Spironolactone didn't really help my skin... Then going fragrance free did.

I tried spironolactone (50mg and 100mg) for almost a year, with not enough improvement in skin or hair. Finally a new dermatologist told me to switch everything to fragrance free--laundry products, shampoo, everything! I wasn't sure what to think, but wanted to look better and feel better. I discontinued spiro and went totally fragrance free, and after about 6-8 months my acne was gone. Turns out fragrance is full of terrible hormone damaging chemicals, and it can literally cause acne.

It took some time for the laundry scents to wash out of my clothes (a few months, actually!), but wow what a difference. My hair is coming in fuller, acne cleared up, I look younger, and my sex life is incredible! My partner had struggled with erectile dysfunction for years, but a few months after we stopped using fragranced anything, things for him started... WORKING. And he's not on ED meds anymore, either.

Anyway, if anyone out there is struggling with acne, PCOS, or hair loss, try switching to fragrance free. It wasn't hard, and it wasn't really more expensive. I've found that my new fragrance free products are much higher quality for close to the same price, turns out the ingredients have to be better quality in fragrance free anything because nothing is hiding behind masking scents.

I did some reading about fragrance and was shocked by what I found... The words "fragrance" and "parfum" can legally contain thousands of carcinogens, the same ones in cigarettes. Fragrance can definitely cause hormone problems that lead to PCOS, acne, lower sex drive, even erectile dysfunction. Until companies are no longer allowed to hide any chemical under the fragrance label, we have to get smarter about knowing exactly what is in what we buy. And "fragrance" turned out to be a code word for "covering up a chemical that can break you out!"

I hope this helps someone! Acne is no fun, and it's not fair. Mine cleared up once I ditched fragrance and scents, and I'm so happy I found the dermo who suggested it and told me fragrance free was better than spiro.

I thought I'd be sad without fragrances and perfumes and my partner's cologne, but frankly, I don't even miss the scents! I much prefer clear skin and a bangin' sex life to the smell of laundry scent beads. :)

Good luck to anyone who tries it!