There are several medications that can trigger a breakout of acne, or aggravate an existing case of acne. Many of these medications and classes of medication are mentioned below and are very helpful in treating acne outbreaks. In general, any unusual stress or illness may aggravate acne or even cause and acne breakout. In some cases it may be difficult to determine what is causing or aggravating the acne: the illness, the medication you are taking for the illness or your physical or mental stress over the illness. Caution: If you are taking a prescription medication for a medical condition and the medicine your doctor prescribes causes acne or makes your acne worse, don’t stop taking the medicine. Consult your doctor to see if he or she can recommend a different medication that will work for your condition and not perpetuate the acne problem. If he can, then the acne should clear. If, however, you need that particular medicine and only that medicine to control a medical condition, common sense dictates that you should continue the medication and, if possible, control the acne. The other option is learn to live with it and safe ways to cover the blemishes. Acne may be a psychological “pain in the neck” but it isn’t dangerous and will not affect your physical health.

Contraceptives: Contraceptives are sometimes prescribed to control acne because these medications affect the body’s hormone balance and hormones are a direct link to acne problems. Oral contraceptives contain both estrogen and progestin hormones, the estrogen is fairly stable between brands of contraceptives but there are several different types of progestin and each one will have a different effect. Oral contraceptives that are most likely to cause worse acne are those that have a low estrogen content and a type of progestin that increases the androgen (male hormone) levels in women. The ONLY women, who will be affected, however, are those women who have a tendency toward androgenicity. Keep in mind that most women, if they have an acne problem, find that their acne improves when using oral contraceptives. It is the tendency toward androgenicity in some women that will cause or aggravate acne.

Anticonvulsants: Certain anticonvulsants (such as Dilantin) are prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy and other kinds of seizures as well as for bipolar disorder and some forms of depression. Most anticonvulsants list acne as a common side-effect. Lithium has also been a popular treatment for bipolar disorder and depression. Lithium has also been a popular treatment for bipolar disorder and depression. Lithium can also cause acne breakouts.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids (like Prednisone) are often used to treat asthma and other chronic lung diseases. Like cortisol, a natural steroid produced by the body during times of intense stress, corticosteroids can stimulate sebum production and lead to acne blemishes.

Immunosuppressants: Immuran is an immunosuppressant that is used to suppress the immune system in patients awaiting an organ transplant. It can also suppress the patient’s natural ability to fight the bacteria that cause acne.

Sobriety Medications: Antabuse (commonly called Disulfuram) is a prescription medicine that is intended to help alcoholics stop drinking. This regular use of Anabuse has been known to cause acne in some recovering alcoholics.

Thyroid Medications: Thyroid is a gland located beneath the voice box (larynx) that produces thyroid hormone. The thyroid helps regulate growth and metabolism. Some thyroid medications (such as Thiourea and Thiouracil) are known to trigger acne. These preparations are used to stimulate the thyroid gland in patients with low thyroid function. Large amounts of iodine, which also helps to regulate thyroid function, can also cause breakouts. References:

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Haz-Map- Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents
• Specialized Information Services (SIS)
• U.S. National Library of Medicine
• National Institutes of Health

Featured Writer: Dr. Ahmed Abdullah, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Aloe Researcher