Accutane

My friend has a son that had really bad acne and they tried everything else first. Finally Accutane did the trick. They watched him carefully - I know depression was one side affect they were worried about. But he didn't want to go to school, be out in public, etc. his face was so bad, so accutane really did help him. He's quite a handsome young man now! Know the side affects and quit taking it if you have issues.

I had severe acne until I was in my 30's (I'm now 61)& took Accutane twice. The first time was in the years before my 2nd child (before age 28) & the 2nd time was in my early 30's & we had no more children after that. The first time worked well but the acne came back after 1-2 yrs. so I was given a 2nd dose. After that I never had acne ever again. It changed my whole life and I would highly recommend you try it. As I recall the acne got slightly worse before it got better (on the Accutane) and my nose & throat was VERY dry for a while. Accutane has been around for at least 35 yrs. & if you follow the Dr. orders & not get pregnant while on it, you should be fine.

I went on Accutane as a teenager. It worked great! It took a few months for it to really kick in. I did suffer from really dry skin, my lips would crack open and bleed, the skin on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet would peel off, as did the skin on my face. I was also a total crab a** (according to my mother). I had terrible night vision for a few years after taking it. But it did work! And I think I would use it again. I too, was like you and tried several other methods (antibiotics, creams) to get rid of the acne.

I was on it when I was a teenager and glad that I did it. I didn't have many side effects. I do remember that I bruised easier. I get a pimple here or there now and then, but nothing like I had. I would definately do it again.

Good luck in your decision. I don't think you would regret it.

~SR

P.S.
I almost forgot to tell you about the super chapped lips. Be sure you have some blistex handy at all times. I think it was well worth it though.

Also, my brother was on it too. It has helped him also.

Good luck.

Well, I did try accutane when I was in my early 20s and it was a miracle drug but there are side effects that are not too fun. I was not trying to have kids then but you can go on birth control. I had the acne on my back. It really dries out your skin to the point where I had to put gobs of vaseline on my hands and wear socks at night. That was really the only place it was dry for me. I do not remember any other side effects. It worked like a charm though and I was clear until about two years ago and I am 36. I started on some hormones that I needed to take and it flared up but not as bad as my 20s. I would recommend it especially since it has affected your life so seriously. Good luck!

S.-

I went on it when I was 16 and it worked wonders. I also had cystic acne. It honestly was a miracle drug. Although very, very strong...it does work and I know how you feel with regards to acne--it hurts, it makes you feel ugly and is just plain annoying.

I am now 31 and having my second child. I now have gotten acne with both pregnancies...but just minor blemishes...not the cystic kind. After my first pregnancy, my skin was clear again. With this pregnancy it is pretty clear only a few minor blemishes every now and again.

I would recommend it however, you have to be aware of the side affects. It caused me to have very, very dry skin and my lips would peel.

It can also cause depression...although, that was not a side effect for me.

Also, the doctor will make sure that you are using two forms of birth control, as it will cause severe deformation of a child if you were to get pregnant. That is really the biggest concern.

I believe I was on it for 6 months. When I first took it back in the 90's it was kind of a newer medication, I believe...so it has had more time on the market now and more studies done.

I just remember how good I felt about myself after my skin was clear...it was just an amazing feeling.

Good luck!

Hi S.!

I know 2 people both women who have used accutane- and it worked wonders on their skin! One of them waited until she was done with children, and the other did it before she had children (she was in her 20's when she went on it). The later of the 2 now has 3 children! Good luck with your decision!!

I took Accutane and it was a miracle drug for me. I am so glad I did it. I still had a couple breakouts when I got pregnant thanks to the hormones but my skin has been unbelievable ever since. With that, I also took it when I was around 18-20 and just had my baby at 33. I was a little nervous even then, probably just me, my doctor was not worried. I would talk to your OB/GYN before doing it. That is a little too close for my comfort as well, especially because the treatment period for me I think was around 8 months. The biggest personal side effects were dry lips and dry eyes, but the risk of birth defects is obviously more to be concerned about. Have you tried Proactiv? I've heard that works pretty well if you follow it the right way. Good luck!

