POSITIVE roacutane stories please

[mrssunshinexxx]

Seeing a dermatologist in a few weeks have suffered back acne for Aslong as I can remember tried all the creams and tablets. It either doesn't work or works for a few weeks then comes back in certain it's hormonal as only time it's clear is when pregnant.
Going to discuss roacutane with the doctor but would love some success stories as everywhere I look I read negative about it which is scaring me equally don't want to have my head in the sand but it must work for some people.
I know it's a 5 month course
Can dry your eyes / nose/ skin out badly

My questions are can it really work as in could I never experience acne again?
Could I go on holiday whilst taking it or is the sun going to be avoided ? ( hot abroad temps)

I’m usually arguing the other side of this argument so can’t be bothered to get too het up about it really.

My experience is very old (about 25 years) but Roaccutane was fantastic for me. I was in my mid 30s working as a lawyer, and the first thing I did every day was check my face for new septic spots. I also had them on my back and shoulders and it was a constant source of misery and embarrassment, at work and socially.

Roaccutane completely and permanently took them all away. My face turned red and the skin on my lips peeled constantly when I was taking it (I was going through a chapstick a day) but it was more than worthwhile.

I don't know whether it's the case now, but when I was taking it there was said to be a link between Roaccutane and serious depression, and some reported cases of suicide. I already suffered from some anxiety and depression and the drug didn't make anything worse for me. Certainly afterwards, when my skin was permanently clear, it was a lot less stressful not having to check for a new outbreak of spots every morning!

Good luck OP, and if you decide to take it then I hope it'll be life-changing for you, as it was for me

Thanks so much @LeakyPipes me too!
I'm very nervous about the negative side affects such as depression. I aren't prone to it but since I lost my mum 3.5 years ago let's just say I feel flat 24/7 which I guess is to be expected but worried this could change things for the worse x

I took it in my early 20s when my skin was terrible. Painful cystic acne along my jaw. Scars on my back and chest.
I was miserable . Within 2 weeks my skin was clear. The side effects were dry lips and eyes but this was manageable with good lip balm.
my skin remodeled so that the scars went ( even my bcg scar and chicken pox scar went. I have had excellent skin now for 20 years.
When I saw a female NHS dermatologist she told me that she was planning to take if before her wedding to have super clear skin..
good luck - it works miracles!

Thanks @olympicsrock I need to say positive and just get on with it!

Please can anyone recommend what moisturiser I should be stocking up on and what's the best stuff to put on my lips ? Thanks

I’m not in the UK, but when my kids had it they were given booklet by the prescribing dermatologist which covered appropriate products such as moisturiser/lip balm/sunscreen with specific recommended brands. They were also given a bag of sample products to get them started and for them to see preferences to buy the normal size products. The packs were provided by makers of roaccutane, so no cost to public purse😁. I would hope for similar in UK with local products but maybe someone recently prescribed there could comment.

It worked very well for my son when he was 17/18, cleared up his acne with only minor side effects like dry skin and mouth

I had a low dose for a few months in my 20s - it completely cleared my skin. Some dryness but no other side effects. I didn’t drink much anyway so not drinking was easy. Just be prepared to apply lipbalm constantly!

I recommend Sam Bunting lip balm or for a cheaper option La Roche Posay cicaplast lip balm

Thanks everyone

@HoppingPavlova this doesn't happen here sadly !