30 replies to this topic

[S2000]

There are endless things that you can try. Accutane for most is the best treatment but for some it doesn't really do much. Antibiotics, hormonal treatments, laser treatments etc.

I've been on, what it seems, every oral antibiotic and topical cream....and, most of them, twice. I was doing fine the end of spring/beginning of summer (2006) when I was put on doxycycline 20mg once a day, Duac in the morning, and Tazorac at night. Then things just started getting bad again at the end of summer. Continued use of the meds proved to not work anymore. So I stopped that treatment, moved across the country, found another doc, and he put me on Dapsone. Which is certainly not working. I feel like I'm taking a sugar pill, quite frankly.

I've been taking oral meds 7 years out of the 8 years I've had acne, almost nonstop. I think I need to give my body a break. All these meds can't possibly be good strung one after another.

What's this hormonal treatment? I'm surprised a derm hasn't discussed this with me. I really do think it has something to do with hormones. In fact, I would say my body overproduces DHT which is also causing my hairloss. Any thoughts? Lasers and all those exotic treatments are way too expensive for me. No way I can be in grad school and pay for that stuff.

I am in my early forties and have had acne since around age 19. I've tried everything including two courses of accutane and nothing helped. About a year ago, my dermatologist put me on Spironolactone -- this is an anti-male hormone. You don't say whether you're male or female, but you mentioned you were losing your hair, which is caused by excessive male hormones. When I started this drug, i saw results almost immediately. PRior to taking spironalactone, my face would get so oily it looked wet and I had cystic acne. Within two weeks of taking the drug, my face wasn't oily. Now I only get a small pimple or two around my time of the month, but they disappear in a day or two. This is the ONLY drug i've taken that has helped. You should ask your derm about this medication. Make sure to mention your hair loss, and if your face is excessively oily, and (if female) whether you have excessive facial hair -- these all indicate hormonal imbalances.

So you are a female that took a drug for anti-male hormone ?? is it like accutane where u have to take it for a certain period of time ??

I have the same problem with the thread starter and i'm 21, so i think i must have some hormonal problem since i already took accutane and tried all the antibiotics (that didn't help)

Even though i don't let acne control my life but i want to get rid of them since i'm already in college and now i'm getting into the business world ... acne sucks !!

[kimcj86]

I know for sure 100% that if you dont touch/pick your acne it will help it somewhat..
Or just trying to leave the acne alone thats what i do.

Also if you go to the pool / beach it helps clear your acne i'm sure. So i guess instead of running go swim, thats what i do. I had really bad cystic acne on the back of my neck and head area, i go to the pool often as possible.

[JBHK]

If you are going to try the diet/holistic approach, you might want to try doing some cleanses (in particular bowel cleanses / liver cleanses and candida cleanses) as well. I tried the diet thing and went through alot of ups and downs with it. After posting in the diet/holistic forum, some suggested that actually doing the cleanses are just as important because it will heal you internally and eventually allow you a greater variety with diet. Whilst there is a lot of conflicting advice in that forum, and frankly some of it is IMHO crap, I think that that line of argument has some credibility to it. I don't know if it works but I think that if you feel you have tried everything else it may be worth a try. Trying asking R.S. - he has views worth listening to.

I've done a liver cleanse already. Had moderate success with it. Is there a good site or previous thread I should check out to get info about other cleanses?

My understanding is that one liver cleanse isn't going to be sufficient on its own - you need to do a series of them. Some people on the diet / holistic forum have done in excess of 10. Anyway, for some suggestions on cleansing protocols - there are many types of cleansing programs, try http://curezone.com/cleanse/, and then follow up with the collective minds in the diet/holistic forum, since I am really no expert on this having not tried this myself. Good luck tho'!

[tc4101]

i was on accutane for 3 times over a period of 10 years.

up untill 2 weeks ago my acne was coming back, then i used Omega3 fish oil.

google it up and read up on it.

cheers

[dalmes]

I was on Roaccutane about 10 years ago and it got rid of all my big acne and really did wonders (after tolerting side effects). I haven't had return of acne as bad as prior Roaccutane treatment, but I have had to deal with (what I would call) minor acne re-occourances which I have treated with courses of anti biotics.

