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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July 24, 2012

Pros:

Clears acne 100% after 6 months
Less body hair

Cons:

Some head-hair loss (thinning)
Major weight gain - I went from 112lbs to 135
Initial breakout - requires patience
Dehydration
Irregular menstrual cycles & spotting

I had pretty severe cystic acne and bacne in High School, and ended up going on accutane, which cleared me up for a while. 5 years later it ended up flaring up again and I was put on 100mg Spiro. After 6 months I was completely 100% clear and was loving the drug. About 6 months after that I started noticing unnatural amounts of shedding hair, and I noticed I had gained quite a bit of weight while not changing anything else in my life (I'm a very thin, active girl.) Even though I had perfectly clear skin I wasn't feeling good in other ways, so I decided to slowly wean down my dose to 50-75mg. All of the side-effects have gone away -- the weight has melted off and I have noticed less shedding. I do get a few zits around PMS and if I'm stressed now, though. I'm not sure if I'll keep weaning off or stay at this level. Overall I would recommend Spiro... It's absolutely perfect for clearing hormonal acne. However, there are quite a few side effects that may not show up until almost a year after taking it.
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June 29, 2012

Pros:

very affordable
cleared up painful cystic acne on jaw line
kept lighter acne at bay

Cons:

minor drowsiness
have to watch your potassium intake

I've always had light acne that shows up about a week before my period. About a year ago, 2 months before my college graduation, I developed the worst acne I have ever had in my life. Large, painful, cystic acne popped up on my jawline what seemed over night. I did everything I could to try and get rid of it, and it wouldn't go away. If anything touched my face they would hurt and bleed. I basically wanted to crawl under a rock and die. After going to one dermatologist without any results (not to mention painful cortisone shots and antibiotics that wrecked my stomach) I went to my current derm that saw my acne and immediately put me on the Spiro. It's honestly the best thing to happen to me so far. I take 25mg 3 times a day and it, along with Adapalene gel, have completely rid my face of cystic acne. I still get small breakouts here and there but they seem to heal quicker and leave no marks. I pay $3.00 for it with insurance and the only side effects I've experienced is a bit of drowsiness that doesn't last that long.
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June 24, 2012

Pros:

Stopped most of my breakouts

Cons:

Causes sensitivity to sunlight which can result to terrible sunburn, I had to take Solodyn with the Spironolactone to completely clear my acne, does not help with scarring or red marks

I've been on many acne medications over the years and the Spironolactone has definitely made a difference. I'm a 20 year old female that had been struggling with acne since age 12. This medication has also helped with my blackheads and has cleared up my skin.
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May 28, 2012

Pros:

Cheap

Cons:

Not sure yet, though the birth defects make me nervous for the future

I am 32 years old and have been dealing with acne for 20 years. I have mainly cystic acne but also very oily skin and large pores that are always clogged. I haven't left my house without makeup on for as long as I can remember. In college, my skin was its worst, I spent many days crying and not wanting to leave the house. I worked at a dry cleaners and remember a littlr girl asking her mom what was wrong with my face. It's much more under control now, but I still get cysts especially before my period and I have a lot of scarring. Its awful not being able to let people see your skin when you wake up and have to run to the bathroom to put makeup on. Though, I have become a pro, and a lot of my friends claim to not notice my blemishes. I've tried pretty much everything. Retin-a and antibiotics in high school, accutane in college (worked but came back in a few months), tazorac, more antibiotics, birth control, numerous washes and creams, pro activ, just about every over the counter product and home remedy. Nothing has really worked. I gave up on going to the dermatologist, they never seem to be able to help. They always recommend benzoyl peroxide washes, etc no matter that I tell them they irritate my skin and make it worse. My OBGYN recommended spiro at my annual a few weeks ago when I asked her about it. Been taking it for a month now. Haven't really noticed a difference so far, though I have had a few more cysts on my back, jawline and neck in the past couple of weeks. I'm definitely going to give it some time. We will see.
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April 16, 2012

Pros:

Water weight loss
Acne on back and chest cleared within first 2 weeks

Cons:

Could take months to be effective
Facial acne gets ALOT worse before it gets better

I have suffered from mild acne my entire life but now at the age of 26 it has taken a turn for the worst. I have been on antibiotics, tons of topicals and recently went back on birth control (tri legest-fe) to try to clear my skin, but nothing has worked. I am not sure what exactly caused this change but I noticed the acne on my back and face becoming increasingly worse in August right after I began law school. It was getting so bad that I got a new dermatologist but when he recommended Accutane I immediately turned it down. So, as an alternative I started Spironolactone (50mgs 2x a day) and Aczone in Jan. 2012 and my face immediately got so much worse. It has been really difficult to remain on the Spiro throughout the months watching my face get worse and worse (I cried at least once everyday for 3 months) but reading reviews on a daily basis (no exaggeration) of Spiro's positive outcomes has given me hope that this will eventually work for me too. I went back to the derm two weeks ago (early March) and he decided to double my dosage to 100mg 2x a day and change the topical perscription to Atralin and I have seen huge difference already. What was once clusters of large pimples is now only a handful of isolated pimples and the redness in my skin is lightening up. All in all I cannot say that this medication has "worked" for me YET but as of a few days ago I am beginning to recognize my old face which is something that makes me soooo happy. I hope this contribution will help others the way that reviews have helped me stick with Spiro while watching my skin get increasingly worse. I am giving it at least 6 months in total (by June) to clear me up before considering an alternative and I think everyone struggling w acne the way I have been should give Spiro time before throwing in the towel. I plan to write another review in the upcoming months to report the end results (good or bad).
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April 3, 2012

Pros:

Skin and hair is less oily. No side effects experienced (yet). LOVE the fact that it decreases oil production on the face. This was a huge problem for me.

