Acne

cbr600girl started this discussion · 5/27/2009

So I am really happy as I will be starting accutane next week to help get rid of my ugly nodular acne! I have suffered with acne for many years. I used accutane in the 9th grade and my face totally cleared! It came back when I had my son, but has been full blown severe acne for about 3 years. The program with Accutane is to irritating though. I had to have a urine pregnancy test, wait 30 days and I am having another pregnancy test today. On Monday I have to have complete lab work done and then on Tuesday I can finally get the prescription after answering some online questions! So much trouble to get a prescription. I have tried Proactive and every single thing under the sun you can think of. Accutane is the ONLY thing that every really worked for me. I will be cleared up in a month and I am totally excited and wanted to share my excitement with everyone else. I think this will really boost my self esteem.

19 replies

amcut · 5/27/2009
Woohoo! Go accutane! My sister has super-bad cystic acne that accutane does wonders on! Her doctor refused to prescribe it to her at one point because of depression- she was like, 'Mhm, as if acne doesn't depress me more, thanks!' I'm glad there are hoops and loops, but that it's still available to the public! I think had they taken it off the market, a loooot of people would have been upset!
Bugged82 · 5/27/2009
Really hope it helps you feel good about yourself soon! sounds great ☀️ I'm in the dentist chair next week so hopefully I'll be smiling soon too (I hate my teeth at the mo after a total fear for 10 years so I've had to give myself a kick up the butt or spend the rest of my life being paranoid)
Veena · 5/27/2009
I hope it works out well for you again! ☀️ ☀️
Foxy_Rei · 5/27/2009
I used to have horrible acne, and for my age, I still do... it's gotten better since high school, but it's still really bad. It's all stuff under the skin. My husband picks on me sometimes, says some of the pimples need their own area code. 😂 I refuse to wear make-up because of it. Almost everything I've tried has dried my face out really badly, like the dry skin peeling off my face is just as unsightly as the acne itself (hence the reason why I stopped using anything). So does this stuff do that, too??? 🤔
amcut · 5/28/2009
Foxy, if you had something that really did clear you up- did you try adding jojoba to your moisturizer to combat dryness? My sister sweeearrrz on jojoba, and I think she's said the exact same line about flaky worse than acne. Accutane is pretty serious! It's for cystic or nodular acnes, but it has a LOAD of side effects. Causes extremo birth defects if you conceive while taking it, so you have to be harassed by your doctor on a regular basis! It has a LOAD, though, so you have to have miserable acne, and not just moderate to really benefit from it. But it does have a long lasting effect for some people. It's got my favorite drug label ever, though. I remember thinking it was birth control! LOL http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/antenna/acnedrug/images/Accutane_pregnancy_label.jpg
Foxy_Rei · 5/28/2009
Nothing I tried really did much of a difference, and I don't use moisturizers. I work in a kitchen, gets too hot and sweaty to bother using many products like that... It's also been a very long time since I was actually given anything extreme to use - like junior high. I've been thinking about seeing a dermatologist just to see what they have for me.
glitterhips · 5/28/2009
Im so happy for you! My boyfriend did accutane and it worked well for him too. Good luck! 🥂
cbr600girl · 5/28/2009
I used to have horrible acne, and for my age, I still do... it's gotten better since high school, but it's still really bad. It's all stuff under the skin. My husband picks on me sometimes, says some of the pimples need their own area code. 😂 I refuse to wear make-up because of it. Almost everything I've tried has dried my face out really badly, like the dry skin peeling off my face is just as unsightly as the acne itself (hence the reason why I stopped using anything). So does this stuff do that, too??? 🤔 Foxy, The stuff did not dry out my face. It is an oral pill so it's not like that crap you smear on your face that makes it peel. It does have some minor draw backs. You can't get waxed, use vasoline on your lips, sunblock always and it may get worse for 1-2 weeks then poof they are gone! I used this stuff when I was 14 and it last until I was about 24 and it slowly started coming back. Usually a dermo will make you do many other meds and creams before prescribing Accutane just because the strength of the stuff. I would talk to your doctor to discuss it further, but it is wonderful and I can't wait to get my face cleared up!
