Spironolactone and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2015

For Acne "I have struggled with acne on and off since high school, it was never terrible but bad enough for me to see a dermatologist. After years of antibiotics, face creams, expensive cleaners, acid peels, etc., I have finally found the solution for my hormone-related acne with spiro. The important thing with spiro, as I had read in other reviews, is patience and getting the right dosage. I expected the initial breakout, as many other reviewers mention, trust me, it happens, but my skin is now clearer than it has been in years. My dermatologist started me on the 50 mg dosage, but after three months, I was still having mild breakouts with fluctuations in hormones, so my dosage was upped to 100 mg a day, which worked almost immediately! This is great!"

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2015

For Acne "I have struggled with acne on and off since high school, it was never terrible but bad enough for me to see a dermatologist. After years of antibiotics, face creams, expensive cleaners, acid peels, etc., I have finally found the solution for my hormone-related acne with spiro. The important thing with spiro, as I had read in other reviews, is patience and getting the right dosage. I expected the initial breakout, as many other reviewers mention, trust me, it happens, but my skin is now clearer than it has been in years. My dermatologist started me on the 50 mg dosage, but after three months, I was still having mild breakouts with fluctuations in hormones, so my dosage was upped to 100 mg a day, which worked almost immediately! This is great!"

• Liv...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 19, 2017

For Hirsutism "I had a stroke after being on low-dose birth control for five years, Apri. At the age of 41, my docs immediately took me off all estrogen and my BCs, but my face began to react violently. I never had teenage acne, but this adult acne was the worst! Nothing worked, plus I had hair on my chin and upper lip, as well as a few strands in between my breasts. Needless to say, it was extremely embarrassing to meet people in that condition. I went to my derm, and she looked at my thinning scalp and my werewolfish chin and immediately prescribed 25 mg of spironolactone. She said that she couldn't promise anything, but together with 1% tretinoin cream, we could try, and a RX for 0.05% fluocinonide, we could try to regrow my lost hair."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2021

For Alopecia "I've been on spiro for about 6 months. The reason I got on was because of my genetic alopecia, and so far, I’ve had a lot of new hairs grow, but not many where I need them to grow (a specific spot). However, my acne (I’m 15) has almost completely gone away. I used to have bad back acne and a little on my cheeks, but now I get a pimple every once in a while. The only thing that scares me would be that I don’t know if my teen acne will come back if I get off of spiro in a couple of years. Nonetheless, I definitely recommend spironolactone, but you need to have patience."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 15, 2018

For Acne "This medicine has changed my life! I used to suffer from terrible cystic acne. My skin was always inflamed, and the healing process was extremely delayed... it was horrible! I have read many reviews that mentioned an adjustment period (a month or two of worsened acne) prior to any desired effects, but - for me - this was not the case. This medication proved beneficial within the first week and continued to improve as the dose was adjusted (though I am still only on a very small dose, twice a day). One added (and unexpected) benefit was that I stopped getting cold sores. Seriously. Recurrence of cold sores was getting entirely out of control (to the point where I was having to take preventative medicine nearly every other day), and - after starting this medicine - the recurrences completely stopped! Best side effect ever! Anyhow, my skin is now clear - with the exception of the rare tiny pimple - and I am free of cold sores. Have not had any problems and am so incredibly happy."

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2018

For Acne "I posted a comment about spironolactone here last Sept 2017. At that time, there were almost no changes, especially with my face being oily and facial acne looking exaggerated. Starting last February 2018, the dramatic change happened, exactly 8 months later. My face cleared up, and the oiliness was gone. Now I get 1-2 very tiny pimples (very unnoticeable) before my period. I shifted from 100 mg June-February to 50 mg Feb-May 2018. Good luck on your journey, guys! I hope this helped. xoxo"

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2018

For Acne "I posted a comment about spironolactone here last Sept 2017. At that time, there were almost no changes, especially with my face being oily and facial acne looking exaggerated. Starting last February 2018, the dramatic change happened, exactly 8 months later. My face cleared up, and the oiliness was gone. Now I get 1-2 very tiny pimples (very unnoticeable) before my period. I shifted from 100 mg June-February to 50 mg Feb-May 2018. Good luck on your journey, guys! I hope this helped. xoxo"

• 41r...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2016

For Acne "53 female and have cystic acne and very oily skin. Been on it about a month, and I'm over the top happy. No more itchy, painful bumps in my scalp, ears, and face. I am having hair loss but will push through to see if it subsides. Having dealt with acne most of my life, I'll take thinner hair for clear skin any day. ☺️"

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2019

For Acne "I am currently 21, and until I was about 19, I was one of those people who had annoyingly clear skin. I started to break out on my cheeks, chin, and jawline. I was in and out of the derm (who kind of sucked at her job in hindsight) for the past two years, taking topical antibiotics, retinoids, and trying and hating minocycline. I really had a gut feeling it was all hormonal, so I was prescribed spiro (finally). I have been on this pill almost six months now, and I am probably 80/90% clear now. Around 2/3 months, I broke out really bad and was honestly scared to keep taking it. I stuck it out, and about a month later, started to see results. I haven't got a real cyst since the 3-month mark. I am way less oily and feel like I'm way more in control of my skin. It's definitely not perfect yet, but there's progress. So don't be discouraged! It can take our bodies a long time to adjust and process hormones. Everyone is different! Be patient, and in the meantime, try to stay active and eat healthy."

