[ooonitsreekooo]

I've never been on Accutane, but have done a lot of research on it as it is the next step if Spironolactone doesn't work. I would visit the boards on www.acne.org. All they talk about is Accutane. HTH

Wow, these side effects from the above comments really scare me. I already have poor eyes...and I wouldn't want dry eye or blindness, being a contacts user. Currently I'm on Doxycyclene pills, Finacea, and Differin gels- I'm going to give it another month to see full results. I've never heard of Spironolactone. As for microderm stuff, I'm using Orgins Modern Friction. I think I'll look into other Origins cleansers and scrubs in the future (when I have some more money...haha) I'm gonna do some serious research. I'll talk to my derm if for some reason my skin isn't clearing as hoped...and copy the "warnings" you all talked about here and show them to her.
Thanks for all the comments so far!!

Nicole

[krivers28]

My dermatologists gave me a prescription for Accutane, and she told me that if I am thinking of having children not to if I am on this pill, that frightened me and I never took them. Plus she said there were alot of side effects. So it is a last resort. I used Differin and it actually worked really well!

How is your experience with Accutane going? I'm considering starting it since I need to control my acne, have sensitive skin, and am not in a relationship now...

I heard it may give cholesterol...but does that have a certain age range?

Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks in advance.

[looooch]

OMG...I would avoid this drug no matter what. If one of the side effects is depression, that in itself is reason NOT to take this. Any type of "depression" you feel about how acne is affecting you psychologically is nothing compared to actually having depression. I have acne too but i would gladly accept the acne instead of depression. Hope you get the right treatment. Differen gel sounds promising.

[chellebelle99]

OMG...I would avoid this drug no matter what. If one of the side effects is depression, that in itself is reason NOT to take this. Any type of "depression" you feel about how acne is affecting you psychologically is nothing compared to actually having depression. I have acne too but i would gladly accept the acne instead of depression. Hope you get the right treatment. Differen gel sounds promising.

exactly and if it can make you feel depressed i mean you already feel like crap because of your acne so the pill would make you feel even worse, i also think the reason jessica simpson hasn't had a baby or anything is because she supposedly uses accutane and proactiv although she doesn't say that in her proactiv testimonials, her skin looks amazing but she might experience those side affects ya never know.

[pretty_pink13]

yeah it is a very dangerous thing to do, and you have to take that jump and that huge risk and consequences but so far I have tried Differin, retin a micro, clindagel, cleocin T gel, plexion, zoderm, benzoclin, and those are just a few topicals. I have tried all the antibiotics, such as ampicillin, minocyclin, dynacin, in fact, all the cins, LOL and took a bunch of cortizone shots in the butt. Oh and this weird up your nose thing, it was an antibacterial cotton swab thing that was an antibiotic. So I have tried a lot even proactive and I cried when it didn't work cause I could only turn to one thing and that was accutane. I am healthy or so I think and I will find out later down the road, but it is so different for everyone, everyone has different side effects it is the weirdest thing, one person will have get toe fungus, the other one liver problems, me- night blindess, I have visited all the accutane forums and I have talked with hundreds of people, it depends on the person. If you want to take that risk go for it but if you want to stay safe and possibly not get kidney failure or something else maybe you should stay away from it. Remember, this is for cystic acne, anything else lower than that extreme can be treated.

[juliet1985]

i started my RoAccutane course way back in March!

I have been taking Roaccutane for over 7 months now! (I started with 60mg for the first 5 months and then she increased my dosage to average 70mg for the next 2 months and now i am back to 60mg in my last month). It is a pretty high dosage for such a long period of time especially since now i weigh around 46 kgs!!!

Before i started taking the pills, my derm did 3 chemical peels on my face to remove the top layers of the skin. As soon as i did my 3rd peel she prescribed the pills and i started taking them. She also told me to use Retin A + Hydroquinone 5% cream once weekly to be applied at night and rinsed off in the morning - the result of this is that my face becomes VERY red and starts to peel - i have reduced the peeling by washing my face with sea water (salty) and leaving it on for a while and then rinsing with fresh water. I use Hyfac face wash, Apaisac Reconstructing emulsion, Exfoliac moisturiser hydratante and La Roche Posay Fluide Extreme SPF 60 sunblock.

My derm says that i was one of the worst cases she ever had and she is thoroughly happy with my progress. during the first month i got the most horrible initial breakout you can possibly imagine! now when i look back i do not know how i went through it - but everything passes so have hope - thinks will look up and time passes quickly!

Now i have red marks in the places where i had the cysts from my initial breakout, some scars on my temples and a nodular cyst which has been there for around 4 months but is getting smaller each time. When i visit the derm she removes the cysts i have using a needle (under anesthetic). I don't get any new pimples anymore - or i just get one very rarely but nothing major or worrying.

As for side effects they are nowhere as bad as some people make them out to be - or maybe that is just my experience. I have extemely dry lips but Apaisac lip balm totally solves that for me. In the first month i used to get some chest pains but that stopped and improved when i started drinking more water. My skin has become very dry on my body and tends to peel but i use Uriage body wash and moisturiser which are very rich and specifically for dry skin. My hair has become dry as opposed to the oily state it once was in - this is pretty good coz i blow dry my hair less often now! Also my skin takes longer to heal now. In the past 2 weeks i have been feeling dizzy but i am not sure if it has anything to do with the pills. I visited my GP and he is going to make some blood tests. It resulted that I have very high Prolactin (a hormone) levels. I went to see an endocrinologist and she said i need to get an MRI scan - i should do it this week but my Grandad just passed away and I don't feel up for it - he was so sweet! Sometimes i also used to get pains in my lower back but that passed too.

I think the worst problem i have had has been with finding good make up. I currently use Sisley Phyto teint Eclat foundation which is pretty good but pricey - it's a great colour match but it finished now and i want to purchase EL's Maximum Cover Lightweight makeup. I think my biggest problem while on Roaccutane has been trying to find a really good foundation, concealer, make up base and powder!! Any suggestions are welcome thanks! My derm says i should just use OIL FREE make up but she didn't recommend any make up brands! I feel that the way make up companies advertise their products is so unfair plus their models are usually airbrushed and have perfect skin so it doesnt really help the consumer!

[alyt6]

[COLOR="Red"]My Friend Leah went on accutane and her face blew up like a big red tomatoe. She had a terrible reaction to the stuff. Her face would peel like a snake. I felt soooo bad for her.[/COLOR]