POPSUGAR: Dr Perry’s Advice on Spironolactone for Acne

Can You Use Spironolactone to Treat Acne?

POPSUGAR picked up on blogger Alice Lang’s experience of using Spironolactone to treat severe acne with excellent results.

Alice had tried numerous solutions for acne over the years, from topical solutions to prescription antibiotics and contraceptives. Her blog Spironolactone for acne: Clear skin in 4 months shares her story and shows dramatic ‘before and after’ photos after trying Spironolactone medication.

What is Spironolactone?

Spironolactone is a prescription-only medication, so must be prescribed by a doctor. It is actually not an acne medication, but a medication used primarily to treat conditions such as heart failure, liver disease and high blood pressure. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing medication used as a diuretic medication. It has anti–androgenic properties, so can also slow down the production of sebum which helps to improve the skin for acne sufferers.

Alice’s Story

POPSUGAR explains:

“Throughout her teens, Alice went to doctors with the hopes of minimising her acne, and was given topical treatments such as benzoyl peroxide as well as a cocktail of antibiotics, and the contraceptive pill. These worked for her for a little while, but shortly after finishing the medication, the acne returned. Alice’s acne got particularly severe — she recalls counting 19 cysts at one point — when she was working in Vietnam. In fact, she admitted it got so bad it began to affect her mental health.

“This was when she really started to explore the option of other treatments. She heard about spironolactone when researching polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is another common cause of acne.

“I approached a dermatologist in Vietnam and presented my research to her. I’d heard about using spironolactone as a treatment and she agreed to let me try it under her supervision. I began taking 50mg a day. It didn’t work at all for around 2 months — in fact, my acne seemed to get worse at first. But suddenly, my acne began clearing up and now, 4 months later, I have no acne at all. It’s amazing!”

Dr Ross Perry’s Advice on Spironolactone for Acne

GP and skin treatment expert, Dr Ross Perry, advises that this route should be considered with some caution:

“in some cases it can be used as a last resort in treating hormonal acne”

As above, a prescription is required and patients should be aware of other side effects – Spironolactone is a diuretic (which increases urination) and is a potassium-sparing drug that may require regular blood tests.

POPSUGAR concludes:

“As with any condition, if you’re having persistent and severe acne and have explored other options, visit your GP or dermatologist to ask about trying spironolactone to find out how it may work for you.”

More Information

• Read the article in full at Spironolactone for acne: Clear skin in 4 months
• You may also like POPSUGAR Beauty: Types of Acne + Treatments
• Also on POPSUGAR All the Different Types of Spots You Can Get – and What to Do About Them.

Acne Treatments at Cosmedics

There are now professional skin treatments which can be used to improve acne and better manage the risk of long term acne scarring. These should be controlled by a suitably qualified and experienced doctor who has special interest in this area of skin problems.

Options could include:

• Dermaroller Microneedling
• TIXEL® thermal fractional rejuvenation
• iPixel YAG Laser Fractional Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing
• Laser Pigmentation Therapy
• Laser Redness/Rosacea Treatment
• Laser IPL Treatment

DR ROSS PERRY

Dr Ross Perry regularly provides expert comment and advises the media on a range of skincare and health-related issues.

He has particular expertise in skin surgery mole removal, sun damage and melanoma; having removed thousands of moles in his career, both within the NHS and privately through Cosmedics Skin Clinics.

DR ROSS PERRY

COSMEDICS SKIN CLINICS

Cosmedics Skin Clinics was established in 2003 and has built up an excellent reputation for cosmetic and medical treatments, carried out by GMC Registered Doctors.  The company offer a full range of cosmetic treatments, including popular lip enhancement and wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal fillers; plus medical treatments including mole removal, thread vein treatment and excessive sweating injections.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics has a team of skin treatment doctors and surgeons in their 5 skin clinics across London and Bristol led by Dr Ross Perry.

Call 020 7386 0464 or email enquiries@cosmedics.co.uk for an appointment.