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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May 28, 2010

Pros:

Cleared my skin w/in a month
Cheap ($8/month)
Few negative side affects
Some positive side affects

Cons:

Slight diuretic
Doctors want to take you off after a year
Only women can use

I have tried over the counter face washes and spot treatments, proactive, birth control pills, doxycycline, minocycline, retin-a, and accutane. Though I would see slight improvements nothing cleared my skin. After college and about a year after finishing with Accutane I was depressed by the state of my skin. I couldn't figure out why all these treatments didn't work. A friend I met had gorgeous skin and when I commented on it said it was all b/c her Spiro. I rushed to see her derm who put me on Yaz and Spiro. At first it was awful, I would have severe mood swings. My PMS was so bad I felt like I was going crazy. I rightly attributed this to the Yaz and after 4 months the derm took me off it. Smooth sailing after that. Within a month my skin was completely clear on the Spiro. I take the minimum dose of 50 mg/day (25 mg 2x day), which is only $8 a month at Wal-Mart. It took some time for the scars to fade. About a year in I visited my parents and they couldn't stop talking about it. My dad said it was like they were looking at me through a soft filter, my skin was so perfect. Occasionally right before my period I still get one or two pimples, but they don't last weeks like they used to. Within a week they're gone. The downside is that doctors never like to leave you on medication, which meant that after a year he began urging me to try going off the Spiro. I knew this was a bad idea (my hormones haven't changed so why would my acne disappear?). Within 3 months I started breaking out like crazy. The majority are red nodules on the lower half of my face that can take weeks to reach a white heads or just fade away. Back on the Spiro and my skin is clear again. Side affects: periods are lighter, need to drink more water, urinate more, less aggression/sex drive, hair grows slower after shaving and plucking (don't see a diff for hair on my head) Conclusion: Less side affects than Retin-A or Accutane, but works so much better. Worth it!
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May 22, 2010

Pros:

Less oily skin, smoother skin, less oily hair, body hair softer (grows slower), feel happier

Cons:

NONE.

I LOVE this product. Thus far, I've been taking it for almost 3 months, and I've seen awesome results. I still get smaller pimples along the jaw line, but I suspect those will diminish more with time (after my last derma appointment, this is what he told me). Altogether, I don't feel as worried about my face regimen...I actually use moistuizers and non-acne related products to clean my face...which I've never done. I had mild acne...not severe or too bad...but at times was a annoying, esp. more recently. as a 27 year old, I thought I should have clear skin, which wasnt the case until spiro. I tried BC, Taz, and Doxy, and none worked liked Spiro. Now, I'm only taking Spiro. Also, the biggest bonus for me is that i used to get pimples on my back, and now theyre almost completely diminished...just working on the scarring to heal. I am SOOSOSOSOSO happy with this....have read lots of reviews,...and believe there are better things to come!!
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May 5, 2010

Pros:

Acne almost completely gone in less then one month

Cons:

none

I can't even believe what spironolactone has done! I have suffered from acne since i was 11 and i am now 23. I went on accutane twice and tried every cream/gel available. This is the only product that has worked for me. I started using it about a month ago-50mg in the morning, 50mg at night. Almost instantly i saw a reduction in number of pimples. Now, after using it for almost a month, i have only a few tiny pimples that are only noticeable to me. I have had zero adverse side effects.
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May 4, 2010

Pros:

clear skin!!
works fast

Cons:

i changed a lot of things when starting this medicine so Im not sure exactly if its the medicine thats working or all the other things that i changed like: not drinking milk or soy milk at all, stopped using topical medications like retin a, clindamycin, azalaic acid, and started using the clinique acne solutions kit.
but whatever it is, its WORKING!! :)

this worked so well for me after only 1 week :) i don't really have the big cyst like pimples but i had a couple big pimples like 13 on my face cuz i counted them! i was so sad i cried a lot and had never had that many at once so i went 2 see my derm and i was like wtf! because i was already using retin a, clindamycin, and azalaic acid and it was just getting worse! so he prescribed me spironolatone 25mg 2x a day along with doxycyline 50mg 2x a day and it has made a big difference! i just have the marks now but no more big pimples on my face.. in the week that i have been using this medicine i have just had 2 new pimples but not nearly as bad as before! i also have tiny little bumps on my chin and cheeks that don't really look like pimples, as in they are not red and they don't ever come to a white head so it is really annoying cause they are stubborn and wont go away, so i hope by using this medicine those will go away also :) So i stopped using all the topicals he gave me because they were just making my acne worse and i have been using them for almost 3 months so its not like i didn't stick with it.... so if u have been using topicals like i was before and your acne is not getting better it probably means your hormones are effecting your acne so i would recommend trying this! & i had also been spending a lot of money on chemical peels and laser treatments and the first 2 times it cleared my skin but the 3rd time just made my acne worse.. so im gonna just take this medicine and use my clinique acne solutions because after 1 week of doing this it looks sooo much better! so i just hope it continues working the way it has been because i am very happy right now and actually wanna go out and do things instead of staying at home trying to hide my face from the world! so i hope if u do try this it works for also!
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May 2, 2010

Pros:

Gets rid of acne...period!!!

