Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

treatment for acne - antibiotics, retin-A, roaccutane - any experiences?

47 replies

Sugarmagnolia · 25/04/2007 07:07

Having come off all oral contraceptives my acne is as bad as it was when I was 15 and I can't stand it anymore! I'm 25 FFS. So I'm going to see the GP tomorrow - I don't know if she'll be able to do anything or if she'll give me a referral but I was just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with any acne treatment.

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 25/04/2007 07:12

Many women who present with acne in adulthood are found to have a condition called polycystic ovaries.

BTW were you previously prescribed Dianette?.

You may be referred to a dermatologist but I would also ask for a referral to a gynae as well to see if PCO is actually to blame.

You need to find the root cause of the acne.

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 25/04/2007 07:17

Thanks attila - I'm pretty sure I don't have PCOS as I don't have any other symptoms. Also, I tried the mirena coil for a while and thought it might have fallen out so had a scan to check and they did see a cyst on one ovary - but only one cycst so I dont' think that counts. I was on dianette for 2 years and was told I had to come off it. Since then I have tried 3 other combined pills and 1 mini pill and they all had totally unacceptable side effects. So here I am back at square one, with no regular form of contraception and the same acne I had 20 years ago.

OP posts:

dressedupnowheretogo · 25/04/2007 07:57

see if you get hold of md formulations i had exactly what you had and they do makeup as well and its stopped my acne in its tracks also another vote for dianette

CantSleepWontSleep · 25/04/2007 08:08

I had roaccutane treatment for a year about 10 years ago. The side affects were horrible - I ended up having to take steroids as well, and was basically crippled for a year due to it affecting my sacro-iliac joints (base of back where it joins your bum).

It did, however, clear up the horrendous acne on my back, and improve the stuff on my face. I still get it on my face now, but not as badly as I did.

It is absolutely essential that you don't get pregnant whilst taking it (one of very few drugs that is almost guaranteed to cause birth defects), so unless you are abstaining altogether, they usually ask you to go on the pill at the same time. I'm assuming that you've come off the pill because you want to ttc, so it may not be an option for you.

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 25/04/2007 09:49

Ok,

would love to be able to spend a fortune on md formulations for the rest of my life but not really practical from a financial standpoint

dianette is not an option - i've been on it twice already for about 2 years each time and my GP won't allow me to take it again.

Definitely not TTC!!!! I came off the pills because I was fed up with all the side effects (very heavy periods, mood swings, headaches etc) - currently just using condoms as we can't seem to make up our minds about sterilisation (either him or me) - but would probably be willing to try something again temporarily if a course of Roaccutane were a possibility.

OP posts:

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 25/04/2007 09:59

hmmm, can'tsleep the joint thing is a bit worrying. Asare the reports i"ve read about it's links to depression. Then again, if it could sort me out for good it might be worth it. Otherwise what choices have I got? Antibiotics or retin-a gel both of which I gather stop working once you stop taking them.

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 25/04/2007 10:05

Supermagnolia,

Had a feeling you were previously prescribed Dianette - it is often prescribed to women with adult onset acne as it has anti androgenic qualities. Many of these women have polycystic ovaries (an internal ultrasound scan can be done to see what your ovaries look like. Polycystic ovaries appear larger than normal walnut size and have multiple follicles. You do not have to necessarily have any other symptoms.

I would go all out to try and determine whether polycystic ovaries are the root cause of these problems.

inanidealworld · 25/04/2007 10:12

Hi. I had a three month course of roaccutane a few years ago. I think the length of the treatment depends on how bad the acne is and how well your skin responds to it. It worked really well for me but again the side-effects were awful. You get really dehydrated and very dry lips. Alcohol is a no-no (I tried a thimble of wine once and got a huge headache). Your skin also feels quite hot and can get flushed (don't need to wear blusher)and then the outer layers flake off. As Cantsleepwontsleep said you have to be on the pill at the same time. If you are not you will be put on it as the drug will most definitely cause severe malformations in a foetus. I was also told not to get pregnant for 6 months after the treatment. In some countries they advise a year. I waited nearly 2 years.
All that said it did work for me but I would not like to have to do it again.
HTH.

ekra · 25/04/2007 10:19

I took Roaccutane when I was 16 and again when I was 25. Strangely my acne came back when I was 25 too. I didn't have any side effects taht I can remember. I only had to take it for a few motnsh when I was 25.

Good luck. I hope you can get a referal quickly.

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 25/04/2007 10:35

I really don't want to get pregnant again so that's not a problem. I'm thinking the other side effects sound pretty bad BUT would probably be worth it in the short term to sort the problem out in the long run. I'm thinking maybe I can get my GP to prescribe something (antibiotic cream or something?) while i wait for a referral. Thanks for sharing your experiences. They are as bad as, but no worse than what I was expecting.

