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
February 7, 2018
Thankful
I had severe acne since middle school. I would have acne on my face, back, and chest. Senior year of high school, my acne was so embarrassing that I could never leave the house without makeup because I was so scared of what people would think about me. I went to the dermatologist and she prescribed spironolactone 50mg for my skin. I would take one pill in the morning and one at night. I was also prescribed epiduo which is a gel that you rub into your face after you wash it at night. On top of these two medications I would wash my face with benzoyl peroxide 10% with a Clarisonic electric brush. So just a recap I would take my 50mg spironolactone twice a day, wash my face with 10% benzoyl peroxide twice a day, and then rub epiduo gel on my face. Although it took 3 months to see a difference, the wait was worth it. All three of these things have completely cleared up my acne and I feel like I can finally be myself again. I hope this helps.
July 26, 2017
Has anyone experienced an IB?
I have only been taking spiron for about 2-3 weeks and I am experiencing a pretty interesting breakout. They are deep underneath the skin & I'm noticing a lot of comedone acne which I didn't have much of before either. Could it be that the medication is purging the skin? Im just wondering if it "gets worse before it gets better" and if anyone with more experience with this medicine can vouch for that.
August 7, 2017
I started spiro a week ago and I am a experiencing similar outbreak (little-closed comedones and cystic acne coming to the surface). A lot of reviews I've read said an initial breakout should be expected but doesn't always happen. Some people don't see improvements until 3-5 months. We just have to wait it out!
November 21, 2017
I was wondering if you're still on Spiro and if so, did it start working for you? I've been on it since Oct. 3rd (started on 150mg on the 2nd week) and my face is breaking out terribly. I've yet to see any improvements.
July 25, 2017
Already seeing improvements after a month
My dermatologist started me off with 25mg of the Spironolactone, and this was along the time-frame of me starting my birth control as well (Sprintec). I have PCOS and tend to have painful cystic acne on my jawline and cheeks. I clean my face twice a day, do spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide, or lavender oil. I exfoliate twice a week. I make sure to change out my pillow cases after 2 or 3 days. I feel like Spironolactone kind of boosts the process of clearing your skin. Already I can tell my skin is improving. The pimples I do get are not as painful, and clear up after a couple of days. I am now on 50mg after my 1 month check up. Drinking LOTS of water is imperative!
Soon, I will just need to worry about clearing up my scars. I'm surprised that is coming up sooner that expected! I love this product.
My goal is to not have to wear makeup someday :)
September 5, 2017
Hello, I'm about to start 25mg of Spironolactone today and I'm anxious about the side effects. Are you still taking it today? If so, have you experienced side effects and how is your acne?
November 3, 2016
It really works! Cleared up my acne
This drug is finally what worked for me! I have had acne since I was 10 and in the past 4 years I was getting big, painful cystic pimples around my mouth and jaw that would never seem to go away. They were always worse right before my period, therefore hormonal, and didn't react to any treatments. I had tried EVERYTHING, including BCP, and spiro was my last hope before taking accutane (which freaked me out due to side effects - also, I was skeptical about accutane working for hormonal acne).
Anyways - the first 3 months I started taking 100mg a day of spiro and i became very dehydrated - my period started coming every two weeks. My skin did not seem better but I knew it would take time.
I then reduced my dose to 75mg and made sure to drink A LOT of water (because it does make you dehydrated). My period still seemed to be coming more often than usual (once every 2/3 weeks) but my acne final started to be getting better. My pimples would disappear a lot faster and didn't seem as deep and painful. As annoying as it was to be getting my period so often, I felt it was worth it to (hopefully) get rid of my acne.
Now, I continue to take 75mg/day and my period has regulated to once a month. My acne is 99% improved - I get 2 pimples before my period and am clear the rest of the month. My self confidence is so much better and my skin looks great! I would definitely recommend - but it does take a bit of time - around 4 months I started seeing results.
December 11, 2017
Did you have a purge or was it just the same until you saw immediate results? Gradual results over time maybe?
June 22, 2015
It's ok, but...
So I have been on it for over 11 weeks and there have been improvement in my skin however I have been getting my period every other week, not exaggerating! Then after my last period it went 8 days and started up again! I stopped taking it for a few days and I have been getting really bad headaches, not sure if that's related. I see others comments but no one really stated about if they have had messed up cycles and if that went back to normal...
April 7, 2015
Takes a bit of time to start working.
truly the only thing that has helped the cysts that would not quit appearing on my chin. It's a wonder drug for me, with no side effects whatsoever.
