12 replies to this topic

[myjourneytohappiness]

I am 22 years old and have dealt with mild cystic acne since I was a teenager. It had never been too bad until about a month and a half ago when I moved and got a new job. I am still dealing with the stress of moving and adjusting to a new place (and now finding a new job) and now my cystic acne is worse than it has ever been. I am writing this after being in the house for two days straight, feeling unattractive and really down on myself.

I saw a dermatologist on Friday and she prescribed me Solodyn and gave me two cortisone shots and three shots in my hips (of antibiotics) where the swelling on my face had become so large that it looked like I'd just gotten my wisdom teeth out.

I have been taking Solodyn since then and it seems to be bringing my acne to a head much faster, but I'm still waking up in the middle of the night in a great deal of pain and upset. I am worried my boyfriend will leave me because I look so awful. I am just praying that this gets better soon.

Has anyone had experience with Solodyn?

My derm said we would see how it goes for six weeks and if it doesn't improve she recommended Accutane, but I am terrified to take something with those side effects, but I am so desperate for help. I want to go back to the way I used to be, because I am simply not myself anymore as a result of my cystic acne.

Edited by myjourneytohappiness, 07 October 2012 - 11:21 AM.

[AbyBar]

I am 22 years old and have dealt with mild cystic acne since I was a teenager. It had never been too bad until about a month and a half ago when I moved and got a new job. I am still dealing with the stress of moving and adjusting to a new place (and now finding a new job) and now my cystic acne is worse than it has ever been. I am writing this after being in the house for two days straight, feeling unattractive and really down on myself.

I saw a dermatologist on Friday and she prescribed me Solodyn and gave me two cortisone shots and three shots in my hips (of antibiotics) where the swelling on my face had become so large that it looked like I'd just gotten my wisdom teeth out.

I have been taking Solodyn since then and it seems to be bringing my acne to a head much faster, but I'm still waking up in the middle of the night in a great deal of pain and upset. I am worried my boyfriend will leave me because I look so awful. I am just praying that this gets better soon.

Has anyone had experience with Solodyn?

My derm said we would see how it goes for six weeks and if it doesn't improve she recommended Accutane, but I am terrified to take something with those side effects, but I am so desperate for help. I want to go back to the way I used to be, because I am simply not myself anymore as a result of my cystic acne.

I am just right about where you are in terms of acne and secluding myself because i feel inferior and unattractive
recently began to develop cystic acne. Sadly, i haven't taken any antibiotics for my acne but I'm feeling as if i should though ??? I Cant answer the question about solodyn....
Accuatne is such a dangerous drug, i recommend that to be your last resort if all has failed !!!
Give the solodyn at least the 6 weeks your term recommends to see if it helps clear your acne. About your bf, if he really loves you, he will see beyond the acne and won't mind at all. Im sure that you are a very beautiful and smart girl, you will overcome this. We will beat acne someday, it may take some trial and errors but this bad set of cards cannot last forever !!!!

[myjourneytohappiness]

I am 22 years old and have dealt with mild cystic acne since I was a teenager. It had never been too bad until about a month and a half ago when I moved and got a new job. I am still dealing with the stress of moving and adjusting to a new place (and now finding a new job) and now my cystic acne is worse than it has ever been. I am writing this after being in the house for two days straight, feeling unattractive and really down on myself.

I saw a dermatologist on Friday and she prescribed me Solodyn and gave me two cortisone shots and three shots in my hips (of antibiotics) where the swelling on my face had become so large that it looked like I'd just gotten my wisdom teeth out.

I have been taking Solodyn since then and it seems to be bringing my acne to a head much faster, but I'm still waking up in the middle of the night in a great deal of pain and upset. I am worried my boyfriend will leave me because I look so awful. I am just praying that this gets better soon.

Has anyone had experience with Solodyn?

My derm said we would see how it goes for six weeks and if it doesn't improve she recommended Accutane, but I am terrified to take something with those side effects, but I am so desperate for help. I want to go back to the way I used to be, because I am simply not myself anymore as a result of my cystic acne.

