Spironolactone for the Treatment of Acne: A 4-Year Retrospective Study

Dermatology. 2017;233(2-3):141-144. doi: 10.1159/000471799. Epub 2017 May 5.

Abstract

Prior studies have demonstrated that spironolactone is an effective second-line treatment option for postadolescent acne, but has notable side effects. Data are, however, limited. We therefore present a 4-year retrospective study evaluating 291.5 patient-years of spironolactone for the treatment of acne. Our results showed that 86% of patients improved on spironolactone therapy. Further, patients who improved showed minimal side effects, supporting recent evidence that spironolactone is a safe option for acne treatment with a low risk of short-term adverse effects such as hyperkalemia. It is suggested that our study encourages consideration of spironolactone for postadolescent acne.

Keywords: Acne; Female; Postadolescent acne.

MeSH terms

  • Acne Vulgaris / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hyperkalemia / chemically induced
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spironolactone / adverse effects
  • Spironolactone / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
  • Spironolactone