Roaccutane / accutane
- Thread starter Drossla
- Start date
I'm 28 bro and I still have issues with my face from time to time. If I'm stressed/not sleeping/being lazy, eating badly etc. I use 'Quinoderm' (5% benzoyl peroxide) cream. £3-4 from the pharmacy, no presciption, and it works great for me. I use it if I need to and it's usually cleared up in 2-3 days. There's a stronger one too. Worth a go for £3 imo.
I went on it a few years back. Cleared my acne up within about 6 months as well. Though you do need to carry a tin of Vaseline with you as your lips do dry up fairly often. I also came out in red patches on my arms towards the end but they disappeared again before I finished the course.
I didn't suffer from any attitude changes or anything and had no problems with the fairly regular blood tests.
Out of interest, what were your side effects that were so awful?
I didn't suffer from any attitude changes or anything and had no problems with the fairly regular blood tests.
Out of interest, what were your side effects that were so awful?
Used that for over a year mate, my skin now looks ragged, red and worn. I've come off BP for 8/9 weeks now and you can tell
Hey,
There's loaaaads to know, and I was on it for several months in my last year of uni.
A good start is http://reclaimyourskin.co.uk/ - I myself wrote a little blog on there for people like you to read and add to when you start on the drug.
It can have bad side effects but this will be explained to you (extreme dry skin, dry scalp etc.) it basically reduces dramatically your skins ability to produce oil and therefore stop the acne.
I did have a lot of submissions on that site, but it seems they've redesigned it and my content isn't there anymore.
My skin used to be pretty bad and therefore I lacked confidence! Wish I went on it before uni, it wasn't until my skin was clearing up a fair bit that I actually met someone (probably a mix of improved self confidence and nice skin!).
Before (I have very few photos of my skin before it got better!)
Now:
How old are you and how serious is it?
I tried all sorts of creams etc, various antibiotic tablets (oxytetracyclene), and none worked.
I met a dermatologist through the NHS and had my bloodtests, then went onto a course of tablets.
In a nutshell, these were the phases;
1-2 weeks - nothing much, skin starting to dry by the 2nd week
2 weeks onwards - incredible dryness of skin, lips cracking, random nosebleeds where the skin inside your nose just randomly cracked! (had about 5 in total).
You get a phase of really nasty spots, but this clears and it was suprising how fast my skin lost its redness and cleared up.
6 months seems like a long time, but it really flys by and is well worth doing imo.
There's loaaaads to know, and I was on it for several months in my last year of uni.
A good start is http://reclaimyourskin.co.uk/ - I myself wrote a little blog on there for people like you to read and add to when you start on the drug.
It can have bad side effects but this will be explained to you (extreme dry skin, dry scalp etc.) it basically reduces dramatically your skins ability to produce oil and therefore stop the acne.
I did have a lot of submissions on that site, but it seems they've redesigned it and my content isn't there anymore.
My skin used to be pretty bad and therefore I lacked confidence! Wish I went on it before uni, it wasn't until my skin was clearing up a fair bit that I actually met someone (probably a mix of improved self confidence and nice skin!).
Before (I have very few photos of my skin before it got better!)
Now:
How old are you and how serious is it?
I tried all sorts of creams etc, various antibiotic tablets (oxytetracyclene), and none worked.
I met a dermatologist through the NHS and had my bloodtests, then went onto a course of tablets.
In a nutshell, these were the phases;
1-2 weeks - nothing much, skin starting to dry by the 2nd week
2 weeks onwards - incredible dryness of skin, lips cracking, random nosebleeds where the skin inside your nose just randomly cracked! (had about 5 in total).
You get a phase of really nasty spots, but this clears and it was suprising how fast my skin lost its redness and cleared up.
6 months seems like a long time, but it really flys by and is well worth doing imo.
Soldato
- Joined
- 8 Dec 2002
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- North Yorkshire
If anything, this photo has to be some sort of motivational to get on the damn drug!
Look at me. I was so uptight! DO IT NOWWWW.
The way I feel now is a million miles away from how I felt in my first year of uni.
I should have enjoyed that year loads, but my skin and being the young guy I was, I was obviously held up on how I looked.
Look at me. I was so uptight! DO IT NOWWWW.
The way I feel now is a million miles away from how I felt in my first year of uni.
