Acne.org Products
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
January 22, 2014
Lifesaver!
Cons:
Patience is not easy
Breakouts with dosage increase
Thirsty, dry mouth, bit of motion sickness
Me: College student, very fair skinned, petite, outdoorsy but not athletic.
Problem: Excessively oily (<2 hours after applying makeup), constant cystic acne lasting weeks at surface with many more lurking beneath the surface esp. cheeks and jaw, additional pimples littered randomly, scarring, hyperpigmentation. Occasional acne on back and chest.
Solution: Wash and moisturize with CeraVe products every morning and night. Worked my way up over 7 months from 50 to 150mg/day. Initial breakout for every increase in dose. Have not had a new cystic pimple since initial dose. First month saw huge decrease in oil production, back and neck clear by third month in addition to great decrease in cystic acne. By sixth month totally free of cystic acne, decreased oil w/o drying skin. That said I am chronically thirsty and peeing like a racehorse, also, with the water loss I went down a cup size which is a little sad since I am not a buxom girl to begin with, but considering that my cystic acne used to make me skip class, parties, dates etc if it was just too bad, my happiness in infinitely increased. I am no longer too ashamed to let my boyfriend touch my face, or terrified of standing in the wrong light or checking up on my makeup between every class.
I have tried various regimens, amoxicillin, doxycycline, various diets, etc, and nothing worked on the deeper issue. Today I still have to deal with regular pimples, but its nothing compared to serious emotionally damaging uncontrollable and unpredicatable cystic acne I started getting around age 19. It been very hard learning to get out of the habit of obsessing over my skin, now that I don't need to worry about it.
Also beware, since I began spironolactone I have noticed that in terms of the few baby pimples I still get now and then, even just a tiny bit of picking will leave me with a scar. Huh.
December 18, 2012
Pros:
Stops acne, mostly the cystic ones, at the root of the problem- hormones.
Cons:
Doesn't get rid of all acne
v-e-r-y-y-y-s-l-o-o-o-o-w process
bad initial breakout that lasted several months
This medicine saved me. I struggled on and off with mild acne until about 22 when the hormonal acne really got out of control. I was miserable and wanted to hide and couldn't tell anyone how I felt because I was too embarrassed... Other people didn't realize how bad it was (or that's what they said) because I got so good at doing my makeup and they couldn't feel the physical and emotional pain I was in. It sounds dramatic-- But true.
I started taking this in late January 2011. It is now almost 11 months later and I haven't had a cystic pimple in months (knock on wood!) and my skin continues to break out less and less every month. I broke out very badly for a few months after I started taking it (100mg), so PLEASE BE PATIENT. After a few months I bumped it up to 150. I had this glorious image of myself on the beach that summer with flawless skin sans makeup... false. It is a bit irritating though because I do still have some of the deep little clogs and bumps and enlarged pores, but nothing compared to before. Hopefully this medicine will continue to reveal it's slow results! It didn't happen over night, or in a few weeks, or even a few months. I know some people say it does for them, and I hope it does for you too, but just remember it may take time but it is worth it. I didn't notice many side effects but make sure to stay hydrated, be careful when you are drinking alcohol, etc, and don't forget to take it for more than a day or so. I just fear the day my dermatologist tells me to stop taking it. I plan on being on this medicine for as long as possible.
November 14, 2012
Pros:
CLEARER SKIN!
Got rid of existing acne
Its a pill so i just take it with my multivitamin (maybe just a pro for me)
Worked Quickly
No real side effects from pill
Cons:
A little drying
I've only been on it for a month, but my acne has gotten sooo much better. I take a 50mg pill 2x daily with the antibiotic Doxycycline (also 2xdaily). These two pills together have gotten my skin so much clearer in a month than I ever thought was possible. I live at the beach so in the summer Im in the salt water everyday and my skin is awesome. I dont need makeup and its great, but as soon as summer is over and im not in the sun and water anymore my skin goes crazy with cystic acne. Its been like this since I was 16 and am now 22. Anyway in the past 6 months my skin has gone from the best its ever been to the worst and now to pretty good again. Im very excited to continue taking it because the dermatologist says i will see full affects at 3 months. I hope that this pill will enable me to have clear skin all year.
June 18, 2012
Pros:
- left my skin smooth and clear, no oilyness and cleared up my back
Cons:
- i had a horrible initial breakout
- need to pee constantly
this medication works! i first started using it and my face cleared a little bit, then one month into the medication i had the worst breakout of my entire life. i didnt want to go to work, i didnt want to see anyone. makeup did not cover the horrible breakout. however i stuck it through and now im a little past 3 months and my skin is finally improving so much. all i have is the redness leftover. no actual bumps or pimples or cysts. it also cured me of the acne on my back. i can wear makeup for 8+ hours without reapplying powder from oilyness. it took a long time for this med to work but it WORKED and im so happy i stuck it thru. please be patient it will work for u. btw im 19 yrs old and my acne started at 18 so i thought this med was for older women but it worked for me!!
