To put off going back on Roaccutane...

[Justpondering12]

Posting here for traffic....

I'm 35, and out of absolutely nowhere, have developed the worst backacne. I've also got a rough rash around my jawline / cheeks that looks like a mixture of sunburn and comodonal acne. My face acne isn't anywhere near as bad as i've had before, my skin just feels bumpy. It's my back that's getting me down the most, especially given we are nearing summer!

I have a private derm appointment booked for next month, but given my private insurance won't cover me for continued treatment, I wish to be as informed as possible, so that i can make the most of the appointment. I'm likely going to have to make an appointment with my own GP and obtain a referral to see an NHS Dermatologist... i assume i'll be waiting a while.

Im half expecting to have little to no success, until I go back on roaccutane, which i was last on aged 14!! In more recent years, i've tried (and had success) with Lymecycline (2019/20) but less success when i returned to it this time. In fact, i feel that it's gotten worse!!

Roaccutane fixed my acne all those years ago, no argument there but i recall it coinciding with the onset of severe anxiety, OCD and depression which i've suffered with on and off, since. Given the fact that i'm not on any form of hormonal contraception (i react terribly to them), they're unlikely to give me it anyway!!

I suppose the point in my post is to ask whether anyone has had success with an alternative treatment? topical creams just don't work, especially given my problems are on my back!

any advice would be grateful received :)

Spironolactone? Particularly good for treating hormonal acne. Also very cheap if you have to have a private prescription. Good luck.

I hadn't heard of this drug until this evening, it came up in a google search. I'd be really interested to hear of your experiences of it. Did you have any side effects? xx

I thought you couldn’t go on this with a history of mental illness?

Which one, Spironolactone or Roaccutane? to be fair, at the time of being given the Roaccutane, i hadn't been given any diagnosis. Given that i now have, they may well say I can't take it x

Spironolactone is very safe, no real side effects, def no MH effects. Its main use is as a diuretic.

It had some effect on my hormonal acne but didn’t fix it. However neither did Roaccutane.

Best things IME for hormonal acne are Dianette pill and Epiduo cream both available from the GP. Have you tried these? I would try these and Spironolactone before Roaccutane. I know you say hormonal contraception is terrible for you but Dianette is different as it doesn’t have the same hormone mix as most pills, or Mirena coil etc.

also - is it possible the backne is a fungal issue rather than acne? I have heard of this happening especially on back- it’s worth asking to try an anti fungal cream just in case it helps. Appreciate it’s going to be difficult to apply to your own back but you could probably manage somehow!!

Hi!

Sending you love as I know how bad this gets a person down!

I am now 31, personally never suffered with acne over the body but cystic acne on my face! Lymecycline always helped I have been on it on and off since I was 15 but noticed it took a lot longer each time to see a difference! Ive paid for it privately the last few years as doctors did not want to prescribe antibiotics continuously. But for me I would rather take the risk of antibiotic resistance than the depression my cystic acne caused, for long periods I did not leave the house!

I also spent a year on Dianette it worked but after a year I was told my risk of blood clots was too great!

Really feeling for you at the moment though and hope you are feeling in a better frame of mind soon! If you want to PM please do xxxx

Spironolactone was an absolute miracle worker for my adult acne! Took about 4-6 weeks to "kick-in" and when it did it was a real game changer. No more oily skin, no acne cysts...no breakouts at all. For the first time in my life my skin looked really, really great.

I had a terrible time with Roaccutane as an adult. It caused extremely high cholesterol (which never returned to normal), I experienced all the negative side effects and it really didn't have much of an impact on my hormonal acne. I know it works for many people but it was a disaster for me. I'll be on statins for the rest of my life due to a 4 month course of low dose Roaccutane😰

They absolutely should not be putting you back on isotretinoin.

Watching this - at 43 my face looks terrible and I feel so self conscious. Wrinkles and pimples! I have been using retinol but it doesn't seem to fully clear it up.

Maybe google keto diet and acne.

Apple Cider Vinegar (raw, with "the mother") has many health benefits and might also have positive impact on the acne. 1 tablespoon in large glass water (I take it in sparkling water) once a day. Some people hate the taste. I find it quite pleasant in sparkling water - sort of like cider. Drink with a straw so it bypasses your teeth.

I have an update.

It's been ten days since I started this post and today, i noticed a marked improvement in my backcne.

I have been using the following:

Lymecycline (continued use from before so not sure if it's finally kicked in or has been of no use).

Panoxyl for the last 5 days, sometimes twice a day. It can be purchased on iherb.com - word of warning, it bleaches your towels.... I leave this on my back for 2-3 minutes before washing off

Oxederm 2% Salicylic body spray from amazon.
spray after bathing/showering in the eve and leave on when i sleep.

I've had two 5 minute sun beds. I hate using them, but a couple of quick sessions when skin it bad does help.

To help even out texture, i'm going to introduce glycolic acid - spraying it on a couple times a week instead of the oxederm.

Spironolactone.
I take it daily. No side-effects, zero acne.

Accutane wasn't pleasant and the acne returned within a couple of months.
Differin stopped working.
I've barely been off the pill in my life but spotty anyway.
Long-term antibiotics is an awful idea.