This Prescription Pill Is the Industry's If-You-Know-You-Know Secret to Curing Cystic Acne
"I mainly use it to treat acne, but it can also help with hormonal hair loss on the scalp and excess hair growth on the face," says board-certified dermatologist Anna Karp, DO. Spironolactone is an androgen blocker, which means it helps reduce hormones—the ones that tell hair to shrink and become finer—from binding with their receptors. It's rare that your dermatologist would recommend spironolactone as a first-line treatment for hair loss, but the few studies on the topic have proved that taking the medication can reduce hair follicle miniaturization and shedding. It's more common that spironolactone will be added to a more comprehensive treatment plan that could include PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or minoxidil. While this is a widely used medication in dermatology practices, you do need to meet certain criteria to be considered. "The ideal candidate is a female with hormonal acne,"…
