Suicide threads

In the last few days, the mods have had to close several threads in which the OP was threatening suicide. This has caused some resentment and hard feelings, which was not our intention at all. So we'd like to explain a bit more about the way we handle suicide threats -- which is to close the thread and direct the poster to other, more appropriate, resources.

Yes, Acne.org is a support board. But it's an acne support board. We simply aren't able to offer suicidal people the sort of help and attention they need in a time of crisis.

The mods on this board aren't trained in suicide intervention. Also, we can't always be around when such threads are posted ....... and while most members here are warm, kind and encouraging in their responses, there always seems to be that special someone ready to flame you when you're down.

When we close these threads, it's not because we don't care. It's because we want people who are truly suicidal to get help from the experts.

And if someone is threatening suicide primarily to get attention (which does happen!), we really don't think that's fair to the other members of the board. Suicide threats are deeply distressing, and we do not feel that Acne.org is an appropriate forum in which to deal with them.

Thank you for your understanding.

Accutane -- Links to Clinical Studies

This thread is to be used ONLY to post the links to clinical studies on Accutane. It is here as a resource for everyone in the forum.

Linking to sites OTHER than clinical studies is not acceptable.

Please post any questions or discussion topics elsewhere so that this thread does not get unnecessarily cluttered.

ABSOLUTELY NO FLAMING WILL BE TOLERATED.

Posts that do not follow these guidelines will be invis'd.

Ready to roll ....

So I've been reading up on dermarolling for the past couple of months, and am finally taking the plunge ... just ordered three Dr. Rollers (0.25, 0.50, and the 3-line 1.5mm) and a couple of tubes of Emla on eBay.

I'm a longtime user of Green Cream (0.9% retinol gel) and Vivant Spin Trap (15% Vitamin C, .1% Vitamin E serum). I love both of these products, and they've made a huge difference in my skin quality, but I think I've hit a plateau with them both. I'm hoping that dermarolling will take me to the next level.

I have only slight scarring ... just some faint pitting and grooving on either side of my chin, plus a bit in my left nasolabial region. I think it's partly the result of acne, partly old sun damage. I've tried using copper peptides on these areas before, with some success, but I truly hate using those SkinBio products ... they leave my skin discolored for days, and they have to be used regularly to have much effect.

Anyway, my plan is to start out by rolling my entire face with the 0.25mm roller, using my topicals, and seeing how that goes. As I become braver and more comfortable with the procedure, I hope to progress to the 0.50 .... and eventually, I'd like to use the 1.5mm roller along the top of my upper lip. It isn't deeply lined, but I'm starting to see a few creases. I'd like to stage an intervention before they make much progress.

As I said, I've done a lot of reading and I feel pretty confident in what I'm doing. The one area I'm still uncertain of is roller sterilization. I'd like to err on the side of caution. Any input from experienced rollers would be much appreciated!

I'm headed out of town on vacation in a few days, so my plan is to start rolling when I get back on April 13.

Negative Accutane Experiences

This thread is here for people who had a NEGATIVE experience with Accutane. If you are sorry you ever took this drug, this thread is for you.

Please make just one post describing your experience, and edit/update that post as needed ... this will make it much easier for readers to follow each person's story.

It would be helpful, of course, to know the length of your course(s), your dosage(s), and when you started or finished. Please do not post until AFTER you have finished your course.

Please do not post links to other sites. This thread is here for personal stories of Acne.org members only. It has been pinned so that it will not be lost in the shuffle.

Neither this thread nor the "positive experience" thread should be regarded as definitive proof of anything, pro or con, about Accutane. This is by no means a scientific sampling and we are not checking up on anyone who posts here. It is simply a place where people can tell their stories and keep them up to date in a simple format that is uncluttered and easy to follow.

Something to keep in mind when reading this thread: quite a few people do get directed to Acne.org from anti-Accutane Web sites for the specific purpose of posting their negative experiences on this board. It's usually pretty obvious who these posters are (lengthy posts, one-time posters, etc.). However, this is a very open forum, and so long as these people stay within our rules and guidelines, we welcome them.

Arguments, flaming, and off-topic posts will be invis'd.

Positive Accutane Experiences

As stated in the title, this thread is here for people who had a POSITIVE experience with Accutane.

It would be helpful to know the length of your course(s), your dosage(s), and when you started or finished. Please make just one post describing your experience, and edit/update it as necessary ... this will make it easier for readers to follow each person's story.

Please do not post until AFTER you have finished your course. Feel free to keep coming back to update your story.

Many or most people do experience some unpleasant side effects, so feel free to expound on those. But on the whole, if you are glad you took Accutane, this thread is for you.

Please do not post links to other sites. This thread is here for personal stories of Acne.org members only. It has been pinned so that it will not be lost in the shuffle.

Neither this thread nor the "negative experience" thread should be regarded as definitive proof of anything, pro or con, about Accutane. This is by no means a scientific sampling and we are not checking up on anyone who posts here. It is simply a place where people can tell their stories and keep them up to date in a simple format that is uncluttered and easy to follow. Arguments, flaming, and off-topic posts will be invis'd.