36 and still suffering from zits....

[Bomper]

WHY?!!! It's not bloody fair.

Roacctune is a VERY serious drug. It should not be taken lightly, but as a last resort when everything else fails to get rid of your cystic acne. It can cause a number of adverse side effects.

But yes, it WILL work if nothing else has.

I was prescribed Roaccutane, but tried the ProActiv instead b/c hey, it was worth a go.

Cleared it right up.

Where can you buy ProActive ?

ProActiv

Roaccutane is excellent but you have to sign lots of forms to swear you wont get PG and you have to go on the pill as well.

ATM I am on a course of antibiotics which I am hoping will clear it up.

I have PCOS which a lot of women have and it remains undiagnosed with most women. I had lovely skin in my teens and hate my skin now although it is looking better atm.

Forgive my ignorance but why is roaccutane so bad ? Is it linked to birth defects and/or miscarriage ? What if you can't take hormonal contraception (like me), can you still take roaccutane, will they still prescribe it ?

caligula, when i had roaccutane, i needed a referral from my gp to a dermatologist, who then prescribed it. you need regular monitoring by the dermatologist (or at least in the dermatology clinic) during the course. it can make your skin very dry to begin with, so if you are prone to eczema they give you half the dose over double the time, iyswim. it is highly teratogenic, and you may need to sign a declaration you are on the pill before they will give it to you.

Major birth defects.

They wouldnt give it to you unless you were on the pill.

and is only prescribed by the dermatologist and not the dr.

So I can't have roaccutane because I can't take the pill.

ndp, i didn't take the pill when i had it either. i can't quite remember now how i convinced them - i've never got on with the pill, had lots of spotting etc - perhaps it was the look of utter horror on my face at the mere prospect of getting pg. i was in my late 20s then, not married, v. career focused...

I am v surprised BK.

I was on roaccutane in my early 20s and not having sex so they prescribed it for me but I was told this last time that I would def have to be on the pill to take Roaccutane.

Oh my god, have just looked at the site for the Accutane/Roaccutane Action Group, lots of very scary statistics and claims about physcotic reactions and suicide attempts/successes. Not sure it's worth it, to clear up a few spots. [scared emoticon]

It's deffo not for a few spots. It's for people who have serious, disfiguring cystic acne.

I can't take any form of hormonal contraception because I already have a probitively high risk of stroke due to strong family history and regular, severe migraines. Having read a few articles on the Roaccutane Action site,I don't think it's the drug for me, tbh.

Can someone tell me the deal re ProActiv ? Where can I buy it ? What is it ? What are the side effects ?

sorry, just spotted a typo on an earlier post (my own) and have to correct for my own peace of mind

'psychotic'

fair enough, expat.

I've had bad skin since about 13 yrs old. It cleared up on the pill and with pregnancies. After last child, skin deteriorated. Got totally fed up by the time I reached 40. Had bad cystic acne and was miserable with it. Went back on to pill and after 4 months or so, skin cleared up. Have remained on it since. Never really wanted to go down the Roaccutane route because of the side effects. The pill has lots of pros and cons, but to be honest I was so depressed with the acne, it was worth taking the risk.

Can anyone link me to a photo of a standard cystic acne case so I can compare it to my own dodgy skin ? Thanks

this is going back 10yrs (eek!), collision, maybe they have tightened up since.

They must have done BK. 3 weeks ago I was told to go on the pill to have Roac and declined. My skin isnt that bad and it is more redness than spots so am trying the medicine first.

I didn't have spots for years but they have crept back since I've been on the minipill, & implant. Find it very confusing to read that people get spots when they go off the pill...

me too, its grim isnt it?

I have just ordered the ProActiv system, it better bloody work, it was £45 !

link please, not that i have 45 quid...

You can buy travel/trial packs on ebay for £15 if you've not got the cash for the full sized set. I got mine from teleshop or something, have closed the window now though..