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Reports show that over 90 percent of all adolescents and almost 25 percent of all adults are acne sufferers. And although acne affects about 50 percent of all adult women, acne does affect males and females worldwide, regardless of nationality.This ...

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Spironolactone in the treatment of acne
 
In his article on acne published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine James (1) mentions that androgen antagonist spironolacton is often useful in women with hyperandrogenism. However, it would be important to point out, that the effectiveness of this treatment cannot be determined due to the small sample populations involved in the trials, as has been shown in recent metaanalysis. (2) It should be also emphasized that although the long-term use of spironolactone in the treatment of acne in women appears to be safe, its side-effects seem to be high. (3) On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that spironolactone in addition to its antiandrogenic effects might also have antiinflammatory potential. (4) This emphasizes the need for further properly designed trials with relevant outcomes to provide robust estimates of the size and mechanism of any treatment effects. Because of its long half-life spironolactone should be given once daily and not in divided doses as recommended by James. This might increase the compliance which is important in prolonged therapy to achieve maximal benefits. (5)


1. James WD. Clinical practice. Acne. N Engl J Med 2005;352:1463-72.

2. Farquhar C, Lee O, Toomath R, Jepson R. Spironolactone versus placebo or in combination with steroids for hirsutism and/or acne. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003;(4):CD000194.

3. Shaw JC, White LE. Long-term safety of spironolactone in acne: results of an 8-year followup study. J Cutan Med Surg 2002;6:541-5.

4. Hansen PR, Rieneck K, Bendtzen K. Spironolactone inhibits production of proinflammatory cytokines by human mononuclear cells. Immunol Lett 2004;91:87-91.

5. McEvoy B, Nydegger R, Williams G. Factors related to patient compliance in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Int J Dermatol 2003;42:274-80.


About the author:

Dr. Michal R. Pijak is a consultant in rheumatology, allergy and clinical immunology at the University Hospital in Bratislava, Slovakia.




Acne News



Ask Dr. K: Identifying rosacea triggers helps lessen its impact
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Dear Dr. K: I read your column on adult acne with great interest. For years, I thought I had adult acne, but when I finally saw a doctor, she diagnosed me with rosacea. I'd like to learn more about this condition. Dear Reader: Rosacea is a long-lasting ...
Ask ShahnazThe Hindu
Ask Dr. K: Knowing rosacea triggers lessens impactGoErie.com

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New York Times

When 'Younger' Skin Is Not a Blessing
New York Times
“I've got uneven skin that's also oily with constant blackheads and cystic acne bumps on my chin,” Ms. Wolter said. And her once-simple regimen now involves a complicated product list: face brush, acne cover-up, face mask, cortisone shots and ...

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Daily Mail

How almost HALF of US women suffer from adult acne (but the good news is that ...
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By Kristie Lau Almost half of US woman aged between 21 and 30 suffer from clinical acne, a new study has showed. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that 45per cent of women in their 20s are seriously affected by pimples.

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CoralActives Acne Products Now Available at Kinney Drugs
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Technorati

Fight Acne with Blue Light Therapy
Technorati
Acne is a frustrating condition that can strike people of all ages, gender, and race causing undue stress, embarrassment, and even low self-esteem. It's a debilitating condition that goes way beyond the aesthetic appearance of the skin.