staceyanne28 · 5/28/2009
Yeah for accutane!!!! I had managable acne in my teens and early twenties, but after I had my first baby it turned into horrible cystic acne. Oh it was so painful!!! The doctor was confused because she said usually acne gets better after you have babies, but obviously that wasn't the case for me. I went on accutane last summer and had the best experience!!! If it wasn't so bad for you I would be on it for the rest of my life! I normally have VERY oily skin, and it is still oily since going off accutane, but definitely not half as bad as it was. And I don't get the cystic acne anymore, just a minor break out every now and then, but nothing that can't be controlled by topical creams. I remember hearing and reading so many horror stories about being on accutane, so I was so scared to start it, but besides the dryness it was awesome, and I will so do it again if I have to. Acne is so debilitating, and it not only scars physically, but emotionally as well. People who are blessed enough to have always had nice skin don't realize how lucky they are, and don't understand how painful it can be. I've heard a lot of '"You need to change your diet" or "You need to try this natural remedy", but some people don't know that some forms of acne are genetic and there isn't anything you can do to make it go away. Anyways...good luck and I am so excited and happy for you! Keep us posted 🙂
RoxyPink · 5/28/2009
I hope you have success with it!!
adamseve · 5/29/2009
I swear by Accutane even though it caused me to have nocturnal seizures and triggered Graves disease. I'm the only one in my family that had acne and until I got engaged in 1999. I took the Accutane for approximately 4 months and my skin has been wonderful ever since. Yes, it has its side effects, but the benefits certainly outweigh the side effects. First and foremost, make sure you follow the directions of your doctor and you will be OK. I will say that for a few weeks my skin did peel. However, again, it was worth it for me! Good luck to you.
SissyBuns · 5/29/2009
So I am really happy as I will be starting accutane next week to help get rid of my ugly nodular acne! I have suffered with acne for many years. I used accutane in the 9th grade and my face totally cleared! It came back when I had my son, but has been full blown severe acne for about 3 years. The program with Accutane is to irritating though. I had to have a urine pregnancy test, wait 30 days and I am having another pregnancy test today. On Monday I have to have complete lab work done and then on Tuesday I can finally get the prescription after answering some online questions! So much trouble to get a prescription. I have tried Proactive and every single thing under the sun you can think of. Accutane is the ONLY thing that every really worked for me. I will be cleared up in a month and I am totally excited and wanted to share my excitement with everyone else. I think this will really boost my self esteem. I am a Dermatology nurse and the Derm I work with only gives accutane as a last resort because of it's side effects and potential risk for birth defects. Yes the derm has to harrass you and test you for pregnancy every month but it's for good reason. We show all of our patients a little video that talks about the risks before hand so everyone is well informed and honestly (like most people here have said) the benefits outweigh the risks. People with severe acne are willing to try it out because it works and you don't need to take it forever. We usually only go for about 4 months at the most and people are usually cleared up way before then. I haven't had one patient complain! I too have acne but I have a differet kind (comedome acne). I treat mine with Retin A and chemical peels. I'm very fortunate to work for a Dermatologist. It's funny sometimes my acne patients don't think I relate to their problem because my skin is usually relatively clear. The think it's naturally that way, but little do they know what I go through LOL. I tell them "It wasn't always that way, I work for a Dermatologist" LOL I know you'll have great results with your accutane treatment (especially since you have before) and I'm happy for you!
