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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October 4, 2010

Pros:

-to be determined

Cons:

-the awful minty taste
-breaking out more

Ive just started this medication 2 weeks ago, and since being on it, Ive actually started to break out more and get those "acne scar pock marks"!!! I am so stressed and upset over this and wanting to quit, but Im only into week 2. My derm. has asked me to be on it for 3 months until my next follow up with him. I know this will take time, but so far the initial result is making my skin worse than it was before. Ive always heard/read that when your on acne medication, your skin could potentially get worse in the first stage but gets better later on. I just have to be patient about it I guess. Has anyone had the same effects like I have? HELP!!!
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September 20, 2010

Pros:

Cleared Acne, lost some water weight, tolerable side effects.
Cost is CHEAP, compared to other medications.

Cons:

For the first few weeks, I was VERY tired; but then, after the first few weeks, the tiredness went away.
I have to drink lots and LOTS of water so that i don't get dehydrated and get a headache; as a consequence, i pee SO much, like 10 times a day, atleast.
Slow progress; it took me about four months to see any significant results.

I just want to encourage anyone who is just starting spironolactone and don't seem to see any fast improvements... this medication takes some time so please be patient. I read many reviews on this site that told me to be PATIENT, and i am glad that i listened and persisted because after about 4 months in, i am reaping the benefits! :) Spironolactone is working for me; i don't have any 'active' pimples on my face (for the first time in how many months???) and i am now being patient about the scars fading... good luck and hope for the best. acne sucks and i know how it feels.. be patient.
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September 20, 2010

Pros:

Has reduced my acne quite a bit. However I am still getting some minor stuff.

Cons:

Frequent trips to the bathroom!

I have had acne for eight years and have tried everything minus accutane. My derm gave me this and said if it did not get rid of the problem then accutane would be my next step. I started three mounths ago my dosage was 100mg 2x with birth control. Now I was bumped up to 150mg which is the max with birth control so that is 175mg all together. I love how less oily I am infact I am never oily which is so cool! I still have some minor breakouts but I have only been on it for three mounths and my derm was immpressed. I go back in decmeber that is seven mouths total and hopefully I will be acne free! This is a great product to try before resorting to accutane. If this does not work accutane will. Beacuse my problem is oil. Give this a try you might be susprised.
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September 16, 2010

Pros:

Worked great

Cons:

Side effects

Worked great but after taking just under a year I started getting tingling in my feet and hands. Talked to the Dr. and he stated it was due to the medication. I also had to urinate a lot. Stopped taking it and about a week later both of the side effects stopped.
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September 14, 2010

Pros:

Significantly reduced breakouts.

Cons:

Some fatigue throughout the day; dry skin.

Spironolactone works.Try it, especially if you're at your wits end. It takes a few months to kick in. For me it took about four to five months to work. I did have an initial breakout in the first six weeks, but it slowed down to just a few pimples here and there once it began working. Now, if I get a pimple, it heals in just a few days. Before Spironolactone, I would get several cysts at one time, and they would take weeks to heal... And then leave that horrible hyperpigentation. Now I'm just working on fading those scars!
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August 24, 2010

Pros:

With spironolactone, my face is the clearest it has been in almost 25 years (I am now 40)
I was always a terrible "picker," but I no longer do this as there is nothing to pick at!

Cons:

Felt very tired for the first few days taking it, but as with many medications, your body must get used to it, so after a few days I no longer felt fatigued
Give your body a chance to get used to it--it is well worth taking

I am 40 years old and have had moderate (but persistent) acne since puberty. I was on antibiotics off and on for years. My face would break out before that time of month and then take a couple weeks to clear up and I'd have only a few days of clearer skin before the whole cycle started over again. When surveys ask, "How many days a month do you have blemishes?" I thought it was a joke. For me it would have been better to ask, "How many days a month do you NOT have blemishes?" Answer: Not many! I became an expert in concealing blemishes. Within 2 days of starting to take 50mg of Spironolactone a day, my skin cleared up 95% !!! I hate to think of all the money I've spent over the years on cleansers, lotions, medications, dermatologist appts, etc.--but no more !!! I'm just glad that I won't be wasting any more money on products that don't work for me. In addition to the 50mg per day of Spironolactone, my dermatologist also prescribed Aczone (which I had never heard of), Retin-A, SkinCeuticals Clarifying Cleanser and SkinCeuticals Daily Moisturizer. The cleanser has a pleasant, light scent and is not too drying and the moisturizer is not too heavy (most of my life I have not needed to use any moisturizer). I also use Olay Complete Defense UV protection for my face--I use it every day to prevent sun damage. It does not make my face feel oily. Am also using GLO minerals foundation and their redness reducing powder (I bought these at my dermatologist). The redness reducing powder has a yellow tint and does a great job of covering redness so you don't need to use a heavy layer of foundation. I have used many birth control pills over the years and I recently switched to Jolessa (generic Seasonale). I have had migraine headaches since the 3rd grade. Since I have switched to this pill, I have had only 1 headache in 2 months! For me, amazing! Thanks to everyone who commented on this website! I had never heard of spiron
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August 18, 2010

Pros:

My acne is almost gone, weight loss, hair less oily.

