Roaccutane for 11 year old

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Has anyone had any experience of roaccutane being prescribed for children in the UK? My daughter has been suffering with acne for almost a year. We’ve tried all the topical stuff and GP says she’s too young for antibiotics. Have a dematologist appointment in a few weeks and wondered whether they’ll consider roaccutane.

Thanks welshsoph. Fingers crossed dermatologist can help. I’m really worried about the psychological impact of it-she’s losing her confidence quickly.

I agree, if she's too young for antibiotics, it's highly unlikely she'd get Roaccutane. My friend's DS has been prescribed It at 16 but had really suffered for a good few years beforehand & exhausted all other treatments including antibiotics. It is such powerful stuff with so many side effects, not sure id want my 11 year old on it.

I’d agree with folks above, it’s brutal stuff, hard on your liver and it dries everything out, eyes, mouth, nose etc. Also makes you very sensitive to the sun. I finally got it at 17 after about 4 or 5 years of trying everything else. I hope they can find something gentler that works for her.

I had it when I was 14 it was a God send. It worked instantly. It gave me one nose bleed...that's all. Best thing I ever had for my acne.

Her diet might need a bit of tweaking. Low dairy and low sugar help me. I suffered from acne from about 11. As she is quite young still I would speaking to the dermatologist

I’ve had acne for 30 years. I’ve tried everything including roaccutane a few times. I don’t think it’s possible that by age 11 she has tried all the alternatives. For example, what about Duac?

My DD was prescribed Roaccutane but before that she had 2 years of trying creams/pill/antibiotics with the gp then another year attending the dermatology department. It was basically the last resort since the side effects are quite severe. She was 18 and thankgod it cleared her skin since she had had acne from a young age.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I got a bit fixated on roaccutane because when I researched it (very limited and unscientific!) it seemed to be the solution for a lot of people who had tried everything else. I think I just want to fix it and take away the problem but obviously not by causing any damage through side effects. We’re lucky that our health insurance covers an initial assessment by a dermatologist.

No experience of roaccutane sorry, but just wanted to say I really hope you find something which works for your daughter. I'm 32 and currently struggling with acne, it must be so tough for you both. I hope it's over really quickly and you find something which works.

Hopefully because she is so young that when you do find a solution her skin will heal very quickly.

I'm sure you know as much about acne as anyone, but my experience is that my acne is hormonal and has finally started responding to evening primrose oil, collagen supplements and peppermint tea. And an antibiotic cream. It's been about 8 weeks and has been a two steps forward, one step backwards type progress.

Very best of luck.

Hi Alienspaceship- Duac was the second cream we were prescribed. It did seem to be working initially and did reduce the redness but one morning she work up and her face looked like she was sunburnt and we went back to the GP who thought she could be allergic to one of the ingriedients so advised us to stop using it and gave us something else (I’ll need to go and look at the names of them all)

Thanks Thornyhousewife

Has she tried benzoyl peroxide topical preparations? I know of a few people sent for roaccutaine who haven't tried this first. It's very good and worth a try first

There was a programme on not long ago called ‘Dying for clear skin’ about the mental impact of roaccutane.

Watching it suddenly made me understand what had happened to my own mental health while I was in my teens. I’d not realised the impact.

Hi would be worried about giving it to an 11 year old.

My sons dermatologist would prescribe antibiotics if there was the need . There are a range of different antibiotics to try - and they are after all antibiotics which most children have had at some point . She gets quite frustrated with GPS not treating acne appropriately or referring to dermatology too late . My son had antibiotics from 12 , didn’t work so roccutsne at 14 and clear so quickly , it was amazing . Dry lips only side effects .

Not sure what you have tried but we swear by apricot scrub, it really helps my daughter (I've used it for 15 years, it cleared my acne that I had for over 15 years prior and got worse after having kids). As upsetting as it is (I had it from 15-30!) drs aren't keen on prescribing to under 16's side effects are bad.

God I’d never give Roaccutane to an 11 year old and thank my lucky stars I was never prescribed it. I know someone who nearly died from permanent liver damage and someone else who became terribly depressed. I was very concerned she’d take her own life. Have you researched the side effects thoroughly?

I had acne too at the same age and was very badly bullied. The pill really helped me but it was discovering I was allergic to Sodium Laureth Sulfate that really cleared up my skin permanently. Retinol also helped.

I was the youngest person at the time in the uk to be prescribed roaccutane. My parents had to sign copious consent forms for other medical people to read them and write papers on me. I started with acne when I was 7 and by the time I was 11 I really had tried everything. I went under a professor of dermatology in London and we had to drive there from Preston.

Now it did work. But I have been on twice more! Once at 15 and Again at 20. It's not for the light hearted. But there is a possibility they will prescribe for an 11 year old but I wouldn't recommend it. It's brutal.

Why does your GP say she is too young for antibiotics?
I am a GP and this is frankly rubbish.
There is no reason not to try antibiotics.
Has she had the topical antibiotic lotion or cream yet?
What else have you tried?
If it's just otc stuff then your GP is really not doing there job. Thank goodness you have a dermatologist appt.

Oops sorry I just checked at in the uk they won't prescribe for under 12 year olds.

When I say I wouldn't give it I mean it!
I am 5 foot 1 with size 9 feet.. I still stopped growing whilst on it and the pain from my bones was insane. I had so many side effects but my skin was a lot better, I had cysts under the skin the size of £2 coins that didn't have pus filled heads on them like you normally see, instead the top was kind of boggy (sorry tmi) and then at random times would rupture and then it would drain copious amounts of shit out of my face. No 10 year old needs that!

Would retin a cream have less severe side effects than Accutane?