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Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:16 pm |
I saw my dermatologist yesterday, and the news in not great. Dalacin T has stopped working, so there are not many other options, and she suggested Accutane. During my 25 years or so of fighting acne, I have tried pretty much all the usual suspects. Now, I have cysts on my cheeks and chin. So there you go... I am scared, but at the same time I want to be done with acne, and she told me that Accutane is the closest thing to a cure. |
_________________ Mid 40's, normal to oily skin, blackheads, occasional breakouts |
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Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:13 pm |
I tried accutane during my college years. It did help but in the beginning your face will look like it exploded but slowly the acne will go away. My friend's boyfriend went on it too and heard he was moody but his face cleared up. |
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Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:28 pm |
Hi Linnie,
From what I have heard and read...Accutane has a better success ratio at a later age than, say, teenage or in your twenties.....So i WOULD BE REALLY HOPEFUL...Just keep a close vigil on how you react and be prepared for the dryness.Gives you a reason to buy some more lotions and potions! All the best! |
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Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:11 pm |
Linnie, have you ever tried Aldactone (in generic form aka Sprironolactone)? The fact that your cystic breakouts are on your chin and cheeks sounds like it's hormonal. Fyi, Aldactone blocks the androgen receptors that are responsible for making your skin oily and breaking out.
For me, as one who has tried everything out there (both prescription and OTC), Aldactone was the last resort before I was going to throw in the towel and try Accutane. So far after 4 months I have only gotten one cyst and before I was getting about 5-6 per month. |
_________________ early-mid 30s || oily-combination, sensitive & acne-prone skin || mild breakouts (Aczone helps a lot) || occasional eczema rashes || fine lines around eyes || very dark under eye cirlces- concealer a must || very fair neutral-warm complexion, blue eyes, blonde hair |
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Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:59 am |
I too have tried Accutane. I have had moderate to severe acne all over my body since I was 11 years old (now 39). My results were not recommendable. It dried everything up - and I mean everything (nose, eyes) but my acne persisted. I had to have my blood checked regularly monthly and after 5 months of being on it, I received a call from my doctor to immediately stop taking it, and to see him. It appears as though one of my blood levels have become very high. It was decided that since the duration of the treatment was only supposed to last 6 months and since it wasn't working for me, we decided to stop. I also had to prove and make sure I was taking birth control during the treatment since it causes horrible birth defects. So - it didn't work for me. But I hear that it does for others. You should try it - get some eye drops and nasal lubricants so you'll be ready. |
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Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:10 am |
Aldactone is a great idea. Having been on both, I know the pros and cons. And if the acne is not severe allover, but just on the chin and jaw, that just might do the trick. |
_________________ Joined the 50 club several years back, blonde w/ fair/sensitive skin, Texas humidity and prone to rosacea, light breakouts and sunburns, combo skin type, starting to see sundamage and fine lines |
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Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:57 am |
I went on Accutane about 20 years ago, and it was the only thing that worked for me. I have not had cysts or even mild acne since. My only complaint is that my skin is a little more sun-sensitive now, but nothing that good ol' sunscreen won't take care of! So, I had really great results with no (thank God!) serious side effects! |
_________________ 51 years old/brunette/normal- oily medium skin. |
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Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:21 am |
Thank you for your encouragements, Sportygirl. And, as to the Aldactone suggestion, I have researched it, and nowhere does it say that it can be used for acne.
Of course, I will have to undergo all the blood tests and I promised to use reliable birth control. Anyway, my appointment with the derm is only October 5, so I will continue to use Dalacin T and hope for a miracle in the meantime. |
_________________ Mid 40's, normal to oily skin, blackheads, occasional breakouts |
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Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:29 am |
amnis wrote: |
Linnie, have you ever tried Aldactone (in generic form aka Sprironolactone)? The fact that your cystic breakouts are on your chin and cheeks sounds like it's hormonal. Fyi, Aldactone blocks the androgen receptors that are responsible for making your skin oily and breaking out.
