DS’s acne is affecting his mental health

[Strongcuppa]

Wasn’t sure where to put this..but DS (22) has suffered for about 6 years now with acne. He doesn’t have any spots on his cheeks, just around the jawline, the odd few on his neck but mostly on his temples.

However, we have tried just about everything. He was on Lymecycline for a while which helped but didn’t totally clear them. He felt it was manageable and tried different things, like the Nordic balms and different acne face washes etc. He’s also been to a very expensive medispa and had different facial treatments. However, it does seem to be flaring up again with quite severe red angry bumps on his temples. He’s just started his first job so I think he might be a bit stressed but he got very upset today and actually cried 😔 and now doesn’t want to talk about it. It’s really hard seeming him struggle with this as it really affects his mood and confidence.

Everytime he gets upset, I think maybe he should try roaccutane but when I read the side effects, they terrify me.

He has a good diet, drinks loads of water and is very diligent with his skin care routine. I am thinking it might stem from his gut health? And am now wondering about pre/probiotics. I’m at my wit’s end with how to help him.

Does anyone have any suggestions or words of wisdom? TIA 🙏

Tell him to go back to his GP.

It may be worth looking at gut health. Most of the immune system is in the gut. Stress affects the immune system.

I take an immune suppressant for something else in my 40s and many of us on it for my condition have had or experience skin flare ups.

So maybe looking at gut health and strenghtening immunity as a whole.

He doesn't have to put up with this. I'd get a private dermatology appointment and get roaccutane. It's very effective almost immediately, even for cystic acne.

Also just to add Lamberts is a trusted company for making pro and pre biotics. My coeliac friend swears by them.

Which part of the uk are you in?

Agree. My friend’s DD has terrible cystic acne, with huge cysts, to the point she refused to leave the house. Roaccutane has changed her life.

Agree, go back to the doctor to discuss evidence based effective medical treatment.

https://www.finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultant/view/23682/dr_neill_hepburn

we’re Notts and my friends daughter saw this chap in Lincoln - he has a brilliant reputation they were really impressed and he sorted the issue out. People travel to see him seemingly.

I had N-Lite laser for my acne around 10 years ago. 3 sessions and its completely rid me of acne and transformed my confidence.

I cannot recommend enough, Dermatica, I read about it on a mumsnet thread after my son was struggling & it completely transformed his skin. I think there are codes around on here as people get a discount if they recommend someone else.
But I was so surprised by the results. It gets a tiny bit worse before it gets better with the treatment, and they ask you to send them update photos I think every 4 weeks to check in with prescription etc.
If he hasn't already, he should take a look at the site.
We stopped using it now as it as more or less cleared
Hope he feels better soon

We had a private skin clinic appointment and he was prescribed lymecycline. They suggested roaccutane but he did’nt want to take it then.

I think he would be open to it now - but his job involves socialising with clients and he doesn’t want to not drink - I know how stupid that sounds when he is so upset by his skin. But he has said he would feel self conscious about the non-drinking too. I think he might have to make a choice about this. The other side effects that worry me are the fact it can cause suicidal thoughts and other gut issues.

My daughter tried everything & about to complete Roaccutane - the results have been amazing. Her face & back in particular were terrible but almost completely clear now. Biggest side effect for her has been very very dry skin.

He tried dermatica when hid skin first started to flare up, it didn’t really work that well for him…we’ve tried so many things, I did suggest trying it again but he’s getting fed up with chopping and changing all the time.

For me the state of my skin made me more depressed than anything else. I was very happy on roaccutane as I could see it working day by day. Usually the first course (and for a lot of people only course) is only a few months. At a new job he shouldn't risk making a tit of himself by drinking anyway, so just have an alcohol free pint.

Thank you so much - will consider this - suspect we’d have to wait a while for an appointment though?

I think it is the thing that affects his confidence the most tbh - the first thing he does in the morning is check his skin 🙁

Did you notice any side effects, apart from the dry skin? And do you have to stay on it for a certain amount of time?

roaccutane really is the solution. Depression is more of a concern for someone with severe acne.

He would be monitored for side affects so if he has tried everything else it really is the backstop.

