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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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 12, 2010

Pros:

The Hope of treating the real reason for my acne which is HORMONES.

Cons:

SE: Fatigue, sluggish laziness, decreased appetite, decreased muscle mass, increased thirst, freq urination, risk of dehydration, cloudy thinking, slightly depressed mood, initial break-out-- with acne in new unlikely areas of the face.

I have been on Spiro for a mere 24 days. I am 35 and have had acne since I was 12 so basically I started Spiro b/c I am literally at my wits end- I need freedom from this miserable condition. I have always linked my acne to horms -- like many of us ladies our breakouts are very predictable pre menst or during the cycle. So Spiro seems like the best fit for me. Spiro does definitely have its SE. The most concerning for me is not the thirst and urination it is the extreme fatigue and the lazy sluggishness I feel-- Just generally unmotivated-- Which is not like me-- I tend to get a lot handled, so I really hope this SE fades to grey soon! The inital breakout was preceeded by me missing a dose-- a link? Maybe. I now take it at 10am and 10pm regularly. The initial break outs (2) were very stressful, but breakouts are familliar to me so I got through them. Today (day 24) I have no new spots and the old breakouts are healing slowly. I take zinc and C to aide healing -- as well as flax seed oil. Bottom line, it is worth a shot. Just be educated, consisent, and persistent in drinking a lot (like 80 oz of water/day) of water! This will help diminish the SE-- it helps me. Oh-- also watch blood potassium levels. Take care all.
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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 4, 2010

Pros:

Very cheap, easy to use, no side effects for me.

Cons:

Didn't clear my acne even though i took it with Dianette and used Differin.

I was very hopeful as this has worked for so many of you. But after using Spironolactone, Dianette and Differin for 3 years my acne has not improved. Back to Accutane (again). If, like me, you don't get side effects from Spiro you might as well stick with it and see what happens. I hope you have better luck!
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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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March 2, 2010

Pros:

Try it if you haven't. Jawline cysts have just about disappeared.

Cons:

Thirsty a lot and I have to pee all the time. Heart palpitations.

Unfortunately I didn't get the breast enlargement or body hair reduction like other women, but oh well. I've had acne since age 11 (when I had my first period), took every antibiotic, used every cream, ended up on accutane at age 15 which was effective for a few years. Do to liver problems I couldn't do accutane again, and went on spiro at age 20ish. This stuff really works, my jawline cysts have disappeared, I still get one or two pimples right before my period but they are superficial. I am also on the pill and use differin .3% every night as well as moisturizer day and night. I wish I had started using this in my teens, as now I have lots of scarring which dramatically affects my self esteem. Please try spironolactone if you haven't yet. I'd take being thirsty, peeing a lot, and heart palpitations any day over stupid acne.
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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 18, 2010

Pros:

Larger breasts, no significant side effects, relatively cheap & easy compared to other acne meds

Cons:

Doesn't work for me, some fatigue

I'm apparently one of the unlucky few that this med does nothing for. It hasn't made my acne worse; it just hasn't done anything at all. I have not experienced any drying up of my greasy, oily skin at all. I was so disappointed - I was so looking forward to that aspect if nothing else! I might as well take sugar pills for all the good it's done. I've taken 100 mg daily religiously for 7 months so it's not as if I haven't given it a good try. I still recommend it to others because I haven't experienced any significant side effects from it (except for some fatigue, which I can get from any drug), and it seems to work so well for so many. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. It's on to Accutane (again) for me. I hope you have better luck.
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February 15, 2010

Pros:

Thinner from loosing water weight and slightly larger breasts

Cons:

Made my acne unbearably horrible (every pore seemed to have enlarged and be clogged), hair thinned and dryed out, thirsty & peeing constantly, since the begining of starting it went into a depression (not normal for me), more frequent periods and spotting, I swear my face looked puffier while on it, and this is probably the worst side effect I had, about 3 months into it my skin complexion started to turn yellowish!

I know these side effects I had sound extreme and I do not think they are typical at all. I seem to definitly be the exception here. I still do not know but I think I may have had almost like a allergic reaction to this medication. What I also suspect is my liver was already not in good shape and the diuretic effect of this medication was really dehydrating me causing my liver & kidneys to not expel toxins from my body (total speculation..I really have no idea for sure). The yellow skin was really wierd, my mom noticed it first. I always had pale ivory skin with rosy cheeks which was totally taken from my face. I had no glow I just looked sick. I can't even beleive I hung in there as long as I did (5 months)!! Since being off of it for a month, my skin has dramatically cleared and Im feeling so much better! If anyone starts having these odd side effects I had, puffy & yellowish skin, it will not get better! Be smarter than I was and stop taking it immedietly!
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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