I am just right about where you are in terms of acne and secluding myself because i feel inferior and unattractive
recently began to develop cystic acne. Sadly, i haven't taken any antibiotics for my acne but I'm feeling as if i should though ??? I Cant answer the question about solodyn....
Accuatne is such a dangerous drug, i recommend that to be your last resort if all has failed !!!
Give the solodyn at least the 6 weeks your term recommends to see if it helps clear your acne. About your bf, if he really loves you, he will see beyond the acne and won't mind at all. Im sure that you are a very beautiful and smart girl, you will overcome this. We will beat acne someday, it may take some trial and errors but this bad set of cards cannot last forever !!!!

Thank you. This has been really hard for me. It is even difficult for me to sleep at night because the pain is so great. I am just hoping that it gets better for me, because I've been going on like this for a month (almost two) and this is the first time I have tried to get help because I thought it would get better. I am so desperate for help. I just want to feel pretty and confident about my skin.

[AbyBar]

I am 22 years old and have dealt with mild cystic acne since I was a teenager. It had never been too bad until about a month and a half ago when I moved and got a new job. I am still dealing with the stress of moving and adjusting to a new place (and now finding a new job) and now my cystic acne is worse than it has ever been. I am writing this after being in the house for two days straight, feeling unattractive and really down on myself.

I saw a dermatologist on Friday and she prescribed me Solodyn and gave me two cortisone shots and three shots in my hips (of antibiotics) where the swelling on my face had become so large that it looked like I'd just gotten my wisdom teeth out.

I have been taking Solodyn since then and it seems to be bringing my acne to a head much faster, but I'm still waking up in the middle of the night in a great deal of pain and upset. I am worried my boyfriend will leave me because I look so awful. I am just praying that this gets better soon.

Has anyone had experience with Solodyn?

My derm said we would see how it goes for six weeks and if it doesn't improve she recommended Accutane, but I am terrified to take something with those side effects, but I am so desperate for help. I want to go back to the way I used to be, because I am simply not myself anymore as a result of my cystic acne.

I am just right about where you are in terms of acne and secluding myself because i feel inferior and unattractive
recently began to develop cystic acne. Sadly, i haven't taken any antibiotics for my acne but I'm feeling as if i should though ??? I Cant answer the question about solodyn....
Accuatne is such a dangerous drug, i recommend that to be your last resort if all has failed !!!
Give the solodyn at least the 6 weeks your term recommends to see if it helps clear your acne. About your bf, if he really loves you, he will see beyond the acne and won't mind at all. Im sure that you are a very beautiful and smart girl, you will overcome this. We will beat acne someday, it may take some trial and errors but this bad set of cards cannot last forever !!!!

Thank you. This has been really hard for me. It is even difficult for me to sleep at night because the pain is so great. I am just hoping that it gets better for me, because I've been going on like this for a month (almost two) and this is the first time I have tried to get help because I thought it would get better. I am so desperate for help. I just want to feel pretty and confident about my skin.

The pain of the cysts ? or the pain of the psychological effects of acne ?
Cysts do hurt and the pain sometime is unbearable. What i do is i take tylenol, it helps a little. No a lot. Do you tend to break out more when your menstrual is near? maybe its a hormonal issue and you may need bc to control it. I know mine is hormonal. I have acne around my jawline, and cheeks , which is difficult to cover up with make up
People approach acne as if its something trivial and its not because acne is a skin disease and i think it should be treated just like other skin conditions, like cancer etc. My ins. see's it as a cosmetic issue. and its not because of the pain. So at he moment i am not seeing a term because i no longer have ins. sadly . which suck.
you just have to remember that the people that really care about you don't mind at all about your acne, in fact we make it appear worse then it actually is ....

[Bobby Stephenson]

When I had my initial breakout on Accutane it lasted nine days. I looked like I had smallpox and I also woke up in the middle of the night from pain and got very little sleep. I did not leave the house for a week except to buy some food. I can't tell you to take Accutane but it was the only thing that helped me.