So my skin was very bad, so I had two course initially which cleared it at 15 and then it came back at 22 when I messed around with my contraceptive pill so had to have another course. Dry skin was an issue, but I used to apply E45 like a facemask and go to sleep on my back so it could sink in at night, and factor 50 every day as it also makes you sensitive to the sun. Other than that I had zero side effects. Like I say, my mood improved by the day! Oh, and as an added bonus, I only had to wash my hair once a week as it was no longer greasy. For me it was a fast acting wonder drug and it's not an exaggeration to say it changed my life.

I was scared of accutane as I read all the horrifying stuff on the internet and I effectively banned DS1 from taking it when he developed bad acne at age 16. He is 22 now and his skin in still quite bad but it really doesn't seem to bother him anymore as he has a good social life and has never had an issue with getting a girlfriend etc. DS2 was another story - when acne struck at the same age and the numerous antibiotics didn't work his mental health was SO bad in that his acne coloured every aspect of his life to the point that I was seriously worried - i.e. he restricted his diet, cutting out anything he thought might impact his skin, he refused to go out and have a social life because he said that everyone would just be looking at his skin, he became obsessive with skin care routines and was constantly looking for something that might work...his whole life revolved around acne and it became absolutely unbearable and impacted the whole family. At one point I considered getting him referred to CAMHS and had the waiting list not been so long I would have. At that point I realised that the possible side effects of accutane were no worse than what he was already experiencing. He went on Accutane and his skin cleared up within 4 months, as did all his mental health issues. We did it privately and the whole thing cost around £800 which included a couple of dermatology appointments, the drugs and 2 blood tests. His had no side effects while on the accutane apart from very dry lips and a bit of fatigue - he did take a very low though. So I guess my advice is that some kids can live with the acne but for others it really does take over their lives and you get to the point where you are willing to try something like accutane. He's been off it a year now and since then he's found out that many of his friends were also on it - it's just that no-one talks about it. It made me think that perhaps the horror stories you read online are the exception rather than the rule? There are also horror stories associated with taking to many courses of antibiotics so constantly taking them is also not great for long term health.

I can only confirm what other posters are saying. Roaccutane was a complete solution for DH and then DS. Same story as your DS with the cystic acne, scars, discomfort and it was really unsightly. The drug was fairly new to the public when DH took it at 27 and it was a miracle. When DS was about 12, I could see he was going the way of his father and I started him on it. It took about 7 months, but he has had perfectly clear skin and he's 28. I can't recommend it highly enough. As far as the alcohol goes, lots of people don't drink because they are taking antibiotics or drank too much on the weekend or just don't like it. The medication is a cure. His only regret will be how long it took him to try it.

Just saw your point about the not drinking....while it wasn't an issue for my DS2 as he was 17 years old so not really supposed to be drinking, we did ask the dermatologist about this. He told us that having a pint or 2 once a week was ok - just to avoid heavy drinking. DS2 has subsequently told me that he DID have a beer when he was taking the accutane and it made him feel like he had had 3 pints instead of 1 so it didn't do that again!!. I think as an adult you are better able to moderate yourself so your DS should be ok to socialise and perhaps limit what he has?

When I was 18 I came out in a rash that my gp said was acne and he prescribed quinoderm. I got home with my prescription and my mum ( who hadn’t seen the rash, prior to my gp visit) said with her non medical knowledge. That looks more like chicken pox to me. Anyway the following morning when I’d used 1/4 of the tube on my “ acne” I went back to the gp who said “ ah it’s chicken pox “
the reason I’m telling this rambling story is that I actually used the quinoderm for spots and it was fabulous. My son had acne and had antibiotics to clear it but I remembered the quinoderm and bought it for him. It helped him massively.

Why is everyone so afraid of roaccutane? I went on it in my 20s, my mum was like you OP, didn't want me to go on it. I was quite angry with her for a long time that I didn't go on it sooner. It completely cleared my acne, but I was left with some minor scarring. 25-50 percent of acne patients will get scarring if you don't treat early enough. I was crying, breaking down and afraid to go to work as people would look at me - way more of an effect on my mental health than roaccutane! Only side effects with roaccutane were dry skin and constipation (a rare one but as it's so drying, my GP said).

Thank you for your post, very helpful. I’m going to suggest it to him now. I really can’t stand seeing him so upset and affected by it.

He’s quite sensible (when he needs to be!) so I think he would be very careful with the drinking.

There are things the Dr can offer between between Lymecycline and Roccotane so def worth going back