I should have enjoyed that year loads, but my skin and being the young guy I was, I was obviously held up on how I looked.
Last edited:
wow ^^
Read this mate, it's difficult stuff, but this is how I feel, I would appreciate it if nobody quotes this as I'll delete it at a later date. Thanks.
What I’ve tried – In order
1. Over the counter products such as clean and clear / Clearasil
2. Benzoyl Peroxide
3. Clidymycin
4. Minocycline
5. Doxycycline
6. Differin
7. Benzoyl Peroxide again (which actually got me quite clear for a large period of time)
8. Epiduo
9. No Products –aka just water
10. Dairy free diet
11. Gluten / wheat free/ sugar free / dairy free
12. Exercising
13. Drinking 8+ glasses of water a day
14. No picking
15. Positive mentality
For the last 5 years (since 17) I’ve had acne. I’m not sure what I would class my acne as but I’d say moderate. Whilst I don’t get any cheek acne, my chin hasn’t been clear in 5 years (not once) and I get deep under the skin pimples that take around 7-10 days to go away yet alone heal. When I get these it hurts to smile, it hurts to laugh; it even hurts to talk...
I’ve always tried to approach acne with the mentality that It’ll get better once I’m into my 20’s and to be frank, it has got no worse or better. The only difference is that I’m almost 22 and the problem is still there destroying my youth. It has stopped me from living life; I’m so envious of those who can lead a ‘normal life’. It has complete control over my thoughts and actions and after trying every possible outlet I believe it’s time for accutane.
I remember when I was young, I used to have no worries, I would just live life. Sounds like the simplest thing in the world but it’s also the best thing in the world. Just going to school was amazing, coming home and playing on my guitar for 4 hours, amazing. The best part about it was the I wasn’t constantly fixated on my image, what others thought of me and how I had to constantly pretend to be happy. My thought process would process the activity I was undertaking and move on…
Well, here’s the truth. Every day of my life is a constant struggle. I am unable to do what I want to do, eat what I want and am constantly in a state of worry. I’ve done everything in my power to beat this disease, would you call it a disease? Feels like one to me.
Who the hell doesn’t have an Easter egg at Easter? Who doesn’t have an ice cream when it’s a particularly hot day. Who has to turn down desserts whenever I go out for a meal in public? Who can’t have a bag of sweets to eat whilst watching a movie? Me!
I’m not the kind of person who doesn’t want to get better. This is horrible; I want happiness, that’s all I want. I couldn’t care about anything else in life.
I notice all of my friends are now clear, no I’m not exaggerating, they are ALL clear. They all do NOTHING to their skin and the word ‘acne’ has probably crossed their minds less than 20 times in their lifetime. Sure everybody gets the occasional spot that lasts two days but I haven’t had a clear face in 5 years.
Asking for accutane goes against all my beliefs, but I feel as If I’m left with no alternative. It has stopped me from
- Going on Holidays
- Forming relationships
- Having ‘fun’
- Looking forward to an event – I don’t get excited about anything anymore. It’s more of a case of ‘ will I cancel because I’ll look like ****’
- Living carefree
I WANT to travel, I WANT to meet new people, I WANT to meet someone who I could have a relationship with, I WANT to have kids in the future.
So here I am, sitting inside on a Friday night, most of my friends are out there clubbing having fun and here I am back at square one writing some stupid log that will get me nowhere in terms of progression, I don’t even know why I’m writing it….My ‘friends’…well I call them friends but I can feel myself loosing touch with them and I don’t blame them. I always make excuses when they invite me somewhere and can feel I am generally a boring person to be around. I’m not funny, I’m not charismatic, and I’m not inspirational. At least I have morals, I like to think I’m a kind, polite person and that is what carries me through life.
Every so often I break down and just burst into floods of tears (every year or so) I remember before a lecture at university I drove in and got so upset after looking in the mirror that I sat there and cried before driving home.
I once woke up for work and had a terrible nodular pimple that was raised and angry. I went downstairs and said to my mum ‘’I can’t take this anymore’’ and burst out in to tears like I’ve never done before.
Recently, I came home from work and didn’t call anyone to let them know I wasn’t going to be coming back that day. I walked in and one man said ‘’what’s wrong with your face’ I drove home and cried my eyes out once again…
I recently missed my dad’s birthday meal because I was ona diet which restricted all the foods on the menu…the most important day of my life (my graduation) was completely spoiled by a horrible breakout.
