MDacne
Many women in their 20s and 30s struggle with adult acne. If you’re one of them, some new (and unexpected) discoveries are being made for women's adult acne treatment.
What is Spironolactone?
Spironolactone (also known as Aldactone) is a drug that has been used by doctors for treating hypertension for more than 30 years. It was accidentally discovered that this drug also has an anti-androgenic (Anti-testosterone) effect in addition to its diuretic effects. As a result, Spironolactone is now used by many dermatologists for the treatment of adult acne, specifically adult acne for women.
How does it work?
Spironolactone reduces testosterone production and inhibits its action on the target tissues. Therefore, many dermatologists use Spironolactone as their primary medical treatment for hirsutism and female pattern hair loss. Spironolactone is also very useful in women with adult acne who cannot or do not want to take Accutane for any reason.
Are there Clinical studies proving the effects of Spironolactone on acne?
We always want to know: Is there actual, scientific proof that this drug can cure someone’s adult acne? Well, it was found that 66% of women that took low-dose Spironolactone (50 to 100 mg/day) got full clearance or marked improvement of their acne. That’s a pretty impressive number!
Does spironolactone have a long term effect on acne?
Continuous treatment is required to sustain the effect, and the drug has the benefit of a long-term safety profile. Possible side effects for Aldactone are its diuretic effect and menstrual irregularities. A study of more than 200 patients on Aldactone with follow-up of over eight years found no serious illnesses thought to be attributed to spironolactone.
Should you use spironolactone for your acne?
If you’re a woman and suffer from adult acne, you can speak more with your doctor about this medication. We want to point out that Spironolactone should not be used during pregnancy due to its teratogenic effects, and it is not used in men due to the risk of feminization.
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