Just browsing as usual- never posting- but
ACNE.... never really had any experience if it personally or with my first two children- then my beautiful boy started to develop spots at puberty and then acne. I thought this was going to a teenage 'rite of passage' but it has got him down ( and made me quite sad among the way)
We did all the usual otc stuff and on recommendation by a dr family member went to see gp.
Went through courses of topical treatment including acnecide and lymecycline plus others...
nothing helped, maybe lymecycline slightly for a short period..
then... tadaaaaa! New gp... reviews medication - says 'you've been on this too long' and prescribes an alternative whilst referring for dermatology specialist ( all during covid restrictions)
Short story now is- had a zoom consult, sent photos, had series of bloods analysed- further consult, then prescribed medication ( only available from hospital dispensary) and further bloods followed by regular prescription and telephone consult. Still in treatment, was told this could take 6 months or longer depending on how my son copes with the dose ( could need a lower dose therefore a longer period)
Presently- acne is clearing up nicely, still a little way to go... medication had numerous side effects - so not suitable for everyone- and an have mind bending effects-
And is not an overnight cure.... but after 7, yes SEVEN years of cystic acne we are all feeling tighter and that we have nearly climbed that mountain...
My point here is- I had assumed acne was a 🤷♀️ one of those hormonal things that you have to put up with or go through-
If my Dr family gad not encouraged us to go to GO and actually ask for a dermatology referral then we would not have had any idea that this was possible.
I hope this helps some of you out there who are suffering