Cons:

need to drink more water
sore back at first but this has gone now
period irregular

My dermatologist prescribed Roaccutane but after reading about iall the side effects. I wanted to try spiro first. I have taken Yasmin in the past but have been unable to continue due to bad migraines. Spiro has made a big difference already to my hormonal acne. I started on 50mg daily and have been on 100mg daily now for about a month. I still have a few pimples but am hoping I will be completely clear soon. I am 39 years of age and wish I had known about this years ago!
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August 16, 2010

Pros:

-I almost never get acne anymore
-I never get cystic acne anymore
-Lighter body hair
-Lost water weight
-Less oily skin / hair

Cons:

-More light-headedness when I stand up quickly
-Some doctors require that you get your blood drawn regularly to check electrolyte levels (I have only had to do this once in 1.5 years)

I first heard about this in Elle magazine, and I am so glad I asked my doctor about it (though she had to look it up, as she'd never heard of it being used this way). I have been taking 50mg/day for about 1.5 years with no problems and consistent results. Though I've never had terrible acne, I always got it hormonally. And whenever I got acne, I would pick at it (check out [link removed] for more info). This would create a vicious cycle in which picking would lead to more acne, etc. When my skin was bad, I'd get depressed, become a recluse, and buy ridiculous, expensive skin products in hopes that they'd save my skin. Spironolactone is the only thing that has helped me break that cycle (and I've tried everything from OTC washes to extreme diet changes, only to realize that my acne is completely hormonal). My skin is now beautiful all of the time. I no longer wear makeup to bed with my boyfriend, and I don't have to hide in shadows when I walk down the street. I don't dread stores with fluorescent lighting. The list goes on! Why not give it a try? Give yourself a chance to start living your life fully. For $20-$30/3 months, it's well worth it.
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August 16, 2010

Pros:

clears up skin, no more cysts, weight loss, cheap

Cons:

dehydration, no period

I've been on spironolactone for about 1.5 years and absolutely love it! I tried everything but accutane, and this was the one product that worked. It does make you more vulnerable to dehydration, but you become used to just drinking more water. Another issue is that I don't get my period, which my doctors were concerned about. I had blood tests done though and everything was fine. I went on the pill to start getting my period again but it made my skin worse (tried both Yaz and Ortho-Tri-Cyclen) so I have now stopped it. I continue to take 75mg of spironolactone a day. Topically I am now using adapalene (differin) to get rid of scars and aczone for redness. DON'T USE EPIDUO! Everyone may react differently but myself and my friend both got rashes, extreme dry skin and burning sensations from epiduo. One last recommendation for people who get cysts- as soon as you feel it forming apply the Proactiv Sulfur Mask onto it and let it sit overnight, and continue to use it until the cyst is gone. The stuff works miracles on the cysts and decreases the swelling.
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August 12, 2010

Pros:

cleared acne by 90%
hair is less oily and stronger
less facial hair (moustache)
increase in breast size
no or little bloating at time of month
skin is not oily anymore

Cons:

some side effects which seem to straighten out after getting used to it: majorly heavy/watery period - spiro is a diruetic (makes you lose water), frequent periods (every 10 days), dizzy, dehydrated, have to pee more often, panicky/tingly feeling probably from the dizziness and dehydration

my side effects were so severe at first i stopped taking spiro. i was on 50 2x daily. i then went back on and started at a lower dose (50 1x daily) and the side effects pretty much went away aside from a very watery period (sorry for the detail)! it did take over 2 months to see results for my acne, but they are incredible with it mostly gone! last month i didn't even get any pimples during PMS and now/sometimes i have a few small ones here and there but have upped my dose to 75 to see if that will take care of the last strays. i am also on ACZONE topical cream which stops any acne i do get from becoming inflammed, cyst-like, etc. overall, this is a great pill if your acne is hormonal. mine was hormonal and covered my jaw-line and upper neck (beard area on a man). it was so awful (cysts that would last months) and i had tried just about everything else to no avail. i was so affected by it i became like a hermit, not wanting to show my face anywhere since i even had a hard time covering it with makeup. this prescription has changed my life!
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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