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A Pill For Hormonal Acne

When you talk about acne and its various treatments, experiences start to feel like different levels in a video game. Some people only make it to the topicals before their acne clears up, and some of us go beyond that, into retinoids, antibiotics, and medicated pads. Perhaps you'll take the bonus detour (The Pill), or maybe you go all the way and reach the super boss, Accutane. One thing you might not know, though, is that there’s a secret level: the level known as spironolactone. It’s oral, it’s hormonal, it’s only for women (power up!), and it’s the only thing that’s worked for me. Originally formulated to treat hypertension and a few other cardiovascular troubles, spironolactone is a…

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 Spironolactone for acne: Complete guide + my experience

If you feel like you’ve tried every acne-fighting topical to try and treat those painful, inflamed pimples, it might be time to talk to your doctor about trying an oral medication called spironolactone. Previously used as a blood pressure medication, spironolactone is the latest treatment being used to balance hormones and calm inflammation without too many side effects. Unlike your typical whiteheads or blackheads, hormonal acne develops (usually around the jawline and chin) due to an imbalance of hormones in a woman’s body. More specifically, it’s an imbalance of a class of hormones called “androgens” (like testosterone, for example), which stimulates sebum production in your pores and can lead to painful, deep, red cystic bumps that develop under the skin.

Articles of Interest

Spironolactone for Acne: Is It Really Worth Your Time?

Spironolactone was initially introduced to the pharmaceutical industry as an oral medication to treat high blood pressure. Patients being treated for high blood pressure had noted the significant impact the drug had on improving their skin’s clarity. Today, the medication is often prescribed off-label to women facing hormonal acne.

Here's Everything You Need to Know About Spironolactone

Spironolactone is a medication that’s been used to help women decrease testosterone levels and block androgen receptors, further decreasing excessive sebum production and decreasing acne-causing bacteria. While spironolactone is used now to treat hormonal acne, it wasn’t always the case.

Spironolactone May Be an Alternative to Antibiotics in Women’s Acne Treatment

In a finding that suggests the potential for practice change that would reduce the use of antibiotics in dermatology, researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found the diuretic drug spironolactone may be just as effective as antibiotics for the treatment of women’s acne.

Spironolactone to treat acne: Month by month diary

It’s also worth noting that spironolactone isn’t normally used for its anti-androgenic properties. It’s most commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and heart disease. It’s not FDA approved for acne in the UK but does seem to be more commonly prescribed by doctors for PCOS specifically.

Spironolactone: The 'Other' Hormonal Acne Therapy

An old cardiovascular drug has emerged as a key option for hormonal management of acne -- with recognized safety caveats. Studies dating back to the 1980s have demonstrated the efficacy of spironolactone for acne in women, particularly acne unresponsive to nonhormonal therapies. However, the drug comes with an FDA-mandated black-box warning about tumorigenic potential and the caution that "Unnecessary use of this drug should be avoided."

The most popular pill to treat women's acne is a blood pressure drug

Prescriptions of spironolactone, a generic blood pressure medication, for acne have soared as dermatologists have moved away from antibiotics.

This Little-Known Side Effect of a Common Acne Medication Put Me in the ER

It took three more trips to the ER—and one of those times I actually fainted—before the spironolactone connection was made. For such a common side effect, it did take a while to pinpoint the reason. Which is surprising, as spironolactone is also such a common medication to be on these days.

What I Wish I Knew Before Taking Spironolactone for My Hormonal Acne

If you've been taking the pill past the three-month mark and your hormonal acne situation isn't any better, it might be time to try a new dose or another treatment option all together. "When using it to treat acne, spironolactone is only used in women and tends to work best for women with hormonal acne, menstrual flares, adult-onset acne, or conditions with hormone abnormalities and acne (e.g. PCOS)," explains Sejal Shah, cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York City "It is also often used in women whose acne is resistant to conventional therapies."

Why I Chose Spironolactone Over Accutane For My Postpartum Acne

Studies recommend it as the first line of therapy for teenagers and adult women suffering from inflammatory or hormonal acne. “When treating patients with hormonal acne, spironolactone is my favorite treatment to use alone or in combination with other treatments — especially since it is extremely effective and safe,” Dr. Palm says.

Your Guide to Spironolactone for Acne

Spironolactone is an oral medication that can treat a few conditions, including blood pressure, hair loss, and acne. “Spironolactone is an oral medication used to lower blood pressure and also off-label to help with hormonal acne,” Bhanusali says. "It is also used to help with hair loss and Polycystic ovary syndrome (off-label).”

Resources

British Association of Dermatologists

Spironolactone is not a cure but taken long-term it can help control and sometimes clear acne. It can help reduce excess facial and body hair and improve the thickness of scalp hair in women with certain types of hair loss. The treatment works slowly over several months.