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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April 12, 2010

Pros:

Touch wood. Cant believe I have not has one spot in last one week now. Amazing

Cons:

cramps, headaches, fatigue, tremors occasionally

My last review was about on my way to getting 99% clear. Today I feel like the chains of acne has broken. I am hoping it stays this way. I take 50mg/day of spironolactone and use differing every night and apply it on my whole face. I have waited 3 months patiently to see the results. I have also changed my diet, I feel it is important to notice a pattern with your acne. If any type of food is causing it, just stop it. I feel just to please my taste buds for few seconds, I get punished with a big spot. I am caffeine,milk and chocolate free. I have realized that these three do make me break out. Guys try hard and I feel you will see the results. Nobody should be a victim of P. Vulgaris. I have not had even one break out in last one whole week, which is not usual. The spots are fading away as well. Eat Healthy, drink water and get good sleep along with everything else and hopefully you will see the result I did.
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March 26, 2010

Pros:

Clear skin!!!! scalp oil greatly reduced (only need to wash my hair every other day compared to everyday) facial oil somewhat reduced (still kind of oily but not as much as before...) confidence!!

Cons:

For the first month I was tired very often, my heart beat was rapid and out of control, VERY thirsty which resulted in terrible headaches if I did not consume enough, irregular menstruation

I've been on Spironolactone for nearly four months now, and the results have been phenomenal. For the first few months, I was on 200mg/day, and I saw my skin clearing after about a month. For the rest of the time due to a heart condition, I've been on 100mg/day. My skin is perfectly clear!!! I'm also using Clindamycin Phosphate Lotion in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide every morning and night. Wow, I have no pimples on my face right now, and it is that time of the month where I was usually full of those little monsters. Let me tell you how great it is to wake up every morning with a clear face. It's so strange, because when I do awake, I am full of anxiety. I run to the mirror and expect a few pimples to have emerged while I was in dreamland, but there isn't anything... I am thrilled, and I encourage everyone to try Spironolactone who hasn't already. It has made such a big amazing difference in my life.
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March 19, 2010

Pros:

Smaller pores, inexpensive, easy to take.

Cons:

not many, just spend a little more time in the bathroom than usual.

After visiting my dermatologist he told me I suffered from hormonal acne. I wouldn't say i had horrible acne but around that time of the month i would get small cysts along my jawline and sometimes even my shoulders, but after taking this medication for a months i have seen my skin improving with each day passing. Not only does it take away my acne ( so glad :) ) but it reduces my body hair growth and even makes me a little more upbeat. My face is red but i believe that may be from the topical gels he gave me as well, he gave me DUAC it doesn't work well for me just burns my skin. But bottom line is this really works! i am so glad spiro came into my life :)
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March 19, 2010

Pros:

Clear skin, less oily skin, less oily hair, and weight loss

Cons:

None. At first maybe slight drowsiness, and some initial breakouts.

I've had terrible relentless acne since about 14 years old and I'm 24 now so..10 years. I've tried all the antibiotics, topicals, and OTC cleansers. Eventually my derm would just start putting me back on the antibiotics I've already been on, just cycling them hoping that I wasn't immune to them. Eventually none of them were working for me anymore. I did my own research on Spiro and actually took it to my gyno who cares a lot more about my skin issue than my derm ever did. He prescribed me spiro and I've almost been on it 5 months now. I rarely get a pimple, and if I do, it is MUCH smaller and on the surface and heals in a couple of days. I no longer get the deep painful pimples anymore, NOT EVEN ON MY PERIOD! It is truly amazing. During my last period, I got 3 very tiny pimples and that was it. That never happens and as soon as I was off my period, I was back to being completely clear. I rarely ever even wash my face anymore, I just don't need to be as obsessed as I used to be. For once in 10 years, I don't have to worry about my skin and every morning I wake up happy to see another day of being 100% clear. I recommend this to anyone, I thought for sure I would be that one person it doesn't work for.. but it did! Please give it a try and be very patient. It took probably the first 3-4 months before I really saw a difference. I only hope that it works for you as well as it did for me, I could not be happier with the results.
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March 4, 2010

Pros:

Easy to take each day, cheap, effective, and minimal side effects.

Cons:

None, so far! Maybe going to the bathroom a few more times a day but it's totally worth it. I'm a huge water drinker - so I was always going to the bathroom anyway!

This has been a miracle drug for me (so far). I've been on this medicine (50mg/day) for about a month and my face is literally night and day. I was very skeptical as I've tried almost every product and medicine on the market. I've been on Accutane, Doryx, Solodyn, all topicals from Metrogel 1% to you name it... I've tried every cleanser, moisturizer, mask, facials....and NOTHING WORKED. It was miserable!!!! My face has not ONE zit on it right now, which is a miracle. The red marks are slowly fading and I'm astonished by how well my body/face has reacted to this medicine. I will be anxious to see if it continues to improve. I am also on Aczone, which has been fabulous. I will keep you all posted. For once, I can look in the mirror without wanting to pick at my face or CRY!!! Please give this medicine a try. It may not work for you, but I hope it gives you the same results it's given me. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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March 3, 2010

Pros:

I dont have any more pimples... At all!

