Acne Treatment: Stories

Wannabeme999, you should start a review so we can read your full story and follow your updates that way. :)

Hi Amy! So happy you got your aldactone! I've suffered from an ovarian cyst before (that hurt and that my dr discovered) but I don't guess I have them anymore...? Perhaps they are small and I don't realize it so much? Anyway, I also feel like the cyst contributed to the acne, hairiness, and depression. The spiro never makes me nauseated, but obviously everyone's systems are different. Did you take it on an empty stomach? Maybe a bit of bread or something would help. Did you just start Yaz today, as well? I don't use Yaz, but perhaps the combo of the two taken together might make you feel bad. I'm not sure about the binge eating cravings...and I take my spiro just whenever, but seeing as it helps keep down my aggression I try to take it in the mornings before having to deal with too much. ;) As far as if you should take all 50 mg together or space it out...I would talk with your doctor about that, especially since you say you are feeling a bit nauseated. I don't see an issue with taking your birth control and the aldactone together, but again, you may want to ask your doctor. I'm excited that you're excited!!! GOOD LUCK and yes, please post your progress!

I did a quick site search for "Spironolactone hair loss" and came up with a couple of Q&As where people actually mentioned using it to prevent hair loss:

What Options Do I Have for Hair Restoration? (see Neil Sadick, MD's answer)

Can I Have Restylane While Taking Hair Loss Medication? (the answers themselves probably won't interest you but I thought you might be interested in talking to Ambler, the community member who submitted the question)

Most Effective Treatment Regime for Female Pattern Hair Loss? (see Anthony Perri, MD's answer)

Hope that helps!

Thanks for posting those links, Megan P! I thought I was having some issues with hair loss and weight gain due to me taking the spiro for some time now. Nothing BAD as far as hair loss, just a lot of shedding. I'll have to check these links out! :) Thanks again!

Hi Brownstone. I thought I was noticing some excess shedding due to spiro, but I think my issues may be because I wasn't taking my daily multivitamin like I used to and perhaps stress. I wouldn't be afraid to take spiro...it really is a wonder drug in my opinion! However, if you are truly concerned, I'd say contact the physician who prescribed it to you and discuss your fears with him/her. :)

Ladyminx, I was that "pretty girl," too. I am a completely different person because of what I've been through and due to how I feel about myself now. I am married and my husband -- who has smooth skin, btw (lucky him!!!) -- loves me no matter what my face looks like, but I don't have the self-confidence and feelings of happiness, freedom, unbridled joy that I used to have. I am on a constant quest to find something to help with the scars, but at least I have found something I believe helps with the underlying cause of the acne. Remember...stick with it! Your doctor may prescribe you a lower dose and you don't feel like it's working, but I could tell that SOMETHING was going on because I didn't get super angry and my blood pressure wasn't spiking like before. If your doctor doesn't prescribe it...find another doctor who's willing to give it a shot!!! Also, do you have a history of ovarian cysts? I had ONE, but have read that ovarian cysts could cause hormones to be wacky and cause acne. Just another tidbit for you to think about. :) I am all about trying to help someone who has the same issue. We are "sisters" in that we have faced/continuously face darkness and pain that some people have no clue about. If there is anything else I can do, please do not hestitate to ask. :)

I've made my appointment with my family Dr. for this Thursday. I hope he will take pitty on me :( i can't do this anymore. I've tryed every topical and antibiotic and nothing will help. It has to be hormonal. Has to be. Makes perfect sense with the moodiness, stress and anger I've been dealing with. The flux in my wieght. All of it. I'll let you know how this turns out. Wish me luck!!

Definitely wishing you lots of luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.

Had my Doctor appointment today and i'm very excited with the turn out. Ok, my Dr has perscribed me an interesting medical cocktail lol...25mg of the Spiromolactone (once a day) 100mg Doxycycline (twice a day) and Retin-A .05 topical (every pm before bed after face washing). I am soooo excited about the possibilty of some REAL results. I hope the 25mg of spironolactone is going to be enough to do the job. Dr knows best i guess. I've got an appointment set for Nov 29 to have my electrolyte panel done. (gonna google this, what is it, blood work?) and a follow up 3 months from now. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress. I hope this all comes together & works for me as it did for a high % of woman going through this :)

