Your Roaccutane Experiences Please- Good and Bad.

[TillyMc]

I’ve had mild- moderate acne for since I was 13 (now 41). I’m completely sick of it and it feels never ending. It also stops me going out and enjoying life.

I’ve read really positive stories about Roaccutane but I’m very worried about the side effects. As my acne is only mild (but I seem to get at least one new spot a day) I worry the side effects will be worse than the spots! Also not sure if I’d be prescribed it due to depression- but a lot of the depression comes from having acne for so long.

What are your experiences please. Any regrets? Did the acne just come back after stopping taking it?

Thanks.

I have my 3 month check up tomorrow, I’m 36.

I have had mild depression and less mild anxiety so put off taking it for a while, and I’ve been careful to monitor my mood and all side effects. I’m on a lower dose for a longer time period. My only
side effect has been dry lips (just constant lip balm application!) I was worried because I suffered from dry skin anyway, but it hasn’t got dryer, it’s just the lips, for me.

The first 6 weeks there were two quite bad break outs but after the second one cleared up there hasn’t been anything, I’m very happy! The scars from the spots I had 3 months ago are still there though. But the make up goes on smoothly now over the top of them.

I don’t know whether my dosage will
be increased tomorrow.

some people have really positive experiences

I didn’t Sadly. Had it when I was 19 and lasted about 3 weeks - for styes, such bad dry/bleeding/peeling lips and really really dry skin.

but worst is the depression - I have never had that before or since but felt like I was in a dark cloud the whole time.just helpless - it really was like something chemical had changed in my brain. And it stopped the second i came off it

for me even though my acne was severe and I still have moderate acne in my late 30s it wasn’t worth it

but many people have had positive experiences. There is a documentary about this - maybe on bbc?

wonder drug for me.

took it age 22, didn’t get another spot for 8 years. Took it again for a return of appalling cystic acne age 30. Now I’m mid-40s and have had barely a spot since, and never ever a cystic spot.

dry skin while I was taking it yep but manageable.
not a hint of depression for me and I am prone to depression so I was very alert to the possibility.

Wonder drug for me too.

Took it at age 20, so long ago that many of the side effects - such as depression - were not even known about at the time. I had very dry lips, and with the benefit of hindsight realise I also had some episodes of low mood, but it completely cleared my acne (which had been a constant issue throughout my teenage years). I’m now in my fifties and it’s never returned. I have had the occasional hormonal single spot - but that is it.

Mine came back but dh got cancer and died within 6 months of diagnosis so I was under a phenomenal amount of stress. It’s going away again now and never got as bad as it was before accutane.

A lot of those articles on accutane are written by people who haven’t taken it and have lovely skin that doesn’t produce spots so inflamed make up doesn’t cover them 🤷🏻‍♀️

Its like a childfree person telling you how bad childbirth is.

I took it when I was 40. I also suffer with depression/anxiety but luckily it didn't have any detrimental impact. Dry lips was the worst side effect but added bonus was that I didn't have greasy hair whilst on it! I am now in my fifties, I get the odd spot. I am so happy I went on it. Before, my day was ruled by the state of my skin. My two children have also been on it.

I had bad acne since I was about 11 and tried all sorts of pills and creams and nothing worked until I went on roaccutane at 16. I had very dry hands and lips but didn't notice I felt any worse mentally. Moderate acne returned about 3 years later, but it calmed down after going on the pill. I'm 37 and off the pill now and badly with my skin, minimal scars and just the odd spot bite and again.

I have similar skin to you by the sounds of it. Never really bad breakouts, but just regular spots, mild/moderate. I'm 38. I felt a little silly starting it if I'm honest given the horror stories about side effects, and the fact my acne isn't "that bad". But I've had acne since age 11, and it has never fully gone away despite all the treatments from the GP. I've had kinda clear skin for short periods, particularly after the birth of my 2nd child, and for a few months after a long term course of lymecycline. But never for long at all. My spots also take ages to heal.
I'm on 20mg, which given my starting weight was about 106kg, is a very very low dose. I've completed the first month, and just commenced the second month after a consultation. It was decided to keep me on the same dose. My skin is clear, any spots I got in the first week or so cleared up within 3 days which was amazing for me. I can I have the same spot for 6 months sometimes!).
Best of all... no side effects whatsoever. I was so worried. But no dry skin, no dry eyes, no low mood. Nothing. BUT my hair! Oh my hair! It's amazing! It goes greasy quickly, I normally dry shampoo for 3 days and wash on the 4th day. By then it's pretty minging with grease and dry shampoo build up! Last week and the week before I needed no dry shampoo at all, and left my hair unwashed all week. I probably still didn't need to wash it after the week! I just felt I should...! I'm thrilled!

It was great for my skin. I used to get large, painful boil type spots every few weeks. Almost a thing of the past now.
Its a slog going on it - I was snappy and irritable, and dry and peeling all over. I do suffer from depression and anxiety long term, and it was similar to being pregnant for me - actually, pregnancy was probably worse, I was all over the shop and not on anti-depressants.
Just warn people maybe that you are going to have it

How are people getting it? I was on it years ago (16 I think) and it worked really well. Kept me totally shot free for years. Then mild-moderate acne returned in my 30s. Have been back to the GP several times and fobbed off with topical gels that's don't do much. Was even referred to a dermatologist once who said from photos (was during covid so no in person) it didn't look bad enough for roaccutane. Now 41 and sick of having spots.

Great for me! I'm 42 and just finished a 6 month course. It's cleared my skin and I'm so happy
Luckily it didn't affect my mood. The only real side affect was dry lips. I was constantly applying lip balm but they still cracked a lot. Small price to pay for clear skin though!

Dermatology. Had to wait maybe 18 months before 1st appt. Was given trecclin at my first appt. Went back 6 months later, then given Isotretinoin when that didn't work.

@chilli81 I had mild to moderate acne but I had it since I was 11. I told my gp that I'm sick of being given treatments that don't work and that I wanted to be referred for roaccutane.
The hospital consultant tried to say I wasn't bad enough for roaccutane. I said I'm not leaving without a prescription! I told him it was affecting my confidence and im sick of being fobbed off. Even though it wasn't as bad as some, I still constantly had spots for 30 years.
This is the first time I've had clear skin since I was a child.

Thanks for replying. I think I'm going to have to go back and do similar. I understand the risks, I'm not at risk of pregnancy and nothing else really works. Wish me luck.

Wonder drug for me too. Went from constant acne to the odd spot (like everyone else). No issues with mood, but I did look awful during treatment as it dried me out so badly my lips bled.

worth every second.

I had it when I was 20. The side effects were fine, no impact on mood. It dealt with my acne for about 10 years, then my GP forced me to change contraceptive pill to one known to trigger acne and the acne came back. I’ve not tried to get it again, I’ve had MH wobbles so I don’t want to risk it.

I have had acne or what has been thought as acne for the last 30 years. I took roaccutane about 20 years ago, it didn't work and I was a horrible person with it.
I am now using a Dermatica treatment for rosacea now, I tried to sign up for anti ageing but they said I needed the rosacea treatment and I have never looked back