Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Anti-androgenic Therapy Using Oral Spironolactone for Acne Vulgaris in Asians

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Few studies have addressed anti-androgenic therapy using oral spironolactone for acne in Asians. Obtaining this race-specific information is important because Westerners and Asians respond differently to hormone therapy. This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of oral spironolactone used to treat acne in Asians.

Methods

Spironolactone (initial dose, 200 mg/day) was administered orally to 139 Japanese patients (116 females and 23 males) with acne. Serum laboratory data, including various hormones and electrolytes, were examined for 25 of the subjects.

Results

Most of the female patients who completed the 20-week regimen exhibited excellent improvement (evaluated by a photographic grading scale), although some discontinued treatment because of menstrual disturbances or other reasons. The treatment was less efficacious for the males than for the females, and because gynecomastia developed in three male patients, spironolactone treatment for males was stopped. Examination of the serum of 25 patients did not identify any toxicity associated with the treatment. Drug eruptions and edema in the lower extremities were each seen in three patients.

Conclusion

Oral spironolactone is effective and safe for the treatment of acne in Asian females, and can be a good option for severe, recurring, and widespread types of the condition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allen BS, Smith JG Jr: Various parameters for grading acne vulgaris. Arch Dermatol 118:23–25, 1982

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Carmina E, Stanczyk FZ, Matteri RK, Lobo RA: Serum androsterone conjugates differentiate between acne and hirsutism in hyperandrogenic women. Fertil Steril 55:872–876, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cooper AJ: Treatment of acne with isotretinoin: Recommendations based on Australian experience. Australian Roaccutane Advisory Board. Australas J Dermatol 44:97–105, 2003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Goulden V, Clark SM, Cunliffe WJ: Postadolescent acne: A review of clinical features. Br J Dermatol 136:66–70, 1997

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kasper P: Cyproterone acetate: A genotoxic carcinogen? Pharmacol Toxicol 88:223–231, 2001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lucky AW, McGuire J, Rosenfield RL, Lucky PA, Rich BH: Plasma androgens in women with acne vulgaris. J Invest Dermatol 81:70–74, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Masahashi T, Wu MC, Ohsawa M, Asai M, Ichikawa Y, Hanai K, Kikkawa H, Mizutani S, Narita O, Tomoda Y: Spironolactone therapy for hyperandrogenic anovulatory women: Clinical and endocrinological study. Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 38:95–101, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Messina M, Manieri C, Musso MC, Pastorino R: Oral and topical spironolactone therapies in skin androgenization. Panminerva Med 32:49–55, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Muhlemann MF, Carter GD, Cream JJ, Wise P: Oral spironolactone: An effective treatment for acne vulgaris in women. Br J Dermatol 115:227–232, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ng PP, Goh CL: Treatment outcome of acne vulgaris with oral isotretinoin in 89 patients. Int J Dermatol 38:213–216, 1999

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Parys BT, Hamid S, Thomson RG: Severe hepatocellular dysfunction following cyproterone acetate therapy. Br J Urol 67:312–313, 1991

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Satoh T, Itoh S, Seki T, Itoh S, Nomura N, Yoshizawa I: On the inhibitory action of 29 drugs having side effect gynecomastia on estrogen production. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 82:209–216, 2002

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Shaw JC: Low-dose adjunctive spironolactone in the treatment of acne in women: A retrospective analysis of 85 consecutively treated patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 43:498–502, 2000

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Shaw JC, White LE: Long-term safety of spironolactone in acne: Results of an 8-year follow-up study. J Cutan Med Surg 6:541–545, 2002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Slayden SM, Moran C, Sams WM Jr, Boots LR, Azziz R: Hyperandrogenemia in patients presenting with acne. Fertil Steril 75:889–892, 2001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Takashima E, Iguchi K, Usui S, Yamamoto H, Hirano K: Metabolite profiles of flutamide-induced hepatic dysfunction. Biol Pharm Bull 26:1455–1460, 2003

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Thiboutot D, Chen W: Update and future of hormonal therapy in acne. Dermatology 206:57–67, 2003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Vexiau P, Husson C, Chivot M, Brerault JL, Fiet J, Julien R, Villette JM, Hardy N, Cathelineau G: Androgen excess in women with acne alone compared with women with acne and/or hirsutism. J Invest Dermatol 94:279–283, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wysowski DK, Freiman JP, Tourtelot JB, Horton ML III: Fatal and nonfatal hepatotoxicity associated with flutamide. Ann Intern Med 118:860–864, 1993

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Zouboulis CC, Martin JP: Update and future systemic acne treatment. Dermatology 206:37–53, 2003

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Katsujiro Sato M.D, Daisuke Matsumoto M.D, Fumiko Iizuka M.D, Emiko Aiba-Kojima M.D, Hirotaka Suga M.D, Keita Inoue M.D, Koichi Gonda M.D & Kotaro Yoshimura M.D

  2. Ritz Medical Clinic, Meguro Toho Building 4F, 3-1-7, Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0021, Japan

    Asami Watanabe-Ono M.D

Authors
  1. Katsujiro Sato M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daisuke Matsumoto M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fumiko Iizuka M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emiko Aiba-Kojima M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Asami Watanabe-Ono M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hirotaka Suga M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Keita Inoue M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Koichi Gonda M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Kotaro Yoshimura M.D
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kotaro Yoshimura M.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sato, K., Matsumoto, D., Iizuka, F. et al. Anti-androgenic Therapy Using Oral Spironolactone for Acne Vulgaris in Asians. Aesth Plast Surg 30, 689–694 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-006-0081-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-006-0081-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation