recurring acne/roaccutane

LegacyUser

I know the topic of acne has been done to death on this board but i think i am coming from a slightly different angle.
Iam a 24 male, i had bad acne through my teens and early twenties, it did get me down alot until i went on roaccutane for a number of months. It cleared up my acne on both my back and face, it hated being on the drug because of the nasty side effects, especially back pain pain cos i play alot of sports, but i thought it would be worth it in the end. It cleared up and i was delighted but swore never to go on it again cos it was a tough couple of months.
Over the past couple of months my skin has gradually been getting worse again, it is not the typical acne i had, there are a couple of spots but it is more the discoloration of my skin that is really getting me down, there are patches on my skin that are really dark redish,purple. I am at my wits end no because i am so conscious of it and really thought i had seen the end of it. I am contemplating going back to my dermotolagist and will probably end up back on roaccutane, has anyone else gone back on it after a couple of years gap ? Its not what i want but dont know what else to do, i physicaly cant look in the mirror anymore and think i will end up with a massive complex, my girlfriend is really supportive and reassures me alot but its still tough...sorry for long post

Civilian_Target

Only you can call that one.
I've been on Roaccutane, it wasn't that bad, I'd put up with it again if I thought I had to. However, one thing that it has thought me is that "looks" are mostly down to confidence and not to actually physical looks. If you appear to be concious of your spots, you automatically make yourself less attractive.
Fact is, I know a good few girls who are damn hot despite their spots, and I don't think removing my spots has really changed me one iota. Have you considered just getting on with things and stop moping about the damn spots?

The_Minister

Have you looked at your diet? Often skin conditions can be caused by bad diet, and taking drugs only treats the symptoms not the cause (not that drugs are bad, but they aren't always the answer). Did your dermetologist ask you about your diet?
EDIT: This is not medical advice.

LegacyUser

hi there,
I know how you're feeling re mirrors etc. It really does take over your life. i'm 23 and have been battling it for 12 years now...

I've tried all the creams, tablets etc on the market. After blood tests I discovered I couldn't take roaccutane.

I'm currently doing a treatment called the "clear skin regimen". Think the web address is www.acne.org. It's a bit of a nuisance and it hasn't cleared me up totally but i've definitely seen a major improvement... to the extent that I can now live a reasonably normal life!
It mightn't work for you though, as mine was more "spots" than what you describe. Also it was several weeks before anything happened for me.
It won't do anything for your back either!

Maybe it's worth a try, but best of luck whatever you choose. To be honest if I had the choice of taking roaccutane I probably would, life is too short and it's scary to think of all the time I wasted worrying about acne!!

daiixi

I was on roaccutane and it was a horrible experience. A couple of years after I had finished my course I had to go back on it for about six months. Since then I've been fine. I do think it's one of the most horrible things I've ever had to do though, I got all the bad side effects. However, I think it was worth it.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replys, just to answer the question of diet, my dermetologist didn't really ask too much about it when i saw him a couple of years ago, just to drink plenty of water, i believe he said what one eats does not really have a major influence on acne, i have a pretty healthy diet anyway and get plenty of exercise and eat healthy food more often or not.
The thought of going back on it is the worst part about it, knowing that there will be an awful couple of months ahead with no guarantee of success. I think i might have a bit of acne dysmorphia as well, i am convinced now that i must go see my dermotologist and take it from there, weigh up my options and make decision...

bbbbb

Make sure you get professional advice.

Over the years, I've been on 3 courses of roaccutane (10 yrs between 1st and second). Experienced the various side effects to various degrees, but different each time funnily enough. e.g. the 2nd course I found affected my mood quite a bit, the 3rd course my skin reacted badly & I had to go on steroids for a short while.

mloc

Diet is a myth. In reality it has very little to do with acne, as a condition, as opposed to the odd breakout of spots, which is not acne as defined medically. So that's why your dermatologist didn't ask about it.

There are many forms of acne, and the discolouration you experience may be a different form than you experienced before. I would recommend you go back to your dermatologist and discuss your symptoms and your feelings on another round of treatment with Roaccutane.

