get worse before it gets better. It took me four months. I also use jojoba oil on my face which is amazing. I recommend that too.
January 30, 2013
Pros:
Works fairly quickly
Cheap
No side effects
Cons:
You have to remember to take it every single day
I began using this medication about 4 months ago and I am in LOVE with it! After about a month I began to see less and less break-outs. By the end of 2 months, I didn't have any break-outs at all! I didn't have an initial break-out like many users are describing. I am using it along with Tretinoin cream and together these medications work wonders! Now I have to begin working on my unfortunate scarring. If you have hormonal acne, I would definitely recommend this product!
January 29, 2013
Pros:
- Completely cleared my hormonal acne. NO more red painful cysts on my chin and jaw that last for 2 weeks at a time.
- Balance in hormones seemed to positively affect more than just my acne (overall mood, for example).
Cons:
- Terrible initial breakout
- Took a solid 4 months to start working consistently
- Had to lower my dosage on my own. Started with 50 mg/day then after 2 months my doctor bumped me to 100 mg/day but it really lowered my blood pressure and made me feel strange so I went back to 50 mg and have loved it! I'm 5'2, 105 lbs so I'm sure that's why I need a low dosage but thought I'd include this info!
The results of this process are SO WORTH the long wait and initial break outs. I haven't had a single cyst in 2 ish months (I've been on the medication for almost 5 months) and when I do get a regular pimple, it's painless and extremely tiny. I have not noticed any side effects, other than the initial breakout, but I am also on a low dosage - which I recommend. If your confidence has been suffering from hormonal acne, TRY THIS ASAP!
January 28, 2013
Pros:
No more cysts, less oil, taken together with OCPs works great
Cons:
Felt very dizzy at the beginning, but went away with time, increased urination
I'm 27 and started having acne at the age of 12; since then I have tried almost everything except for Accutane (Retin-A, topical and oral antibiotics, birth control and every possible OTC product you can think of). I have been on Ortho Tricyclen low for about 5 years and while at the beginning it kept my acne under control it stopped fully working after a couple of years. So I went to see my dermatologist who prescribed Spironolactone in addition to the BCP. It took a couple of months to work but the results were phenomenal! My acne completely disappeared and my skin was not oily at all. Last month, however, I stopped the birth control to give a break to my system and I have been noticing that my skin has gotten more oily than usual and I am also breaking out a bit more. If anyone has any experience using spironolactone alone without birth control, or after stopping birth control, it would be great if you could share your experience too!
January 27, 2013
Pros:
Cheap
Cons:
-Did not improve my acne
-increased breakout in my jawline and below
I don't recommend it.
January 23, 2013
Pros:
this works!!!!
I used to have very good metabolism, my scars faded away pretty quickly, I dont know if it's spiro or what, the scars fade relatively slowly now. However, I have no complains!! Even though concealer can't really cover the scars, I am already satisfied with the result! Believe me, having those painful zits for nearly 12 years on my face, the scars are not the reason to complaint!!
Cons:
can cause serious dehydration when you drink
really baaaaad initial breakout for almost 2 months
I am now 22 turning 23. I have acne (painful zits) since I was in 4th,5th grade, through out the years, the places that I had acne changed, I have had acne that were majorly on my forehead, or just on my cheek. As I become older, I had acne almost all over my face. I've tried almost every over-the-counter products and I took two different kinds of BCP before, no luck. I also tried acupuncture, no luck. Donating blood, no luck. The list can go on and on.
Pros:
None