99 replies to this topic

[Mrs. N]

Wishing your son well! I've been thinking of you guys! My own son is getting more and more broken out as dreaded puberty is setting in. I'm not sure how well he'd handle Accutane, as he has some issues similar to your son. We'd have to discuss it with the psychiatrist first, but I think that's a long way off.

Hope things are going well with your whole family!

--Natalie

[sakul]

Day 41 - January 28, 2007

Well, he's got his routine down pat. Things are just swell. His face has a few zits, but they don't seem to last long. Still some pimples on the neck area here and there. No side effects that we note except the dry lips. He's using Aquaphor, but they still look pretty dry. He had his blood work report come back just fine in all departments. So, we are just cruising and hoping that the time passes quickly. Wish those old red marks would fade, but the derm said 6 months to a year on that.

Thanks, Mrs. N., for dropping by and for your encouraging comments. I'm sure you'll know what to do for your son whenever the time comes. My son's anxiety has been pretty much under control. We upped his Zoloft 25 mg a day after he started the Accutane and it seems to be ok for him. I know it is a hard decision to make on behalf of a young person. Have a great week!

Sakul

[lucy_87]

hiya
just been reading through your log. so pleased things are going ok for your son and he's only delaing with the dryness right now. sounds like you're doing a fab job by him! give it time and his skin will be looking gorgeous! i guess u will be just as glad when its all over as he will. keep positive. good luck with the rest of the course!

[sakul]

Day 46 - February 2, 2007

Hello to all,

Well, we are about 6 weeks into this now. The side effects are dry lips (Aquaphor helps alot)! Also, the accutane dermatitis on his hands is emerged - red dry patches, sort of scaley. We have a cream prescribed by the derm. She says this is common and not to worry, just use the cream.

My son's face has a few pimples. The forehead I noticed still breaks out mildly. It is still the worst - as it always was. But a couple of pimples does not compare to what he was dealing with.

I wish those red marks would fade, damn it! No one has magic tricks for that???

Thank you Lucy-87 for stopping by and for your encouragement!

bye for now and Happy Groundhog Day!

Sakul

[Platinum007]

Day 25 - January 12, 2007

My son asked yesterday how long until the red marks go away from the old acne. I told him over months not weeks, but am not sure how long it does take? Anyone?


Sakul

Hi. I just read your log and wanted to comment on the scarring. I have lots of red marks that seem to be worse on accutane. They are fading but remain bright red at the place where the cyst was but also extending to the skin around it. My derm said they will fade after treatment.

I guess I'm saying that for some of us, the redness persists throughout treatment and maybe for a while after.

Good luck.

Platinum

[Platinum007]

My son has more the obsessive type of OCD in that he gets intrusive and obsessive thoughts and then urges to speak them. Its a pain for him and it just came out of nowhere one day.

Hey. Just being nosey....

My son has Tourettes Syndrome and will have occasional words or sounds that have to come out. He also has fine and gross motor tics.

Has your son ever been diagnosed with TS?

[sakul]

Platinum007,

When it first happened, a specialist who has known him a very long time called them possible "tics". But over time as the stuff waxes and wanes and then other stuff got added (that was intrusive thoughts and not at all tic like), we ended up with an adolescent psychiatrist with specialty in anxiety/OCD/tics etc. and while there can be a fine line, he feels certain that it is more OCD like than it is tourette's or tic like. This is apparently based on some ritual like behavior that we did not put together with the intrusive thoughts initially. Also, it seemed that the "issues" emerged when he was anxious or highly stressed (though I suppose tics can do that too!) He has also responded great to treatment for anxiety/OCD. He is on medication and also has a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, the combo that seems to be most effective for OCD. There are no motor tics and never were. So, that's the scoop. How old is your son?? I hope he does not end up a teenager with acne like mine! It was scary wondering if the accutane would cause more OCD like stuff or "tics" or whatever!

Sakul

[Platinum007]

Hi, Sakul,

My son is 9 and has the most beautiful skin. Flawless. I suppose I had flawless skin at his age, too. I hope accutane is still available to him if he ends up with cystic acne during puberty, like I did. I don't want anything to scar that beautiful skin of his.

It must me heart breaking to see your son being disfigured and saddened by acne. I know my parents tried everything for me when I was young. I was put on birth control pills at 14, used a sun lamp, tried Clearasil, antibiotics, and some kind of dry ice treatment (or liquid hydrogen). I was miserable and so embarrassed about my skin. And my makeup application techniques sometimes made it look worse. It must have been so sad for them to see me like that. I wish they had tried accutane for me, no matter the side effects.