March 17, 2015
Stay patient and hopeful
I never feel the need to write reviews but after dealing with acne I feel I must. I am 20 yrs old and never really had acne until I was about 18. This past year it got worse. My jawline and cheeks were constantly broken out. After seeing three dermatologists over the years NOTHING worked until my latest one. Blood work showed my testosterone levels were high (even though I am a girl) and that was most likely the cause of my acne. She prescribed me solodyn 12 weeks ago and I began the spironolactone 3 weeks later. My face was still breaking out up until about last week. I do have to say the breakouts have not been as bad but I was losing hope of ever getting clear skin. The two prescriptions I believe are working really well together. I am very impatient and it was hard for me to accept that "it gets worse before it gets better." Trust me, it sucks. But honestly stick with it! Waiting three months is nothing compared to never having a clear face. I am finally seeing results after 12 weeks and am glad I did not give up. On 55 mg of solodyn once a day and 50 mg of spironolactone twice a day (total= 100 mg of spiro total) and am a 124 lb girl. No horrible side effects. Coming from the most impatient person ever, stay patient!
March 4, 2015
Spiro was my miracle drug- hope it works a second time!
I began taking spironolactone about 3 years ago after a course of Accutane that produced only temporary results. I took 50 and then 100 mgs a day and it did wonders! Over the course of about 6 months, I had gone from 4-6 cystic pimples to completely clear skin. My dark marks had faded and I was able to live life like a normal human being for the first time in my life. I ran errands, went to the gym, and hung out with my boyfriend all without a stitch of makeup-- something I never believed would be possible for me after suffering from moderate-severe acne for 10 years. I decided in May of last year to go off the medication. I incorrectly thought that maybe my hormones had leveled out by 26 years old and that didn't have to take the spiro anymore. Life was great for 6 months after going off spiro but then I began to break out again. I wouldn't say worse than before, but about the same as before spiro. I began taking the med again last December and after almost 3 months my skin has definitely improved but I still have at least 2 cysts and a gaggle of little pimples at any given time. Of course there are a ton of new scars that will take forever to heal. I'm hoping that spironolactone will again work for me and I can feel human again. It's really depressing to feel like you always have to hide. Summary:
In terms of it's effectiveness, I give spironolactone a RESOUNDING 5 stars. This stuff really really worked for me! For those of us with hormonal acne who do not want to use (or re-use) Accutane, it might be the only option- and thank god it's a good one. The only reason why I subtracted a star is because it's not a long term solution. One day I hope to become pregnant and I will have to stop using the drug. I wonder if it's worth it to use a drug as a band-aid, or if I should be investing my time in longer-term solutions that I can utilize indefinitely? Maybe it's worth it to do a second course of Accutane if it means curing my acne for good. For now, I will stick with the spiro and hope that my hormones level out on their own.
February 3, 2016
I am in a similar boat. I was in spironolactone for over 4 years with great results and about 6 months ago I decided to wean myself off because I'm almost 26 and assumed my hormones would be leveled out. I tapered down for about 3 months and then quit completely 3 months ago. Well of course, my skin is breaking out again. Nothing horrible, but enough to make me regret quitting. I started taking the pills again a week ago. I pray it goes back to the way it's been the last couple years with no initial breakout! How is your skin doing now?
April 24, 2013
Cons:
Severe initial breakout
Breakouts in new places
Occasional dizziness
Muscle Cramps
I've been on Spiro for 10 weeks and it has absolutely contributed to my recent breakthrough in my skin. The first 4-6 weeks were torture, my breakouts were mostly inflamed pustules on my chin/jaw and within 2 weeks it moved my cheeks. Finally after 10 weeks im noticing that I'm breaking out less and less and my skins is mostly smooth to the touch. BE PATIENT, please ladies stick it out. I read other reviews on acne.org during bad breakout days to keep my spirits up.
February 11, 2013
Pros:
Got ride of my acne completely for the year I was on it. I never had such flawless skin. Also, it helped with bloating and water retention because it's a mild diuretic (can make you look slimmer).
Cons:
Makes skin look a bit older because of diuretic effects (I already have dry skin). Might worsen depression or anxiety (although it didn't for me). I had to stop taking it for two reasons but most people would have no issue with this 1. I started reacting to salicylates (spiro always has minty stuff in it for some reason) and because my doctor thought it might partially be to blame for developing focal nodular hyperplasia on my liver.
It was a godsent. Spiro is the only thing that cleared my hormonal cystic acne. Lathering my super sensitive skin with products never did a thing for me, if anything it probably made it worse. I have been off for a little over a year now and 6 months after I was breaking out again, although it's nowhere as bad as it was before I took it (just whiteheads, no cysts). I'm sad I had to stop taking it, because it REALLY worked. If you've tried everything like me, GIVE SPIRO A CHANCE.
Pros:
reduces breakouts
reduces pustule inflammation