Spironolactone for Acne: Study Evaluates Risk of Cancer

FightAcne.com Interview with:
John S. Barbieri, M.D., M.B.A.
Director, Advanced Acne Therapeutics Clinic
Department of Dermatology
Brigham and Women’s Hospital

John S. Barbieri
Dr. Barbieri

FightAcne.com:  What is the background for this study? 

Response: While spironolactone is an effective treatment for women with acne that can potentially reduce our reliance on oral antibiotics, concerns have been raised regarding whether spironolactone may be associated with increased risk of cancer, such as breast cancer. As a result, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to better understand whether spironolactone use is associated with increased cancer risk.

Adult Women Describe Impact of Acne on Their Personal and Professional Lives

FightAcne.com Interview with:
John S. Barbieri, M.D., M.B.A.
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Philadelphia
Now practicing at: Brigham and Women’s Hospital

John S. Barbieri
Dr. Barbieri

FightAcne.com:  What is the background for this study?

Response: Nearly 50% of women experience acne in their 20s and 35% experience acne in their 30s. While several qualitative studies have examined acne in adolescence, the lived experience of adult female acne has not been explored in detail.

As a result, we conducted a series of semi-structured interviews among 50 adult women with acne to examine the lived experience of adult acne and its treatment.

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YouTube Inundated with Bloggers Giving Advice on How to Fight Acne

FightAcne.com Interview with:
Melissa Nickles BA
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Melissa Nickles BA

FightAcne.com:  What is the background for this study?

Response: In today’s age, social media is becoming a growing force on our daily lives. This impacts healthcare in numerous ways. Many patients obtain health information, either knowingly or unknowingly, from social media. Teenageers are particularly vulnerable to misinformation on social media. Given the prevalence of health information provided on social media, oftentimes from non-professional sources, we chose to evaluate recommendations for acne therapies on YouTube.

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