I was on Roaccutane back when I was doing my leaving cert, about 4 years ago. No serious side effects. Everybody differs, although I was on the highest safe dosage for my body weight, and in retrospect, my acne at the time wasn't particularly bad. I was just fed up with spots in general and decided to go at it full whack. I know several individuals who have been on it more than once, in some cases with a long break between treatments. Their side effect profile in different treatment periods differed.

In summary, go to your dermatologist and talk to him about it.

daiixi

Is Roaccutane not prescription only here? When I went back on it I had to go back to my dermatologist to get another prescription and letters of recommendations for blood tests because GP's in Australia can't prescribe it. So presumably the OP would have to get professional advise before going back onto Roaccutane.

mloc

daiixi wrote:

Is Roaccutane not prescription only here? When I went back on it I had to go back to my dermatologist to get another prescription and letters of recommendations for blood tests because GP's in Australia can't prescribe it. So presumably the OP would have to get professional advise before going back onto Roaccutane.

Yes, it is prescription only and cannot be prescribed by a GP, only a qualified dermatoligical consultant.

So with fees and the cost of the drug etc, it's no small investment.

LegacyUser

'

daiixi wrote:

Is Roaccutane not prescription only here? When I went back on it I had to go back to my dermatologist to get another prescription and letters of recommendations for blood tests because GP's in Australia can't prescribe it. So presumably the OP would have to get professional advise before going back onto Roaccutane.

yea i know i will have to get professional advice first, and i know the advice will more than likely be roaccutane, i have a feeling that most dermotologists will recomend a course of roaccutane'

LegacyUser

'To OP, sorry to hear your acne is getting you down, please do me one favour and visit the website www.sher.co.uk
I suffer from acne rosacea and like you wsa sick of antibiotics etc...
The Sher System is completely natural using herbal tablets and creams for sensitive skin. Ive been on this sytem for 3 months an the differnce to my skin is amazing and its getting better day by day! You start by filing out a questionnaire describing your skin, send a photo as well. They will get back to you with a personalised programme outlining the right products for you..
The qusetionnaire costs approx 40 euros and the the complete programme of the skin products can range from 250 to 400 euros but they are worth it..
The main part of the programme is splashing your face 30 - 40 times with warm water! Its that simple and natural a programme... have a look a plesae keep me posted... All the best'

mloc

sounds like a lot of money for what is scientifically unproven herbal mishmash... always slow to believe expensive non-researched products that feed on vulnerable markets.

Gordon

I'm going to leave zilmail's post there as a warning to people looking for magic fixes. The questionnaire costs 40 euros?! That sings warning bells to me.

The system sounds like a scam to me. Akin to the herbalife stuff a friend of mine takes and pays a great deal of money for. When the main bulk of the program is getting him to drink a great deal of water every day.

I would not advise anyone to go for a program that charges 40 euros to send a questionnaire in.

turbot

You should:

1) Try hypnosis which has proven effective for many skin conditions

2) Explore how a "Scenar" might be useful (look this up on the web)

3) Read and apply the wisdom in Patrick Holfords books:

- Solve Your Skin Problems
- Hidden Food Allergies: Is What You Eat Making You Ill

4) Become a master of detox approaches, for example, eat more healthily, go to a sauna, assist your body's natural processes for getting rid of toxins and especially, Alakalize (the book "The PH Miracle" by Dr Robert Young is worth checking out!).

5) Explore other alternative and complimentary approaches, especially homeopathy and chinese medicine.


BTW, many medical professional's views are sculpted by what is taught in medical school. Some of their access to information and research is limited by pharmaceutical companies. If a prescribed solution works, great. If not - other systems of understanding the human body can also be useful and some of them are likely to yield good results.

Victor

turbot wrote:

1) Try hypnosis which has proven effective for many skin conditions

I'm not sure about that.

The_Minister

Patrick Holford is genuine, but I'm really not sure about hypnosis.

Civilian_Target

Honestly, what I'm seeing above seems like a great pile of horse to me!

