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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1
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Used Spironolactone? Rate It:

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July 10, 2011

Pros:

Got rid of 100% of my acne and I have had stubborn acne since I was 12, I'm 20 now.

Cons:

-Vaginal dryness

-Nocturia

-Took almost 5 months to work

Overall, great pill. Just be sure to get your electrolytes checked to check if your potassium is within normal limits. This pill can increase potassium in the body which can lead to cardiac problems.
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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!
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July 8, 2011

Pros:

Less hormonal acne
Less oily skin and hair

Cons:

Takes a LONG time to work
Dizziness
Caffeine Sensitivity
Joint/muscle aches
Longer periods
Frequent Urination
Frequent Thirst/dehydration

I was on this drug for about 6 months before I started to see a noticeable difference. I am also prescribed doxycycline and Finicea gel. At about six months I saw a huge difference in my skin. I thought things were fine and I went off this medicine around month nine due to all of the side effects I was having and as a result, I had the worst breakout of my life with in two week of not taking this. Two months later I am back on Spiro and my face is finally starting to clear up some. While it does take a long time for some to start seeing the results it does do a nice job overall decreasing the amount of oil production.
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July 8, 2011

Pros:

Don't know yet

Cons:

Initial breakout?

I recently started this medication. Went from 25 mg up to 75 mg where I am currently at now. I have only been on it for three weeks and I am havig the WORST breakout !! Has anyone experienced this ??? Is it normal ? How long does it last? Please give feedback. The derm says to stick it out but this is horrible.
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July 4, 2011

Pros:

*AMAZING
*cleared my acne up 100%

Cons:

*only side effect is getting my period more often

I love this stuff. Before starting this I could not go near dairy, it would break me out like crazzzzzy. But now I can eat any kind of dairy I want! I love it! This had made my skin way less oily. Before this my face looked like an oil spill, it was gross, and now by the end of the day if I don't touch it up it is only kinda oily. This along with tretinoin had cleared my acne up 100%! And you can read my review on tretinoin on the other page!
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June 22, 2011

Pros:

Clearer skin
Less cystic acne
Lighter periods

Cons:

Sore breasts
Longer periods
Vaginal dryness

I started taking 50mg of Spiro 3 months ago. I'm now into my second month of 100mg. My breasts are sore all the time, don't seem any larger though. My period is lighter, but lasts 7-9 days now when it used to be 4-5. My skin is finally clearing up and I have only had a few along my jawline but nothing unmanagable like before I started this medication. I am now experiencing vaginal dryness that just started and that's annoying. It's never been an issue before but now sex causes some discomfort. I'm 37 and very sexually active with my husband. Thank goodness for KY jelly and LOTS of foreplay. I didn't notice a difference in my skin until I started taking 100mg. With 50 mg I was still breaking out almost as badly as before I started taking it. I don't take BC with it, just Spiro alone. If you suffer from hormonal acne, give this a try. It takes a long time to start working for most. For me it's taken 5 months to start noticing a difference. I guess the cons are worth the clear skin so I will keep taking it. I still break out before my period, it's not a miracle drug and you won't wake up looking like a supermodel, but it does help. Please don't write a review after taking this RX for a week. It takes far longer than that to see good results. I had a bad breakout after 2 months in places I usually don't break out like on my cheeks and forehead. I haven't experienced any nausea or felt light headed or any bad symptoms like some. Just sore boobs and an eternal period! Oh and feeling like there's a cotton gin in my vagina. But my skin is clear!
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June 22, 2011

Pros:

Clears pimples
Lost water weight
No bloating
Minty taste
Only 1 pill a day

Cons:

None

I have only been on this for a week so I know its too early to write a review but I just had to share my experience so far. I am so excited because so far it's been a MIRACLE PILL!! I had a beautiful clear face up until I turned 25 (I am now 35), and then started getting bad cystic acne. When you all of a sudden get acne after your teen years it is usually because of a change of hormones. I have tried everything and my last resort was Accutane but decided not to take it and switched Dermotologists. This new doctor gave me a prescription for Spiro (100mg) and Tazorac. I noticed an immediate difference, my pimples have gone away and there are currently none coming in, which is an absolute miracle! Even my complexion is more radiant! And NO side effects. Its really crazy! Im so happy with the results so far and can't wait to see what is still to come.
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June 21, 2011

