12 replies to this topic

[Stumped]

I'm 21 years of age and have never had an acne problem before. During the last year and now, my skin began to break out and for the first time, I know what a cyst is. Not only am I beginning to scar all over my face, new ones keep reappearing from many of the old scars. This has been affecting me alot more than I thought it would. I can't look directly at my boss and co-workers. I've also been hiding at home, taking off of work alot, and skipping my night classes. I don't know what to do.. My motivation, love of life has dissipated.

I've taken minocycline for three weeks and changed to Doryx this past week. My skin has only gotten worse. Now there are many large bumps under my skin, my skin feels scaley in areas that has no acne, whiteheads have emerged on the forehead, cheeks, chin, etc. My skin also feels irritated, red, and very bumpy. Make-up does not conceal but only accentuates the flaws.

It seems there's nothing I can do.

[ayla]

I'm 21 years of age and have never had an acne problem before.  During the last year and now, my skin began to break out and for the first time, I know what a cyst is.  Not only am I beginning to scar all over my face, new ones keep reappearing from many of the old scars.  This has been affecting me alot more than I thought it would.  I can't look directly at my boss and co-workers.  I've also been hiding at home, taking off of work alot, and skipping my night classes.  I don't know what to do..  My motivation, love of life has dissipated.

I've taken minocycline for three weeks and changed to Doryx this past week.  My skin has only gotten worse.  Now there are many large bumps under my skin, my skin feels scaley in areas that has no acne, whiteheads have emerged on the forehead, cheeks, chin, etc.  My skin also feels irritated, red, and very bumpy.  Make-up does not conceal but only accentuates the flaws.

It seems there's nothing I can do.

I'm sorry. Life can be very cruel. Has your Dr. brought up accutane at all? I've not been on it, but I know that many people w/seemingly untreatable cystic acne are greatly healed with it.

[Stumped]

  I'm sorry. Life can be very cruel. Has your Dr. brought up accutane at all? I've not been on it, but I know that many people w/seemingly untreatable cystic acne are greatly healed with it.

After having read so many disappointed stories about Accutane..I don't want to take the risk in developing long-term side effects. Sorry, I don't mean to complain. I guess it's just that I haven't spoken to my friends about my situation at all since I've avoided most of them.

[wza]

if it gets bad enough just about anybody should and will consider accutane

[ayla]

After having read so many disappointed stories about Accutane..I don't want to take the risk in developing long-term side effects.  Sorry, I don't mean to complain.  I guess it's just that I haven't spoken to my friends about my situation at all since I've avoided most of them.

There are indeed a lot of people who complain, and people who were unsatisfied. But for every one of those, there are 5 happy satisfied people. People by nature are more likely to vent about their dissapointments than rave about their happiness.

There are risks, but they are truly rare.

My mother had cystic acne, took accutane...and it vanished. For her, it was a cure. She suffered no long-term effects, and the only side effect was dry skin.

They tested her blood for liver function and whatnot every 2 weeks. All in all, if my acne were cystic, I would be scared-but I would take it anyway. Of course the choice is entirely up to you. You might make an appointment with you derm just to discuss it. Have them lay it out very thoroughly. The pros, the cons, the rate of success, etc.

[adultAcne]

B5 is a good thing to try. You should know fairly quickly if it works at all or not... worked within 2 weeks for me. It sounds like I had exactly what you have, deep cystic pimples and little whiteheads all over the place. I take 15 gr/day but the works mainly for the cysts. I use sulfur topicals, like Rezamid, for general redness and bumpiness. B5 clears me up 100%.

[Goody317]

Man I don't what to say but yeah it gets bad, you just have to deal with it everyday till it can no longer control you. Just make the best out of it. One thing I'd say is that you are lucky, atleast you did not get it when you were a teenager, that is the worst. It destroys your life forever. Well atleast mine was n still is. Good luck though

[Ubermensch]

After having read so many disappointed stories about Accutane..I don't want to take the risk in developing long-term side effects.  Sorry, I don't mean to complain.  I guess it's just that I haven't spoken to my friends about my situation at all since I've avoided most of them.

Hi there, I had very severe cystic acne and no treatment I took gave me any improvement. I then went on accutane which eventually cleared my face completely. Since I came off I havent had any bad long lasting side affects. My skin was dry during the accutane course, as was my eyes and lips but it isnt that bad, you can use eye drops, moisturiser etc if it really irritates you. My skin remained dry for a few months after i stopped taking it then returned to normal. I would suggest that you consider it if you think your acne is that bad and ask if you can start on a low dose as it sometimes causes breakouts at first.

Good luck.

[xo_soleil_bebe]

I'm 21 years of age and have never had an acne problem before.  During the last year and now, my skin began to break out and for the first time, I know what a cyst is.  Not only am I beginning to scar all over my face, new ones keep reappearing from many of the old scars.  This has been affecting me alot more than I thought it would.  I can't look directly at my boss and co-workers.  I've also been hiding at home, taking off of work alot, and skipping my night classes.  I don't know what to do..  My motivation, love of life has dissipated.

I've taken minocycline for three weeks and changed to Doryx this past week.  My skin has only gotten worse.  Now there are many large bumps under my skin, my skin feels scaley in areas that has no acne, whiteheads have emerged on the forehead, cheeks, chin, etc.  My skin also feels irritated, red, and very bumpy.  Make-up does not conceal but only accentuates the flaws.

It seems there's nothing I can do.

[-Misfits-]

haha good second post...

[xo_soleil_bebe]

I know exactly, and I mean EXACTLY how you feel. My acne is awful, makeup cant even cover it. I have mild-moderate acne before taking doxy, and it has gotten 10x worse with it. I am so fed up, I have no reason to do anything anymore. I hate life, my self esteem is -100 and life sucks now.

[Frustrated24]

Accutane might be the answer. I told myself that I would never go on it. I heard to many things about the side effects. But you know what...my acne got bad, and I was tired of it. I was on every medication, and this was kind of like a last resort. Accutane could really help you out esp if you have cystic acne. I have cystic acne. I went Accutane..and my face totally cleared. Even though I've had several 'minor' breakouts, I'm not nearly as bad as I was. I no longer have backne..thank God. It didn't completely solve my problem....but it did help it.

[Polka]

how long have you been on the antibiotics, you went off minicyn after three weeks? Antibiotics can take months to work. I took them, they worked okay I guess.

I think you should try out the antibiotics treatment before the topic of accutane comes up. Typical treatment is 6 months, which I know is a long time to try something.

good luck, all I can say is keep seeing your doctor, you might find a treatment that works for you.