Doctor for Acne

My husband is a dermatologist and a previous acne sufferer and firmly believes in roaccutane as it works. It's where some people eventually end up and will typically get rid of it for good. Some people need more than one course though typically years apart. With a good doctor and monitoring roaccutane orally is fine.

I've just seen this post on the aibu page, appreciate it's an older thread.

My son takes lymecycline - he's into his 2nd 3 mth supply, but the nurse practitioner said it can take anything up to 6mths-1 year for them to stop the spots completely. We have seen a massive improvement in his skin, particularly his face.

I hope they work for your son.

Dianette worked wonders for my skin (combined pill) plus a topical antibiotic like dalacin t or zineryt

Anything with benzoyl peroxide made my skin worse - sore and red.

I found dalacin t worked well for me as only topical antibiotic

Oral antibiotics never worked for me

Zineryt was good too as it antibiotic and zinc.

@alsohappenedoverhere you could try spironolactone, our dermatologist said it's fantastic for girls with hormonal acne. So sorry for your DD, I had it as a teen as well.

Also following. My dd is 16 and her face is so bad. I suspect Pcos.

He's 15. He is just desperate to have clear skin again so would do anything. In fact though, after 11 weeks, I looked at him this evening and even though it's still quite bad, I can see a definite improvement. The only side effects have been dry lips and joint aches after exercise (he is quite sporty and was hoping to do some competitions this summer). He had one nose bleed and his mood has been fine.

If you end up going this route do DM me as I have read around it obsessively endlessly over the past few weeks.

I hope your DS clears his skin soon, I'm rooting for him, we had the pills with epiduo and it is good stuff. Just for us the results didn't last.

How are things @Elliejane ? I have been following this thread as DS developed bad acne last year and we've been down the lymecycline plus cream (all my towels and pillowcases ruined to prove it!) which worked for a while but the third course had no effect and then things started to get really bad with it spreading all across his cheeks. We are now 11 weeks into roaccutane and desperately waiting for things to improve. DS has been very stoical and was straight up with the doctor when he asked about mental health and side effects. I would put those spots on my face if I could to save DS from this.

Yes use both. Then keep on with duac when come off the antibiotics. They each kill different bacteria.

I agree use both

My son was always prescribed cream alongside tablets - I'd use both.

Just an FYI. My daughter who was referred to dermatologist on NHS waited 18 mths to be seen. She’s 15 now and just finally seeing some improvement in her acne after 10mths of treatment.

I'm sorry your son is going through this!

I've had bad acne in my early 20s which I managed to get under control but I had a flare up last year (now early 30s) and my GP prescribed me Clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide gel and I find this one works really well on the red angry spots.

I also find with acne that everyone tends to use products that are really drying such as salicylic acid to try dry the spots out but I actually find that when I use really hydrating products this helps! I think sometimes that the products are too drying and then the skin has to overcompensate to produce oil which then clogs the skin.

Not an expert by any means but just my experience.

I really hope your son gets some relief soon!

UPF I can totally see because there’s no antioxidant content to the food. I had someone tell me I should t eat bananas once because of sugar. Wasn’t even that ripe.

Have to say cutting out dairy never helped me either I’ve been full on allergic to it for over 20 years.

I took Roaccutane many moons ago, near to when it first came out. The results for me were life changing, it cleared my skin up in 10-12 weeks. The only side effects I experienced were dry lips. I would highly recommend speaking to his consultant about it.

Roccutane isn't the evil it used to be when I took it years ago. Dn has been on it and hardly any side effects and her skin is clear.

You need a referral to dermatology. I
l know you keep saying you’re not keep to try different medications but can you see now that they are very much needed??

if you can afford to go private please do as it sounds like your son needs to see a dermatologist.

I’m not sure what the link is either, but after the dietician we went to had us cut out sugar, UPFs, and wheat, my DC’s face went from completely covered with spots to the odd spot or two.

The nhs is bound by the nice guidelines that say you have to try topicals then systemic antibiotics and then if that fails you can see a dermatologist.

If you go private it’s quicker but not everyone needs accutane. I was ok till I had to stop dianette then eventually I needed accutane which was fab. If they hadn’t put me on the implant contraceptive I would’ve never had cystic acne the progesterone tipped me over the edge.

I can never figure out the link between sugar and acne. If you get any other skin infection no one says cut out carbs they give you antibiotics.