Acne is very common in women. While it stops in a lot of people once they reach adulthood, there are still a lot of individuals who are plagued with acne-prone skin most of their lives. No one likes having acne and blemishes if they can avoid it and there are various products that try to make this possible. Recently, a drug is getting quite popular for being effective for treating acne. The drug in question is spironolactone.

[Link: What Your Acne Is Trying To Tell You About Your Health]

What Is Spironolactone?

Spironolactone is a water pill, medically known as a diuretic, which contains potassium and functions by ensuring that your body doesn’t absorb more salt than it needs to. It also helps guarantee that your potassium levels are maintained and do not fall to dangerously low levels.

As per the FDA, this drug has been approved to be used for treating hypokalemia, hypertension, and heart failure. However, there are a lot of doctors that prescribe the drug for combating acne as well.

Is It Effective?

If a recent study is to be believed, yes, spironolactone is effective in treating acne. Barbieri conducted a study that was published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. In this study, the effects of tetracycline and spironolactone were compared. While the former is an antibiotic generally prescribed for acne treatment, the latter is still known as a hypertension medication, even though it is often prescribed for acne treatment as well.

6600 women were chosen who were taking spironolactone and 31000 women who were taking antibiotics. To know which drug was effective, the researchers observed the number of women who had switched their treatment to the other within a year. Such an observation was an evidence that the first treatment was not working.

It was found that 14% of those who took spironolactone initially switched to the antibiotic. The same was the case with acne antibiotics. This showcases that both drugs were equally effective. This means that a drug made for acne is as effective as spironolactone, which is not made for the purpose. Hence. spironolactone is effective.

Which One To Choose?

Whether or not you should opt for spironolactone depends on your situation. Some people are more responsive to antibiotics, while others might find quicker results via spironolactone. When it comes to risks, spironolactone is considered to be the better option. However, you must ensure that you don’t already have low blood pressure as you can’t ignore the actual effect of the medicine.

Alternative Natural Products for Acne-Prone Skin

Drugs and antibiotics might be a great way to treat acne, but they are not the only way. You can also choose to introduce various topical products into your life. While there are various skin care products made for combatting acne, not all of them are worth purchasing. You should make a point of choosing natural solutions since they are less likely to cause an adverse reaction to your skin.

Here are some of the best natural products to treat acne:

• Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Face and Eyes: This natural solution not just clears up acne but can also be used for preventing wrinkles and dark circles. The fact that it doesn’t leave an oily residue behind is a feature appreciated by the masses.

• Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Regimen Kit: This kit contains all that you need to control your acne. It includes a cleanser, a moisturizer and a product for spot treatment. By the end of it, you will have clear and glowing skin without any acne marks.

• InstaNatural Vitamin C Skin Clearing Serum: This product is equipped with retinol and salicylic acid. Both these elements play an integral role in preventing acne outbreaks, fine lines, and wrinkles

Conclusion

Give these natural products a try. If you are still faced with stubborn acne, it is time to introduce spironolactone to your life. However, since it is not FDA-approved for this purpose, make sure you consult a doctor about proper dosages. Ensure that you don’t suffer from low blood pressure because if you do, you can’t use spironolactone.

Make sure you treat your acne whether you do it by using spironolactone or topical products. Your skin’s health should be important to you. After all, skin health matters just as much as physical health.