Cons:

No new side effects noted.

I've been taking this for about two weeks now. I'm 26yo female and weigh about 100lbs. I was scared to try this first as I heard that it is for blood pressure. I had to persuade my dermatologist to prescribe it for me...as she was adamant about prescribing this and wanted to prescribe Accutane before anything else. Crazy. But anyways, I take this along with ortho tri cyclen lo. I don't have to use the bathroom anymore than usual. I don't feel lightheaded and/or nauseated. I DID get a bad breakout after the first 5 days of using it. I assume it's bc my hormones are trying to level out?? but So far I have about 6 pimples on my face that are slowly drying up..(I hope).
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March 23, 2012

Pros:

-no cysts in 3 months
-was able to stop taking diuretic for high BP, as this does the same thing
-no side effects
-affordable

Cons:

-I do still break out
-May increase cancer risk

I'm 46, have had cystic acne since I was 18. I've been on antibiotics off and on since I was 21, was last on minocin for around 15 years. I tried this several years ago, and stopped due to nausea. I only tried it again b/c my dr. said I had to come off the minocin (I have blue spots all over my legs, and my teeth are grey) and I was desperate b/c topicals have never done it for me (even though I do still use Retin-A .1%, benzaclin, and sulfacetamide lotion). So far, it's doing a decent job; I broke out badly at first, but things settled down and my skin dried out some. I have some small pimples on my chin that will *not* go away, but they aren't getting worse, either. If this keeps working, and doesn't cause any health problems, I'll be very pleased. Worth a try, esp. if, like me, you aren't willing to go the Accutane route.
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March 2, 2012

Pros:

Inexpensive
Easy to take (small pills) once a day
Effective over time (8 months for me)
No discernible side effects
Dried oily skin and scalp
Lower blood pressure
Fewer breakouts and no more cysts
Seems to address high androgen levels

Cons:

Broke out severely before clearing
Patience required to see results!
Excessively dry skin
Slight salty taste in mouth, but not too bad
Risk of liver damage due to potassium sparing quality of spiro
Cannot consume alcoholic beverages
Limits on consumption of high potassium foods
Must drink a lot of water
Had to add an oral contraceptive to aid efficacy (Ovcon 35)
I take vitamin/health supplements to aid skin healing and health (A,B comp, D, E, fish oil, zinc, calcium/m

I'm an athletic (running, triathlons) 46 y.o. female who has had acne since I was 12. Over the years, the acne has been light to severe, the worst of it during the years I had my children, and over the past 1-2 years, with painful, persistent cysts, as well as black- and whiteheads, on my entire face and my chest and back. I have taken different antibiotics, used many prescribed topical lotions and creams such as clindamycin and Retin A, and bottles and bottles of OTC and natural/homeopathic skin regimens/products (including Dan's Regimen). I also tried diet modification for about 6-9 months (dairy-free and gluten-free, reducing sugar intake). Except for a period of improvement for a week or so after eliminating gluten, I continued to be severely broken out. About 18 months ago, I saw spiro mentioned a lot on Acne.org and other acne forums, so I asked my doctor about it, as she knew how desperate my struggle for clear skin had been for so many years. She put me on a 50 mg dose which I started taking in late June 2011. I didn't see any improvement at first, and then about a month later, I noticed that I broke out less in certain areas, but the acne just exploded on my cheeks and nose, although not in huge pustules. But what was there was still painful, red, and difficult if not impossible to conceal with makeup, and it would scab easily and look awful! I didn't see any real improvement until after my doctor prescribed birth control to make up a difference in the dosage of spiro (she didn't feel comfortable upping the dose), which was added in August. It's now the first of March 2012, and I'm virtually clear. I still get a couple little red bumps, usually on the right cheek, around the menstrual cycle, but they clear pretty quickly over a few days after my period. It's the clearest I've been in many years! And I'm pleased! One caveat to taking spiro is being willing to avoid alcohol. I'd rather have a healthy liver, so
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January 17, 2012

Pros:

Worked pretty quickly for me. Within a few weeks I could tell breakouts were getting less intense. My initial breakout was small whiteheads. Very tolerable. I still get a zit or two around period & ovulation but nothing deep or cystic. Just this month I have started experiancing an irregular period. Med has helped acne tremendously!

Cons:

Irregular period
Frequent (but not bothersome) urination

Still taking it & don't plan on stopping anytime soon. My skin looks better than ever!
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December 25, 2011

Pros:

Reduced cystic breakouts
less whiteheads
less redness

Cons:

works as long as u take it
potassium levels
could mess with period

I've been taking Spiro (75mg) for 5 months. It's improved my skin a lot. I used to get painful cystic breakouts right before my period, now I get little ones. Not everyone will see results with 75mg tho, some pple need to take more than 100mg. This drug could be a miracle drug for many women ( especially with premenstrual acne). It's definitely worth a try.
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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