I wouldn't recommend any herbal or chinese medicine, I don't think it's going to prove very effective.

OP: Have you looked at your diet and lifestyle. It's possible that this is the true cause of your recurring spots. Do you do much outdoor physical activity? Do you eat a decent amount of fruit and veg, or do you usually end up munching on chips, chocolate and greasy food? Do you have a nervous habit which means you're touching your face a lot?

All of these are major contributing factors to spots, and if any of these are "root causes" of your acme maybe it's better to go after them rather than treating the symptoms.

LegacyUser

Honestly, what I'm seeing above seems like a great pile of horse to me!

As is your advice....

Have you looked at your diet and lifestyle. It's possible that this is the true cause of your recurring spots. Do you do much outdoor physical activity? Do you eat a decent amount of fruit and veg, or do you usually end up munching on chips, chocolate and greasy food? Do you have a nervous habit which means you're touching your face a lot?

All of these are major contributing factors to spots, and if any of these are "root causes" of your acme maybe it's better to go after them rather than treating the symptoms.

what the fook! jeez get over yourself, major contributing factors?? i think not. As someone who in the past suffered from acne you have no idea how insulting that is. "Look he/she has acne, must be because they eat a load of greasy food" ??!

yes the occasional outbreak of spots may be due to poor diet

Acne is entirely different and has nothing to do with diet

Blogard

I was the exact same after roacatane and without treatment it never went away. The good news is 10 years on I am using a cream called betnovate mixed with a moisturizer (comes that way) and it works if you use it 3 times a week very sparingly because it has a tendency to thin the skin. It worked for me and someone else I knew so def give it a go. I have been using it for 5 years and my skin is as perfect as it will ever be.

Another thing that sparks a breakout is diet drinks and if you google that you will see why.

To be clear. Is your patches dry red or purple patches in the same areas? That is what I am talking about.

Hope that helps!

Lou.m

Guys try New Era combination D tissue salts you can order them in most health food stores i swear they work and thake a lot of them it say four for four times a day on the label but i took a lot more it so worked.

Victor

Lou.m wrote:

Guys try New Era combination D tissue salts you can order them in most health food stores i swear they work and thake a lot of them it say four for four times a day on the label but i took a lot more it so worked.

Are people really that willing to poison themselves for 'beauty'?

Lou.m

THEY ARE TISSUE SALTS! I was advised that i could take a lot more of them by a medical practioner and it says on the label that you can take them up to four tablets every half hour on the label if needed. Know what you are talking about before you make " smart comments". I know you probably just meant to warn people to be careful but if you ask a gp you would know it is very difficult to overdose on tissue salts but like all things you can take too much. But you would really need to take vast amounts of these. According to the instructions and professional advise you can take more than four times the amount i took. Tissue salts are made mostly from calcium if you ask you gp about poisoning yourself with them he might laugh at you. But still i am not qualified to give medical advise ask your doctor if you wish to take them. Although over dosing on them would be a bit like trying to over dose on vitamins possible but difficult. As you may know water soluble vitamins are flushed out by the body when it has too much non water soluble vitamins are stored leading after many months to hyper vitaminosis which can be dangerous. As i understand it most tissue salts are also water soluble plus the active ingredients are also present in homoepathic potencies. I took well within the recommended maximum dosage but anyone wishing to try these should of course ask for professional medical advise. All i can say is they worked for me.
On the label which i have before me now it says the minimum dosage for kids is two tablets every four hours for adults four tablets every four hours saying it is safe to increase the dose to every half hour if needed ( which i imagine it should not be) that would mean the maximum would be 144 tablets per day.
It also says that you should contact a medical practitioner and if you are already taking a product then you should contact your doctor before taking this one.
As i said before this is not medical advise. It just worked for me and the product is quite harmless and cheap and can be bought over the counter and has no listed side affects it may not work for you but i thought i would mention it as it may be a lot safer than most products. It is a safe natural non habit forming product. Unlike a lot of stuff out there. As for people who do not appreciate natural medicine that is fine then by all means do not try it. All i will say is that nothing my docter tried worked and after two weeks this did. That does not mean it will work for you but all it was was some friendly advice!