[myjourneytohappiness]

The pain of the cysts ? or the pain of the psychological effects of acne ?
Cysts do hurt and the pain sometime is unbearable. What i do is i take tylenol, it helps a little. No a lot. Do you tend to break out more when your menstrual is near? maybe its a hormonal issue and you may need bc to control it. I know mine is hormonal. I have acne around my jawline, and cheeks , which is difficult to cover up with make up
People approach acne as if its something trivial and its not because acne is a skin disease and i think it should be treated just like other skin conditions, like cancer etc. My ins. see's it as a cosmetic issue. and its not because of the pain. So at he moment i am not seeing a term because i no longer have ins. sadly . which suck.
you just have to remember that the people that really care about you don't mind at all about your acne, in fact we make it appear worse then it actually is ....

I think it is the pain of both. I have been taking Tylenol to help with the pain, and it does tend to help a little. I am on birth control and stack my pills regularly, so I do not notice anything out of the ordinary near my period because I don't get it, but I did notice when I was not on birth control tat it was more common around that time.

I have been having a really bad breakout on my chin area and it's moved onto my forehead and my right cheek. Ugh. I am in so much pain! I really just want this to be over.

[overfl00d]

You feel horrible because all the drugs and antibiotics aren't healthy for your body at all. Acne is a symptom of another internal problem. Accutane, antibiotics, creams, etc are only hiding the symptom just like pain medication hides the symptom of back pain.

I would really stop Accutane; the antibiotics; and all the other pharmaceutical drugs, and heal your body the natural way. Obviously taking all these drugs isn't making you feel better - and is even exasperating the problem.

First thing I would do in your case is start taking probiotics: 80-100 billion units daily. Next, Get healthy fiber. Grains is NOT fiber! I would completely eliminate grains from your diet (bread, pasta, pancakes, etc). Start eating LOTS of vegetables. Vegetables is essential for your diet; not only for its fiber, but its vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Next, supplement your EFA's; Flaxseed oil/fish oil; 6-12 grams. Lastly, your vitamins and minerals. Get a good supplementation program.

Just offering my honest opinions, but I'm confident you would be 1000% more happier approaching your health this way. I wish you the best of luck.

Edited by overfl00d, 07 October 2012 - 01:18 PM.

[myjourneytohappiness]

You feel horrible because all the drugs and antibiotics aren't healthy for your body at all. Acne is a symptom of another internal problem. Accutane, antibiotics, creams, etc are only hiding the symptom just like pain medication hides the symptom of back pain.

I would really stop Accutane, the antibiotics, and all the other pharmaceutical drugs and heal your body the natural way. Obviously taking all these drugs isn't making you feel better - and is even exasperating the problem.

First thing I would do in your case is start taking probiotics: 80-100 billion units daily. Next, Get healthy fiber. Grains is NOT fiber! I would completely eliminate grains from your diet (bread, pasta, pancakes, etc). Start eating LOTS of vegetables. Vegetables is essential for your diet; not only for its fiber, but its vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Next, supplement your EFA's; Flaxseed oil/fish oil; 6-12 grams. Lastly, your vitamins and minerals. Get a good supplementation program. Get 20,000 IU of Vitamin A: 50 mg zinc picolinate.

Just offering my honest opinions, but I'm confident you would be 1000% more happier approaching your health this way. I wish you the best of luck.

I am not on Accutane, only antibiotics. I do very well with eating a lot of fiber and take a daily multivitamin, and I eat very healthily. What kind of probiotics do you recommend?

[overfl00d]

I am not on Accutane, only antibiotics. I do very well with eating a lot of fiber and take a daily multivitamin, and I eat very healthily. What kind of probiotics do you recommend?

Oh, sorry misread . I recommend a probiotic with multiple strains of bacteria. In a post I made, there's a link with the brand I recommend/use (on my signature).

Edited by overfl00d, 07 October 2012 - 01:23 PM.

