txngrl

Hello,

My son is on day 40 of Accutane.  He has severe cystic acne, both on face and back/chest.  His face is clearing faster than his body, which is what I was told to expect.

 

Can anyone tell me how long the wet/oozing/bleeding should continue on his back?  He has open sores and his back is very fragile and sensitive to the touch.  It looks pretty bad and is just so raw.  He is being gentle with it, and moisturizing it, but it's hard to tell if it's healing.  I think it is, although very slowly.  The derm saw it a week ago and said it's typical for Accutane and he has seen worse. It doesn't look infected or anything (beyond the usual acne infection).   I know he's in pain, both physically and emotionally.  There will definitely be scarring.

 

Anyone who has had experience with cystic acne on the back while on Accutane, I welcome your feedback!   Should I expect it to be this raw and gross during his whole course?  Or should it start drying up?  He gets blood on his shirts so he's having to wear an undershirt just about all the time now.

 

Sorry to be gross.  Please don't ask for photos, I have taken some for our personal record, but he would not want me to post any.  Just suffice it to say it's severe.   

My son just finished day 12 on Accutane. He's been using Aquaphor, but his lips are severely & painfully chapped, & the Aquaphor is making it WORSE.

I'm looking into different solutions. What seems to work best for the lips? He's miserable & can barely eat. Trying to drink lots of water too.

My son got his first Accutane prescription filled yesterday. It's for a 30 day supply. However, his next derm. appt isn't until May 3rd. Should he wait until April 3rd to start his treatment? I heard you weren't supposed to have a pause in treatment, that's why I'm asking.

Just feeling really down and defeated by acne...   Been trying to help my young teen son for years now... trying so many different things.  It's emotionally and physically exhausting.  I think about it constantly, worry about how his skin will look in different social situations, worry about what people think of him, etc.   I'm so tired of him waking up to new breakouts and whiteheads every morning.  I don't understand how some people with severe acne can go through life seemingly happy and not bothered by it.   Maybe it depends on people's personalities. 

 

Anyone else feel this way?  I feel so powerless and defeated.  It's very depressing

Thx for listening, just wanted to vent my frustration. 

 

 

p.s. yes I've thought about Accutane many times... but trying to avoid it.  I took it long ago as a teen, haven't had any major effects from it, but I know how dangerous it is.  Trying to exhaust all other options before resorting to it.

 

 

I have been looking for the PanOxyl 10% BP bar for awhile, for my son.   I haven't been able to find it anywhere... it's been out of stock in the local stores.  But I read so many good reviews on it, that I felt my son should at least give it a try.

 

Anyhoo... today, I saw that the store had the foaming wash (also 10%).  So I bought it. 

 

I will have my son first try it on his neck/shoulders/back, to see what it does.  I know that 10% BP can be very powerful, so I thought we should start somewhere other than the face... LOL

 

Any advice/tips/warnings, from those of you who have used it?   Thx