Question of the Month

Q:  I have been taking spironolactone (100 now 50 mg/day) for about a year now. It has completely cleared my skin of acne. However, how much longer must I continue on it? Will my skin flare up after discontinuing it? Also, I am 24 and would like to have children in a few years. Will the acne get worse during pregnancy when my hormones are in a hyperdynamic state and I am not on spironolactone?

A: Spironolactone usually should be continued for as long as acne is active. If someone has an occasional lesion on spiro, then the acne will probably return if it is discontinued.
With pregnancy, acne sometimes gets worse and sometimes gets better. Not a very satisfying answer, I realize. But then medication can be resumed as soon after birth as mother is no longer breast feeding. None of my patients have ever been sorry they had a child because of what happened to their acne.
I edited a text for physicians which came out in 1995 as well as my book for lay people, so you might get these in your library.

Hope this is helpful.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Redmond, MD

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