For me, as one who has tried everything out there (both prescription and OTC), Aldactone was the last resort before I was going to throw in the towel and try Accutane. So far after 4 months I have only gotten one cyst and before I was getting about 5-6 per month. |
When I went to the derm recently he recommended either Accutane or Spironolactone to me. I opted for the Spironolactone (it's a lot cheaper too). I didn't notice any side effects aside from having to pee more (it's one of the side effects). I do notice a reduction in the amount of acne on my chin. |
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Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:33 am |
Yen wrote: |
amnis wrote: |
Linnie, have you ever tried Aldactone (in generic form aka Sprironolactone)? The fact that your cystic breakouts are on your chin and cheeks sounds like it's hormonal. Fyi, Aldactone blocks the androgen receptors that are responsible for making your skin oily and breaking out.
For me, as one who has tried everything out there (both prescription and OTC), Aldactone was the last resort before I was going to throw in the towel and try Accutane. So far after 4 months I have only gotten one cyst and before I was getting about 5-6 per month. |
When I went to the derm recently he recommended either Accutane or Spironolactone to me. I opted for the Spironolactone (it's a lot cheaper too). I didn't notice any side effects aside from having to pee more (it's one of the side effects). I do notice a reduction in the amount of acne on my chin. |
Yen, are you still on Spironolactone? I'm on Sulfacet-R, a topical antibiotic, and should it stop working ie i get resistant to it, i might have to try an oral antibiotic as well, which i'm afraid of because i've heard that prolonged use of oral antibiotics can kill active gut flora and throw the internal balance off, resulting in a multitude of symptoms including yeast infections, etc. What do you think? |
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Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:40 am |
dollbird wrote: |
Yen, are you still on Spironolactone? I'm on Sulfacet-R, a topical antibiotic, and should it stop working ie i get resistant to it, i might have to try an oral antibiotic as well, which i'm afraid of because i've heard that prolonged use of oral antibiotics can kill active gut flora and throw the internal balance off, resulting in a multitude of symptoms including yeast infections, etc. What do you think? |
I was on it for a month. It did help with the acne on my chin.
I didn't react well to topical medications. I have oily skin but when I use topicals, my skin gets really dry and starts to flake (my last experience with Differin).
It's hard to say when it comes to medication controlling hormones. I always wonder what happens when I stop taking it. My acne always comes back. I'm just praying that my Serious Skin Care acne kit would kick in more like it did for me in the past. *keeping fingers crossed* |
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Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:45 am |
Yen wrote: |
It's hard to say when it comes to medication controlling hormones. I always wonder what happens when I stop taking it. My acne always comes back. I'm just praying that my Serious Skin Care acne kit would kick in more like it did for me in the past. *keeping fingers crossed* |
Yen, i agree. When it comes to our hormonal acne, nothing can really stop those buggers from coming out. Our hormones dictate all this. Controlling the severity is all we can do, and so far it has proven to be a pain in the @ss! |
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Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:15 pm |
dollbird - you need to supplement your diet with acidophilus after taking antibiotics. It will put the "good" bacteria back into your system. I take probiotics everyday anyway by eating yogurt and taking the supplement PB8. Anyone who has ever been on antibiotics needs a probiotic to counteract it, as antibiotics kill all the bacteria in the gut, even the good ones! HTH's
Linnie - your welcome! |
_________________ 51 years old/brunette/normal- oily medium skin. |
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Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:58 am |
dollbird wrote: |
Yen wrote: |
amnis wrote: |
Linnie, have you ever tried Aldactone (in generic form aka Sprironolactone)? The fact that your cystic breakouts are on your chin and cheeks sounds like it's hormonal. Fyi, Aldactone blocks the androgen receptors that are responsible for making your skin oily and breaking out.
