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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Accutane - acne treatment

34 replies

upecorinopolly · 07/11/2021 23:54

DS 17 has acne and is very self conscious about it. He is currently on a prescription pill and Duac cream. Some times flare ups are worse than others. I have spoken to Gp again who will refer him to a dermatologist. He has friends who have taken accutane and it’s cleared the acne up and he’s keen to try it but I am very very worried if he was prescribed it that the Side effects are really worrying, Has any one got any feedback they can share on taking this medication ?

OP posts:
Waitwhat23 · 08/11/2021 01:15

I took it about 15 years ago and it worked for a long time. The effects don't always last forever (I probably should have another round now) but generally it was a good decision, for me anyway.

Side effects I experienced - constantly cracking lips (I recommend Carmex) and dry and bleeding nose. I suspect some of my stretch marks are linked. I didn't experience any depression but would recommend you monitor him closely. At least he's spared the monthly pregnancy tests.

Course is normally around 6 months and you are very closely monitored by dermatology with regular blood tests and check ups. From what I remember, it's a very large pill!

greyinganddecaying · 08/11/2021 01:57

I took it over 25 years ago after all other medications had failed to get rid of acne.
My skin was very dry & cracked at times so I needed proper industrial strength moisturisers.
I had a 4-6 month course of it & it's never come back (bar the odd random spot). It was definitely the best decision for me.

TheTeenageYears · 08/11/2021 03:46

Teen DD has turned her skin around with Epiduo. She is fastidious in her skin care routine and finds even that extremely drying. Her older DB used it for a while but didn't cope well with the drying effects so know the accurate just wouldn't be for him. Not quite sure what he's doing now he's at uni, skin was still an issue in the summer but doesn't seem to bother him quite enough to put in too much effort but doesn't like the sound of the side effects of the most aggressive treatment which is also fine, his choice to make.

TheTeenageYears · 08/11/2021 03:47

Accutane not accurate

PatchworkElmer · 08/11/2021 03:53

I’m on it at the moment (finally!) Touching all the wood here, but the side effects have been much better than I expected- the only significant one I’ve had so far is dry lips. This is manageable though- I just have lip balm with me everywhere I go (Eucerin is superb).

Obviously they have a clinical responsibility to warn you about the side effects. The MH ones were a worry for me as I have had depression in the past. For me, the risk was worth it as the MH effects of years and years of nasty acne were also not great… I can’t tell you how lovely it is to be able to go out without makeup on, or wear a top with a low back and not worry about spots being on display.

Ruusunen · 08/11/2021 04:00

My DS 16 has been on it now for about a 1,5 m and hasn’t really suffered adverse effects other than dry lips and possible vertigo at times( although he’s had migraines a few times and I have vestibular ones so this might not be linked to his medication ) . He’s apparently responded unusually well and hopefully only will have to use it for another month or so . His skin started getting getting troublesome at around 14 and nothing else helped .my father and brother suffered still in their 20 s and I for about 5 y in my teens although mine never got like this . I think we’ve made the right decision for him . Praying we won’t need to
go on it again but I’m aware some people do .

TeamNegan · 08/11/2021 04:03

I was on accutane at 15/16 and did unfortunately suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts from it. They put me on the lowest dose as I wouldn’t have the blood tests at the time, it did work but came back after stopping, likely because I didn’t finish the course. My skin is still terrible though and I’m 32 so all that being said I don’t regret trying it because my skin has plagued me for so long! Just be aware of what can happen and make DS aware so you’re both prepared if you go ahead with it, and keep a close eye.

Original poster
upecorinopolly · 08/11/2021 07:14

Thanks everyone - the depression and liver damage are my main concerns - but I hate to see his self esteem so low

OP posts:
HappyBirthdayMrPresident · 08/11/2021 08:05

I took this a couple of years ago as a 44 year old woman , I have battled problems with my skin since about age 13 and menopause made it even worse ☹️ I was a bit anxious about it but it was the best decision both me and the dr made after years of skin anguish after a couple of months my skin was completely transformed. My side effects included really dry lips constantly need to carry a lip balm some sore joints and it did get worse before it got better so you need to hand in there. Another worry was the effect on moods but as soon as I saw an improvement in my skin that instantly changed my mood for the better !! Honestly life changer

Original poster
upecorinopolly · 08/11/2021 08:08

@HappyBirthdayMrPresident thank you

OP posts:
Bagelsandbrie · 08/11/2021 08:11

Dd took it aged 16 and it was the best thing she ever did - skin is now completely clear and side effects were minimal (mainly just cracked lips and some back pain, she had blood tests every few weeks to check for liver issues etc). She is 19 now and at university and says she’s so glad she went on it when she did.

morechocolateneededtoday · 08/11/2021 08:18

Took it when I was 21; my only regret is not taking it earlier. I was offered it sooner but feared the side effects so backed out at the last minute. After graduation, I had reached the end of my tether with the constant acne (which by then I had suffered from for 9 years).

