The Safety and Efficacy of Spironolactone versus Oral Antibiotics for Moderate-severe Acne in Post-adolescent Females

Authors

Bhav Patel, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Files

Description

Introduction

• Acne is a common skin condition when the pores are clogged by particles like dead skin or oil, affecting approximately 50 million individuals in the U.S.¹
• Over a third of females experience moderate-severe forms that persist into adulthood and that number seems to be on the rise³
• Persistent moderate-severe acne often requires systemic medications and oral antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed therapy²
• Dermatologists prescribe more antibiotics per provider than any other specialty, and often for longer durations than recommended²
• The inappropriate use of oral antibiotics is contributing to bacterial resistance and disruption of the microbiome²
• Spironolactone is an androgen receptor antagonist that has been used off-label for acne treatment for over 30 years³
• A 2009 Cochrane review found that randomized trials evaluating spironolactone as a treatment for acne were too limited and small to support its clinical effectiveness¹
• There have since been multiple large studies supporting its utility¹

Publication Date

8-17-2023

Keywords

acne, post-adolescent, adult females, spironolactone, oral antibiotics

Disciplines

Dermatology | Medicine and Health Sciences

Comments

Capstone presentations were completed in partial fulfillment of the Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Thomas Jefferson University.

Document Type

Poster

Recommended Citation

Patel, Bhav, "The Safety and Efficacy of Spironolactone versus Oral Antibiotics for Moderate-severe Acne in Post-adolescent Females" (2023). Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Capstone Presentations (Center City). 18.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/mspas_capstones/18