I'm so happy that you are excited about this new journey! 25 mg of spiro is a relatively low dose (imo) but of course each person's body chemistry is different. I definitely hope you will feel and see results with that dosage. If not, by all means ask your doctor to up the dosage! And remember that I gave up the first time I was prescribed it because I didn't feel and see immediate improvement, so don't do the same! :) I've been trying to wean myself from the spiro just to see what may happen, but I've been breaking out here and there...and although I'm quite pleased it isn't the horrible cystic acne hell I endured before, the oiliness is coming back and I just continue to believe I shouldn't be having acne at 32 years old. :/ I guess I'll be in spiro for life. I have been prescribed doxy in the past and still take it if I've been extremely stressed or around the time of my cycle and think I may break out. I continue to use Retin-A. You may have some redness/flakiness/peeling from the Retin-A but I'm sure your doctor told you that. Best of luck to you, Ladyminx! Keep us updated! :)

Ladyminx, how are you doing? Are you feeling or seeing any changes? Give us an update! :)

Hi :) Back and VERY happy with the results! I have been taking the Spiro & Doxycycline since roughly this past Thanksgiving and I couldn't ba happier. I'm going to give you the short end of the story. Started out using the 25mg Spiro once daily & the Doxy 100mg twice daily. After about a month I suggested to my Dr updrading me to a 50mg Spiro once daily and he bought it ;) I have had a panel done, everything checked out fine. I have another physical through my Dr this Feb 14th (Valentine's Day) and I'm excited because I'm going to ask if I can now be increased/Upgraded to the 100mg Spiro. Now, I don't know if I'm going to haveta be on this the rest of my life or what but I can tell you in the mean time I am thrilled. I can't believe the cystic acne is GONE! Not better...GONE!! There is NONE!!! after nearly 3-4 years of that ugly stuyff on my face and it...is...GONE!!!! Thanks to this Blog/Forum. If i hadn't found you and read what you had posted I don't know if I woulda went through all this. So Thank You!! I'll be back again with updates as they come. But as of now, HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!

I'm SO happy for you, Ladyminx!!! Congratulations!!! There is nothing better than feeling good about yourself and seeing a positive change in your body and the resulting mental outlook!!! As I was saying below, I had been faithful with the spiro, but put on some weight (a possible side effect) and felt like I was having a lot of loose hair. Not, like, bald or thin spots, but just a lot of loose hair after brushing it. I experimented with getting off of spiro. Big mistake! Had some unexpected (of course) stressful issues happen within my family and some personal health issues. My acne came back. Although it wasn't as bad as before, I had some cysts and they took forever to heal. And yes, new scars, as well. Apparently I'll never be able to completely get off spiro, so if I ever get the itch to experiment again, I'll just half my dosage and see what happens. Nevertheless, I am so very thankful that my story could help you! Again, congratulations, Ladyminx!!! :)

