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Jane Feddersen

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spironolactone for acne and hair loss

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How to Get Spironolactone Online for Acne & Hair Loss

About the Author

Jane Feddersen

Jane is a former DI student-athlete and lifelong health enthusiast. Since graduating from College of Charleston where she played both indoor & beach volleyball, Jane’s spent the last four years building her marketing career with experience in project and partner management. Outside of work, her nutrition certification, dog, travel and yoga flows keep her busy.

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Medically reviewed by:
Dr. Steve Kim, MD

About Dr. Steve Kim, MD

Physician Advisor

Dr. Kim received his BA in Human Biology at Stanford University, before receiving his M.D. degree (Primary Care Track) from UC Davis School of Medicine. He completed his Internship & Residency in Family Practice from Glendale Adventist Hospital and is Board-Certified in Family Medicine via the American Board of Family Medicine. He has held faculty appointments at Stanford & UCSF medical schools and has championed telemedicine for decades. He is also a decorated, retired Flight Surgeon from the US Air Force Reserves.

In this Article

In this Article

Jane Feddersen

Spironolactone – sometimes called “spiro” for short – has been a miracle drug for many suffering from acne, PCOS, and hair loss. Typically taken orally or in combination with other topical treatments, spironolactone has helped millions.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of how to get spironolactone online and help you determine which providers you can trust and how getting spironolactone works. We”ll then dive into the science of “Spiro” and how it works to treat different conditions for women.

Cutting to the chase: here’s where our medical advisory team recommends you get Spironolactone prescribed, depending on which condition you’re looking to treat.

Where to buy Spironolactone online for…

HAIR LOSS

Best Spironolactone for Hair Loss: Hers vs Musely

Dosage100mg oral spironolactone60ml topical solution containing .05% spironolactone

50-150mg oral spironolactone
Price$30/month$74 for a 2-month supply of topical spironolactone

$64 for a 2-month supply of oral spironolactone

$138 for a 2-month supply of both oral & topical
How to Get StartedTake a quiz that tells Hers about your hair needsThere is no test, you are directly shown the two options (1 oral & 1 topical) to add to a cart
Consultations with Physicians?Free online visit with a licensed medical provider and unlimited follow-ups1:1 consultation with a board-certified dermatologist
Free delivery?
Accepts insurance?
Website

Check out our full reviews of Hers and Musely for more information on other products and treatments that they can provide. For more information on alternatives to Spiro for women’s hair loss, check out our hair loss reviews.

Best Spiro for ACNE

Best Spironolactone for Acne: Apostrophe vs Nurx

Dosage & form?25-150mg oral spironolactone25-150mg oral spironolactone
Price$20 for your initial visit (later applies to your treatment plan purchase)
$48 for 90-day supply
$40 for initial medical consultation + one year of care by the Nurx medical team
$30/month
How to Get StartedYou must set up an account before any steps can be takenShare your acne history and photos on the website or app
Consultations with Physicians?You will be assigned a physician or dermatologist based on your stateA medical provider will review and prescribe a personalized treatment plan
Free delivery?
Accepts insurance?
Website

Check out our full reviews of Apostrophe and Nurx for more info on other products and treatments that they can provide beyond just spironolactone. 

Best Spiro for PCOS

Best spironolactone for PCOS: Sesame vs Plushcare

Dosage and form?25-100mg oral25-100mg oral
PriceMedication costs depend son insurance and deductible

Average cost for a single visit: $35

Visit with Sesame Plus: $19 (+ $8.25/mo membership)
Medication costs depend s on insurance and deductible

Average cost for a single visit: $30 with insurance

Membership is free for the first month and then $14.99/mo + the cost of copay or uninsured repeat visits are only $69.
Program OverviewSesame connects you with real, quality doctors for prescription refills, consults, imaging, dentistry, labs, and more.Plushcare connects you with licensed physicians for virtual consults and to get medication refills online.
How to Get StartedBook a visit with a telehealth providerBook a visit with a telehealth provider and get low cost meds delivered to your local pharmacy if eligible.
Consultations with Physicians?You sign up for a single virtual visit which costs ~$35You sign up for a single virtual visit which costs ~$30 with insurance, or $129 without.
Free delivery?
Accepts Insurance?
Website

Check out our full review of Sesame Care for more information on their platform and the online treatments that they can prescribe. 

