Natural Alternatives To Spironolactone For Acne

Spironolactone has been a drug regularly recommended by dermatologists to treat hormonal acne. While it has shown to work against acne, some may want to avoid being on a prescription drug for an extended period of time. As the pill only works when you are consistently taking it. There have been some natural acne treatments that are comparative to spironolactone without all the side effects of a prescription drug. (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})

Natural Alternatives To Spironolactone

Although Spironolactone has show to work for acne it can come with some side effects. There are many natural alternatives that get to the root cause and have shown to be effect in the fight against acne. The main cause of acne are an imbalance of hormones. An excess of androgens and testosterone in the body lead to acne. The key is to get these back in balance.

Zinc

Is an important mineral for the skin. It helps with acne by regulating the metabolism and hormone levels. Studies have shown that those with low levels of zinc tend to have more acne. Zinc is a natural way to support the ovaries, which also decreases the over production of androgens. This is important because the most common acne is caused by an excess of testosterone or androgens. It also decreases testosterone from turning into DHT. Lastly, zinc kills the bacteria on the skin that becomes acne while also reducing inflammation.

Green Tea Extract

Green tea contains an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effects. Studies show that green tea has the ability to significantly reduce acne. It reduces sebum (oil) production and fights inflamation in the skin. An excess of sebum in the skin can clog pores leading to bacterial overgrowth, causing acne.

Dim

Is considered a natural alternative to spironolactone. It’s a natural compound that comes from cruciferous vegetables found in broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. It has anti-inflammatory properties and it balances your hormone and estrogen levels. Dim works similar to spironolactone by blocking androgens leading to less oil and clogged pores, which means less acne.

Omega-3

Omega-3’s are anti-inflammatory, this may help with acne by reducing inflammation. There have been studies that suggest those who had more omega-3 in their diet where less likely to have acne. The two main types of omega-3 fatty acids that fight acne are EPA and DHA. High levels of these fatty acids decrease inflammation in the body, which helps reduce acne.

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto works by blocking testosterone from turning into DHT. It has anti-androgenic effects that can help fight against acne. A study found that saw palmetto helped to reduce the sebum levels in the skin. Saw Palmetto also contains essential fatty acids that are helpful for oily, acne prone skin.

Vitex

Also known as chasteberry, balances the hormones and reduces the amount of androgens in the body. This eases PMS symptoms and decreases the hormone prolactin. It has shown to be especially helpful for those with cystic acne.