Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Spironolactone?Spironolactone for AcneDosing GuidelinesSafe Use GuidelinesInteractionsSide EffectsAlternative Treatment OptionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Spironolactone?
Spironolactone for Acne
Dosing Guidelines
Safe Use Guidelines
Interactions
Side Effects
Alternative Treatment Options
Frequently Asked Questions
The approach to treating acne will depend on many factors, including age, lifestyle, the type and severity of acne experienced, and genetics.
Mild or moderate acne may be treated with topical products (those that you apply to the skin)—while more severe acne may require oral medications, such asantibiotics,hormones(for females only), or retinoids, such asisotretinoin.
One notable hormonal treatment option for acne is spironolactone—a drug that has been used for decades to treat acne in adult females. It may be used when other treatments have not been effective.
When using spironolactone for acne, it may start to work within several weeks; however, in some cases, it can take up to five months to see its full effects.
This article will analyze the role of spironolactone in the treatment of acne.
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This medication can be further classified as an aldosterone receptor antagonist, a diuretic (water pill) that encourages water loss in the body.
Spironolactone is not used in adult men because it can impact a male’s physical and sexual health, including causing breast growth and tenderness andsexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction (ED).
How It Works
In doing so, it causes the kidneys to eliminate unnecessary fluids and sodium from the body while reducing the loss of potassium.
Traditional Uses
Spironolactone is FDA-approved to treat the following:
Spironolactone for Acne Relief
When other treatments, such as topical or certain oral medicines, are ineffective for acne relief, a healthcare provider may prescribe hormonal therapy.
Hormonal therapy may include oral contraceptives, such asbirth control pills, and/or spironolactone.
Females who take spironolactone must also use birth control to prevent pregnancy since the drug can lead to severe disabilities in the infant.
Consult with your provider on which birth control pills are safe and effective for you.
How Effective Is Spironolactone?
For acne, spironolactone is considered a safe and effective treatment for adult females as a monotherapy treatment option (treating a condition with a singular medication).
Studies that reflect this include the following:
Guidelines for spironolactone use in acne include:
How Long Does Spironolactone Take to Work for Acne?
Results may differ, but general guidelines include:
Keeping appointments with your healthcare provider can also increase your chances of successful acne treatment.
This will help your provider assess how well the treatment is working and allow them to adjust the dose of medication if needed.
Continue following your healthcare provider’s other recommendations, such as using certaincleansersor other treatments if recommended or prescribed.
Guidelines for Safe Use
Tips for safely taking spironolactone are:
Potential for Interaction
Before taking spironolactone, tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including:
While taking spironolactone, do not start any new medications without approval from your healthcare provider.
Categories of drugs that may negatively interact with spironolactone include:
This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Other types of drugs may negatively interact with spironolactone.
Therefore, ask your healthcare provider for more information about the possibility of spironolactone’s interacting with other medications you take.
Like all drugs, spironolactone carries the potential for side effects of varying severity.
Monitor yourself or a loved one closely for the emergence of side effects that fail to go away or that worsen over time.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience severe side effects. Call911if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you have a medical emergency.
The following lists common, less severe, rare, and more severe side effects of spironolactone.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects of spironolactone may include:
Severe Side Effects
Serious side effects of spironolactone may include:
Consult your healthcare provider for professional medical advice and a treatment plan for nondrug options.
Nondrug options may include:
Summary
Spironolactone is an orally administered hormonal therapy that, in addition to its standard usage for high blood pressure and fluid retention, can be used off-label for the treatment of acne in adult females.
When using Spironolactone for acne, you may see initial results in several weeks (but it can take up to three months) and up to five months to see the full benefit of this medication.
Ask your healthcare provider for more information about spironolactone to see if it is right for you.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo. Because it can cause birth defects, spironolactone should not be taken if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.If you already take spironolactone and find out you are pregnant, stop the medication and contact your healthcare provider right away.If you are breastfeeding, check with your healthcare provider for medical advice.Spironolactone may cause stomach pain or cramps in general. It may also make your menstrual cycle irregular.
No. Because it can cause birth defects, spironolactone should not be taken if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.If you already take spironolactone and find out you are pregnant, stop the medication and contact your healthcare provider right away.If you are breastfeeding, check with your healthcare provider for medical advice.
No. Because it can cause birth defects, spironolactone should not be taken if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
If you already take spironolactone and find out you are pregnant, stop the medication and contact your healthcare provider right away.
If you are breastfeeding, check with your healthcare provider for medical advice.
