Recreational Drugs:

• Marijuana - aggravates acne because it lowers testosterone levels then raises these levels producing an imbalance in hormones.
• Cocaine and Speed - aggravate acne
• Bromides – in cold and flu medications can aggravate acne
• Steroids -Topical or oral cortiscosteroids (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, and triamcinolone], and anabolic steroids [danocrine (Danazol) and stanozolol (Stomba)] corticosteroids [prednisone, methylprednisone can cause acne.

Prescription Drugs:

• ADD or ADHD drugs - have been found to make acne worse.
• 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
• 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, androstendione, 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)
• Gonadotrophin - may be prescribed in certain pituitary disorders can indirectly induce acne by stimulating testosterone production.
• Cyclosporin – this is for post-transplant patients who must take it to prevent organ rejection.
• Disulfuram (or Antabuse) – prescribed to help chronic alcoholic patients who want to remain sober.
• Phentermine – drug used for weight loss and appetite suppression