Pros:

clear hormonal acne, less oil

Cons:

thirsty, can cause hypersensitivity quite badly

I am 41 and have been suffering moderate adult acne for some years, it goes on and off. I have tried almost everything, accutane 3 times (first 2 times worked well but failed in the 3rd time), AHA peeling (worsen) and BHA peeling (helped but not 100% cleared). The past 2 years the condition got worse and I started to have cyst nearly everyday. So I asked my GP to prescribe me Spiro, I started on 25/05, 50mg per day. I saw results in 2 weeks, no new cyst nor pimple! I was so happy until the 3rd week, I had developed urticaria or hives all over my body, even my scalp was itchy, then I went to the doctor to get an injection but continued taking spiro. 4 days later the injection the condition got worse and I noticed that I am those 1 to 10 out of 100 whom may experience hypersensitivity to spiro. Now I have to stop and seek for another source. May try chelated Zinc and Omega 3 combination, heard it helps with hormonal acne too. Good luck eveyone.
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June 16, 2011

Pros:

Cleared acne
Slightly fuller breasts
Life changing

Cons:

A little bit more thirsty

I had clear skin my entire life until I hit the age of 21. Suddenly I had horrible acne all over my cheeks, jawline and around the sides of my mouth (at all times, not just during period). It was so bad that I rarely left my room, and I wouldn't even let my boyfriend see me unless the lighting in the room was extremely dim. Suddenly, I stopped hanging out with friends and couldn't even bare going into the grocery store. My face itched constantly because of the severity of my acne and the irritation it caused. I literally felt that if this condition continued, life wasn't worth living. I felt like a monster. I dealt with this for a year, accumulating pitted scars and hyperpigmentation, until I decided I needed to take something orally. After reading many reviews I took the leap and asked my dermatologist for spiro. I was afraid of the side effects I'd read about, but I personally didn't have to deal with them. The only side effect I've noticed is a slight breast enlargement (I was a medium A cup, and now i'm a B cup..so it was nothing too drastic). It also makes me a little bit more thirsty, so i keep a bottle of water on my night stand. It took about 2 months of taking 100 mg at night for me to begin to see results. My skin began to clear and the size of my acne decreased. At 3 months, things were looking much much better. I've now been on 100 mg for 5 months and my skin is 90% better. I still get an occasional pimple, but i'm not complaining. I can now live my life without obsessing over my skin in the mirror for hours each day. If I had known about this medication earlier in my case of acne so I wouldn't have to deal with the ice pick and boxcar scars I now have acquired. I hope my review is helpful to someone out there who may be experiencing a loss of confidence due to acne. It may not work for everyone, but It worked amazingly for my type of acne (adult onset, more acne each day). I will continue to take spironolactone.
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June 12, 2011

Pros:

Skin cleared up almost completely within one month
Larger breasts

Cons:

Weight gain
Periods are heavier and longer
Constant headaces
Didn't sleep well
Urinating often

I'm 26 years old, I've been suffering with acne for years. I went to the dermotoligst and told them I needed to get my acne under control. I had horrible painful cystic acne. She told me that it was hormonal and because I do not want to be on birthcontrol she put me on Aldactone/Spironolactone 100mg - 1 tab daily (I told the doctor that I have breakouts throughout the month not just around ovulation or menstration time) I wish she would have given me info about the sideffects of this medication because I wouldn't have been wondering what was wrong with me these past three months that I've been taking this medication. My skin cleared up within one month and it was so nice to finally not have to wear makeup all the time!! I just stopped taking this medication two weeks ago because of the increase in headaches I've been having. I gained 15lbs while on this medication and I've lost 10 in the short time I've stopped taking it. So right now I think I'm going to not continue the medication, I wish I didn't have so many issues with the sideffects :( But I know I will miss the clear skin and the giant boobs (they were seriously sooo big and swollen I swore I was pregnant)
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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