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 27, 2009

Pros:

Less oil, almost perfect skin.

Cons:

Small increase in urination frequency. Tender breasts wk before period.

I never really had an acne problem until turning 36. I started getting painful cyst like breakouts esp. a week before my period. I started going to a dermatologist. We tried Benzaclin in the AM and Differin in the PM. Then added RX Oracea to the mix. Not much improvement. Then I heard about spiro on the news one night. Asked my derm about it and I started 50mg 1xaday for 7 days then 100mg a day after that. I'm on my second month (2nd period) and what a difference! My first month better, this month one breakout that was gone after 2days. I did not get worse before better, and I do think my breasts have increased, I find this a con for me. My period has stayed the same, no spotting. I noticed a reduction in oil the first week. I am happy so far.
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March 18, 2009

Pros:

Clear skin, less oil in skin,less cystic type acne,fewer hormonal breakouts,smooter overall skin,less amount of facial hair(eyebrows,ect.)

Cons:

dryness, thirsy more often, only available for women.

Works great for hormonal acne. I have tried a few other oral meds for my acne and this is the only one that seems to work. I use to have pretty severe acne when I was 16-18 years old. Now Im 20 and I have been on spiro. for almost 2 years now. It not only has helped to clear my skin but it helps with oil. I rarely feel the need to wash my face in the middle of the day. I definitly recommend this medication to anyone who tends to break out around their period.
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March 17, 2009

Pros:

reduced oil on face, helped breakouts

Cons:

dry skin, makes you pee a lot!

This is the only medication I've ever been on that helped my oiliness. That part is great. It didn't clear my pimples as much as I would like, but it did help quite a bit. Right now I am spiro plus minocycline, retin A micro, and duac gel and my skin is STILL not clear so it's frustrating! I will probably have to try accutane as a last resort and I am not looking forward to those side effects. All in all I would recommend this medicine for people with moderate acne.
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March 12, 2009

Pros:

WOW! Cleared my skin in one week; only costs $10 for a month supply with insurance; works fast; small pill. Never bloated, lost 5 pounds, still waiting and hoping for bigger boobs :)

Cons:

Not much at all! A little bit of initital breakout, but not much more than normal, and they are not cystic and they go away in a day. Makes me VERY sleepy. I've been going to bed at 9:30 every night, I pee a bit more each day. Blood tests/potasium

I recommend that you take this pill at bedtime so you aren't extra sleepy during the day. After reading all of the reviews on here, I went back to my dermatologist and requested this medication. He was relectant and tried to get me to use Accutane. I am 32 and have had porcelain-perfect skin my entire life, all through puberty until I was in my late 20's and then I started to get acne. This year the acne started to become cystic and started to scar. I'm getting married now in 7 months and decided to try a few more things before I gave up. He had put me on antibiotics which made me get chronic yeast infections (that was fun), then he gave me a topical which did absolutely nothing. I knew my acne was hormonal since i'd never had a pimple in my life until I hit the "baby-making-years." This is, like everyone says, a miracle drug! The only major side effect so far is fatigue; I am very, very sleepy at night, but taking it at bedtime does help a bit. This is amazing!
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March 12, 2009

Pros:

Clear & smooth skin, bigger breasts

Cons:

Urge to urinate comes on super strong with NO warning, EXTREME thirst that also comes on strong with no warning, more tired than usual, almost constant spotting between periods

I've been on Spiro for 2 mos. I've tried EVERYTHING under the sun to clear up my cystic acne. 5 derms in 3 years agreed that my acne was NOT hormonal, so they viewed Spiro as a last resort. I am 30 and have battled cystic/nodular acne since I was 12 y/o. I have been on: Accutane (worst side effects EVER), Retin-A, minocycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, ziana, differin, clindamycin, duac, etc etc. I've had chemical peels and light therapies, and NOTHING worked. I went on Spiro as a last resort. My skin def. got worse before it got better, but I have not had a pimple in 3 weeks!! I have never been without at least 3 or 4 active cysts on my face at any time. This stuff is amazing - my skin is still healing from past breakouts and it will be a while before all the red spots go away. They say spiro only works for hormonal acne, which they swore mine wasn't, but it cleared up my skin anyway so I'm super happy. Please try this before you give up hope - and give it a few weeks to work.
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March 10, 2009

