Spironolactone for Adult Female Acne
Many cases of acne are hormonal in nature, meaning that they occur in adolescent girls and women and are aggravated by hormonal fluctuations such as those that occur during the menstrual cycle or in the setting of underlying hormonal imbalances as seen in polycystic ovary syndrome. For these patients, antihormonal therapy such as spironolactone is a valid and efficacious option. Herein, initiation and utilization of this medication is reviewed.
How do you keep patients compliant with treatment?
If androgens are playing a notable role in the patient’s acne, some response is usually noted by even the first return visit, which I always make for 4 weeks later, unlike with other acne treatment regimens, which I usually make for 7 to 8 weeks later. Even though most treatments require at least 8 weeks to show any sign of improvement, even spironolactone at times, close follow-up allows me to increase the dose, which is often needed, or change to another medication if the patient is not tolerating it. Given that I stress it will require taking the medication every day in a consistent fashion to allow me to effectively evaluate it, the short time frame between visits also enhances compliance, as it encourages the patient to actually take the medication and incorporate it into her routine.
What do you do if patients refuse treatment?
,I always tell my patients they are the captains and I am helping them navigate through their disease. I will, however, discuss the chronicity of acne as well as the long-term sequelae of this inflammatory disease including scarring and postinflammatory pigment alteration for which there are no great treatments. I also tell them that if there is any issue with the medication, we simply stop, and the likelihood for severe adverse events is exceedingly low based on the evidence and anecdotal experience.