you know what, I wonder though, if it's the SPIRO or the DOXYCYCLINE that's clearing the acne? AND i am using the Retin-A .05 cream. Hmm...I certainly would hope I don't have to continue with this the rest of my life. Sheesh! I'm 36 =( and the thought of having to take PILLS the rest of my life so I don't have that awful cyst acne...well that's simply put as a booooo. But, I will do what I have to do at this point. I do not want that on my face ever again. FYI, Retin-A tends to dry me out from time to time, mainly around my mouth and on the tip of my nose. haha. Almost as if I am shedding for 3-4 days, then it's gone. Then it might happen a couple weeks later, 3-4 days, and it's gone again. I wonder if this is my skins way of getting rid of the old, starting over with the new? Kinda makes sense to me anyway =) Skins healing. I deal with it by using a green tea moisturizer (via proactiv, which I've now canceled) Proactive was ok for a while, but it does NOTHING for cystic acne. So warning, SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! Proactiv i found is for the "puberty" or "here and there" acne. Not huge cyst acne that I see some of us are dealing with. What else...It seems my oil levels have dropped since beginning the Spiro. I don't get these huge pockets of oil on my face anymore. Which is good because I do believe this was PART of the problem and WHY I would get that horrible Cystic acne. I get a break out here and there, but nothing bad. I seem calmer, except during my pms/period Weeks of course. Haven't noticed any hair loss, balding or anything like that. No weight gain. Nothing seems off after the first three months on Spiro =) Now onto the scars. Mental & physical. Mental scars are healing. I feel better about myself and more up and adam. I want to go out more and not ashamed. So that's taken a turn for the better. The physical scars are, well, there. In plain day. I can cover them up. And I do. These are mainly along the chin line so really they hide well. The scars aren't all over my face (cheeks, forehead, nose) I use an Almay acne complexion concealer. Works rather well, and it's that Noncomodomic (spelling???), so it won't clog my pores. I'm using a skin bleacher by Obagi that was suggested by a Doctor. It's an RX so you should have a Dr's approval. And guess what, IT'S WORKING!! My scars are fading. Been using these products since July 2012. Actually why don't I just give you some information on that. Just go here- http://www.odiscountstore.com you will see to the left "Obagi Individual Products". Of the Obagi Nu-Derm collection I use the following products: Step 1- skin foaming gel 26.99 6.7 fl oz Step 2- ph toner 26.99 6.7 fl oz Step 3- clear (RX bleacher) 61.99 2 fl oz Step 4- Exfoderm Forte 44.99 2 fl oz Step 5- Blender (RX bleacher) 58.99 2 fl oz Step 6- Healthy Skin Protection 35 spf 30.99 3 fl oz Still pricey but you only use a pea size amount. It can go a long way I promise you. I love these products!!! I recommend them to all of you if it's affordable. So there you go. My full days menu in detail. Take my Doxycycline 100mg twice a day. Spiro 50mg once a day. Wash with the Obagi system 1-2 twice a day(morning/night) The Obagi steps 3-6 once a day. Retin-A before bed. YUM! a lot of work but well worth it =) Talk to you all again real soon. Take care.

Hi,I took spiro for 4 years successfully and decided to stop it to see what happened. 3 weeks later the acne was back so I have restarted the spiro. Do you think it will work again? It's only been 2 weeks but I am still breaking out and so paranoid. I take 200mg btw. Thank you! Sam

Ps I can't remember how long it took to work the first time!

Did your acne respond well the second time you started it? How long did it take ? I am anxious as i stopped for 3 weeks and broke out and have restarted 2 weeks ago but as yet no luck.

Hi Samantha60616, I apologize for this reply being so late. Have you seen progress since getting back on the spiro? As I said in a previous post, I decided to get off it completely and my acne rebounded. I had an appointment with my dermatologist last month and told him about my experiment. He severely scolded me for doing that!!! Oh well. Anyway, I broke out with these tiny red bumps around my mouth. They kind of looked like blisters or a rash. Unsure about what to do, I treated it with cortisone cream. It dried it up, but after stopping the cortisone cream it came back even worse. Disgusted with myself, I decided to try to treat it with vinegar. I tried both apple cider and regular white vinegar. It didn't work. In fact, it seemed to aggravate it and make it swell up and turn bright red even more. After doing a little Googling I discovered I must have perioral dermatitis. It's kind of related to acne (oh HURRAY! :P) and difficult to treat. I also learned that with this dermatitis that any steroid cream will make it go away but it WILL come back afterwards even worse. Good job on my part. :( My derm gave me a prescription for a topical antibiotic cream, but I didn't want to go that route, so I went to my local health store looking for violet oil. I had read that does wonders for this dermatitis. The store didn't carry that, but they did carry this stuff called Miracell Skin Relief & Support and they suggested I try it. It's an oil, and I was terrified to apply it to my face, thinking it would make acne burst out everywhere. I asked the clerk about that, but he assured me it wouldn't make me break out. I skeptically applied it to the dermatitis, and it has gradually helped calm it down. It didn't make me break out, so I started testing it on different parts of my face. I am completely amazed to report that this oil HAS NOT made my face break out. I've been applying it repeatedly...every day...and I haven't had a serious breakout since. I went through a menstrual cycle without hormonal-related acne. I can't believe it. I've cut back on the spiro since using this oil, and I haven't had issues with overly oily skin. I would highly recommend this. I think I'm still in shock that this oil hasn't made me break out. :)

I can't remember exactly, but I would say I started seeing an improvement in about 3 weeks. I still get acne around the time of my cycle and at times when I get extremely stressed out. Please remember those that each person's chemistry is different! Stick with it. My problem the first time I took it was I didn't give it enough time to take effect. Keep us updated on how it goes! :)