25 replies to this topic

[mickey67]

What treatment are you using...and how is it working for you?

I switched from antibioitics to accutane. It took me a year of encouragement from my derm to give it a go. I finally decided that accutane can't possibly be any worse on my body than long term use of antibiotics.

[willow569]

What treatment are you using...and how is it working for you?

I switched from antibioitics to accutane. It took me a year of encouragement from my derm to give it a go. I finally decided that accutane can't possibly be any worse on my body than long term use of antibiotics.

I am 37 (didn't really have any skin problems until about 8 or 9 months ago). Tried over the counter topicals on my own - worked only marginally well. Tried the Kaiser dermatology deparment - my skin just got worse on Differin and clindamycin.

Now I am seeing an esthetician in the SF bay area who specializes in treating acne. I'm on a combination of topicals (BP, derm a gel, mandelic acid, HP cream) I've been going to her for about 10 wks and am pretty much clear now (occasional small spots from retinoid related purging) - I've had no new inflammed spots since I have been on her regimen. I'm extremely pleased with her services (and the outcome!).


Good luck with the Accutane!! How long have you been on it?

[luvsun24]

I just got the book "The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman" and the dr that wrote it says that Spironolactone is the miracle cure for those of us over 35 (I'm 43) that are faced with this problem. He says it's best to combine it with a testosterone free BC. I am currently on 100 mgs of Spiro a day and it is working great! The bc I'm on right now is Loestrin (not right for skin) so I am switching to Ortho-Cyclen as soon as I run out. It is one of about 6 or 7 that he mentioned for acne. Anyway, he pretty much says that topicals, antibiotics, etc. will not help the unfortunate victim of hormones. Additionally, he isn't a big fan of Accutane either. He says it will clear the skin but has so many unwanted side effects. Also, he states that spiro gives the skin a healthy glow and accutane does not. I am seeing results with spiro, but can't wait to add the right bc too. Topically, I haven't found anything great (I hate BP), except for Finacea, which banishes the red marks and keeps skin smooth. Let me know how the accutane works Mickey - I sincerely wish you success. We all deserve to be clear-skinned.

[sf_chavez]

I started breaking out at 31. Went on Minocin and topicals (Duac and Tazorac) that worked very, very well for years. I also used ProActiv. I was crystal clear other than the occasional mild breakout or pimple every now and then. Now at age 37 the acne has come back around jawline, lower cheeks, chin area.

I am going on Accutane, but while waiting for treatment to begin I've been doing acne / oxygen facials each week that have worked WONDERS on my skin. In fact, my skin tone is the best it's ever been and my breakouts are very mild... small pimples, lasting a day or two rather than a week or more. And this is only after 3 facials!

I would recommend finding a very good aesthetician -- this is IMPORTANT. Someone that knows what they are doing. My aesthetician uses the Karen Herzog line of oxygen products:

http://visagestudio.com/catalog/-m-11.html...407bdd41fcfaab7

I use the Mild Scrub, the Oxygen Face Cream and the Vita-A-Kombi-3. I cannot tell you how amazed I was when I realized this was working. And, to touch my skin... it feels like butter. It's truly astounding.

Weekly facials can be expensive and time consuming, so I am still going to try the Accutane. I'm hoping that the combination therapy will help my skin respond faster, heal faster, and perhaps I won't have to be on Accutane quite as long. I just got my Accutane yesterday and will start taking the medication this weekend.

About Spiro -- how do you know that you have "hormonal acne"? My breakouts are persistent, not just at the time of my period. Sometimes they get worse around that time of month, but it's not like I go from clear skin to break outs only once a month. The diagnosis of having "hormonal acne" really confuses me.

[luvsun24]

St Chavez,
My acne is persistent throughout the month. I was confused by whether I had "hormonal acne" too. I never had the testing done to determine it, but plan to soon.

At one point I thought perhaps it was the toxins accumulated in my digestive system, coming out through my skin. Now, I still do believe that toxins can do this. However, I never had to watch what I ate before and only had the occasional PMS breakout. Now, as I am aging, it is all throughout the month. So, I tried to detox, broke out like crazy, then tried to eat well. My skin was better, but still not clear.