[cmusco618]

I am in my early forties and have had acne since around age 19. I've tried everything including two courses of accutane and nothing helped. About a year ago, my dermatologist put me on Spironolactone -- this is an anti-male hormone. You don't say whether you're male or female, but you mentioned you were losing your hair, which is caused by excessive male hormones. When I started this drug, i saw results almost immediately. PRior to taking spironalactone, my face would get so oily it looked wet and I had cystic acne. Within two weeks of taking the drug, my face wasn't oily. Now I only get a small pimple or two around my time of the month, but they disappear in a day or two. This is the ONLY drug i've taken that has helped. You should ask your derm about this medication. Make sure to mention your hair loss, and if your face is excessively oily, and (if female) whether you have excessive facial hair -- these all indicate hormonal imbalances.

I'm male. I'm not sure going on a male-reducing-hormone pill is going to be my best bet. Although, yes I would agree that I have an excessive of, as it probably is, DHT. It's a form of testosterone which is the main vehicle for hair loss. I'm going to the endocrinologist on Wednesday to explain my situation. When I made the appointment, they said I really should have a referal so they have an idea as to what the deal is. However, there's no way I'm waiting around for my next derm appointment. Those people are so irresponsible. Cancel my last appointment the day before and make me reschedule a month later. Don't respond to the pharmacy asking for authorization to refill a prescription. Absolutely ridiculous. Anyway....I'm just ranting now.

[cmusco618]

My understanding is that one liver cleanse isn't going to be sufficient on its own - you need to do a series of them. Some people on the diet / holistic forum have done in excess of 10. Anyway, for some suggestions on cleansing protocols - there are many types of cleansing programs, try http://curezone.com/cleanse/, and then follow up with the collective minds in the diet/holistic forum, since I am really no expert on this having not tried this myself. Good luck tho'!

Yea, I've been trying to find time to do another. That would require me to dedicate, pretty much, a weekend to it. It's hard when I'm a full-time student and teach part time. It's been about 3 weeks or so since my first one, so maybe it's time this weekend for another....

[AndOceans109]

My understanding is that one liver cleanse isn't going to be sufficient on its own - you need to do a series of them. Some people on the diet / holistic forum have done in excess of 10. Anyway, for some suggestions on cleansing protocols - there are many types of cleansing programs, try http://curezone.com/cleanse/, and then follow up with the collective minds in the diet/holistic forum, since I am really no expert on this having not tried this myself. Good luck tho'!

Yea, I've been trying to find time to do another. That would require me to dedicate, pretty much, a weekend to it. It's hard when I'm a full-time student and teach part time. It's been about 3 weeks or so since my first one, so maybe it's time this weekend for another....

holy f cmusco618, i'm in the SAME EXACT boat as you are right now..pm me

[almost pretty]

ive done one course of accutane- stayed clear for a year and then my skin went nuts. got worse than ever. i still have acne but will never try accutane again- its just a temporary band-aid.

[Gen1:31]

I have tried accutane once-I broke out the whole time and I have scars from it-them my Dr put me on tazorac and I haven't broke out or had a pimple for about 7 months! I wish he would have put me on that firts.

Hey everyone,

I'd like to hear the stories of people who've been on accutane once, twice, or even three times and, in the long run, hasn't worked for them. Also, if there's something you are doing to tame the acne, what are you doing?

I'm asking this because I've been on two courses of accutane. In the short run following both courses, I would remain clear for a few months, then slowly, but surely, slip right back into my breakouts until I'm right back where I was to start with.

I'm currently on an unconventional acne drug (dapsone) and don't feel it's working whatsoever. I was supposed to have a derm appointment tomorrow, but apparently the doc isn't going to be in. Now I have to wait another month before seeing him again. So it'll have been 2 months since the last time I saw him by next month. Ridiculous if you ask me.

I'm desparate and need some advice. My acne has never looked worse. I'm 22 and a long time acne sufferer of 8 years now. I know there has got to be someone out there like me, and I'd really like to know how he/she was able to tame/clear up the acne. Even if I could reduce my current condition by half I would be thrilled.

I'm really trying to do this whole no sugar, no dairy, low carb diet. (Lots of veggies, fruit, nuts, some meat, and water).

Thanks

[sunshinedaydream]

I've been on accutane twice, didn't work either time. Also tried tazorac, minocin, retin-a, duac gel, and pretty much every prescription med out there. Also tried pretty much every over the counter and home remedy. No luck with any of them. I hate how doctors are always saying accutane is this sure fire cure, because for some people it ISN'T!

What has been working okay for me for the past couple of years has been the BP gel, although I still have some red spots and a few small whiteheads. Right now I have a big cystic breakout on my chin/jaw though, which I haven't gotten in a long time, but I've been pretty stressed out/depressed lately and have been fighting off a nasty cold, so that may be causing it.