• acn...
• January 15, 2013

For Acne "I am 20 years old currently, but when I was 16, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome. I have always struggled with weight, but nothing major. I go up and down, I am 5'7, and I am always between 135-160. I was put on Yasmin and took it for 3 years, and then I went off it for 2 months. While I was off the Yasmin, I had no acne. After 2 months, I went back on because my prescription was refilled, and my skin was TERRIBLE. It also scarred. I went to my gyn after 3 months of vigorously trying to get rid of the acne, and she kept me on my Yasmin while adding Metformin and Spironolactone. This combination worked wonders after 3 days! Lost weight, NO new acne, and my cystic pimples have DISAPPEARED."

• Anonymous
• January 20, 2020

For Acne "I was on this medication for about 3 months in hopes of clearing up my cystic acne. I heard about the dreaded purge, so I was expecting my acne to get worse before it got better, but it just kept getting worse. And worse. And worse. I took pictures of my face every day during that time, in hopes of comparing pictures from week to week to convince myself it was, in fact, getting better. I still have those pictures, and it was the worst cystic acne I have ever had in my life. I had many large, deep, and painful breakouts daily while taking this medication. Specifically, the cystic acne was near my sideburns and jawline. I even remember going to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription one time and the pharmacist commenting on how bad my acne was and how I would never get rid of the scars. I just kept hoping it would get better, but I eventually stopped taking it, and the large, painful acne went away after a month."

• Jes...
• January 19, 2014

For Acne "I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17 (I'm 22 now), and my acne had never been very bad until I came down with it. We are talking awful breakouts: face, chest, back... everywhere. My Dr. put me on metformin (1000mg) and spironolactone (150mg), and I did get the IB, but it wasn't too horrible. I took spiro for 4 yrs up until this past summer when my refills ran out, and my doctor told me I needed to find a new primary care doctor, so I went a good 6 mo off it. Basically, my skin has gone back to its original state. I started the spiro again 5 days ago, and I am waiting for the initial breakout again, but the worst has just been a bunch of little additional blackheads. Hopefully, I will not get the IB this time! Even so, totally worth the results!!"

• vc0...
• February 17, 2021

For Acne "I had a horrible experience on spiro. I had a little bit of hormonal acne, nothing terrible, but nothing worked to get rid of it, so my doctor suggested spiro. I started taking it and immediately began to purge. It was horrible-I had the worst acne I have ever had. My entire face was covered. I had read about a purging period, so I decided I would wait it out. After a little less than 5 months, I decided I couldn't handle it anymore and stopped taking it. Instantly, my face started to clear. Now, I still have acne scars from the time I was taking it."

• vc0...
• February 17, 2021

For Acne "I had a horrible experience on spiro. I had a little bit of hormonal acne, nothing terrible, but nothing worked to get rid of it, so my doctor suggested spiro. I started taking it and immediately began to purge. It was horrible-I had the worst acne I have ever had. My entire face was covered. I had read about a purging period, so I decided I would wait it out. After a little less than 5 months, I decided I couldn't handle it anymore and stopped taking it. Instantly, my face started to clear. Now, I still have acne scars from the time I was taking it."

• lau...
• January 18, 2013

For Acne "I started taking this years ago, my dermatologist prescribed it. I had gone off the pill and started getting acne on my chest and back. It worked wonderfully! Also, it took away the oily shine I had on my face! But the best part of all was my cramps stopped right before my periods, and the periods got lighter, and then they stopped completely! I think it's been almost a year now since I have had one. It's weird, though, because if I miss a day taking the pill, I will start cramping. I wonder if I quit, will my period start back? Oh, and it did nothing for me on the losing of weight... wish it did though!"

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2021

For Acne "This drug has made my skin so much worse. I am going into my fourth month, and I now have acne in places that I never had before. Before taking this, I had it on my chin below my mouth. Now I have acne covering my entire chin, under my nose, outer cheeks, covering my forehead, and in between my eyes. I have struggled with acne before, but never in my life have I had EVERY SINGLE pimple I got leave a bright red mark when it’s gone. I have worse confidence than ever, to be honest, and I don’t know what to do anymore. My skin looks the worst it has ever looked, and I waited four months for it to look worse than when I started. Now I’m embarrassed and further behind in my progress."

