Drugs & Chemicals That Cause Acne

Did you know that certain drugs, prescription and recreational, can cause acne and breakouts? If not, no worries! Folks outside of the clinical world of skincare tend to gloss over this important detail. If you’re doing everything else right yet still struggling to achieve clear skin, this may be your ‘missing puzzle piece’. That being said, if you are taking a prescription per your doctor’s orders, be sure to consult with them first before making any changes. Your wellbeing is fundamentally important; at Art of Skin Care, we want you to be happy and healthy above anything else. With that important note out of the way, let’s go over all the different drugs that cause acne.

• Recreational Drugs
• Prescription Drugs
• Over The Counter Drugs & Supplements
• Other Chemicals/Substances
• What If You Need To Take One Of These Drugs?

Recreational Drugs

• Marijuana: Aggravates acne by lowering and raising testosterone levels, producing an imbalance in hormones.
• Cocaine: Whether it’s powder or crack, cocaine can cause breakouts of acne.
• Methamphetamines (Crystal, Speed, etc.): Regardless of the subtype or nickname, this drug aggravates acne.
• Steroids: Topical or oral 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 blemishes. Dexamethasone, prednisolone, betamethasone, cortisone, hydrocortisone, triamcinolone, anabolic steroids [danocrine (Danazol), stanozolol (Stomba)], corticosteroids (Prednisone), and methylprednisone can cause acne.
• Bromides: While no longer used in the United States, you can still find these sedatives abroad.

Prescription Drugs

• Anticonvulsants – (like Dilantin) are prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy and other kinds of seizures. Most medications in this family list acne as a common side effect.
• Lithium Carbonate – used to treat Bipolar Disorder.
• Thyroid preparations – 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.
• Quinine – prevents and/or treats malaria.
• INH (Isoniazid) – used to treat tuberculosis (TB).
• Immuran – used to suppress the immune system in patients awaiting an organ transplant.
• Danazol – (Danocrine) hormone management.
• Hormonal medications – progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, or contraceptive agents (like Provera or Depo-Provera) and older oral contraceptives. Newer birth control pills, such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Estrostep, can actually improve acne. See our article on acne and birth control.
• Gonadotrophin – may be prescribed in certain pituitary disorders and can indirectly induce acne by stimulating testosterone production.
• Cyclosporin – this is for post-transplant patients who must take it to prevent organ rejection.
• Medications containing iodine or bromine – These medications are much less common today than in earlier years, but some are still in use. In the United States today, it is probably more likely to see acne-like outbreaks resulting from heavy consumption of iodine-containing health foods such as kelp. Iodine-caused lesions can occur at any age. They occur rapidly after the consumption of large amounts of iodine and are likely to be widespread on the face and body. Inflammatory pustules are common.
• Disulfiram (or Antabuse) – prescribed to help chronic alcoholic patients who want to remain sober.
• Phentermine – a drug used for weight loss and appetite suppression.
• ADD or ADHD – Unfortunately, drugs that treat ADD/ADHD, such as Ritalin, may worsen acne. This is not super well documented, but it’s worth mentioning in case.

Over The Counter Drugs & Supplements

All of these more common drugs and supplements can cause acneiform eruptions.

• Steroids (topical-systemic)
• Testosterone (Bodybuilding acne)
• Biotin (vitamin B7) and B12
• Antidepressants (lithium-amineptine) 2-4
• Antiepileptics (mood stabilizer) valproic acid 5
• Tetracyclines
• Isonicotinic acid
• Puva
• Phenol Barbiturates
• Thyroid preparation
• Disulfiram
• Chloroquine
• Azathioprine 6
• Halogens (bromides-iodides)
• Inhibitors of EFGR (Tarceva) 7
• Iodides
• Algae, Carrageenan, Chlorella, Seaweed, Spirulina, Kelp, Agar (diet “exotic” products, tablets)
• Lugol’s solution
• Drugs for asthma and colds
• Hypnotics
• Sedatives

Other Chemicals/Substances

While these are drugs you’d necessarily take, it’s good to be aware that these substances can cause breakouts.

• Coal tars – a roofer comes into contact with tar.
• Grease – both auto mechanics and cooks come into frequent contact with grease.
• Chlorinated industrial chemicals – may induce an occupational skin disorder known as chloracne.
• Dioxin – a chemical found in herbicides that may cause cancer and other harmful side effects.

What If You Need To Take One Of These Drugs?

If your doctor tells you that you must take something that can cause a ‘drug eruption’ of whiteheads, blackheads, or papules, please be sure to follow their advice. At this point we recommend controlling every other possible variable that can contribute to acne:

• Your diet can affect your skin greatly. By adopting the ‘clear skin diet,’ as we call it, you can help minimize the chance of severe acne breakouts.
• Some subtle lifestyle shifts can help fight acne vulgaris as well. Lack of sleep, the wrong detergent, and excessive stress can all worsen acne as well.
• Not all skincare out there is acne-safe. At Art of Skin Care, we are conscientious of that and mark all products accordingly. For products you get elsewhere, we’ve compiled a fairly extensive list to help you out. If you’re really uncertain, reach out to us in live chat and we’ll help you out as soon as possible.
• As mentioned earlier, birth control can negatively or positively impact your skin condition when it comes to acne.
• Finally, how you shave, whether on your face or body, can impact your skin. Our blog has a full breakdown, but something as simple as switching to a single-blade razor can help.

Acne is, by default, no fun to deal with; drug-induced acne is no exception. But, if you spot a change you can make on this list, go for it! Try swapping out that protein powder with a seaweed additive. If you take marijuana recreationally, consider cutting it out to see if your skin improves. Once again, just make sure to listen to your doctor; many of the listed prescriptions can be fundamentally important to your health. Until next time, may your skin be radiant and clear!

Acne Learn Center: Start Lesson One: What is Acne and why do I have it?