LegacyUser

'Hi all i said i would post this here as it is some way on the same topic. I suffer from psorisis and while i have suffered it severe enough at the moment it ain't too bad except for my face. I also suffer from acne and similarly it is not as bad on my face as it used to be (22 btw and started getting spots since 13). Problem is i find it difficult to treat both as if i wash my face with some cream for acne the psorisis gets bad (dry etc). Does anyone know any good creams for the face for psorisis someting like a good moisturisor. I use Modrasone ointment but i find it a very short term solution and it may clear patch in day and a half but it can be back as soon if i stop using it. Any ideas?

On the topic of diet it is my experience (from both these skin disorders) that diets are not the cause of problem but can have a very big impact. My view is that healthy diet = better immune system which means body can cure spots faster better.'

mloc

Lou.m wrote:

Know what you are talking about before you make " smart comments".

Well, I have a degree in pharmacology. So I think I know what I'm talking about.

These "salts" contain potassium sulphate and potassium chloride. Talking any potassium compound in large amounts can lead to a condition called hyperkalemia. Of course, being homeopathic, the exact dosages on these things are difficult to work out... the moral of the story is, hyperkalemia is bad. It causes heart arhythmias (e.g. palpitations, possible heart attacks) and increases blood pressure.

In any case, there are a lot of homeopathic and herbal treatments out there not just for acne but for many conditions where the sufferer is feeling vulnerable and will try anything to combat the condition. Whilst in general these work through telling you to do things you should be doing anyway, acne is at the end of the day a pretty varied and complicated disease caused by bacteria, and cannot be combatted using simple washes etc.

An important distinction must be made between acne in its clinical definition and just "spots", which can be caused by a huge variety of factors. There is significant confusion in this area and this is what a lot of, being honest, sham cures feed on to make money.

Civilian_Target

hadacne wrote:

As is your advice....

yes the occasional outbreak of spots may be due to poor diet

Acne is entirely different and has nothing to do with diet

That's one way of completely mis-interpreting what I said, but I can tell you for sure, after years of acme that it's "badness" can be influenced in my experience (and in medical experiece) on 3 factors:

Diet - Keeps the skin from secreting chemicals that are known to induce spots
Outdoor exercise - Exposes the skin to the sun it expects to receive as well as strengthening the immune system to help it cope with the causes
Touching the infected area spreads any viral or biological causes to other possibly sensitive areas of your skin so it also aggrivates the problem

Again, for the frustrated pedantics, I'm not saying these are the final cause or final cure but you should do you what you can to get your body to help itself before turning to magic or medical remidies!

LegacyUser

'Yeah Ive been on roaccutance 3 times over about 4 years and each time I went on it it did exactly what it did before and cleared up the prob but I had to go off it because of depression so now im maintaining my skin with an antibiotic called oxytetracycline which is pretty mild but since roaccutane destroyed the root of the prob the antibiotic is now all I need! So I think it would be worth your while to see your dermatologist and he can advise whether you need another course of roaccutane or somethin milder that may well be all you need at this stage to maintain your skin!'

Villaricos

I agree with civilian target, a good diet while it isnt going to stop or cure acne can help. Peoples acne can be triggered by any food - for me its coffee. dunno why but it does! theres constant research going on to discover if theres a link between diet and acne.
I know the idea of going back on Roacutane would suck but if it clears you??
as a previous poster said go on over to acne.org - all the advice you could possibly want on the boards there!

LegacyUser

just to answer a previous poster, the discoloration is mainly dark red but there is a distinct purple in most of it especially around my cheeks in patches, also i do exercise quite alot, more than most people and my diet is ok, eat rubish sometimes but is mostl very good. In the past i have eaten extremely healthy, lots of fruit, water and veg with no rubbish but it did not change my skin.
I found the acne.org site very useful and took away a lot of information and advice which i feel i could apply to myself.
I wont be able to see my dermotologist untill after christmas so i will try and implement some of the advice i have been given here and not think about it at all, pma. Thanks for info