If I were to give myself a diagnosis, it would be that I’m suffering from borderline depression, which is highly influenced by acne and my perception of how others perceive me. I acknowledge that I need help, I need all kinds of help. I need medication to obliterate this acne and I need to rebuild my confidence, of which currently stands at zero. Sometimes I go out of the house wearing trendy clothes and think to myself, why do you even bother? The rest of you looks like **** so what’s the point?
I could honestly go on writing about this for days, am I’m not exaggerating. But this is it, I mean it, 5 years of my life wasted to this disease is too much. Not only am I dealing with acne now I’m dealing with anxiety and depression. Brilliant.
Read this mate, it's difficult stuff, but this is how I feel, I would appreciate it if nobody quotes this as I'll delete it at a later date. Thanks.
What I’ve tried – In order
1. Over the counter products such as clean and clear / Clearasil
2. Benzoyl Peroxide
3. Clidymycin
4. Minocycline
5. Doxycycline
6. Differin
7. Benzoyl Peroxide again (which actually got me quite clear for a large period of time)
8. Epiduo
9. No Products –aka just water
10. Dairy free diet
11. Gluten / wheat free/ sugar free / dairy free
12. Exercising
13. Drinking 8+ glasses of water a day
14. No picking
15. Positive mentality
For the last 5 years (since 17) I’ve had acne. I’m not sure what I would class my acne as but I’d say moderate. Whilst I don’t get any cheek acne, my chin hasn’t been clear in 5 years (not once) and I get deep under the skin pimples that take around 7-10 days to go away yet alone heal. When I get these it hurts to smile, it hurts to laugh; it even hurts to talk...
I’ve always tried to approach acne with the mentality that It’ll get better once I’m into my 20’s and to be frank, it has got no worse or better. The only difference is that I’m almost 22 and the problem is still there destroying my youth. It has stopped me from living life; I’m so envious of those who can lead a ‘normal life’. It has complete control over my thoughts and actions and after trying every possible outlet I believe it’s time for accutane.
I remember when I was young, I used to have no worries, I would just live life. Sounds like the simplest thing in the world but it’s also the best thing in the world. Just going to school was amazing, coming home and playing on my guitar for 4 hours, amazing. The best part about it was the I wasn’t constantly fixated on my image, what others thought of me and how I had to constantly pretend to be happy. My thought process would process the activity I was undertaking and move on…
Well, here’s the truth. Every day of my life is a constant struggle. I am unable to do what I want to do, eat what I want and am constantly in a state of worry. I’ve done everything in my power to beat this disease, would you call it a disease? Feels like one to me.
Who the hell doesn’t have an Easter egg at Easter? Who doesn’t have an ice cream when it’s a particularly hot day. Who has to turn down desserts whenever I go out for a meal in public? Who can’t have a bag of sweets to eat whilst watching a movie? Me!
I’m not the kind of person who doesn’t want to get better. This is horrible; I want happiness, that’s all I want. I couldn’t care about anything else in life.
I notice all of my friends are now clear, no I’m not exaggerating, they are ALL clear. They all do NOTHING to their skin and the word ‘acne’ has probably crossed their minds less than 20 times in their lifetime. Sure everybody gets the occasional spot that lasts two days but I haven’t had a clear face in 5 years.
Asking for accutane goes against all my beliefs, but I feel as If I’m left with no alternative. It has stopped me from
- Going on Holidays
- Forming relationships
- Having ‘fun’
- Looking forward to an event – I don’t get excited about anything anymore. It’s more of a case of ‘ will I cancel because I’ll look like ****’
- Living carefree
I WANT to travel, I WANT to meet new people, I WANT to meet someone who I could have a relationship with, I WANT to have kids in the future.
So here I am, sitting inside on a Friday night, most of my friends are out there clubbing having fun and here I am back at square one writing some stupid log that will get me nowhere in terms of progression, I don’t even know why I’m writing it….My ‘friends’…well I call them friends but I can feel myself loosing touch with them and I don’t blame them. I always make excuses when they invite me somewhere and can feel I am generally a boring person to be around. I’m not funny, I’m not charismatic, and I’m not inspirational. At least I have morals, I like to think I’m a kind, polite person and that is what carries me through life.
