Zoloft is a prescription drug that is used to treat anxiety and depression, two conditions which are highly correlated with acne (check out the studies page of our site). It is not known whether depression causes acne, acne causes depression, or a 3rd factor causes both. Regardless, it is unlikely but not impossible for Zoloft to cause acne. However, if you do experience acne while taking Zoloft, you should consider that it is likely a by-product of depression / anxiety, and not directly related to Zoloft.
Does Zoloft correlate with acne in your experience? Please tell us your thoughts.
I am a 19 yr old female currently prescribed on zoloft 50mg. I have not had any outstanding problems with acne until about 3 weeks into taking the tablets. I am wondering whether this has any effect.
I had the same thing as the above post. 3 weeks in and BAM!! Major breakout like never before!!
I have been on Zoloft for 3 months and have had a problem with acne on my chin since I started. Takes a long time to heal and is leaving my chin marked; also cystic and painful. I was taking Celexa previously and had the same symptom. Dr has switched me to Effexor but I am hesitant to switch yet again. I have been reading that people have had the same result with that drug. I find it hard to believe there is no link????
I have never had any kind of acne. Hardly ever even had a pimple. But now that I’m on Zoloft I have pimples all over my face at one point I counted over 30. I have stopped taking them two days ago, and I bet my skin will clear up. Oh and it was about 3 weeks in when mine showed up as well.
Its been a week now and they are healing, and no new pimples have shown up. So it was defiently the zoloft.
I am a 50 year old woman and have suffered in the past with severe acne. At 50 I have pretty much ceased with breakout…but as I have been into about, yes my 3rd week I started seeing acne like I have not had in over 20 years.
I like that the Zoloft is keeping me even but not so hip on the acne. Obviously this is a side effect.
I am 61 yrs. and into 3rd week on Zoloft, 50mg and face is beaking out. Going to 25mg for one week and then getting off.
I’m 38 and hadn’t had a pimple since my late 20′s. Just like you, I started breaking out after a few weeks of taking Sertraline 50mg. My back, chest and face are full of pimples and I itch constantly, specially on my legs, upper arms, head, even my face!.
I’m going to the doctor next week to ask for a different anti-depressant.
I’m 18 and I’ve rarely had issues with acne for about 2 years. I started taking Zoloft, and at about 3 weeks as well my face and back started breaking out. I got off of Zoloft and within 2 weeks my skin was back to normal.
I am the same. I started Zoloft 50mg about two months ago and started to notice breakouts really bad all over my face, I am 29 years old and usually only breakout the week before my period, but this is terrible. Every morning it would be so broke out that I didn’t want to go to work. I am going to see my doctor about trying a new medicine or just getting off of medicine all together. I think it can be dangerous to just stop this type of medicine on your own though without consulting your physician.
I’m 40 & the same has been happening to me, zoloft & breakouts!!! I’m on my 3rd month now and the breakouts aren’t any better. It sucks! Now that I know it’s not just me (which I was thinking it was!) I’m going to talk to my Dr. I don’t want to switch meds either, I think at this point I’d just be content to have my clear skin back!!!
I had the exact opposite effect. I struggled with acne since age 16 and was still dealing with it at age 29. It runs in my family, I have uncles and aunts in their 40′s and 50′s who still have considerable break outs. I was prescribed Zoloft and took it it for 6 months. By about week 6 or 7 I noticed the impossible: my face was practically clear. Months later I stopped taking Zoloft (my doc felt I could deal without it). AND the acne breakouts never came back, I’m now 34.