relationship between phentermine and adult acne onset.

[amanda cutler]

11/26/99

I am a 29 year old female with no past history of adolescent acne. In the last few years I have been taking a weight loss drug called phentermine and I have noticed that my face has suddenly and frequently been prone to bad break outs. Has there been any studies linking the drug phentermine with adult onset acne and if not is it even possible that there could be a causal link?

[Victoria896]

A related discussion, Correlation between Phentermine and acne? was started.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Neurological.I guess anything is possible, but as I said, I have not heard of it.Dr. R

[amanda cutler]

What system does phentermine actually effect (ie. hormonal, nerological,etc.) Is it possible that it could cause acne? A few of my female friends who are the same age as me are also experiencing sudden acne since they started taking phentermine. Is it just a coincidence or is it possible?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Amanda:

I have not heard of such a relationship.

On the other hand, you might be amazed at the number of women who break out, often for the first time, between the ages of 25 and 35.  There is most often no cause at all--it's just a second "peak" of acne which is so common that you might consider it as "normal"  (age-appropriate) as adolescent acne.

There is effective treatment, cause or no.  Seek it out.

Best.

Dr. R