OP posts:

Malaleche · 25/04/2007 10:45

If you have ruled out a cyst or whatever maybe you should see a nutritionist - that's what sorted my skin probs after id tried everything else (antibiotics, pill etc)
They'll be able to tell you if something in your diet or candida in the gut is causing the acne.

bebespain · 27/04/2007 15:17

I had a course of Roaccutane when I was 19 and it saved my life. Yes I did get incredibly dry skin and lips as a result but this far outweighed the depression I had due to the acne. You will be very closely monitored by the hospital.
For me it was a wonder drug and I would recommend it to anyone. In my case nothing else worked. Dianette, Retin A, antibiotics, gels, you name it I tried it and although my acne was bad it was not as severe as some of the other patients.

Taylormama · 27/04/2007 15:20

Hi SM - i have had 2 courses of roaccutane and it works!! First lot i was at uni and second lot 4 years ago. I had dry skin, dry lips when taking it but finally my acne went and has not returned (i am a few years older than you as well)
I had tried everything else (and i mean everything) and roaccutane is the only thing that truly worked

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 28/04/2007 07:42

Thanks Taylormama that's really reassuring to hear! I've been to see the GP - she's given me a referral to a dermatologist to discuss roaccutane but that may take months to come through so she's given me antibiotics in the mean time - something called Lymecycline (Tetralysal).

She did actually offer me the possibility of going back on Dianette for the 3rd time but having seen the change in me since coming off all the oral contraceptives DH's response - was "no way, I don't want that you back!"

OP posts:

noddyholder · 28/04/2007 08:12

My dp had roaccutane in teh late 70's and it causes a lot of side effects so be careful.

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 28/04/2007 08:13

noddy - did any of the side effects cause long-term damage or did they go away when he stopped the treatment? I wonder if they way it's prescribed has changed at all since then.

OP posts:

noddyholder · 28/04/2007 08:23

He is riddles with arthritis which is common apparently.Also many people who have been treated with it complain of depression.

barking · 28/04/2007 08:31

i was put on roaccutane when i was 29. had also tried everything over the years and it was the only thing that worked.
i had also read about the side affects and discussed these worries with the dermatologist. He put me on the lowest dose possible and if i remember correctly it was for 3 months. 6 years later and still no spots! (touch wood)

amidaiwish · 28/04/2007 08:43

my sister was on roaccutane recently
she has now come off it, thank God.
she became super touchy, sensitive, depressed, teary. a total nightmare.

also you really must not have ANY alcohol at all as it sends you tripley loopey.

hasn't it been banned in US due to increased suicides?

i don't want to be alarmist, but it really is a last resort. we were all very worried about my sister's mental health on it. she's back to her old self now though.

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 28/04/2007 08:48

Thanks barking - it's good to hear another positive outcome. Despite everything I've read about the side effects I still think I would be will to try it and just come straight off if I thought it was effecting my mental health. The alcohol thing would be ok. I do like the occassional glass of wine or Smirnoff ice but could live without for a few months.

Thank you all so much for the feedback - more is welcome if there is anyone else out there!

OP posts:

ib · 28/04/2007 20:07

I found that adding omega 3 oils and zinc to my diet worked wonders. Also recently stopped taking the oil I was on and pretty much immediately got an outbreak, started taking flax seed oil pills and it cleared up within a week. I don't eat fish or seafood, which is apparently what causes the problem, so if you don't either it might be worth trying this before you move onto anything more drastic.

whoopsfallenoveragain · 28/04/2007 20:12

I had a course of roaccutane and it didn't work at all plus I had horrible side affects - nose bleeds, dry lips etc. The only thing I found that worked was Dianette. I went back to the doctor recently to ask for it but she told me that they don't recommend it for use over a year as there have been rare cases of liver cancer and as I tool it for 4 or 5 years over 6 years ago she wouldn't prescribe it but has now put me on Yasmin contraceptive which is suppose to be similar to Dianette

friendlyedjit · 28/04/2007 20:27

hope the lymecycline helps,sounds like a good plan whilst you waiting for appointment.

Often using Retin a also on skin as well is good idea as may help scarring and cut down on blackheads, and has the fab side effect of being good for decreasing fine lines and wrinkles- feel like a "l'oreal- because you're worth it" coming on!
I used this, worked well, although looked a little sun burnt, dry and flaky briefly ( almost like had been skiing or so imagined)

friendlyedjit · 28/04/2007 20:28

oh and of course sure you've been told that it may take 2-3 months to do its best for you, so nothing works overnight unfortunately

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 20:31

Lymecycline combined with Differin gel worked wonders for me. I just put the gel on at night.

I can't take Dianette (did in past and it worked wonders) cos of hormonal problems and gave me migraines.

I also use Dermalogica skincare which is very very good and they sell it cheaply on www.care4yourskin.com

Hope you get sorted x

Flip

1 2