You are doing the right thing.

Platinum

[sakul]

Day 53 - February 9, 2007

Hi everyone. There is not much new to report. There were a few more pimples this week on the one cheek. We are using some Duac on it that he has left over from some "stage" he was in with treatment. I figured better to not use a Retin product, but who knows.... It seemed better the next day with reduced inflamation. I notice his overall skin tone is more "red" than it had been. I have been trying to get him to use his moisturizer on the face. I still am not sure he ever had the "Initial Breakout". We never had a period where things were actually any WORSE than they had been.

He likes the Aquaphor for his dry lips, which is the only real obvious side effect.

Platinum, I do surely hope your son's skin stays clear. Hormones do crazy things and that was the onset of my son's OCD and also obviously the acne. I had acne as a teen and think my son's is part genetic possibly. My parents tried to help me, but the only thing that ultimately did help some was going on birth control pills at 16. I have thoughts today of doing something about the small marks I still notice on my skin.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Sakul

[sakul]

Day 63 - February 19, 2007

Hi everyone! Well, my son has just completed his second month on 40 mg a day of accutane. His derm. says he is doing quite well and responding beautifully especially given the low dose.

His side effects are dry skin, chapped lips, and nose bleeds occasionally, and dermatitis on his hands and arms. We again discussed today that we want him to stay on 40 mg and not go higher on daily dose because the side effects are quite manageable and I'd rather see him take it longer, with minimal side effects than risk upping it. She said today he'd probably be on accutane a total of 40 weeks. (obviously about 10 months) in order to get that "optimum" dose for real "cure" potential.

He continues to have minor break out now and then (two or three pimples). His forehead continues to be worst area. Everyone says his skin looks much better. The doctor said that this can be his last month of Nicomide, thank God! This is not covered by our insurance and costs me about $80.00 per month.

I hope everyone out there is doing well and I will write in hopefully at least weekly!

Take care,
Sakul

[Mrs. N]

Hi, Sakul! Check in on you and yours! Glad to hear the 2nd month report is good! I just know he's going to finish his course with minimal side effects! Yay! I'm still having the dermatitis on my hands and wrists, but it seems better with the RX topical on it. Have they suggested that?

Anyway, so happy to hear your son's good news! Continued good luck!

Take care!

--Natalie

[sakul]

Day 77 - March 5, 2007

Hi there everyone! My son continues to do very well on accutane. His skin is a bit dry but he is moisturizing now and I think he needs to do that. He gets very dry lips and the Aquaphor helps out. We also put Aquaphor on a q-tip in his nostril that tends to bleed.

His red marks from past break outs are still evident. The doctor said from 6 - 12 months for that to go away.... So, he is patient.

I'll tell you the best thing about all of this is that our lives feel more "normal" in some strange way.

We no longer have to "fight" the acne, the pimples, the pustules, daily.. daily... no more! Now, there is almost no breakouts.

I just realized how much energy really went into the "fight". Poor kid!!! I can only believe that every day when he came out to eat breakfast he must have seen me searching his face for new breakouts, hoping hoping hoping that nothing had come to surface during the night. God, I am so glad I decided to give him the accutane.. His spirits are great and we can see so much progress.

Good luck to all starting out and to those on the "road." Thanks for visiting with us, Mrs. N. I hope that you can start your course again soon!

All the best,

Sakul

[sakul]

Day 91 - March 19, 2007

Well today my son got his prescription filled to start month 4! Things are just flying along here! He is still doing very well. Today the doctor said that he has improved since last month in how many active zits she had recorded in her chart notes. None on his cheeks or chin, two on his forehead, small also, not the large pustules he was getting.

Side effects are constant: dry, chapped lips; dry skin; hand rash at times, mild nose bleed. He is still at 40 mg a day and will stay there.

We are going on vacation in a few weeks (going south) so we will have to pay special attention to sun screen.

Everything is going really well and we could not be happier. This week I will see his past dermatologist who said she could not do anything else for him. I'll have my own appointment and then explain how far he's come. Should be interesting!

I hope you are all doing well!

Sakul

[Stella Blue]

Hi Sakul. I'm saddened to read about your son's battle with acne. It must be so hard for the both of you.
I have a miracle cure for the dry lips if your interested. I'm on my second month of accutane, and since I've discovered Dr. Dan's cortibalm my dry lips have pretty much disappeared. Unlike aquaphor, it doesn't leave such a glossy finish. It has really helped alleviate the peeling. it can be ordered online. It may be something to look into if your son really has to be on accutane for 10 months.
Good luck to you both.
Stella

[barb9000]

You sound like an amazing mom and your son is lucky to have you! I have read so many stories on these boards of members who have horrible parents - you are an inspiration!