I went on accutane back in 2003. It worked great. My brother also went on it at the same time. It worked for him too. There are side effects and they vary based on the person. Mine were super dry hands, dry hair and I lost a lot of hair but it grew back, and dry lips. My brother had the very dry hands and his were kind of peeling. Neither of us have had lasting side effects. And we both have completely clear skin. And if we do get a pimple it is very tiny and never amounts to much. I would say it was worth it. But you have to make sure to go in for your blood checks and do what they say. One other thing is do you drink a lot of milk? I know that with a milk sensitivity people break out from that. I have known a lot of my friends and family who stopped drinking milk and there acne cleared up. So, maybe start with that and see where it gets you?

I've been on Accutane twice. Don't worry about the side effects (just make sure you don't get pregnant! That can't be overstressed), I think they are listed much worse than they turn out.

I was much happier with really dry skin and needing to apply lotion regularly than dealing with the cystic acne. Accutane worked wonders for my skin - especially the second time around. I'm now 5 years post-Accutane and my skin hasn't been the same since, it's wonderful. Accutane really is the miracle cure for acne.

I was going to go on this after our honeymoon. I get it bad on my back and shoulders. I was told when I went to the dr that it works well but you need to have 2 forms of birth control, is pill and condoms on top of that.
Since you are planning on having another child my advise would be just to wait, I do not know if there have been studies on what it does to your body exactly if you are wanting to have more children.
I didn't go on this as shortly after we were married we found out that we were expecting. If you do go on it I would be interesting in hearing how it works for you. I am not done having children but after I am, I will look into this again. Could you see if there is something that might be more"mother" friendly... there are a TON of side affects with this, I remember hearing about them. Maybe you could try alternative medicine.. just some suggestions.
good luck
A.

Hi Sheely, My name is B. and my son also had bad acne about 10 years ago when he was 12. We were also afraid because of the side effects. It worked great for him and he would use it again. his acne is much better since that. Our doctor had him go frequently to our clinic to have blood drawn to make double sure everything was ok. Please do the same and you should be fine. Remember it doesnt matter what you look like on the outside its whats on the inside that counts. good luck! B. Jacquest of Wisconsin

Hey S.,

Been down that road!

I think I might just have something that would interest you.

I had boils on my face and well as the cysts! And the main areas that they would show up were my NOSE & CHIN! Always on my face, I remember crying day in and day out. It was so embarrassing. My mom took me to the dermatologist and I tried all the acne gels, creams, freezing the face with a torch, antibiotics, etc!

Be aware of food allergies and experiment with elimination diets. Minimize your sugar intake.

Avoid eating cooked oils such as are in margarine and potato chips.

Get 20 grams of fiber in your diet. We have a line of products that can help naturally from the inside out.

If you would like to know more, let me know.

Research "resveratrol". We have it in several of our products. It's a God sent for anyone with skin problems and more.

God Bless!

J.

Hi! My oldest son was on it for about a year. It worked, but he had fairly severe depression/suicidal side effects. We did not know it was from the medicine because it was before they started warning about it. Thank God he did not actually take his own life. He became very argumentative and moved out at 16, stole a gun from us (told us later he was going to use it on himself), but never used it. It took about a year for him to get back to normal after he got off of the accutane.

It worked great as far as the acne, but I don't think I will let any of my other kids use it. If you try it please have someone you love pay close attention to any mood changes because you may not notice that they are happening.

I wish you the best of luck in your search for a solution.

Hi,

I have had acne most of my life.... Started when I was like 12. (Now almost 26 and still struggling.....)

I went on accutane when I was 16. I had the worst acne I've ever seen in my life. My face was completely swollen and red and blotches and pimples EVERYWHERE. It worked (did not clear up 100% but definitely made a difference) but as time wore on I have gotten my acne back. It is not as bad as it once was though...

I have tried tons of store produts, perscriptions, and now I'm working on more natural cures....(I'm going to try the yogurt suggestion!)

Honestly, if you are planning on having more children in about 2 years I would wait. I was not married at the time so I didn't have to worry about getting pregnant but now I would not even consider going on such a strong drug again unless we would completely abstain from sex while I was on it. I just would not be able to forgive myself if I got pregnant and caused harm to my baby.... Just my thoughts.

I understand how hard this is (as I am still dealing with it every day.) I have also cancelled plans depending on how bad a day I was having. I am DEFINITELY glad I was on this drug when I was in highschool as it made a huge difference in my self-esteem but at this point in my life I would not consider going on it again. (We have 2 kids ages 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 and want to have more.)