For me, as one who has tried everything out there (both prescription and OTC), Aldactone was the last resort before I was going to throw in the towel and try Accutane. So far after 4 months I have only gotten one cyst and before I was getting about 5-6 per month. |
When I went to the derm recently he recommended either Accutane or Spironolactone to me. I opted for the Spironolactone (it's a lot cheaper too). I didn't notice any side effects aside from having to pee more (it's one of the side effects). I do notice a reduction in the amount of acne on my chin. |
Yen, are you still on Spironolactone? I'm on Sulfacet-R, a topical antibiotic, and should it stop working ie i get resistant to it, i might have to try an oral antibiotic as well, which i'm afraid of because i've heard that prolonged use of oral antibiotics can kill active gut flora and throw the internal balance off, resulting in a multitude of symptoms including yeast infections, etc. What do you think? |
Yes, you do have to be careful with antibiotics. I was on them for years and they really messed me up internally. If you have to be on them it *really* helps to take acidipholus supplements to keep the good bacteria in your system. You also have to be careful not to build an antibiotic tolerance. I developed a horrible and very serious antibiotic resistent staph infection in my left leg two years ago. The doctors first gave me a series of antibiotic injections and also put me on sulpha based antibiotics. Luckily, they worked. BUT I got another one last summer when I had foot surgery and had to take this really rare and very expensive antibiotic (~$500 for a week's worth!!! I'm SOOOOOO glad I had insurance coverage for my Rxs then so I didn't have to pay this amount!!!). I posted something on this a while ago but I can't find it but that's it, really, in a nutshell.
I am not saying you shouldn't try antibiotics. Just be aware of long term use. Sometimes they are effective enough if you take them for a few months. Good luck.
ETA: I currently take Jarrow's Formula to help regulate my digestive flora. Taking this is a must for me as it helps A LOT. When I first went off my antibiotics I took about 5 caps a day for a month and now I take 2-3 per day. |
_________________ early-mid 30s || oily-combination, sensitive & acne-prone skin || mild breakouts (Aczone helps a lot) || occasional eczema rashes || fine lines around eyes || very dark under eye cirlces- concealer a must || very fair neutral-warm complexion, blue eyes, blonde hair |
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Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:06 pm |
Yen wrote: |
amnis wrote: |
Linnie, have you ever tried Aldactone (in generic form aka Sprironolactone)? The fact that your cystic breakouts are on your chin and cheeks sounds like it's hormonal. Fyi, Aldactone blocks the androgen receptors that are responsible for making your skin oily and breaking out.
For me, as one who has tried everything out there (both prescription and OTC), Aldactone was the last resort before I was going to throw in the towel and try Accutane. So far after 4 months I have only gotten one cyst and before I was getting about 5-6 per month. |
When I went to the derm recently he recommended either Accutane or Spironolactone to me. I opted for the Spironolactone (it's a lot cheaper too). I didn't notice any side effects aside from having to pee more (it's one of the side effects). I do notice a reduction in the amount of acne on my chin. |
On Spironolactone I really don't notice the side effect of having to pee more. Maybe when I first went on it but not so much now. |
_________________ early-mid 30s || oily-combination, sensitive & acne-prone skin || mild breakouts (Aczone helps a lot) || occasional eczema rashes || fine lines around eyes || very dark under eye cirlces- concealer a must || very fair neutral-warm complexion, blue eyes, blonde hair |
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Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:01 pm |
Linnie:
Read my thread (http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=15113) and you will realize I understand how you feel. My previous dermatologist told me to go on Accutane as well but I chose not to because I did a lot of research about the drug and I didn't like the short-term and long-term effects of it. I know your frustration but don't rush into taking Accutane without doing a thorough research.
I know of two people who took the drug and advised me against taking it. One of them took the drug three times! Every time she took it, the acne stopped for six months and then it would return. So, she was constantly on an emotional roller coaster! In the end she gave up. The other person who took it has flawless skin but she told me, she would have never taken it if she had been given more information about its side effects. |
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Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:06 am |
Update : I am on my third month of treatment now. My skin is dry, my eyes are dry, my lips are... You get the idea. BUT I was at the dentist office last Thursday, and the dental hygienist told me three times that I had beautiful skin. Three times! I don't think that I have ever been told that before in my entire life! Of course, she also told me that it was dry.