Who should take Spironolactone?

Spironolactone is used off-label to treat conditions in pre-menopausal women, such as hair loss, acne, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Some women also see beneficial side effects from spironolactone, including weight loss.

That said, spironolactone is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Though there is no human data concerning pregnancy (such studies are disallowed for ethical reasons), but animal studies have shown increased resorption rates and decreased birth rates from exposure. Spiro can also excrete in breast milk, but the risks appear to be minimal.

Before trying spironolactone, you will need a doctor’s consultation to determine whether the drug is right for you. Luckily, there are many legit online platforms that offer free doctor consultations to help you determine if you’re a fit for treatment.

Is Spironolactone safe? What are the potential side effects?

When using spironolactone orally for acne, the most common side effect was menstrual irregularities, but it is believed that taking an oral contraceptive with spironolactone significantly reduces these irregularities. 

Because spironolactone inherently prevents a build-up of fluid, side effects can also include dehydration and low sodium. Other potential spironolactone side effects can include nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, high potassium levels, and breast tenderness in males and females. Men can show more pronounced female characteristics since spironolactone can lower testosterone production throughout the body.

The Verdict – Where should you get Spironolactone online?

Spironolactone is ideal for [guys/women/shoppers] who want to…

Not only can you save money by buying spironolactone online, but you can get virtual one-to-one consultations with medical professionals, including dermatologists and other specialists. Most of these brands will work with you to find the correct dosage for your personalized needs and pinpoint what exactly you are hoping that spironolactone will treat.

Many companies will provide you with a treatment plan that you pay for monthly, and medication will be delivered right to your door. You can get the treatments you need to battle hair loss, acne, and PCOS without stepping foot outside your home. 

If you want a prescription-strength product, it is best to go HersNurxApostrophe, or Musely. With Hers, Apostrophe and Musely, you have the option of combining additional treatments beyond spironolactone to find the best skin or hair growth regimen. Nurx offers many other personalized treatments as well, so it’s ideal if you’re in the market for other prescriptions as well.

If you would like an in-depth evaluation from a doctor, pick Sesame Care. Their 1-on-1 virtual consultations with a specialist are unparalleled.

If you already have a spiro prescription and just need a refill, we recommend Plushcare who is likely to fill it at your local pharmacy for the lowest price.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Spironolactone is a synthetic steroid that moderately interacts with and inhibits both progesterone and androgen receptors. This can prevent your body from absorbing too much salt and keep your potassium levels from getting too low. The drug belongs to a group of medications referred to as aldosterone antagonists, which block aldosterone and help regulate salt balance, blood volume, and pressure. 

 

It is FDA-approved to treat heart failure and high blood pressure and for conditions like edema, which is associated with liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, and primary hyperaldosteronism. Through studies, though, it’s been known to also treat PCOS, hair loss, and hirsutism (excessive hair growth in women), and acne. 

 

Spironolactone acts on the androgen hormones that play an essential role in reducing acne and has been used as a potassium-sparing diuretic and an off-label treatment of acne since the 1980s. Androgen plays a role in developing skin diseases like acne and female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and the anti-androgen properties have also been used to induce hair growth

 

In one study of spironolactone on hair growth, 26% of users detected no change, 42.1% saw mild improvements, and 31.6% saw increased thickness. When combining data, it showed that 74.3% of patients receiving spironolactone reported stabilization or improvement of their disease. 

The time to results for Sprionolactone varies depending on the condition you’re using it to treat. Generally it takes three to six months to notice results for acne. Spironolactone only works while you’re actively taking it, meaning acne and other skin blemishes may return as soon as you stop treatment.

 

Spironolactone can take a bit longer to improve hair growth and minimize hair loss. For most women, it takes at least six months to see results, and for others, they do not see results for up to a year.  Thus it’s important to stay patient when using it for hair loss prevention.

