If you've taken Roaccutane in the past

[ZittyMess]

...and still have acne, has anything else ever helped? I took it in my early 20s and it worked really well but now in my 40s the acne is worse than it has ever been. On Yasmin and tried Skin&Me highest dose preparation for months with zero effect although I know it's actually a relatively low dose of tretinoin.

I'm considering seeing a private derm but I suspect the answer will be another course of Roaccutane but I'm really not sure whether I want it again and the estimated cost including follow up consultations, bloods and meds runs to about £2k.

I guess I'm wondering if my skin is so bad to have needed Roaccutane in the past whether there's any point pursuing topical treatments or whether I need to book to see the derm having already accepted that Roaccutane and the associated costs are inevitable.

Roaccutane didn’t really work for me. It helped but then plateaued and I never got to clear skin.
Also tried: Zineryt, laser, Spironolactone, Dianette, Yasmin, Duac, DIM, Skin & Me. Oh and some godawful supplement from Amazon which made my skin far far worse.

Two courses worked for me.

However I had no idea it was linked to eye issues; I have just googled and I have some of the associated permanent side effects but I had no idea it was linked to that! I took it back in the day where they didn’t know many of the side effects (it was only years later I saw it had been linked to depression), and I didn’t even need to go on the contraceptive pill like I believe they ask people to now.

DD has been on roaccutane 3 times, she's now 26 and the first time she went on it she was very young. It's the only treatment that works for her.

She has it via an NHS Dermatologist and they are happy to treat her, every time. If she read your post I know exactly what she'd say, and I'd agree, that you present for a futher course to an NHS clinic and save your money because the NHS is free at the point of delivery.

Duac cream was pretty good for me and you can get it online just filling in a few questions for private prescription. But ultimately I had another round of Roaccutane and sorted it.

I took it at 25. It worked great but it’s slowly come back. I’m 36 now and skin still bad at times but I muddle on with topicals and some good make up…if it worsens any more I will go back though

Like you, I had a course of roaccutane in my early 20s. Using that, and being on the pill Dianette, meant I had beautifully clear skin. Two children and 15 years later and my skin is oily, huge pores, very red cheeks and acne outbreaks. I went to my GP who wouldn't put me on dianette but did agree to give me yasmin. It helped a little, but is disappointing compared to dianette. I went back to my GP in August and was referred to a dermatologist. She prescribed epiderm (which I use for 15 minutes on my face each evening) and has recommended I go back on dianette. If there's no improvement, I'll be offered roaccutane again hopefully. To be honest, the epiderm and my own skin care routine have made a really positive difference recently. I buy Alya pink clay face mask and use it twice a week and also use a Rosalique primer which is developed for red skin. Finally, I use phoera full coverage make up. I also use daily oil blotting paper. It's a real confidence knocker and I so wish I had clear skin.