Spironolactone as Acne Treatment

There are different kinds of treatment available for acne. But the process should be followed with the consultation of expert dermatologist. One of the treatment medications for acne is spironolactone. It is normally used for the treatment of high blood pressure. But now a days it is used for the treatment of acne and for excessive hair growth of the women.

Spironolactone and flutamide block the effects of testosterone (androgen) on the oil glands and hair follicle. It results in the reduction in oil production and facial hair growth, and the improvement of acne and excessive hair growth.

The treatment process varies from individual to individual. There is some adjustment required for some people also. The benefit will be seen between two or three months. It is safe to use the drug and it is used for over 25 years. There are no severe side effects of spironolactone. But it is not also free from side effects. The most common of the side effect is the irregularity of menstrual cycles. But the cause will be minimal for the women who take birth control pills. Moreover, spironolactone treats premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and acts as a diuretic. It may counter some of the weight gain typical of birth control pills.

The main treatment goal is to control the acne with therapy and then maintain that treatment as long as needed. They should try to use the lowest dose that controls the problem. But it requires some treatment necessary until menopause. The treatment procedure is very much individualized and it requires considerable discussions with patients also. There also needed some possible adjustments of medications and doses during few months of treatment. But if a stable level of control is achieved then there will be seen the good result of the acne treatment in 6 to 12 months.