A team of researchers led by the
The
The results of the trial have been published in the
It's expected the results will change in the way acne in women is routinely treated - improving patient outcomes and reducing the large number of antibiotics currently prescribed for the condition.
"We hope the publication of these results will mean more GPs and dermatologists feel confident to prescribe spironolactone as a treatment for acne," says Professor
Almost a third of women who have acne in adolescence continue to be affected in adulthood. This can be a huge physical and psychological burden to those who suffer from persistent outbreaks.
Topical treatments (creams and gels), available from a pharmacy or on prescription, are the first-line treatment for acne. They are effective for many people, but if they don't work then GPs will often prescribe oral antibiotics to be used alongside the creams and gels. This can add to the growing burden of antibiotic resistance in the population.
"For several years, dermatologists have been prescribing a drug called spironolactone to treat severe acne," says Professor
"However, previous studies of spironolactone for acne have been very small and there was no definitive proof that it actually worked." An effective treatment
The
The women were asked to complete questionnaires on their acne and quality of life relating to the condition at the start of the trial and then at 12 and 24 weeks into their treatment.
"The results showed that the women taking spironolactone saw a significant improvement in their acne after 12 and 24 weeks compared to those on the placebo," says
"A significantly higher proportion of people also reported that they felt satisfied that their skin had been helped compared with those receiving placebo, and any side effects were uncommon and very minor. These results show that spironolactone could offer an alternative to antibiotics for many women with persistent acne to use alongside topical acne treatments." Making a real difference
"Nothing seemed to work," says Kelly. "It might go away for a while, but then it would flare up again. It was sore, almost like blisters. I would get thick, red, lumps all along my jawline and at its worst it spread up onto the rest of my face. If I knocked a spot, it would really hurt and would bleed for ages. It was just horrible."
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