Every so often I break down and just burst into floods of tears (every year or so) I remember before a lecture at university I drove in and got so upset after looking in the mirror that I sat there and cried before driving home.
I once woke up for work and had a terrible nodular pimple that was raised and angry. I went downstairs and said to my mum ‘’I can’t take this anymore’’ and burst out in to tears like I’ve never done before.
Recently, I came home from work and didn’t call anyone to let them know I wasn’t going to be coming back that day. I walked in and one man said ‘’what’s wrong with your face’ I drove home and cried my eyes out once again…
I recently missed my dad’s birthday meal because I was ona diet which restricted all the foods on the menu…the most important day of my life (my graduation) was completely spoiled by a horrible breakout.
If I were to give myself a diagnosis, it would be that I’m suffering from borderline depression, which is highly influenced by acne and my perception of how others perceive me. I acknowledge that I need help, I need all kinds of help. I need medication to obliterate this acne and I need to rebuild my confidence, of which currently stands at zero. Sometimes I go out of the house wearing trendy clothes and think to myself, why do you even bother? The rest of you looks like **** so what’s the point?
I could honestly go on writing about this for days, am I’m not exaggerating. But this is it, I mean it, 5 years of my life wasted to this disease is too much. Not only am I dealing with acne now I’m dealing with anxiety and depression. Brilliant.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Several scientific studies have posited that isotretinoin is a possible cause of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in some individuals.[70][71][72] Three cases in the United States have gone to trial thus far, with all three resulting in multi-million dollar judgments against the makers of isotretinoin; there are an additional 425 cases pending
Several scientific studies have posited that isotretinoin is a possible cause of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in some individuals.[70][71][72] Three cases in the United States have gone to trial thus far, with all three resulting in multi-million dollar judgments against the makers of isotretinoin; there are an additional 425 cases pending
Sounds like how I felt. :/
I left it and tried dietary changes etc. Would get asked by kids when I was working at Asda if I had chickenpox. It was embarassing, but roaccutane turned it all around and has given me a boost of confidence.
Go for it and don't look back!
I left it and tried dietary changes etc. Would get asked by kids when I was working at Asda if I had chickenpox. It was embarassing, but roaccutane turned it all around and has given me a boost of confidence.
Go for it and don't look back!
Cleared up my Acne quite a lot while I was taking it but also left me with a severely dry face at the same time (peeling/flaking skin - especially around the lips - that sort of thing), no other side effects to note (that I knew of). Still get the odd spots come back now and I've been off Roaccutane for 18 months or so.
I think it's more to do with stress than anything else in my own personal case.
I think it's more to do with stress than anything else in my own personal case.
Garee
Garee
Can anyone go on Accutane or do you have to have severe acne? I have had it moderately for years and the only time I have clear skin is when I am in a different Country/Climite.
I haven't seen a GP/Dermatologist as I have mainly ignored it as being "one of those things". I'm coming up for 20 now and it still hasn't cleared up.
I haven't seen a GP/Dermatologist as I have mainly ignored it as being "one of those things". I'm coming up for 20 now and it still hasn't cleared up.
Mines mild / moderate but PERSISTANT. If you haven't tried at least 2 sets of topical and oral anti-biotics they won't even consider you for accutane unless it's very very severe.
I took this when I was ~15 to stop getting acne that often turned into sebaceous cysts, it didn't work initially so I was on it for over a year and it was a complete nightmare especially since at the time I was going through my GCSEs too.
I got the mood swings really bad and dry skin especially round my mouth and in my nose, most mornings I would wake up having had a nosebleed in my sleep and it was really weird trying to find lip balm in summer. I still suffer from dry skin now 20 years later and some cysts but no-where near as bad like before they gave me the roaccutane.
They are often reluctant to prescribe it in the UK because of the increased risk of causing suicidal depression as a common side effect, pretty sure there has been a class action law suite in the US against the patent holder in this regard.
I got the mood swings really bad and dry skin especially round my mouth and in my nose, most mornings I would wake up having had a nosebleed in my sleep and it was really weird trying to find lip balm in summer. I still suffer from dry skin now 20 years later and some cysts but no-where near as bad like before they gave me the roaccutane.
They are often reluctant to prescribe it in the UK because of the increased risk of causing suicidal depression as a common side effect, pretty sure there has been a class action law suite in the US against the patent holder in this regard.