Cons:

None

I've been on every acne treatment under the sun, minus Accutane. Every antibiotic, every topical product, both over the counter and RX. Finally, after suffering for years with what I suspected was acne caused by hormonal problems, I went to a new dermatologist. She said, your acne is on the lower half of your face, you break out more just before your period, no other acne med's have worked...you have hormonal acne and need Spironolactone. I started with 25 mg/day for one month. Then went to 50 mg per day after that. Within 2 months my acne had began to clear and I'm now acne free! For the first time in years! I had no problems with this medication. This was about 5 years ago. I took it for about 2 years. Then went off it as I had been free of acne the entire time. I continued to be acne free until I had a stressful event. At that point I began getting a few acne cysts again. So, I went back to my dermatologist who put me back on Spironolactone and again...I'm acne free! My suggestion is...find a dermatologist who will give you this. I kept thinking, "Why are all these doctors treating my symptoms and not trying to treat the cause?" I knew my acne was related to hormones in some way! Especially since I never had acne until I went on a specific birth control and after that I developed acne cysts, mostly on the lower half of my face. And these would get much worse during PMS. This drug is the absolute best! It's cheap and it works. Who could ask for more?!
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April 29, 2010

Pros:

* Cleared persistent, severely cystic acne within a month
* I personally experienced no side effects
* It has also regulated my period, which previously would show up several times in a month, or not at all.
* Affordable
* Worked, when nothing else did

Cons:

* Not able to conceive or be pregnant while on it
* Carcinogenicity

I could go on all day about how much I love this medication, but bottom line is this - I have had severe cystic acne for the last 19 years. I have spent almost 100% of those 19 years on different medications, including every antibiotic under the sun, and 3 nine month courses of Accutane (which produced ZERO results other than terrible side effects). Finally, 5 months ago I read about spiro, and asked my derm. She put me on it, and I literally haven't had a single cyst since! I couldn't be happier. I started out at 50mg a day, and after a couple weeks went to my current dosage of 100mg a day. I typically had several extremely large cysts on my face (the type/size that you see pictures of passed around the web, with people commenting on how gross and unbelievable it is). I have SO much confidence, for the first time in my adult life, and it feels great! Also for the first time in my life, I can walk confidently out of the house without wasting an hour of my day on my makeup. I was really beginning to get depressed after the last failed course of Accutane, thinking I'd be stuck with these cysts and related lack of confidence for the rest of my life. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. My only concerns with spiro are: 1. That I'd like to get pregnant in the somewhat near future, and know that I'll need to stop taking it prior to then. From all of the reports that I've read, the acne will return with a vengeance. As vain as it sounds, I want to feel pretty when I'm carrying my child. :) 2. The carcinogenicity. Also along the lines of vanity - I'd be very sad if cancer resulted from someone just wanting clear skin. If you've tried other medications with no luck, and/or have PCOS (as I do), I'd highly recommend you give spiro a try. I wish I had known about it years ago, while I was fighting a discouraging uphill battle with acne.
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April 20, 2010

Pros:

This has been a miracle for me ! 100% clear for several months now. Lost weight (about 9 lbs in about 5 months--which is a lot of weight for my frame).

Cons:

Need to drink a lot of water, so end up going to the bathroom more often. But it's not a huge deal, and drinking more water makes you feel better in general anyway.

I am so so so happy with this medication! It is the only thing that has ever worked for me, and I have had acne for about 12 years (I am in my late 20s now). I had struggled with deeper, small-sized cysts on my chin and jawline for many years--not a ton, but always at least one-two big ones pretty much all the time. If you suspect your acne is hormonal--run to your doctor and ask for this! Seriously. It took me a few months to get to 100% clear, although it started approving within a month. My dose went from 100mg to currently 150mg , and that change led to completely clear, beautiful skin for the first time pretty much EVER for me. I would give it 10 stars if I could!
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April 18, 2010

Pros:

I just started getting acne when I turned 30. I had never had acne ever before. I did not know what was going on. I tried several things-birth control, face washes, acne medication, and I took tetracycline for years. I am now 33 and I had finally had it. I was starting to get nodular acne and I just could not take it anymore. My Dr. suggested taking spironolactone. I was unsure about this but thought I would give it a try. It has been 2 months now and it has completely transformed my life.

Cons:

The price is only $5

My skin is completely clear. I have never felt so good about myself. My confidence level has increased 2 fold. This is something that needs to be well known to everyone who is suffering from hormonal acne. I hope that the word spreads quickly.
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April 17, 2010

Pros:

clear skin. facial hair is starting to thin out (doctor said it will be completely gone within 1 year)

Cons:

big pill, twice a day. you have to get in the habit of remembering to take it.

it's been 4 weeks. i began noticing improvement within 2. my face and body is almost completely clear except for a few pimples. i haven't even doubled my dosage yet, that's next week. i can't wait to see how quickly i'll finish clearing up! Now to work on fading away the blemishes.
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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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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