Is Spironolactone a Safe Acne Treatment?

\Thank you for your question about Spironolactone for the treatment of Acne.  Spironolactone is typically used to treat acne that is cystic and in the distribution area of the chin and jaw line.  It is an anti-andronergic medication, meaning it counteracts male hormones in the body that can drive acne.  As long as you are not pregnant, nursing, have decreased kidney function, or have sensitivity to Spironolactone you may do well on the medication if your acne is driven by these hormones.  It is ideal to start on a low dosage and increase as needed per your provider.  It is also a good idea to have baseline labs and monitor them routinely to check kidney function.  It is also likely you may need additional acne medications such as tretinoin, Aczone, sulfa wash, clindamycin gel, or other topical acne meds in addition to the Spironolactone. 
To be sure, see two or more experienced, licensed and board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have treatment. I hope this helps.

Spironolactone is a treatment of choice for hormonal acne (deeper acne of the jawline that worsens around the time of menses).  It can take a couple months to work, but you will notice your pimples are less frequent, more superficial, and shorter in duration.  Spironolactone can increase your potassium, but it doesn't have this effect in young, healthy women.  I only get concerned if my patient goes not have normal kidney function (and the kidneys aren't clearing the potassium properly) or if my patient is taking other potassium-sparing medications (these are usually high blood pressure meds).

i think spironolactone is one of the safest treatments for acne in women.. taking it with yaz is a great combo.

Spironolactone is a great treatment option for females with adult hormonal acne. It does take 3 months for it to work. You have to be careful not to eat too much bananas or coconut water. Sometimes, I add a Doxyccline as well. Aczone is also a good compliment to Spironolactone. Overall, it is very safe. 

Many females with what we call “hormonal” acne can benefit from taking spironolactone, if under the care of a board-certified dermatologist. When used like you are using, with appropriate topical agents, this can be an effective therapy. The biggest problem is ittakes several months, on average, for it to work well; therefore for many of us, this hampers our regular use of spironolactone. I would find an appropriate oral antibiotic if needed to use on a regular basis and then as needed. I am also a big fan of a light source called Isolaz – this is a pulsed light treatment with an associated vacuum apparatus – and Isolaz is also an incredibly effective device to use in these situations. But for you, this treatment regimen may be just fine.

Spironolactone can be an excellent choice in the treatment of acne in women.  As it blocks male hormone receptors, it is not used in men.  It is generally a safe choice when prescribed under the care of a knowledgeable professional.  That being said, all medications, including spironolactone, can have potential side effects.  Firstly, don't get pregnant while on this medication as it can cause feminization of a male baby.  It is a diuretic, meaning it make one urinate, so frequent urination, dehydration and dizziness may result.  This can be managed.  Although studies do not support an association with breast cancer, as it affects sex hormones, like the birth control pill, we stay mindful of the family history.  Spironolactone was originally used as a blood pressure medication and one of the reported side effects is retention of potassium in the body.  This is thought to have been more of an issue in the older people who used to take it for this problem rather than the younger, healthier people who take it for acne.  That being said, it is advised to not take excessive amounts of potassium while on this medication.  Sometimes potassium is monitored.

As spironolactone works by blocking the androgen receptor preventing androgen (hormone) from binding to its receptor and causing breakouts, it is very effective for the hormonal type of acne (typically lower third of the face).  It typically takes a few months to show its benefits so you need to keep with it. When prescribed by a dermatologist, and when monitored under the care of a dermatologist, spironolactone is safe.  

Hi! I love Spironolactone in women with adult acne. I think that it is a very effective and safe medication. As you are probably already aware, some common side effects include irregular menses, breast tenderness/enlargement and it may increase your potassium levels. We normally check a baseline potassium level with a repeat in 2-4 weeks just to make sure that everything is fine. Many people start worrying excessively about their potassium intake but I say to continue eating what you normally do on a daily basis. We watch you carefully when on this med. A few foods to not over consume are bananas, avocados, pistachios and other nuts, and beans. You need to be patient with the medication as it takes roughly 6-8 weeks before you start to see some improvement. Stick with it and you'll do great!

Hi - Yes, Spironolactone is a safe and effective treatment for hormonally influenced acne, when taken under the care of a dermatologist.  Spironolactone works by blocking the androgen receptor, so that androgen (male hormone) cannot bind to the receptor and cause hormonal breakouts.  It is important to use contraception while taking Spironolactone, as it can cause birth defects if taken while pregnant.  Spironolactone generally takes 1-3 months to have a dramatic effect on hormonal acne, but can produce a great improvement of hormonal acne (often presenting as cysts on the lower face and chin) once it kicks in.

 

Yes, spironolactone is a super safe, and effective drug to treat female hormonal acne. It is especially useful in the 'adult female jawline acne' setting. Things you need to know about this treatment-1. Only used in women2. Best for hormonal acne3. Works as an anti-androgen or hormone blocker4. May take up to 3 months to work5. May experience dizziness as drops blood pressure (v rare)6. May urinate a litte more as it is a diuretic 7. Dont eat too many bananas as it can increase potassium levels- get this checked frequently. One of my favourite treatments for acne!CheersDr Davin Lim Laser and cosmetic dermatologistBrisbane, AUSTRALIA