Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Skin care/acne

26 replies

Roselilly300 · 15/10/2020 21:40

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has been on trimethoprim for acne ? I was referred to a dermatologist and have been told this is the last resort before Roaccutane.. which I really don’t want to take.

If you have taken it.. how long did it take to work ? And did it improve your skin ?

I’ve tried everything else (prescribed/non prescribed) and I’d never heard of this anti biotic for acne, which is surprising as I’ve researched it a lot .

The derm said only they can prescribe it and not GPs

OP posts:
emsyj37 · 15/10/2020 22:16

Oh I've never heard of it either. Intrigued to learn more though!

Original poster
Roselilly300 · 15/10/2020 23:23

@emsyj37 it is generally prescribed for urine infections but derms prescribe it for acne.. all the reviews online are mainly positive.

Not everyone can take it as it can have bad side effects. Headaches being one of the main ones . I tried to start it the other week but it brought on almost a migraine . However I’ve been on it for 4 days now and it seems to be ok

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 16/10/2020 07:32

Roaccutane isn’t that bad at all as a drug. A lot of the bad press comes from journos who’ve never taken it.

The people on here who’ve taken it are positive about it. I avoided it fir 10 years ago which didn’t do me any good.

Original poster
Roselilly300 · 16/10/2020 08:16

@Fluffycloudland77 the derm himself even said he wants to avoid me going on that if possible

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 16/10/2020 08:34

Why?.

Original poster
Roselilly300 · 16/10/2020 09:07

He said they try to avoid that and it’s always a last resort due to side effects.. plus I myself wouldn’t say my skin is so bad that I’d risk going on that.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 16/10/2020 09:20

My derm said it’s a very satisfying drug to prescribe due to results being so good.

My acne wasn’t that bad when I was first offered it but I was scared. When it when cystic at 40 I would of taken capsules of powdered dog shit if it had been prescribed.

Sounds like this tablets been prescribed off licence which is why your gp wouldn’t be able to prescribe. I’ve never heard of it prescribed for acne either and I’ve tried all of the main treatments.

P.Acne bacteria isn’t hard to kill with antibiotics so there’s more going on with those of us that suffer for years.

teta · 16/10/2020 09:26

Gosh, I've never heard of trimethoprim for Acne. We go to a private dermatologist and she has only ever prescribed tetracycline. Maybe there's new research that Trimethoprim works better due to less antibiotic resistance. I did ask her about Spirinolactone once, but she said it's not commonly prescribed in the UK.
I do echo the other poster that Roaccutane is really not that bad. Dd1 resisted having it and her acne got really bad before she changed her mind. It worked really well.

Original poster
Roselilly300 · 16/10/2020 09:57

He is prescribing off label and I’d never heard of it either but does say on the NHS website it’s prescribed for acne.. some reviews suggest its even better than roaccuntane.. dunno how true that is.

Mines hormone related I’m nearly 31 and have been struggling since I was 24 funnily enough I never had the teenage acne and my skin was clear in school. Thank god I can’t Imagine how hard it must be for kids in school suffering as it’s bad enough as a adult.

I’ve had clear skin for long periods of time on and off in between 24- now and then bam it’s back with vengeance .. two weeks ago my face did not look like this

And it’s only on my right side at the moment mainly cheeks not chin .. it used to be chin and clear cheeks

OP posts:
Original poster
Roselilly300 · 16/10/2020 09:59

Also the ones on my cheek are awful under skin ones no head that last weeks and leave red marks for months.. the ones on my chin when I do get them go quickly

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 16/10/2020 10:01

Tbh most acne’s hormone driven, progesterone is a bastard. I have pcos so I didn’t think it would work for me. I didn’t get it till 18, had perfect skin till then.

You can only try it and hope for the best.

Original poster
Roselilly300 · 16/10/2020 10:04

I also have PCOS although was giving conflicting info as to wether I did or not but I suspect i do.

The acne.org regimen kept my clear for about two years my skin was perfect

OP posts:
frugalkitty · 16/10/2020 12:12

It's a pretty hardcore antibiotic. My son was given it by the dermatologist after being unable to tolerate roaccutane (he was getting severe nosebleeds on the lowest dose even after they cauterised his nose). He was prescribed trimethoprim but had a massive allergic reaction....his face and hands swelled up, he had a rash and hives all over his body and was violently sick. I had to take him in for blood tests to be sure it hadn't done any damage to his liver etc. Proceed with caution is my advice!

Original poster
Roselilly300 · 16/10/2020 12:52

@frugalkitty this is what I’m worrying about.. I’m on day 5 and I’m a bit concerned as I know a lot of ppl react to it.

How many days in did your son get the reaction ? If I don’t take it with a meal I’m getting blinding headaches

OP posts:
Original poster
Roselilly300 · 16/10/2020 12:54

I live alone and can’t really risk being violently sick and a massive reaction and not be able to call for help etc if it’s that bad

OP posts:
emsyj37 · 16/10/2020 13:11

I've had roaccutane about 15 years ago, at a time when the dosage was a short 6 month course at high dose - think now they often prescribe a lower dose over a longer time to minimise side effects. Saying that, I didn't really have any side effects. If anything, it was nice to have normal skin that wasn't an oil slick with half an hour of washing! My lips were a bit dry but nothing drastic. I would take it again if needed.

shivermetimbers77 · 16/10/2020 13:13

I am afraid I haven’t tried Trimethoprim so can’t comment on that, but just to say Roaccutane worked wonderfully for me with no side effects apart from slightly dry eyes.

FlyingByTheSeatof · 16/10/2020 13:48

Never heard of trimethoprim but I know Roaccutane works miracles from experience.

CleanQueen123 · 16/10/2020 13:57

I've been on Roaccutane for a month now, my dosage gets upped on Monday, and I wish I'd managed to talk them into giving it to me sooner.

I've currently still got spots but within 4 days of starting it my face stopped being an oil slick.

frugalkitty · 16/10/2020 18:39

I think it was a few days in, definitely not day one. He went to bed fine, got up for euro the next morning and his face and lips were swollen, his hands too, and he was burning up with red rashes and hives all over his body. Minutes later he was being sick in the bathroom. I rang the Dr for advice and they said if his tongue was swollen to phone for an ambulance, but luckily that didn't happen. But there was no sign that anything was wrong to begin with, it came on during the night. However, his was an extreme reaction, and anyone could react to 'normal' antibiotics, so if you're on your own just pay close attention to how you're feeling. I hope it works for you.

frugalkitty · 16/10/2020 18:40

Got up for work, that should say!

TinkersRucksack · 16/10/2020 18:48

I think my only worry would be if you used it long term and developments resistance. What if you needed it for a UTI?

Suppose there are other ABs they can prescribe but in my (plentiful) experience with cystitis I know Triprim works.

Another vote for isotretinoin, it really does work for acne. Worked like a dream for me.

CleanQueen123 · 16/10/2020 18:58

@TinkersRucksack that was my concern when they kept me on Lymecycline for the best part of a year.

I know there are plenty of types of antibiotics but I thought we were meant to be discouraging using them, not prescribing them long term.

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/10/2020 19:52

Used correctly resistance shouldn’t be a problem & there’s often an alternative in extreme cases.

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/10/2020 19:54

Some patients are on antibiotics full time too.