No matter what treatment plan your dermatologist creates for you, try to be patient while waiting for results. This study found that the group taking spironolactone experienced a 66% improvement in the number of acne lesions after three months. & Scheman, A. Efficacy and tolerance of acne treatment using both spironolactone and a combined contraceptive containing drospirenone. The only side effects that this study mentioned were menstrual irregularities, which half of the women experienced but which resolved within three months.7, A 2006 study in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery investigated the effectiveness and safety of spironolactone in Asians. Unlike most acne treatments, Aldactone isn't applied to the skin. Kim GK, Del Rosso JQ. The first, an Italian study, found that one month of treatment with topical spironolactone either cleared or significantly improved acne in the vast majority of patients.14 The second study found that six weeks of treatment with topical spironolactone decreased the number of acne lesions by 71%.15, A 1990 study in the Italian journal, La Clinica Terapeutica, evaluated the effectiveness of a 5% spironolactone preparation for one month in 20 patients (9 females and 11 males). And make sure to drink plenty of water daily as Aldactone acts as a diuretic. The researchers randomly assigned 78 patients with mild to moderate acne to either a treatment group (30 females and 8 males) or a placebo group (34 females and 6 males). Afzali, B. M., Yaghoobi, E., Yaghoobi, R., Bagherani, N. & Dabbagh, M. A. Eighty percent of the women experienced menstrual irregularities, and some dropped out consequently. This study found that 33% of the women experienced significant improvement in their acne; 27.4% experienced partial improvement, and only 7% experienced no improvement.6, A 2005 study in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology looked at the effectiveness and side effects of spironolactone in women with acne. Acne.org does not advertise. Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology and works as a practicing dermatologist and clinical professor. The use of hormonal agents in the treatment of acne. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. However, the researchers noted some limitations of the study, such as short periods of follow-up with some of the patients.10, A 2017 study published in the European Journal of Dermatology also looked back through the medical records of females treated with spironolactone. Spironolactone is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. Overall, the treatment was less effective in men than in women.8, A 2008 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology investigated the effectiveness and safety of a combination treatment consisting of spironolactone and a COC in 27 women with severe facial acne. If your breakouts only appear around the time of your monthly cycle, your dermatologist may have you use Aldactone for the week just prior to your period only. & van Zuuren, E. J. The recommended dosage for acne treatment ranges from 25 - 200mg per day. Aldactone is only effective against acne caused by hormonal fluctuations, for example, women who consistently break out around the time of their monthly cycle. It's especially helpful for women with hormonal disorders that trigger acne, or who have acne along with other problems like unwanted facial hair. I was on it for about four months before it began being less effective. In some people it can cause acne or worsen thyroid diseases. However I suffered from fatigue, weight gain … It is also used in the treatment of high blood pressure, low blood potassium that does not improve with supplementation, early puberty in boys, acne and excessive hair growth in women, and as a … But for those women who have hormonal acne, the drug can do a good job in helping to manage breakouts. Only 26 of the participants completed the three-month study, which found that improvement in acne was related to the dosage of spironolactone: 80% of those taking 150 or 200mg experienced improvement in their acne; 60% of those taking 50 or 100mg experienced improvement, and only 10% of those taking the placebo experienced improvement. Includes dosages for Hypertension, Edema, Congestive Heart Failure and more; … Buying Guide: Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Soap For Acne. A 1984 study in the British Journal of Dermatology investigated the efficacy of spironolactone in both men and women with severe acne. The medication appears to be effective in the treatment of acne in males, with one study finding that a high dosage reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 73%. Hirsutism (Off-label) Women with hirsutism. While it has not been approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to treat acne, doctors sometimes prescribe it for that purpose as well. Acne vulgaris is the most prevalent chronic skin disease in the United States, affecting nearly 50 million people per year, mostly adolescents and young adults. Spironolactone is almost always prescribed to females because it can cause feminizing effects, such as breast growth, when taken by males. Spironolactone reduces male hormone levels, thus decreasing skin oil production and ultimately decreasing acne symptoms. Three of the men developed enlarged breasts, so the researchers stopped the treatment in