Acne - looking for positive Roaccutane stories

[Notcontent]

My dd has just started a course of Roaccutane. Her acne is not terrible and we had been managing it for about a year with various topical creams but we decided we wanted to nip it in the bud before it got worse. I did lots of research etc so I am aware of the side effects but just wanted to hear from anyone who has benefitted from taking it.

I took it many years ago.
I haven't met anyone who had it and was not happy with it.
Also, it is not a long journey, long is when you waste years trying to stop acne with things that actually don't work, or work very little or when you stop them the problem returns. That's a waste of time.
Best thing ever.

That's absolutely true, piscis. Compared to the 20-odd years I wasted taking antibiotics, the six months was nothing and was over in a flash.

It changed my life. I wish I had pushed for it when I was younger and not spent years hating my face.
Spend around 8 years trying various antibiotics, creams, stupid amounts of money, potions, peels.
Within 5 months I had a brand new face. And it's stayed that way (so far!)
Worth every side effect in my opinion.

It changed my life completely & I was 41 when I took it.

You need a lanolin based nipple cream for lips. If her eyes dry up you can get moisturising drops or gel very cheaply.

I would take it again if I had to.

I had two courses in my 20s and skin has been clear ever since. It was a miracle really. No adverse mental health effects other than the per existing terrible self esteem and low mood from having severe acne since a teen. Wish my mum had taken me to sort mine out as a teen before my skin got so scarred and my confidence ruined. Good luck to you and your dd you sound like a really caring parent.

It is brilliantly effective, but for some it can have some pretty mind altering effects. I know of two girls that have taken it and suffered anxiety in one and extreme aggression in another. The consultant took them both off it as soon as these started emerging. It took about 6 months to go back to normal, although the acne didn't return

I was going to take it at 17 but my mum was afraid of the side effects and wouldn't let me! Now at 29 I am finally starting! seriously wished I could've done it in my teens. Bravo to you for nipping it in the bud

@piscis

I took it many years ago. I haven't met anyone who had it and was not happy with it. Also, it is not a long journey, long is when you waste years trying to stop acne with things that actually don't work, or work very little or when you stop them the problem returns. That's a waste of time. Best thing ever.

I 100% agree with this!

I started getting bad acne at about 13 and all the GP could recommend was creams and antibiotics which weren’t doing anything. My mum was great about taking me back to the GP all the time but he just didn’t take it seriously. Luckily, she got me an emergency appointment one day and I saw a female locum who took one look at me and said ‘she needs a dermatologist, I’ll refer her now.’

I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn’t accidentally seen her, I’d probably still be on antibiotics 14 years later!

The sunblock would be a good habit to carry on with, it prevents 75% of aging.

@cwtchesandprosecco

I started at around 15 and was on antibiotics many times, it would work just a bit after a while and then I had to stop and the problem would return...let’s face it, antibiotics are not useful because you cannot take antibiotics forever and the little improvement there is doesn’t last.
The pill, many many creams, acid peelings...I tried it all for years.
The only thing that worked was Roaccutane. 6 months for me versus literally years of frustration of futile treatments.
If My DD starts having acne when she is a teenager (persistent acne I mean, obviously not just one spot ot two) I would go to a dermatologist to get her Roaccutane asap, no way she is going through what I went through, it can be devastating psychologically.

The antibiotics do work for some people though, @piscis, you and I are just the unlucky ones it didn’t work for.

I am not saying they do absolutely nothing, they do (but just a bit for me, not super clear skin), but whats the point if you cannot keep taking them forever? Do you know of somebody with bad acne who took a course of antibiotics, then stopped and the problem also stopped? I haven’t met anyone to be honest...

Same with the pill, it did something, yes, but no way I am going to be on the pill for 20 years, then I would have been terried of becoming pregnant and having my hormones all out of control during pregnancy.

What I mean is that when acne is pretty bad, you want a permanent solution that after the treatment is finished, the results are still there forever. Once oil is under control, the problem will never be the same and you are free of having to use any medication.

I took it when I was 18 (now 40)

For me it was a wonder drug but i did suffer with dry skin, especially up my nose.