So, if it wasn't just toxins, could it be stress? Heck yes. Do you know what stress does to you? It raises your testosterone response, creating a hormonal flare-up. Eating certain foods also causes hormonal flare-ups. Basically, the dr that wrote the book, The Hormonally Vulnerable woman, says to get tested, but that almost all acne at our age is most likely hormonal. My derm insists it has to be hormonal too. My skin has gotten worse each year, since I was 37. Before that, I just didn't have hardly any breakouts - maybe one right around my period. What has been happening during the last 6 years? I suppose my estrogen level is slowly dropping as I approach menopause, and my testosterone is in high gear - which causes me to be irritable and gives me zits.

Spiro has been the answer for me. It is sooooooo easy to take. Two tiny pills each morning, two at night...no side effects. He states that it will take approximately 2 months to see major clearing (mine was way sooner than that) and in 4 months you will be totally clear. You, of course, have to have the right dosage. 50mg/daily was too low for me. 100 seems to work. I would definitely talk to your derm about Spiro before you go on Accutane. Go to an endrocrinologist for the hormonal testing, or ask your gyno. I would be willing to bet your testosterone is on the high side. Good luck, whatever you decide.

[libbycopeland]

This spyro stuff, is it a BCP? Do you have to take a BCP with it?

This spyro stuff, is it a BCP? Do you have to take a BCP with it?

[Brandy]

I'm 36.
I've had acne prone skin since my preteen years.

I've done all the usual otc products and prescriptions, including Accutane.
Currently, and for the past year and a half, Dan's Clear Skin Regimen is keeping my acne well under control.

[mickey67]

I just got the book "The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman" and the dr that wrote it says that Spironolactone is the miracle cure for those of us over 35 (I'm 43) that are faced with this problem. He says it's best to combine it with a testosterone free BC. I am currently on 100 mgs of Spiro a day and it is working great! The bc I'm on right now is Loestrin (not right for skin) so I am switching to Ortho-Cyclen as soon as I run out. It is one of about 6 or 7 that he mentioned for acne. Anyway, he pretty much says that topicals, antibiotics, etc. will not help the unfortunate victim of hormones. Additionally, he isn't a big fan of Accutane either. He says it will clear the skin but has so many unwanted side effects. Also, he states that spiro gives the skin a healthy glow and accutane does not. I am seeing results with spiro, but can't wait to add the right bc too. Topically, I haven't found anything great (I hate BP), except for Finacea, which banishes the red marks and keeps skin smooth. Let me know how the accutane works Mickey - I sincerely wish you success. We all deserve to be clear-skinned.

Even though I am pretty sure my acne is hormonal, (my derm agrees, but we haven't had my hormones tested) I will not take any type of hormonal treatment to try and cure my acne. My mother had breast cancer when she was 32 and died when she was 44. I do not take birth control pills because of the increased estrogen. I also reseached spironolactone and found out that it is recommended that anyone who has a family history of female cancers (breast, uterine, cervical, ovarian) NOT take it . It raises estrogen levels which is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer .

Accutane is really my only hope.

[PimplesAndWrinkles]

It seems rare to find men over 35 here. Is that because most men don't care about their skin or because few men have skin problems when they are older? I'm 48, male, and just finished a 5 month course of Accutane 15 weeks ago, which has given me very good results. Prior to the Accutane I was suffering from large cysts on my face and nose - not high in number, but very large, ugly, and painful. I've been almost completely clear since the second month of my course, which was about 6-1/2 months ago.

P&W

[sf_chavez]

The hormonal acne thing is very interesting. I have a friend on Spiro and she loves it also. She was going to start on Accutane, but they did Sprio first and she has stuck with it. The thing is, she is in her early 20s! So, I still get very confused as to women actually having hormonal acne or not. My derm and I did discuss the spiro option. She said I could try it for a few months to see if it worked for me or not, but given that I am in my late 30s, that I was breaking out quite severly (before I started the facials) on my cheeks, chin jawline (and a few on my forehead), that she really thought Accutane was the right course for me. As well, she did a course of Accutane when she was 19 (she is my age now), so she's not recommending anything that she hasn't done herself.