[ledzep]

To the OP:

I'm sorry that your dealing with cystic acne, I have had my fair share of severe acne over the years and I definitely understand the pain that accompanies it. Cystic acne is your body's way of dealing with an internal inflammatory response- of course what causes the inflammation is a matter for debate and varies from person to person. Some people have success with changing their diet, others with antibiotics/topicals. There's a lot of reference to accutane in this thread and as a consequence a fair bit of misrepresentation about the drug. Accutane is designed to deal with either severe cystic acne or persistent mild acne that has not responded to other treatments. It's side effects are well documented, but ultimately the drug's benefits are deemed to outweigh the negative properties, which is why it is still prescribed by dermatologists. I think this forum is a fantastic tool for sharing advice and opinions but ultimately you should consult your local health care professional for an objective opinion on these matters; too often people characterize their subjective experiences as immutable truths regarding medications so its hard to see a balanced view. It's important that you consult with a registered practitioner in order to reach the best conclusion for you.

[Ghostunit]

You feel horrible because all the drugs and antibiotics aren't healthy for your body at all. Acne is a symptom of another internal problem. Accutane, antibiotics, creams, etc are only hiding the symptom just like pain medication hides the symptom of back pain.

I would really stop Accutane; the antibiotics; and all the other pharmaceutical drugs, and heal your body the natural way. Obviously taking all these drugs isn't making you feel better - and is even exasperating the problem.

First thing I would do in your case is start taking probiotics: 80-100 billion units daily. Next, Get healthy fiber. Grains is NOT fiber! I would completely eliminate grains from your diet (bread, pasta, pancakes, etc). Start eating LOTS of vegetables. Vegetables is essential for your diet; not only for its fiber, but its vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Next, supplement your EFA's; Flaxseed oil/fish oil; 6-12 grams. Lastly, your vitamins and minerals. Get a good supplementation program.

Just offering my honest opinions, but I'm confident you would be 1000% more happier approaching your health this way. I wish you the best of luck.

I totally agreed!! They just want money. You can have a nice glow skin by eating healthy, mostly plant-based food raw. She should try going plant-based diet, at least 80-100% and see.. it is worth a try. As for supplements, I only recommend a high quality multi-vitamin. It must be a very high quality one.

Edited by Ghostunit, 07 October 2012 - 10:40 PM.

[andrewbleah]

You feel horrible because all the drugs and antibiotics aren't healthy for your body at all. Acne is a symptom of another internal problem. Accutane, antibiotics, creams, etc are only hiding the symptom just like pain medication hides the symptom of back pain.

I would really stop Accutane; the antibiotics; and all the other pharmaceutical drugs, and heal your body the natural way. Obviously taking all these drugs isn't making you feel better - and is even exasperating the problem.

First thing I would do in your case is start taking probiotics: 80-100 billion units daily. Next, Get healthy fiber. Grains is NOT fiber! I would completely eliminate grains from your diet (bread, pasta, pancakes, etc). Start eating LOTS of vegetables. Vegetables is essential for your diet; not only for its fiber, but its vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Next, supplement your EFA's; Flaxseed oil/fish oil; 6-12 grams. Lastly, your vitamins and minerals. Get a good supplementation program.

Just offering my honest opinions, but I'm confident you would be 1000% more happier approaching your health this way. I wish you the best of luck.

If you really think you can treat severe cystic acne with food and natural ways , good luck with that!

[bizz]

I do.

You know, in the future, you guys should post tags--it makes it easier for people to find topics.

Anyway, the first time I tried it, it worked moderately well. I still had joint pain, so I hope you are willing to take painkillers like Ibuprofen. It also causes mild fatigue.

Then as a teen the hormonal acne got worse and Accutane was the only thing that helped, but it makes your skin dry and thins it, so scarring (supposedly) is a problem--I have mild scarring on my cheeks so they look like hair follicles.

I am now on Aldactone at 50 mg. I had thick hair, it makes it fine and oily. It causes hyperkalemia if you aren't careful. It has done wonders for others here. I personally hate this drug, but my cystic acne would be ever worse without it.

I was on Accutane for three cycles and it was the only thing that made a dramatic difference.