Methotrexate and Acne

Ponee

Hi there!

I just wanted to share a little of my experience in the hopes it might benefit someone else experiencing this side effect.

I've been on Methotrexate for my psoriatic arthritis for 10 months now and while my health has seen much improvement I've struggled with non stop aggressive acne. I've tried all spot treatments I can think of (especially frustrating because I've worked in skincare for years) and changed my diet wih no improvement, I've also spoken to my rheumatologist who has kinda shrugged and said it's not a side effect.

Recently I spoke to a pharmacist who advised it could be fungal acne, which I believe is typically only common in people with reduced immune systems. A build up of yeast on the skin causes the acne and regular spot treatments make it worse!

Well do you know what is also caused by yeast? Dandruff. I've been washing my face every evening with Head and Shoulders shampoo (heavily moisturising with Cetraben cream after as it is quite drying) and I can happily say in 3 weeks I've had a 90% reduction in acne and redness. So happy I've not had to resort to antibiotics/fungals that would pause my methotrexate and found something simple that works.

Hopefully anyone else suffering with fungal acne as a result of their methotrexate or similar DMARD might find my experience helpful. Please also use your own good judgement in regards to your skin, speak to your pharmacist or GP about possible fungal acne before you resort to shampoo x

frogmorton

Well well-done you!!!!

I would never have thought of that. Of course other dandruff shampoos are available!

My daughter was on oral steroids (dexamethasone) for cancer treatment (along with MTX and many other chemos), but the steroids caused a kind of acne too. She ended up needed roacutanne to get rid of it so in my opinion you did really well there😊

Take care and enjoy having your complexion back where it should be. Your post will always be here for anyone else, experiencing the same, to read.

Toni x

Ponee

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/727555#Comment_727555

Ah thank you, I haven't had acne since I was a teen and to suddenly get it reaally badly again in my 30s was mortifying. I've seen a few other people on forums struggling with it too so hopefully they might find this post.