Pros:

clear skin, you have to wax your eyebrows less often (the hair just doesn't seem to grow back once it's been plucked), no bloating, bigger boobs :]

Cons:

tiredness, occasional dizziness, bloodwork every 6 months (to check potassium levels), frequent need to urinate

The pros outweigh the cons by far with this miracle drug. I used to be on heavy antibiotics, which made me nauseous every morning and didn't even work that well. Spiro really has mild side effects: the dizziness was only for the first few months and I do get tired sometimes, but only when I eat junk and don't exercise. My skin isn't oily at all now, even if I go all day without blotting or washing it. I have skipped my daily shower twice in the past year, and that used to be a definite promise of a breakout the next day, but both times I have woken up with dewy, clear skin. You can't put a price on waking up and feeling beautiful, and not having your skin physically hurt because of pimples. I highly recommend spiro to any girls who have hormonal (cystic, around the mouth/chin) acne.
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March 9, 2009

Pros:

I've been on this drug for three weeks now, increasing my dosage. I've lost ten pounds and kept it off. My acne goes away faster, and my skin is less oily. Breasts have gotten a little bigger.I have high hopes for this medication!

Cons:

Skin gets dry if you don't hydrate. Every time I've upped my dosage I break out a little and then it gets better. Urinate more often, muscle twitching has increased a little.

I have not been on this medication for long, but I do think it will improve my acne. The weight loss is great. I do have excess hair on my face but have not been on it long enough to see improved results for that. I do notice my acne increases on my face in unusual places I don't usually break out on when I increase my dosage but that goes away fairly fast. So far I'm excited and am hoping for great results! The benefits outweigh the risks/side effects so far.
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March 8, 2009

Pros:

AMAZING PRODUCT. Spiro changed my life and skin but it does effect the voice.

Cons:

I am a professional singer/soprano and noticed it has made my voice raspier and more hoarse. I do love this product and don't quite know what to do because it really cleared up my skin. :(

If your line of work does not involve singing and/or acting,speaking, instructing, then by all means take this product. It works wonders!
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March 6, 2009

Pros:

Targets the underlying hormonal etiology of acne & it's not costly.

Cons:

The first few days I experienced some bladdar discomfort, but I always have always consumed a lot of water, so the frequent bathroom trips is normal for me.

I have been on Spiro for only 2 weeks; the dosage is 50 mg twice a day. I have not noticed any significant improvement as of yet, but I am patient and will give it time. I have noticed that my skin and hair are less oily. The number of new pimples has increased since taking Spiro, but the pimples start to dry up right away. I also have some painful nodules under the skin, but they seem to be drying up as well. I am also on the generic form of Yasmin - Ocella. I am hoping the combination will be effective.
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March 5, 2009

Pros:

Less Oily Skin!!! Improves texture of my skin. Increase Self-Confidence!!!! ;)...It's a Miracle!!!!! ;)

Cons:

Makes you sleepy when you first start taking it but I'm on my third week and I seem to be adjusting to medication. Same with urinating!!! Don't let side effects deter you from staying on med!!!! Keep with it!!!! The benefits sooo outweigh the costs!

I have battled with Acne for years and have tried everything under the sun. Acne has severely affected my self-esteem and confidence. I was finally was fed up from all the failed meds and went to my dermatologist and asked to be put on Accutance. I was cautious to go on this Accutance because of the possible severe side effects. But my derm said she thought that my acne was hormonal and suggested Spironolacton. I was curious if it would work because I thought Acctunane would be my saving grace. My derm put me on 100mg a day. As with any acne med things get worse before they get better. I am now on my third week and already see great results. I have always had extremely oily skin and it has greatly reduced. I have read reviews and people say you have to wait months to see full results and if I'm seeing these kind of results the first 3 weeks, the sky is the limit! If you suffer from Acne and haven't found relief for the problem this is your more than likely your solution.
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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.
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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:

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  • 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.
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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.
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