Spironolactone may cause stomach pain or cramps in general. It may also make your menstrual cycle irregular.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Stubborn acne? Hormonal therapy may help.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Spironolactone: an increasingly recognized hero in acne therapy.MedlinePlus.Spironolactone.DailyMed.Label: Aldactone - spironolactone tablet, film coated.DailyMed.Label: CaroSpir suspension.Santer M, Layton A.What do we know about prescribing spironolactone for acne?BMJ. 2023;381:p1114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1114Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat adult acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018Roberts EE, Nowsheen S, Davis MDP, et al.Treatment of acne with spironolactone: a retrospective review of 395 adult patients at Mayo Clinic, 2007-2017.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(9):2106-2110. doi:10.1111/jdv.16302Charny JW, Choi JK, James WD.Spironolactone for the treatment of acne in women, a retrospective study of 110 patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(2):111-115. 2017. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2016.12.002Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.Kim GK, Del Rosso JQ.Oral Spironolactone in Post-teenage Female Patients with Acne Vulgaris: Practical Considerations for the Clinician Based on Current Data and Clinical Experience.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(3):37-50.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Spironolactone.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lasers and Lights: How Well Do They Treat Acne?
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Stubborn acne? Hormonal therapy may help.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Spironolactone: an increasingly recognized hero in acne therapy.MedlinePlus.Spironolactone.DailyMed.Label: Aldactone - spironolactone tablet, film coated.DailyMed.Label: CaroSpir suspension.Santer M, Layton A.What do we know about prescribing spironolactone for acne?BMJ. 2023;381:p1114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1114Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat adult acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018Roberts EE, Nowsheen S, Davis MDP, et al.Treatment of acne with spironolactone: a retrospective review of 395 adult patients at Mayo Clinic, 2007-2017.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(9):2106-2110. doi:10.1111/jdv.16302Charny JW, Choi JK, James WD.Spironolactone for the treatment of acne in women, a retrospective study of 110 patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(2):111-115. 2017. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2016.12.002Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.Kim GK, Del Rosso JQ.Oral Spironolactone in Post-teenage Female Patients with Acne Vulgaris: Practical Considerations for the Clinician Based on Current Data and Clinical Experience.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(3):37-50.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Spironolactone.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lasers and Lights: How Well Do They Treat Acne?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Stubborn acne? Hormonal therapy may help.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Spironolactone: an increasingly recognized hero in acne therapy.MedlinePlus.Spironolactone.DailyMed.Label: Aldactone - spironolactone tablet, film coated.DailyMed.Label: CaroSpir suspension.Santer M, Layton A.What do we know about prescribing spironolactone for acne?BMJ. 2023;381:p1114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1114Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat adult acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018Roberts EE, Nowsheen S, Davis MDP, et al.Treatment of acne with spironolactone: a retrospective review of 395 adult patients at Mayo Clinic, 2007-2017.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(9):2106-2110. doi:10.1111/jdv.16302Charny JW, Choi JK, James WD.Spironolactone for the treatment of acne in women, a retrospective study of 110 patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(2):111-115. 2017. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2016.12.002Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.Kim GK, Del Rosso JQ.Oral Spironolactone in Post-teenage Female Patients with Acne Vulgaris: Practical Considerations for the Clinician Based on Current Data and Clinical Experience.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(3):37-50.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Spironolactone.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lasers and Lights: How Well Do They Treat Acne?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Stubborn acne? Hormonal therapy may help.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Spironolactone: an increasingly recognized hero in acne therapy.
MedlinePlus.Spironolactone.
DailyMed.Label: Aldactone - spironolactone tablet, film coated.
DailyMed.Label: CaroSpir suspension.
Santer M, Layton A.What do we know about prescribing spironolactone for acne?BMJ. 2023;381:p1114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1114
Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat adult acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018
Roberts EE, Nowsheen S, Davis MDP, et al.Treatment of acne with spironolactone: a retrospective review of 395 adult patients at Mayo Clinic, 2007-2017.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(9):2106-2110. doi:10.1111/jdv.16302
Charny JW, Choi JK, James WD.Spironolactone for the treatment of acne in women, a retrospective study of 110 patients.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017;3(2):111-115. 2017. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2016.12.002
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.
Kim GK, Del Rosso JQ.Oral Spironolactone in Post-teenage Female Patients with Acne Vulgaris: Practical Considerations for the Clinician Based on Current Data and Clinical Experience.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(3):37-50.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Spironolactone.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Lasers and Lights: How Well Do They Treat Acne?
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