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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:

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

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 20:32

Sorry - posted twice, got over excited

Ash80 · 28/04/2007 20:43

I had very bad acne when i was 17 and tried everything including dianette. The only that worked was Roccacutane. Unfortunetly during my pregnancy i got acne again although not as bad. I am currently on Dianette and applying retina gel and it seems to be working. I am worried though that they will return when i stop

Ash80 · 28/04/2007 20:46

Wilkie - how long do you intend to apply your gel for, indefinetly or just they clear up? xxxx

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 20:53

Ash - indefinately, I started TTC and had to stop using it.

FWIW - get pregnant - my skin is PERFECT since having my DS and I'm not taking anything now.

I am also 25 - acne is depressing. I was 15 weeks pg at my wedding and my skin was really really bad. It got better from about 30 weeks.

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 20:55

Doh, sorry Ash. Just realised you posted twice. That's a bummer that your acne didn't clear up after pregnancy.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Ash80 · 28/04/2007 21:06

thanks Wilkie, Hopefully my skin will clear up after my future next pregnancy. At least the medication im on is helping.

Medea · 28/04/2007 21:08

I had acne from the age of 8, and then it just got worse and worse.

I didn't have the worst acne in my school (teenage years), but enough cystic acne to cause a bit of scarring, which I still have. Not severe, but enough to be noticeable.

So at age 19, after trying loads of antibiotics and every prescription skin cream possible, I went on roaccutane (or 'accutane' as we call it in the US).

As for side effects. I had incredibly dry skin for the course of the treatment. And I had depression, which included suicidal thoughts. But I was always prone to depression. The accutane probably made it worse, though. Now I'm 36, have never again had acne since (except for the odd spot). I don't think I've had lasting damage, but how can you ever know for sure? I do continue to have on-off severe depression (bipolar type 2) but I think I was born that way, and doubt it was an effect of the accutane I took at age 19.

I'm happy I took accutane, on balance. Nothing else wwas working. My face would be badly scarred by now if I'd not taken it. And our world so looks-obsessed, that if my skin hadn't cleared up when it did, I suspect my life might have turned out markedly differently.

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 21:08

Ash, I think sometimes we just have to accept that we need to stay on the medication. My sis and mum were both 30 before their acne cleared up. Sis was on Dianette from 21-30.

Ash80 · 28/04/2007 21:11

Wilkie,thanks for that message.It makes me feel more positive. xxx

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 21:12

zar1 · 28/04/2007 21:13

hi, have had problems with acne since I was 16. after having baby it cleared up. now use bio oil to get rid of the scars.

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 21:15

Zar1 - does BioOil work?? I've got terrible stretchmarks on my thighs since having LO

(See Ash, spots disappeared off face, stretchmarks appeared on thighs - isn't Mother Nature great )

zar1 · 28/04/2007 21:18

Wilkie does work. used it during my pregnancy, was very good but very very expensive.

Wilkie · 28/04/2007 21:19

Zar1 - is there any cheap internet shops that sell it????

zar1 · 28/04/2007 21:24

wilkie - sorry do not know. i buy from the chemist, usually costs about £8. Can last for a long time. i have found that it is worth the money. i had very deep scars that are fading, they have not completly gone but they look much better.

Original poster

Sugarmagnolia · 29/04/2007 09:59

Phew - what a lot of information to take in. Ok, first of all, I'm 35 and have had two pregnancies and two courses of Dianette (which gave me migraines) so if it hasn't cleared up by now it's not going to.

Wilkie - even if the Lymecycline works (with or without gel) I don't think you can use antibiotics and retin-a gel indefinitely and my understanding is that once you stop taking them the acne is likely to come back. I'm glad your skin cleared up after getting pregnant - mine unfortunately didn't. Like some others have said, I don't have the worst case ever - it's mostly confined to my chin and forehead but it does leave scars and at 35 I'm sick and tired of it. That should be one of the advantages of getting older - how unfair is it to have to worry about wrinkles AND spots at the same time?

Also, I do use Bio-oil on my arms. I used to get some spots there as wel, although totally different from the kind of spots I get on my face. I have to say it doesn't do a whole lot for the scarring (even after a year of regular use) but it does seem to control the spots appearing in the first place so is preventing any more scarring. I'd be afraid to use it my face though.

the comment about the retin-a gel cutting down on fine lines and wrinkles was interesting - that may be worth looking into as well.

OP posts:

karma · 29/04/2007 15:37

Hi,
Just wanted to add that I was prescribed Roaccutane in my 20s (now 38) and it worked a treat. Yes, the side effects aren't great (mainly dry skin, lips and sore eyes) but preferable to acne any day. I didn't notice any change in mental health other than in a positive way when my spots started to clear up and I could look people in the eye again.
Did need another course of it later (can't remember when exactly) and still get the occasional spot but no more than the average person. I do sometimes think about any long term damage from taking the drug, but know that if I hadn't taken Roaccutane when I did I don't know what I would have done - it transformed my life. I say go for it!

noddyholder · 29/04/2007 18:18

Have any of you tried ketsugo?Meant to be brilliant for acne and no horrendous side effects!

hotbot · 29/04/2007 18:22

dh used roaccutane,, did a great job, has fab skin 10 yrs later after using it for 6 mths. have to say that you need to use sunblock with it so your skin doesnt get irritated

pickledpear · 29/04/2007 18:52

well i had rosaca(SP) very red skin and agrivated acne they even took photos at hospital they said they only seen it in one other and she was 50+ reassuring (NOT) anyway they told me all the gels were not worth it i could not go on roacutane as i was breastfeeding still and then i got pregnant again so never got to go on that but in pregnancy my face was so sore open blisters almost and even now after child 3 which skin was not so bad with but then i had changed partner and baby was a different sex i still get acne and i am 37 soon !! my tablets in between babies were something cycline but not been mentioned yet!!!! bio oil did work slightly but again not overnight remedy

pickledpear · 01/05/2007 23:39

bump

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