Facial Contact Dermatitis Due to Spironolactone in an Anti-Acne Cream

In this 1993 study, a 29-year-old woman developed facial contact dermatitis after using a 5% spironolactone anti-acne cream for 2 months. Initially, her acne improved, but she later experienced an itchy eczematous eruption. Patch testing confirmed an allergic reaction to spironolactone. The dermatitis resolved after discontinuing the cream and treating with systemic corticosteroids. This case highlighted the potential for spironolactone to cause contact dermatitis, despite its effectiveness and general safety in topical applications. Further patch tests on 20 healthy volunteers showed no reactions, suggesting individual sensitivity.