Oral spironolactone improves acne vulgaris and reduces sebum excretion.
In a consecutive series of thirty-six male and female patients referred with severe acne, the effect of 3 months' treatment with placebo or spironolactone (50-200 mg daily) on sebum excretion and clinical and endocrine status was evaluated double-blind. Twenty-six patients completed the study. Abnormal free androgen indices were found in 27% of the original nineteen female subjects. Spironolactone reduced sebum excretion in all female subjects, but there was no correlation between sebum response and androgen status. The clinical response was dose-dependent, with maximum subjective and objective benefit when spironolactone doses of 150-200 mg were used.
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012629:Sebum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000728:Androgens; D013148:Spironolactone