Hang in there, I'm sure things will continue to improve... I think you definitely made the right decision by putting your son on Accutane.

[lostinmyface]

Day 91 - March 19, 2007

Well today my son got his prescription filled to start month 4! Things are just flying along here! He is still doing very well. Today the doctor said that he has improved since last month in how many active zits she had recorded in her chart notes. None on his cheeks or chin, two on his forehead, small also, not the large pustules he was getting.

Side effects are constant: dry, chapped lips; dry skin; hand rash at times, mild nose bleed. He is still at 40 mg a day and will stay there.

We are going on vacation in a few weeks (going south) so we will have to pay special attention to sun screen.

Everything is going really well and we could not be happier. This week I will see his past dermatologist who said she could not do anything else for him. I'll have my own appointment and then explain how far he's come. Should be interesting!

I hope you are all doing well!

Sakul

I am so happy to hear that all is going well!!! Keep us posted about that derm appointment!

[sakul]

Thanks to all of you for posting on our log!

Well, amazingly, my son's previous dermatologist did not even ask about him! I was shocked! She had asked my daughter the month before about him and my daughter only said, "he is doing great." but did not say he was also seeing a different dermatologist! Oh, well. I, for once in my life, decided not to rock the boat and just went through my skin check without saying anything about my son.

Thank you, Stella Blue, for telling me about Dr. Dan's cortibalm. Where can I buy it? Last week my son had a day at school in which he had to leave class because his lip started to bleed. I suspect he "peeled" a bit of dry skin on his lips that caused the bleeding. But apparently he bled alot and was in the bathroom a long time with tissues, trying to stop the bleeding. He said another guy came in and thought that he had cut himself! ARGH.. He just told the guy that his lip was bleeding and no big deal.... for a kid with anxiety it was a big deal! So I am open to everyone's ideas on the lip dryness!!

love,
Sakul

[sakul]

You sound like an amazing mom and your son is lucky to have you! I have read so many stories on these boards of members who have horrible parents - you are an inspiration!

Hang in there, I'm sure things will continue to improve... I think you definitely made the right decision by putting your son on Accutane.

You are too sweet! Thanks for taking the time to give me some encouragement! I have endured both praise and admonishment from other moms of teenagers because I allowed my great son to start on accutane. I believe it is a GODSEND to him. This is despite his special needs and psychiatric issues with OCD/Anxiety. It is a GODSEND. I am reminded of this every day when I see that we don't have to have our whole lives revolve around acne. I mean, seriously, previous to starting accutane, he felt bad about his acne, I was a wreck trying to assure that he was taking proper care of his face (which he was, by the way!), and it was a constant battle, CONSTANT!!!! I cannot stress how much acne had taken over his life and thus mine because I am a totally dedicated mom - dedicated to my kids' well-being.

Now, his acne has disappeared for the most part, leaving marks that will fade with time. He has dry lips and dry face, and sometimes a bloody nose, but we can live with that given the immediate benefits he has experienced.

Know what? He does not ask me anymore about applying coverup to the acne! He was not good at doing that, and me, with more "make up" experience, I think helped it look a bit more natural. Well, he goes to school with NOTHING to cover up his face anymore. Yes, the red marks are there, but faded with almost no active anything in regards to acne.

WHEW... I am so glad I took this route for him. He is a minor and could not do this for himself. With his special needs, that made it all the harder, but again, I could not be more pleased.

love to all of you,

Sakul

[sakul]

Day 122 - April 19, 2007

Hello all!

It has been another month for my son. He is just half way in the accutane journey. He is on a low dose of 40mg a day and today his derm said it would be a total of 30 weeks. We have finished a little over 17 weeks.

Things are still pretty consistent. Dry lips, some nose bleeds, dry skin - oh, and the dermatitis on his arms at times. No other side effects as far as we know.

My husband said that the derm said today that there is a 30% chance of reoccurance but primarily if it is going to happen it will happen in the first year after treatment.

So, sometimes he does get a pimple. The worst one that I have seen for a while was on his cheek last week, but it is gone now. His red marks seem to be fading a bit too.

I hope the rest of you are doing great too!

Sakul

[Monochromatic]

So, sometimes he does get a pimple. The worst one that I have seen for a while was on his cheek last week, but it is gone now. His red marks seem to be fading a bit too.

Hey Sakul, so does this mean that his face has cleared up a bunch? If so, that's awesome! I just read through your log, what a good mom you are. Take care.