Cons:

dizziness during the first month, but that went away. Dryness as well, but lotion solves that problem.

I have had severe acne since I was 11. I have been on everything, from antibiotics, face creams, and nothing worked. I have also had severe depression because of my face. and its not because Im crazy because whenever my face is clear (which was only now and when Ive been on accutane) have I been happy to be alive and didnt want to stay home and not go out ever... I went on Accutane 3 times and that of course worked every time but after 2-3 years the pimples came back. My derm. didnt even tell me about spironolactone, I researched it myself and told him I wanted on it. As soon as I started taking it, I noticed a difference. My pimples started going away after a week, and I've been on it for a little over a month and my face has never looked so good. Its perfect!! I really recommend this product to anyone with acne, because acne is mainly caused by hormones
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14 user(s) found this helpful

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February 21, 2010

Pros:

This stuff really works.
eliminates oil production
firmer breasts
soft skin

Cons:

getting up frequently to the bathroom at night
initial breakout

I've been using this for 6 weeks and I love this product. I have tried everything and nothing worked for like spiro. I've always had hormonal acne on the chin and jawline cysts large and painful. I did initially break out bad in the first 3-4 weeks. But after week 4 I'm seeing extreme improvement..Started with 6 large cysts per week to nothing...This product does work you have to give it some time for it to kick in your body. It does make your skin dry so keep a good water based moisterizer. I'm so glad my derm perscribed me this..I refuse to take accutane due to all the severe side effects..This is much better.
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February 10, 2010

Pros:

Dramatically less oil, NO MORE ACNE NO MORE CYSTS!! WAsh my hair less, make up stays on all day, boob got slightly larger, I can eat what I want, cheap and easy solution!! increased self esteem I mean what else can I list here!!! Everything is great about it!!

Cons:

I do pee more in the middle of the night since Take this at night. in the beginning I had a terrible Initial breakout, I was lethargic and you have to make sure you drink enough water so you don't get dehydrated

Bottom line.. I was skeptical of taking spiro but I was at my witts end. I had done body cleansing, I changed my diet to take out all refined food and oil (except extra virgin coconut oil) On this diet I lost 10 lbs. I am 5 9' and NOW I weigh 122.. so I was at 112 trying to get my acne to go away..so imagine that.. Now I was taking all kinds of vitamins with the diet like handfuls..And all the while my acne got worse and worse in the course of months I mean huge painful cysts that I never had before. When I went to primary care Dr. I was convinced I had a food allergy and asked her to test me. She suggested spiro and I thought about it for a week before I agreed. I have been waiting to review this product for 3 months and 2 weeks. But I read all of these reviews daily when I first started it, and man did they keep me going.. I had a terrible Initial breakout like 6 large cysts at once and then more in a few days.. and then a month in I wasn't seeing the results I wanted to so I was upped from 50mg to 100mg.. soon my oily skin disappeared. and then my oily hair too!! And then things just got better and better SLOWLY.. but the overall quality of my skin became soft and smooth now!! uggh its fantastic!! I waited this long because I was still having some breakouts until a few weeks ago and today I got my period on schedule but You can't tell by my face!!! this is amazing.. If you are thinking about trying this and you are an adult DO IT!!! Its easy cheap and there are few side effects once you are used to it.. And my skin looks better than before I began having bad acne 4 years ago!! I have my life back and my confidence and I spend soo soo much less time on my face.. THIS IS AWSOME!!!
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January 18, 2010

Pros:

Dramatically less oil. Less facial/body hair growth. Near completely acne free.

Cons:

The only side effects are impaired thinking and reactions. Drowsy/lazy...

First of all, I'm a 20 year old male. I've been on 7 different oral antibiotics, with no success in the long run. I've been on this for 3 months, and my acne is only getting better. I did have an IB, but that's over with now. I started out on 25 mg, now I'm at 100 mg. I can go 2 days without washing my face and see little to no oil. I'm sooo glad I started taking it.
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January 16, 2010

Pros:

Less oil production, which means clearer skin and not needing to wash hair every day.

Considerably less acne.

Hair re-growth diminished.

Cons:

Increased thirst

More frequent urination.

Some headaches at first, maybe due to slight dehydration as this is a diuretic.

I have a testosterone sensitivity which means my skin is horrendously oily all over my body and also my hair grows back like crazy. I took spironolactone from Nov 07 - June 09 and my skin was pretty much perfect. This is the only thing that has ever worked for me, I have tried EVERYTHING!!! A move to a new Doctors meant they were hesitant to prescribe this for me due to the listed side effects so they gave me Retinol but that doesn't help the greasy hair or fast hair re-growth. In the end they have re prescribed spironolactone (thankfully!) I have been taking it for just over a week (100 mg daily) and already I notice the difference! In two months I'll take 50mg a day once my skin is under control. Basically nothing works for me like this does, it's not ideal but until they find a complete cure I'll take this! Also it is better if you take this with food and at the same time daily. If like me nothing else has made a difference just try spironolactone! I hope everyone else has as good and experience as me taking this!
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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.
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