The side effects I remember are extremely dry lips and skin. I went in once a month for blood tests and didn't have any other problems but I was scared of all the side effects that were possible as well.

I have not tried it, but it does help with acne. I know there have been several cases of teenagers that have commited suicide while on this medication. I would assume they had problems with depression before taking the medication, but I'm not sure. You also have to be on some type of birth control (pills or IUD) and have to take a pregnancy test every month before getting refills. The pharmacy and physcian have to register with the drug company and fill out paper work every month showing you were not pregnant before giving you the medication.

I posted a similar acne question recently. I don't know about Accutane, but make sure you have a good face washing routine in place. This has really helped my skin: exfoliate in the shower, mosturizer after shower, soap at night along with whichever product I'm currently trying for spot-on treatment. Good luck and if you find a miricle cure let me know!

I did use this about 13 years ago. It worked wonderful! It was a long process and did take a toll on my skin at the time, but I have only had two cysts in the last thirteen years since I have taken that medication. It completely dried everything out, I would have to use vaseline in my nose so that I wouldn't get a bloody nose or could have gone days without washing my hair and it would still look squeaky clean. It definitely is effective. I had my daughter about three years ago so I had a ten year lapse between taking the medicine and getting pregnant and had no problems, but honestly I would wait until after you're done having children to be on the safe side. It is a very strong medication.

I did it when I was 19 and I still LOVE the results 10 years later! Yes, the side effects are very harsh and you want to make sure you use 2 forms of birth control at all times while on it, but I would definitely do it again.

Hi S.. Personally, I prefer trying everything natural before prescription. I didn't realize some of the side effects of accutane. I am posting information here on a natural product that works extremely well. If you want to try, let me know and I can send a link to purchase it online (not available in stores). Either way, best of luck to you.

Timeless Prescription™ PrevaDerm™ addresses acne from the inside out. It helps to enhance the body’s natural defense against acne-causing bacteria. By attacking acne at its root, you can be confident that you are solving the problem - not just covering it up. PrevaDerm supports the immune system, provides antioxidant protection for cellular health, helps maintain healthy skin at the cellular level, minimizes the appearance and frequency of acne, helps maintain a clear complexion, assists in normalizing discolored or swollen skin, helps maintain a smooth and even toned complexion, promotes the healing/repair of minor damage to skin cells (caused by acne), and support a healthy complexion.

Have you tried being on birth control pills to control your acne? Ortho Tri-cyclen has been proven to control acne and has worked for me and for my daughter who is in her 20s. Ortho Novum has also worked for me. It would seem to have fewer side effects than the accutane and you can get pregnant again soon after going off the pills.

I was on Accutane in high school and again after college. I think it did a wonderful job with my skin!! The only side effect that I had to deal with was very, very dry lips... but the dermatologist gave a prescription strength lip balm and I was fine. I did not hesitate to use Accutane, but I wasn't even thinking about having children at the time. I understand your concerns; I think a doctor would be able to answer any of your questions.

sorry to hear this...guess i would try it-but have you tried yogurt??...its a natural antibiotic-that all i used when my kids got sick-plus the acne problem-worked great-plain is best-fruit is ok also....use to have my kids use it as a face mask as well as eating it.its good live bacteria-kills the bad bacteria in your system-good luck...

My brother was on accutane in high school and it worked wonderfully for him. He had cystic acne also and it caused a lot of pain as well as made him self conscious. He now has very clear skin and only a few scars from the cysts. The only side effect that I can remember affecting him is he did get very dry skin and he had to be careful being in sunlight. He doesn't have any children. He and his wife have been trying and their doctors say the accutane is not a factor hindering their efforts. I also worked with a girl that was on accutane in her teens and she has one child.

I agree with another post-er that if you aren't already in the habit of cleansing your face regularly, then I highly recommend starting a good regimen. Beauticontrol's Skinlogics line are great products for daily cleansing. They also have a fantastic microdermabrasion kit for exfoliating. I had acne problems, not as severe as my brother, but making sure I washed my face twice a day, exfoliating weekly and moisturizing, I am pleased with my skin's appearance.
They also have a line called All Clear that is terrific too. It is designed for people with acne problems.

HTH,
A.