all men. There were low rates of relapse or discontinuation of the medication."12. I believe there needs to be more evidence of serious harm before scaring potential users away from a relatively benign drug that might help them. Doctors also sometimes combine spironolactone with oral antibiotics. My dermatologist prescribed Spironolactone, which is actually a blood pressure medication, but is also used to heal hormonal acne because it reduces the hormone, aldosterone. "2 Because anti-androgens reduce the amount of androgens in the body, they can help clear up acne lesions. Most people tolerate low doses of spironolactone well, even for long periods of time. The recommended dosage for acne treatment ranges from 25 - 200mg per day. YouTube and Instagram are popular places to share, but anywhere is fine :-). I took spironolactone for 1.5 years for my acne. Aldactone is in a group of drugs called anti-androgens. Copyright © 1996 - 2020 Daniel W. Kern. It's not prescribed for men with acne or for young teens and tweens. Researchers recommend starting with a low dose and increasing the dose only if necessary to control acne symptoms.3. I'm proud to provide the truth about acne, based on fully-referenced science, and I'm also proud to recommend a. Spironolactone is a diuretic.It helps you make more urine and to lose excess water from your body. Charny, J. W., Choi, J. K. & James, W. D. Spironolactone for the treatment of acne in women, a retrospective study of 110 patients. Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Spironolactone usually is prescribed with a combined oral contraceptive (COC), more commonly known as the birth control pill, though it can be taken alone. Acne (Off-label) Females with hormonal acne. Grandhi, R. & Alikhan, A. Spironolactone for the treatment of acne: A 4-year retrospective study. Califano, L., Cannavò, S., Siragusa, M. & Girardi, R. [Experience in the therapy of acne with topical administration of spironolactone as an antiandrogen]. Rated for Acne Report . After six weeks, the total number of acne lesions in the treatment group decreased by 71%, compared to only 36% in the placebo group.15, While at the moment, the topical form of spironolactone is rarely prescribed, researchers are currently testing new ways of delivering spironolactone topically. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not take spironolactone because it can cause birth defects, especially feminization of a male fetus. Muhlemann, M. F., Carter, G. D., Cream, J. J. This medication isn't used as ​a first line of defense against acne breakouts. Only 64 of the women completed the study. Because of the way Aldactone works, only women whose acne is greatly influenced by hormonal fluctuations will see results with this medication. People with severe cystic acne have higher levels of depression, less social integration, less career mobility, etc. Is Aczone the Right Acne Treatment for You? Aldactone (spironolactone) is a medication that's used to treat many different disorders, from high blood pressure to fluid retention. Although 51 women experienced side effects, only 6 women stopped treatment because of the side effects. Dosing Modifications Renal impairment The most common side effect is menstrual irregularities such as increased or decreased bleeding or breakthrough bleeding (bleeding between periods). They wrote, "This retrospective data analysis confirms that the use of low doses of spironolactone is a valuable alternative in women with acne in whom oral isotretinoin has failed. These include impotence, enlarged breasts, and loss of libido. The researchers concluded that 86% of the female patients experienced an improvement in their acne while on spironolactone therapy. Oral spironolactone for acne vulgaris in adult females: A hybrid systematic review. The researchers wrote, "A majority of women in this study saw a dramatic improvement in their acne while treated with spironolactone. In fact, 55% of the patients experienced a complete clearing of their acne. Side effects with low dose spironolactone aren't as common as with higher doses, but most often include: Both blood potassium levels and blood pressure should be checked periodically while you're taking this medication. However, women younger than 45 years old do not need to have their serum potassium checked while taking spironolactone. Use Aldactone (Spironolactone) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Drug interactions, dosage, and pregnancy and breastfeeding information are provided. Shaw, J. C. Low-dose adjunctive spironolactone in the treatment of acne in women: a retrospective analysis of 85 consecutively treated patients. It isn't always effective when used on its own, but works well when used in conjunction with conventional acne treatment medications. 2012;5(3):37–50. Please help spread the word about The Acne.org Regimen by telling a friend who could benefit or using social media to share your success. This was a double-blind study, meaning that neither the participants nor the researchers knew which treatment each person received. Treating Acne With Aldactone (Spironolactone), Ⓒ 2021 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved. Also, you shouldn't get pregnant while taking this drug. In addition, this medication isn't a good choice for you if you have kidney problems, or a history (or family history) of breast cancer, uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer. alpha hydroxy acid or AHA)... Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)... Acne prevents people from facing the world and living fully. The study lasted for 20 weeks total. Participants applied the medication twice per day for six weeks, leaving the medication on the acne lesions for two to three hours each time before washing it off. Laminaria is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth as a medicine. 2012 Oct; 51(10):1162-1174. Krunic, A., Ciurea, A. Higher levels of male hormones in both males and females lead to more skin oil production, and in turn, more acne. 100% Ad-free. Kim, G. K. & Del Rosso, J. Q. Because spironolactone is an oral medication that affects hormones, side effects are numerous and widespread. The patient should take only the dosage recommended by his/her physician; taking Spironolactone pills in higher dosage may trigger digestive and metabolic issues that may cause weight gain. Spironolactone is a diuretic medication that is sometimes used by women to treat moderate-to-severe acne; The FDA approved spironolactone as a medication to treat high blood pressure that results from a hormonal condition called hyperaldosteronism; Spironolactone is an oral medication taken once per day A 2017 article published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology reviewed all available high-quality evidence on spironolactone and acne. Should You Add Green Tea to Your Acne Treatments? Spironolactone can be useful in the treatment of acne in select females, though evidence of its efficacy is limited Oral corticosteroid therapy can be of temporary benefit in patients who have severe inflammatory acne while starting standard acne treatment Semin Cutan Med Surg. Side effects that can occur at dosages higher than 100mg per day include: Side effects that do not seem to be related to dose include: Spironolactone can also come with these other side effects: Males should not take spironolactone because it can cause side effects related to its anti-androgen effects. This subsequently contributes to the formation of acne lesions. As with all medications, spironolactone can cause side effects, particularly at higher doses. However, some of the patients were taking other medications in addition to spironolactone, such as oral contraceptives and antibiotics. "11, A 2017 study in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology likewise used past medical records to see how effective spironolactone was at controlling acne. This is an acne treatment option for adult women only. 2015 May-Jun; 28(3):166-172. Oral spironolactone in post-teenage femal patients with acne vulgaris. When treating acne, it is important to avoid irritation.. Some women produce more androgen hormones than needed. Is Salicylic Acid the Right Treatment for Your Acne? The researchers concluded that all these studies, even the randomized controlled trials, had a high risk of bias. It … Spironolactone, sold under the brand name Aldactone among others, is a medication that is primarily used to treat fluid build-up due to heart failure, liver scarring, or kidney disease. Therefore, the researchers noted the need for more controlled studies testing spironolactone on new patients rather than using past medical records. Because spironolactone's anti-androgen activity can cause undesirable side effects, such as breast enlargement in men, it usually is prescribed only to women when treating acne. They randomly assigned 36 participants (17 men and 19 women) to receive one of five treatments. Menstrual side effects can be reduced by taking spironolactone with a combined oral contraceptive (COC). 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With severe acne provides expert Tips to help treat acne and balance oil levels 2 because anti-androgens reduce amount... For an average of 6 months Clinician Based on fully-referenced science, and pregnancy and information... To date indicate that oral spironolactone in Post-teenage female patients along with the birth control pill go-to fix pimply!, C. L. & Zaenglein, A. et al, kidney, or problems! Levels, thus decreasing skin oil production and ultimately decreasing acne symptoms recommended dosage for,... Patients., Del Rosso, J. J as prescribed by your doctor each person received spironolactone may become effective... An oral medication that affects hormones, specifically androgens, have been linked to the dosage... As prescribed by your doctor will determine the most common side effect is menstrual irregularities such breast! On it for about four months before it began being less effective spironolactone with a plethora of side effects such. Its own, but it appears to also be used in conjunction with other topical acne medications in! Participants nor the researchers noted the need for more controlled studies testing spironolactone on new patients rather than using medical! Patients rather than the sole treatment to drink plenty of water daily as Aldactone acts a! Including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles spironolactone treats fluid retention soaps with natural like. Soon, and i 'm proud to recommend a many different disorders, from high pressure... Effects compared to the formation of acne vulgaris in adult females: hybrid! Is used to treat high blood pressure to fluid retention … in some people it can cause side compared...