Worst effect was dry lips for me too.

NautaOcts · 08/11/2021 08:21

I took it last year as an adult. It wasn’t the most fun 5 months with all the dryness etc and I initially was worried it wasn’t working but it did in the end and I don’t regret it and wish I’d done it sooner.
I was worried about side effects but they do stop as soon as you stop taking it so as long as he’s being kept an eye on can always try it and reduce dose or stop if the side effects become unmanageable.

minipie · 08/11/2021 08:27

I’ve taken it twice, once in teens and once in my 30s after DC. The first time I had nosebleeds and terrible dry lips. The second time very few side effects. No mood effects although as you know, it does cause depression for some people so you do need to watch out very carefully for that.

It did not completely solve my acne either time however. It helped at first but then stopped improving. However I gather this is very unusual.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 08/11/2021 08:42

DD took it at 16 after years of soul destroying acne. Apart from cracked lips she was fine. It was a game changer for her and she responded quickly and was only in it for 4months.

TheCreamCaker · 08/11/2021 08:44

I've had Rosacea for 30 years, and was prescribed Roaccutane (UK) about 20 years ago, after every other treatment failed. (Rosacea isn't the same as acne but the treatments are the same).

I can honestly say that it was like a miracle drug! My skin was so much better within days and by the end of the course, was clear and lovely.

The side effects I had - sore mouth, dry eyes and lips - were well worth putting up with.

wingsandstrings · 08/11/2021 17:39

I'm taking at the moment - wish I'd taken it 20 years ago. My skin is perfect and I am going out without makeup for the first time in decades. However I have had significant joint pain (never an issue before the drug, 100% a side effect). In the mornings when I'm particularly stiff I struggle with the stairs. It's embarrassing, at work or at a social event when I stand up after sitting for a while I can't stand completely straight and I shuffle rather than walk properly . . . . I look 80. If my DS age 14 had acne and had the same side effect of painful joints he would probably give it up as he's a keen sportsman and wouldn't be able to continue.

MaisyMary77 · 08/11/2021 17:54

My DD1, 28, has just finished taking it. Was on it for almost 2 years. No side effects other than very dry skin and hair. It really helped her, cleared her skin up completely.

Bangkokbaby · 08/11/2021 17:58

I took it when I was in my early 20s. I ended up with really low b12 levels that I'm sure was related. My hair thinned dramatically too. I also had very poor mental health that continued for around 8 months after I finished the course.
My skin cleared up for around a year, but the acne came back again. I wouldn't try it again

VikingLady · 08/11/2021 18:05

I took it. It saved my sanity. I was already depressed because I looked like a bowl of scarlet porridge and I hated myself.

They do assess your mental health before you start (or did when I took it) and there are check ups to double check. Those check ups include blood tests for liver function etc.

Ultimately I now have perfectly clear skin. I had a chance at a normal teenage life (ignoring the ASD!) without being horrendously bullied. I have no scars.

If I hadn't been allowed it I'd have tipped into full on alcoholism (I wasn't far off it at 15). I'd be scarred for the rest of my life, and you know how spots go away as an adult? They don't if they're bad enough. It impacts your life waaaay more than lucky clear skinned people realise!

bethclark553 · 12/11/2021 07:45

Try skin accumax. Live saving for acne. Read some reviews and look into it and it's pricy but worth it.

MrsBungle · 12/11/2021 07:49

I took it for around 6 months in my early 20s. My acne cleared completely and has never returned bar the odd spot. The only side effect I had was that my hair was no longer greasy within one day of washing it. No other side effects whatsoever.

Wishbub · 12/11/2021 07:56

I took it approx 15 years ago. Its the only thing that worked for my skin after 4 years of trying absolutely everything else. I think I took it for 6 months in total as well- and the effects have been long lasting. Side effects were the dry skin (especially lips), nosebleeds and joint pain. This all stopped as soon as I finished the course.
I wouldn't hesitate to take this again if I ever got acne again- it worked so well it was worth the Side effects for me.

careerchangeperhaps · 12/11/2021 09:08

I took it aged 18 (I'm early 40s now). No side effects for me beyond chapped lips and dry skin.
I know there's some links to poor mental health but I do wonder if those affected already had mental health issues due to poor self-esteem / depression due to the acne that were manifested by the drugs.

Bangkokbaby · 16/11/2021 16:45

I had never experienced any issues with my mental health prior to starting the medication. I was quite confident and happy, despite my bad acne. The change in my mental health was sudden and dramatic, it occurred towards the end of my treatment and continued for some time after it finished. It was a very difficult period in my life. I have no doubt it was linked to the medication.