Roaccutane

[MySkirtHasPockets]

Is anyone else about to begin using roaccutane to treat acne? I'm due to see a private dermatologist next week have at the initial consultation with a skincare consultant I was told roaccutane is probably the best way forward (mid 30's, persistent acne for about 15 years, have tried antibiotics, creams, gels, the pill over the years). It was so great to be taken seriously after all these years.

I'm excited but slightly terrified of the side effects (I have ongoing issues with anxiety, especially around taking medication) but the before and after photos are incredible. I can't imagine not having acne/scarring.

Do private dermatologists prescribe roaccutane more readily than on the NHS? My G.P made a referral to dermatology but no idea how long it will take to be seen so I'm exploring the private route.

I'd love to share this journey with anyone else who's in a similar position.

Hi,
I'm on it. I also went private and my dermatologist is great - treats me like an intelligent human!
I'm on a very low dose, to be taken over a long time. I love it. The only side effects I get are dry lips (but not terrible - easily sorted with balm), and dry nostrils!! I secretly love the dry nostrils because i'm a bit of a secret nose-picker...
Honestly, it's been great.
I'm on my second go, but my derm wanted to stop my first go early so that I wasn't 'overcooked'. Several months into the second round and, as I say, on a super low dose.
I know there are lots of risks and nasties with it but, as with all medicines, just follow the advice and stay in time with how you're feeling.
Good luck!

DD's on it now and I've been on it in the past. I think dermatologists private and nhs are happy to prescribe it for acne that hasn't responded to treatment. I was like you, problems for years -then at 40 I realised I wasn't going to grow out of it.

I have barely had a spot since (11 years) I wish I'd taken it years before. My skin was dry, I used bucket loads of balm and 8 hour cream, but that was my only problem. Dd is suffering with eye dryness too, but, although she has a history of depression, no mental health problems.

I took it for 6 months 5 years ago. It was absolutely life-changing after 20 years of constant cycles of antibiotics that did nothing to get rid of the problem but just kept it at bay very temporarily. My acne was so bad I regularly had to go on two-week courses of penicillin just to treat the infection. Since the Roaccutane, nothing - not a single spot in the 5 years since. It's absolutely astounding.

It really was a wonder drug for me. It does have side effects and can have major side effects but in my case the risks were worth it.

I second the poster who called it a wonder drug.

In fact my dermatologist called it a wonder drug herself.

Like others I'd tried everything and NOTHING WORKED - Roaccutane not only worked, it worked brilliantly.

I used it twice, about 8 years apart, for about 6 months each time.

Since the second time I used it, 12 years ago, I had literally not a single spot UNTIL I started getting hormonal ones on my chin about a year ago. I'm 42 and think it's peri-menoapusal, my mum's skin went dreadful at this point in her life. So I'm all geared up to go back to Roaccutane once more if the huge hormonal spots keep appearing (getting two huge painful ones, even if only once a month, means that I spend 2-3 weeks of each month with the problem as they take ages to go away and then redness won't fade). More than happy to take it again and have every confidence it would work if I needed it.

It's brilliant stuff, I'm no expert and can only speak for my own experience but having suffered from anxiety and depression prior to taking the drug, I can say that Roaccutane had ZERO impact on that part of my life.

Dryness of skin wasn't even that big an issue for me. I wear contact lenses and my eyes were fine. I did use lip balm but not excessively so.

Like with any drug (even aspirin) the side effects have to be pointed out, and yes there have been individuals who've suffered severe mental health problems but I think there was a level of hysterical reporting around a few of those incidents with scant information about other triggers the individuals may have experienced and with no reporting of the millions of people whose lives and mental health have been drastically improved by the drug.

Your derm will monitor you, I'm sure, and honestly don't worry about the side effects (dryness etc) as they may not even happen, and are likely to be manageable if they do.

I'm excited for you, I think you'll see HUGE benefits and if you've struggled for a long time, it will be marvellous to see the results.