cbr600girl · 5/29/2009
Yeah for accutane!!!! I had managable acne in my teens and early twenties, but after I had my first baby it turned into horrible cystic acne. Oh it was so painful!!! The doctor was confused because she said usually acne gets better after you have babies, but obviously that wasn't the case for me. I went on accutane last summer and had the best experience!!! If it wasn't so bad for you I would be on it for the rest of my life! I normally have VERY oily skin, and it is still oily since going off accutane, but definitely not half as bad as it was. And I don't get the cystic acne anymore, just a minor break out every now and then, but nothing that can't be controlled by topical creams. I remember hearing and reading so many horror stories about being on accutane, so I was so scared to start it, but besides the dryness it was awesome, and I will so do it again if I have to. Acne is so debilitating, and it not only scars physically, but emotionally as well. People who are blessed enough to have always had nice skin don't realize how lucky they are, and don't understand how painful it can be. I've heard a lot of '"You need to change your diet" or "You need to try this natural remedy", but some people don't know that some forms of acne are genetic and there isn't anything you can do to make it go away. Anyways...good luck and I am so excited and happy for you! Keep us posted 🙂 I had horrible acne in my teens. I went on Accutane and I became a whole different person. I was more sociable, happy and confidant. When I became pregnant instead of having beautiful, glowing skin I started getting minor breakouts. They got worse once I actually gave birth. The last 3 years though it has been really bad. I have huge cystic acne along my jaw line and on my cheeks. I even get them on/near my ear and they hurt so bad! This weekend I couldn't even enjoy myself because I thought everyone was starting at my face. I waited so long to go on Accutane again because I heard you are limited to taking it only twice in your life. It is no longer the case. You can take it multiple times as long as you follow all the guidelines.
SissyBuns · 5/29/2009
I have this one patient, he's a young marine (I work in a military hospital) and when he first started he was so shy and quiet and even walked kind of slouched over. When he came in for his final appointment I barely recognized him. Not just because of his skin but because of his whole demeanor. His posture was better, he was smiling, he was chatting everyone up. His transformation was amazing.
cbr600girl · 5/29/2009
I talked to my Dermo's nurse and they will NOT let me fill my prescription. My cholesteral is over 400! I don't know how that it possible. I think because the night before my tests my fiance passed his contractor's license test and we celebrated. I ate quite a bit and had 1 beer. I stopped eating at 8pm. I had to fast for 8 hours. I had my blood work done around 8am the next morning! I think that is what happened. I NEVER eat that late or so much plus I had dessert. I am so mad at myself. Now I have to do another lab on Monday morning and the doctor will look at the results on Tuesday. I was totally looking forward to getting that prescription filled. I burst out crying because my face looks horrible! Why do I have the bad luck?!?
maddieLines · 9/8/2009
I have pretty much been on the pill most of my life to help with acne,i still get it at 28,think i have a hormonal issues. Maddie
SissyBuns · 9/9/2009
I talked to my Dermo's nurse and they will NOT let me fill my prescription. My cholesteral is over 400! I don't know how that it possible. I think because the night before my tests my fiance passed his contractor's license test and we celebrated. I ate quite a bit and had 1 beer. I stopped eating at 8pm. I had to fast for 8 hours. I had my blood work done around 8am the next morning! I think that is what happened. I NEVER eat that late or so much plus I had dessert. I am so mad at myself. Now I have to do another lab on Monday morning and the doctor will look at the results on Tuesday. I was totally looking forward to getting that prescription filled. I burst out crying because my face looks horrible! Why do I have the bad luck?!? Did you ever get your prescription filled?
cbr600girl · 9/9/2009
hahaha no I haven't 🙁 I have a dr appt on Friday with my Primary. I have been eating good and exercising so I am hoping my triglcerides lowerd naturally. If not he will probably put me on meds to lower it. After that I have my Dermatology Appt on Oct 29 and if it is lower by then I will get my presciption. Thanks for asking!
weewander · 9/10/2009
Sorry to hear that you weren't able to get your accutane prescribed, but I'm really glad your doc takes his/her job seriously and is monitoring you properly. Would hate to see you end up in liver failure over acne cures. Increase your fibre intake to help lower your cholesterol and triglycerides. For convenience, adding something like benefibre to your beverage or something like bran buds will increase your fiber intake significantly without feeling like your eating a pound of cardboard a day. You want to aim for 25-35 grams of fiber a day. Increase the fiber slowly, though, you don't want to be bloated, cramped and gassy all the time.