• Mic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2015

For Acne "Two years ago, when I was 20, I started to break out like crazy. I had acne all over my face. My dermatologist prescribed me some lotions and creams and told me to be patient. They barely worked on me. A year ago, I was checked to have ovarian cysts and hormone imbalance. My dermatologist waited another half year to make sure those lotions really didn't work on me, then she prescribed me the spironolactone. I started with 50 mg a day, and that worked not very obviously, then I changed to 100 mg a day, it's a miracle. I still have one or two before my period, but besides that, it's all just acne scars. I guess I need to focus on how to get rid of the marks now."

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2016

For Acne "Ladies, if your derm won't give, go to your Ob-Gyn. They will usually definitely give it to you for PMS, i.e., swelling, menstrual cramps, etc. That's what I take it periodically for, and it works 100%. Some will give it to you for acne. Either way, get it how you can from your OB. I don't know why, but something told me to look the drug up for acne because, for some stupid reason, at 39, acne is killing my pretty smooth chocolate skin complexion. Never ever had acne before. So I'm depressed and desperate. So glad I found this site. But ladies, Ob-Gyn/gynecologist will prescribe for reasons listed above, I guarantee it!!!!!"

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 16, 2019

For Acne "Girls, please be careful. Spiro was my miracle drug for the first year. But now after 2 years, it's not working, my body has gotten used to it. It's aged me so much my face has sunken in, I feel so ugly. It's made me anorexic from dehydration (I drink 3 liters a day). You can see all my veins. It also caused extremely purple veins all over my legs. I'm depressed, and all my muscles ache. Plus, acne comes straight back when you stop. It might be worth it for a few months, but it's not worth it in the long run. :( FYI, I'm a 27-year-old."

• Pen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 7, 2020

For Acne "I was on spiro for over 2 years. A few months ago, I started getting my pre-prescription level of cystic hormonal acne all over my chin. It hasn’t gotten any better, and I was already on the maximum dosage. I’m so devastated because this worked SO well for me for such a long time - suddenly to stop. I will say I got terrible, terrible nightmares (a common side effect of blood pressure medications), so I took a majority of my dosage in the mornings instead of before bed, and that improved my sleep quality significantly. I also peed a lot. A lot, a lot. An annoying but not threatening side effect."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2022

For Hirsutism "Was prescribed spironolactone at 50 mg a day for my excessive hair growth. Doctor explained to me that the drug would lower my testosterone and slow my male pattern hair growth. It has been 4 months, I am at 100 mg a day, and I have developed cystic acne. I have never suffered from acne, so this is upsetting. Furthermore, I have noticed no change in my hair growth. I have created a new problem. My sister says I'm purging, and my doctor is telling me to wait it out, but I am seriously considering ditching it. Acne hurts."

• Cal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2019

For Acne "I have been taking spironolactone for 1.5 months for acne, and my skin has gotten so, so much worse. Like, I went from having small pimples on my cheeks to having a full-blown breakout full of pustules, cysts, and these really painful hidden pimples all over my jaw, cheeks, forehead, even my nose!! I have never experienced painful pimples until now! I don’t think I’ll be able to continue on this medication. I know it’s supposed to start being effective in the 3-4 month mark, but there is no way I could wait until then if my skin will be this bad till then. I didn’t think there was supposed to be a purge with this medication, but wow. My poor skin is in terrible condition despite excellent skincare. I’m so sad."

• No...
• January 26, 2018

For Acne "I was first prescribed spironolactone when my hormonal acne was becoming devastating, around age 24. I would wake up every day with new cystic acne. I became very depressed and even missed work multiple times due to my breakouts. I started taking a low dose of this drug around August 2012. After a few months, I did not notice much of a difference. Once my doctor increased the dose, I really started noticing significant results. It changed my life. Spironolactone would have had a faster effect if I identified my triggers sooner. I have found that B12 supplements and soy may still cause me to break out."

• All...
• February 14, 2016

For Acne "I've been taking this medication for bad hormonal acne on my chin for over two months now, and today I see major improvement. The only time I break out now is when I miss a dose, or when I get a pimple or two around the time of my period. It's also helped me to maintain my weight as an added benefit. I take 100 mg a day along with Bactrim and Finacea foam. Ask your doctor for this combo, it works great!"

• emi...
• December 7, 2015

For Acne "I had moderate to severe acne starting around the age of 15/16, right around when I got my first period. By age 20, my skin still wasn't clear, even on Yaz. That medication did wonders for my endometriosis and cramps, but my skin didn't get better. I talked to my doctor about spiro, and we agreed that it was a good plan. 100 mg/day for the first month, then down to 50 mg/day. The idea was to 'shock my system' for a big clearing. That first month was TERRIBLE. I broke out like never before with massive cystic, painful zits. My self-esteem was worse than ever. BUT, I stuck with it. Today I'm on my 6th month of spiro, and I LOVE it. I sometimes get a zit here or there, but nothing like before-mostly just blackheads. My skin is even and clear!"