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

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.