I certainly am not taking the Accutane approach lightly. My sister did it when she was in her 20s, and no side effects other than the dry lips. I hope it works for me... maybe I'll end up on Spiro down the road... who knows!

I will certainly keep you posted on my progress. I start treatment this weekend and am off to another facial tonight.

Thank you so much for the info as it is very informative.

[wibble]

It seems rare to find men over 35 here. Is that because most men don't care about their skin or because few men have skin problems when they are older? I'm 48, male, and just finished a 5 month course of Accutane 15 weeks ago, which has given me very good results. Prior to the Accutane I was suffering from large cysts on my face and nose - not high in number, but very large, ugly, and painful. I've been almost completely clear since the second month of my course, which was about 6-1/2 months ago.

P&W

Add me to the male over 35 group . I'm 37 and had acne since 13, its better than it used to be, but I still get large painful cysts mainly around nose area, some days would be clear though. Am currently on accutane and been pretty much clear now for 8 weeks with only 2 sets of breakouts (one when I started, one when I kicked off biotin in supplement), apart from that am happily clear. Hoping it will last after I stop it, but feel better armed now after reading so much on these forums.

[sf_chavez]

For those of you on Accutane, how many have experienced hair loss? What are the stats on women having that side effect?

[rudeboy]

*raises hand... 40 (almost 41) years young..

no hair loss while on Accutane, did 2 Accutane "courses". still have very mild acne or maybe i'm just to critical about my skin :}

[sf_chavez]

*raises hand... 40 (almost 41) years young..

no hair loss while on Accutane, did 2 Accutane "courses". still have very mild acne or maybe i'm just to critical about my skin :}

Thanks for the reply! I'm also curious as to how long it took to start seeing/feeling side effects? I've taken 4 pills -- no dryness of skin or lips or nose -- no nothing yet. Not that I want those things to start happening, but just curious. Maybe the generic brand I'm on (Clarivis) has something to do with that???

[rudeboy]

it took about a week to a week and a half before i got side effects, the only 2 side effects i had were dry lips and a dry nose with "internal" minor nose bleeds, i only discovered that by blowing my nose.. i mean it's not like blood dripped out of my nose :}

keep in mind it's different for every body....

[mickey67]

*raises hand... 40 (almost 41) years young..

no hair loss while on Accutane, did 2 Accutane "courses". still have very mild acne or maybe i'm just to critical about my skin :}

Thanks for the reply! I'm also curious as to how long it took to start seeing/feeling side effects? I've taken 4 pills -- no dryness of skin or lips or nose -- no nothing yet. Not that I want those things to start happening, but just curious. Maybe the generic brand I'm on (Clarivis) has something to do with that???

I'm finishing week 4...this week was when it felt like all the moisture was sucked from my body. I had some side effects ealier, but really felt the dryness this week.

I'm going great though and my dr (just had a check-up today) saw no reason to adjust my dose. I'm taking 20mg twice a day.

[sf_chavez]

Thanks all.... really helpful. I have heard that Accutane for those in mid-20s and up seems to produce better results and less side effects. I certainly hope that is true. I will keep you posted on my progress and I look forward to hearing more on yours!

[rudeboy]

Thanks all.... really helpful. I have heard that Accutane for those in mid-20s and up seems to produce better results and less side effects. I certainly hope that is true. I will keep you posted on my progress and I look forward to hearing more on yours!

oh, one other side effect.. my cholesterol went up.

[luvsun24]

This spyro stuff, is it a BCP? Do you have to take a BCP with it?

Spironolactone is actually a blood pressure medicine that they have found, given in small doses, blocks the androgens (testosterone) from reaching the skin's surface. It isn't even used as a blood pressure med anymore because it was just too weak for that. It truly works for acne, but works best when combined with a bcp that has no testosterone-like activity (ex. - Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Tri-Cylcen, Yasmin, Desogen).

[sf_chavez]

Given what I've heard about Accutane and Spiro, I'm honestly surprised that Spiro does not get prescribed more. I understand Spiro may not work for everyone (men... others with certain health conditions), but it seems to have quite a high success rate and that eligible candidates should try this before Accutane?

What do you all think? It's something I plan to speak with my derm about at the end of this month before getting my second month prescription for Accutane.

Thanks for any input.