Anyway, I am watching my diet and my cholesterol levels, which makes me lose weight. I will be on the drug until the end of January, most probably, and I don't regret starting the treatment. The monthly blood tests and dermatologist's appointments are a pain, but the rewards are there. |
_________________ Mid 40's, normal to oily skin, blackheads, occasional breakouts |
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Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:46 pm |
My sister battled acne all her teen years & did Accutane in college. She has a very even temperment & did experience "the blues" when she was on Accutane. Be sure to let your doctor know how you are feeling emotionally. Good luck! |
_________________ 40, fair skinned, dark hair, blue eyes |
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Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:52 pm |
@c4ward: My doctor asked all the standard «depression» questions at my last appointment. Thank you for mentioning it, though. |
_________________ Mid 40's, normal to oily skin, blackheads, occasional breakouts |
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Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:00 pm |
I'm on accutane at the moment and my skin looks great, no more oily skin and pores are very small and tight. As for the dryness, I see it as a mild side effect that can be controlled with good quality creams. You will get really dry/cracked lips. I strongly recommend "Blistex lip conditioner". I wear it during the day and before bed. It really keeps my lips soft. That is the best tip I can give you. As for face creams just use one you know you can trust.
You will burn very easily, I did and I'm Asian. Just be sensible and use sunscreen and cover up. I think thats alsways a good habit. Also it usestaring Accutane in winter so you're not so restricted. As we say in Australia, SLIP on a shirt, SLOP on sunscreen and SLAP on a hat. Good luck |
_________________ oily but almost very dry, acne prone skin |
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Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:45 pm |
Spironolactone was a miracle for me. $5/month and I have NO acne whatsoever. Down from cysts every month. You're right, this is not the intended purpose of the drug--but doctors prescribe all sorts of drugs everyday for "off-label" use. Botox was one of those, for example. It has all sorts of uses, therapeutic and cosmetic. Anwhoo, best of luck. Getting rid of persistent acne is a major quality of life change. |
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Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:44 am |
I went on Accutane in my early 20's. I'm now 32, and I still get the odd breakout, so my acne didn't disappear completely.
For anyone out there considering accutane, be prepared for severely dry lips, and nostrils. The *only* product that saved my lips was Prevex, a cream for severely dry skin. I applied it on my lips. It is heavy and soothing. This was after i tried literally every chap stick-type product on the market.
And here i am, years later, and I always have Prevex around. One in my nightable, one in my car, in my purse...I put it on dry cuticles. Sorry this became a product review, I didn't mean to!
But back to Accutane, I wouldn't do it again. Too rough, and it's not permanent anyway!
Other members seem to have great suggestions. Wish I had them to turn to in my early 20's!
steph |
_________________ SKIN: 33,fair.My work env't is skin hell! (flight attend. = dryness&eye circles!) AM: Lavantine Cleansing Oil, squalane, ISOMERS carnosine complex (250x more pow'ful than Idebenone), eye cream varies, JuiceBeauty Antiox Serum, Anthelios SS. PM: Lavantine, squalane, Remergent DNA Repair. Want: Silk Dust |
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Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:51 am |
Spironolactone sounds pretty harsh too. I just read that it causes tumors in lab test animals. Eeek! I think i'm afraid to try any drugs these days!
I suppose the idea is to not take it for very long? You all seem to have had good experiences with it, and i think it's great that it's so cheap.
I'll keep my eye on posts for this stuff, but I think i'll still to crushing aspirins for now!
thx so much for this interesting information.
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_________________ SKIN: 33,fair.My work env't is skin hell! (flight attend. = dryness&eye circles!) AM: Lavantine Cleansing Oil, squalane, ISOMERS carnosine complex (250x more pow'ful than Idebenone), eye cream varies, JuiceBeauty Antiox Serum, Anthelios SS. PM: Lavantine, squalane, Remergent DNA Repair. Want: Silk Dust |
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Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:39 pm |
I took accutane a year ago, was on it for almost 1 year. It TOTALLY cleared up my skin. I've never had such clear skin before. BUT...I was just constantly dry. I had to change my skincare products completely from products for oily skin to products for dry or very dry skin. Yes i did have no more acne, but it just seems like my skin kinda matured a little, coz it was so dry. I couldnt wear contacts coz my eyes were so dry as well. I had to take milk thistle supplements to support my liver as Accutane really mess up your liver system.
Accutane isnt a permanent solution. Once you stop your acne will come back, not as severe I find though. I didnt really use it for severe acne in the first place. It was for the over production of sebum. I was really really oily, still am. |
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