March 23, 2012
Pros:
-no cysts in 3 months
-was able to stop taking diuretic for high BP, as this does the same thing
-no side effects
-affordable
Cons:
-I do still break out
-May increase cancer risk
I'm 46, have had cystic acne since I was 18. I've been on antibiotics off and on since I was 21, was last on minocin for around 15 years. I tried this several years ago, and stopped due to nausea. I only tried it again b/c my dr. said I had to come off the minocin (I have blue spots all over my legs, and my teeth are grey) and I was desperate b/c topicals have never done it for me (even though I do still use Retin-A .1%, benzaclin, and sulfacetamide lotion). So far, it's doing a decent job; I broke out badly at first, but things settled down and my skin dried out some. I have some small pimples on my chin that will *not* go away, but they aren't getting worse, either. If this keeps working, and doesn't cause any health problems, I'll be very pleased. Worth a try, esp. if, like me, you aren't willing to go the Accutane route.
January 20, 2012
Pros:
Works!!
Spiro works great!! Started it at the beggining of Dec -- Now January 20th combined with Doryx in the AM, my skin in COMPLETELY clear!! I love this stuff!!!!!!
January 18, 2012
Pros:
Clears acne so well. Even huge painful cysts.
Cons:
You do have to wait a while to see results. I am 100mg daily, plus I'm on diabex for PCOS. I also use Proactiv as a topial cleanser, which is so great. I waited 4 months before I stopped breaking out in the painful cysts on my face. I still get tiny zits around my period. I have notived I get a LOT of coldsores now. Like instead of pimples I get coldsore before every period. I urinate more, & my periods come more frequent. I get quite emotional too.
The bottom line is BE PATIENT. You take it everyday & see no results for months & then bam you just stop breaking out. Like I said I had to wait 4 months, but it was worth it. I've been on Doxycycline, Ruaccutane, topical gels, etc. Aldactone works great. I just wish I wasn't now getting coldsores every month. I've heard it can be caused from hormone shifts. I did get my periods like clock work EVERY 28 days, now I get them every 22-24 days, but they're a bit lighter. Haven't noticed much difference with hair, yet another reason why I take it. It does increase fertililty, so be careful, because if you get pregnant & it's a boy, he can have hormone problems.
July 9, 2011
Pros:
Side effects are minimal
Doesn't cause nausea like other oral medication
Cons:
Takes a long time to work?
Increases thirst, frequent urination
I have been on Spironolactone for about 2 months now and my skin is worse....my breakouts used to be all over my chin and forehead (t-zone), but were small. Now I am getting red cystic acne along my jaw line and neck. The dermatologist increased my dose to 150 mg per day, and that is with an antibiotic. Could someone please let me know if this happened to them? Or if there skin got much worse when they increased dosage? She said if this doesn't work it's going to be accutane, and I want to give it time before I try that. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
April 13, 2011
Pros:
cyst-free skin
less oily skin and hair
less facial hair
Cons:
headaches
irregular periods
nausea
thirst
weird dreams
I have been on spiro for about 3 years. I started on 50 mg and then was increased to 200mg/day. At 200mg I had beautiful skin, but I was constantly feeling depressed and nauseous. The dr. reduced the dose to 150mg/day. I tried to reduce it again to 100mg/day but my dhea levels started to climb again (monitored by endocrinologist). I now stay on 150 mg. Ever since I started taking spiro, the cysts subsided. It was getting to the point where I was depressed about my skin (at 45 year old). I always had acne but never cysts that were so painful. Spiro is a great drug, but there are a lot of side effects. I now get my period every 12-15 days...dr. worries about iron deficiency and it's a nuisance. I sometimes feel more moody than I used to be, but, all in all, I would highly recommend it. I'm hoping I can stop taking it when I hit menopause.
May 28, 2010
Pros:
I started three days ago and my face is no longer oily.
Cons:
Frequent visits to the bathroom.
I have had horrible acne since the tender age of eleven. I have very sensitive skin so finding the right treatment has been a challenge. I am 19 now and my derm recomended Accutane, but I declined. Now i am on 50mg 2x a day as well as monocyline 2x a day, YAZ, and I must use Acanya at night. So far so good my face is no longer oily, my complextion is no longer fire engine red. I just began these treatments, so it is too early to tell if they will work or not. I pray they do beacuse I don't want to go the Accutane route. I will update latter, for those like me who have to deal with this. You have my deepest sympathy, and if this pill as well as the other things work I will say something so that others can be helped.
Pros:
Clears cystic acne very effectively
Inexpensive with insurance
Decreases oil, inhibits testosterone