It changed my life, over 10 years of persistent resistant acne that was largely hormonal, I came off it over a year ago. I sometimes get 1 small spot around the time of the month but it dries out very quickly, not painful etc. I didn't have it terribly but very persistently in my 20s on my chin. NHS dermatologist. Yes annoying and endless symptoms but worth every one, I'm ready to march my children to get it as teenagers lol and will go on it again if I have to (have heard some people need a second dose a few years later).

Ha! UserMe, I could have typed every word in your post too. Yes, I would absolutely march my DD straight to the doctor to get it if she started having the troubles I had. Mine started very suddenly and very badly when I was 21 and re-occured after the first dose about 8 years later when I was 30.

I definitely think there's something in the idea of needing a couple of spaced-out treatments to really knock it on the head.

I'm not exaggerating when I say I didn't have a spot for 11ish years after the second dose. Not a single one.

Those huge, cyst-like, angry ones that are better described as boils than spots are ime almost impossible to solve without Roaccutane. Christ, I was miserable and would get fresh eruptions almost every day, while the old ones would linger for weeks so I was NEVER free of huge shiny red boils, so deep under the skin they didn't even ooze, just sat there.

I would never let my DD experience that. She's only 5 but if she has bad acne 10 years from now, Roaccutane would be my solution.

They tried to get me to do 60mg over 4 months but I found it too much so did 40mg over 6 months, I later read it is better to spread out and some even take it every other day over a year in some countries! I will absolutely put my children on it if they need it (monitoring them very carefully) my husband and I both had bad acne so they don't stand a chance I don't think. I wish I'd done it sooner. I look back on old photos and it shocks me, mainly because many of the photos weren't when it was at its worst and I was happy to have photos taken but now with fresh skin I can see how bad it looked.

Upive been on it and also agree, it's a wonder drug. It was t until after my skin was clear that I really took on board how painful and disfiguring those large, cystic boils were.
You're well monitored with blood tests. Get some carmex for your lips and really good hand cream, skin goes thin and rips easily (well mine did) and the hands are always exposed.

I’ve been taking it since December 2013.
Had two ‘full treatments’ during this time on a high daily dose. Then in the meantime I take it every other day at a small dose to sustain. I’m 30 and had acne since I was 13. It clears everything but for me (rare case) it comes back about 3 months after I stop.
So I constantly have sore feet, aching muscles and dry dry lips. I also think it causes female dryness if you get my drift.. my dermatologist isn’t so sure but I certainly am!! Also be wary that it can cause you to feel down and depressed, certainly does with me.
Wonderful drug though. Just make sure you follow their advice re contraception

I've no doubt it works to clear skin,my dermatologist was very keen for me to just go on it on the basis it would resolve the issue completely, and had full confidence it would work - however please be honest about your anxiety with the doctor OP, it may not be suitable for you . Some people do experience very unpleasant varied physical side effects and effects on their mental health.
I suspect I was unlucky, but I stopped during a course as I developed awful awful anxiety and was in a right state, (no massive recent issues with mental health, though I used to suffer bad anxiety in my teenage years) also generally felt shit and sore, it caused me vaginal dryness and sore dry skin in that area that was bloody painful too, distractingly so.
All stopped within a week of stopping the tablets. I would rather have bad skin than go back on them to be honest, though I was offered to try again a few years after but declined as my acne is mild/hormonal.

Of course everyone is different and the badly affected are unlucky, it would be remiss not to state your anxiety issues with the doctor, perhaps they will just see you more frequently to check all is well. Hope you get a good result if you go ahead OP.

Wow overwhelmingly positive experiences of roaccutane!

Yes I'll definitely mention my anxiety issues when I go back to the dermatologist, hoping they'll start me on a low dose and I can build up if needed ,will discuss that with them though.

Ooh I can't wait, the thought of not having acne is bizarre, I've had it for so long!!