Acne and Drugs

It has been found that certain drugs may induce acne in individuals who would not have otherwise suffered from the disease. Below is a list of drugs that have been known to cause acne.

• Steroids: Steroid acne can result from taking either steroid pills or from applying corticosteroid creams to the skin. Acne resulting from steroid pills will appear rapidly whereas acne from steroid creams may take weeks to develop.
o Steroid acne is inflammatory, with multiple blemishes.
o Steroid drugs are given for rheumatoid arthritis, kidney diseases and allergic reactions.
o Steroid creams may be prescribed for rashes or itching.
o Steroid creams should never be used on a long-term basis.
*For information on the “steroids” used by athletes see “testosterone injections and pills”.

• Testosterone Injections and Pills: these are the “steroids” used by athletes and bodybuilders to increase muscle mass.
o Changing the body’s hormone balance can often cause severe acne.
o “Steroids” also cause severe liver damage.

• Danazol (aka “Danocrine”): This drug acts similarly to testosterone and can cause acne.
o Danazol is given to women with endometriosis.
o Danazol may also cause excessive hair growth.

• Lithium: A drug used to treat depression, can cause acne flare-ups.

• Dilantin: An anti-convulsive drug, often prescribed to epileptic patients. This drug can cause severe acne problems.

• Marijuana: It has been found that marijuana can provoke acne in some users.
o Marijuana’s acne inducing effects may be due to the presence of dioxin sprayed on Mexican plants by drug enforcement agencies.
o Marijuana may also cause acne by raising and lowering testosterone levels.

*** Consult your physician if you think a drug is causing your acne, do not simply stop taking the drug (unless it is an illegal one)!