 

A similar timeframe (6-12 months) is what doctors typically estimate to see an improvement in symptoms for PCOS as well.

For women, losing their hair, the best results of hair growth can be found when combining spironolactone with a topical solution, especially in those with female pattern hair loss. FDA-approved Minoxidil or Finasteride, when applied topically, reduces hair loss and induces hair growth in approximately 60% of women suffering from female pattern hair loss. 

 

The downside is that if the treatment is stopped, the results disappear within six months, leaving users of Minoxidil right back at the start. For benefits to continue, the application of the topical solution must continue indefinitely.

 

Spironolactone is available in 25-200mg tablets but can be cut in half for proper dosage depending on the patient and what they are trying to treat. The FDA has not approved any dermatologic indications, but it is also often used off-label to treat female pattern hair loss and acne. 

 

For female pattern hair loss, the initial treatment is 25-50 mg/day, increasing to 100-200 mg/day for a treatment period of 3-24 months. It has been shown that over 90% of women see a reduction in hair loss progression. 

 

It’s also prescribed off acne with an initial dose is 25-50 mg/day, increasing to a maintenance dose of 50-100 mg/day. The duration of treatment is 3-24 months. 

1. Women’s Hair loss

According to a study on spironolactone, it was said to be an inexpensive alternative for treating female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Androgens regulate the growth of hair follicles, and as spironolactone acts as an anti-androgen, it prevents androgen from affecting follicular growth. Androgens affect the dermal papillae on the scalp, turning terminal hairs into vellus hairs. 

 

A clinical trial on 40 women treated with 200 mg/day of spironolactone over twelve months showed 44% regrowth and no further disease progression for female pattern hair loss.

 

 

2. Acne & Skincare

In a study, it was found that >200mg of spironolactone reduced acne lesions for over 85% of women. The same study concluded that there is high-quality evidence for the effectiveness of oral spironolactone for acne management in adult females. 

 

Another study claims that spironolactone is a safe and effective medication for women with acne vulgaris, and though there can be side effects, the good outweighs the bad. While exploring further studies, it was found that 73.1% of patients using spironolactone saw an improvement in their face acne, 75.95% for the chest, and 77.6% on their backs. Though a little less than half experienced side effects, only six found them bad enough to stop taking spironolactone.

 

 

3. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

In a study on hirsutism (excessive growth of dark or coarse hair in male-like patterns) and PCOS patients, it was found that spironolactone is an effective treatment. Still, it is suggested to be used in combination with a drug that will aid with the hormonal or metabolic issues associated with PCOS for best results.

 

Another study concluded that metformin and spironolactone are effective in managing PCOS. Spironolactone appears to be better than metformin in treating hirsutism, menstrual cycle frequency, and hormonal issues, plus it has fewer adverse effects.

 

Unsure where to start?

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We conduct extensive research to evaluate the pricing, effectiveness, accessibility, overall quality, and user experience of each product we review. This also included examining and comparing them to several alternatives.

Review ProcessKey MetricsWeighting
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– affordability
– upfront commitment or subscription required?
– money back guarantee or refund policy?
1
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Key Takeaways Topical tretinoin may support hair growth by increasing circulation to the scalp and boosting cell turnover.  Up-to-date clinical research indicates that tretinoin can enhance the effects of minoxidil for hair growth.  The most common side effects of tretinoin are skin irritation, dryness, and

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About the Author

Jane Feddersen

Jane is a former DI student-athlete and lifelong health enthusiast. Since graduating from College of Charleston where she played both indoor & beach volleyball, Jane’s spent the last four years building her marketing career with experience in project and partner management. Outside of work, her nutrition certification, dog, travel and yoga flows keep her busy.

Learn more
Jane Feddersen

Jane Feddersen

Jane is a former DI student-athlete and lifelong health enthusiast. Since graduating from College of Charleston where she played both indoor & beach volleyball, Jane’s spent the last four years building her marketing career with experience in project and partner management. Outside of work, her nutrition certification, dog, travel and yoga flows keep her busy.

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