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Hey guys, just going to start my own Accutane blog. Im sooo excited and nervous at the same time!!!!!
A little about me
Female/21 yrs/ from the UK. I have had persistent acne for about 5/6 years, which has progressively gotten worse as time goes by. I have been to my GP numerous number of times over the past few years. The treatments I have tried are:
Duac- cleared my acne for first year, went on holiday then acne become unresponsive. Started to get bigger acne.
Differin- skin hated this product. Dried my skin soo much, no moisturiser could tackle! Stuck with this for 4 months, but was still disappointed.
Retin- A- awful, awful awful product! Dried skin, caused more breakouts and scaring which I never got before.
2.5 % BP- skin seemed to handle this better. But still carried on getting spots which turned more cystic as time went by.
5% BP- skin tolerated well, with plenty of moisturiser. Unfortunately the only BP that improved my skin was from panoxyl. I have tried other bps and have had no luck!!
Dans regimen- dried face out too much and still got persistent acne. Wasn't as bad as before, but my skin texture was awful and wrinkly!! I carried on with this regimen for about 1 year or more...
Salycylic acid- skin didn't seem to tolerate this
Paulas Choice products- no luck
AHA- seemed to moisturise and get rid of flakes, but couldn't tell if it affected my acne in any way or not.
Betnovate Clay- love/ hate relationship with this.
Turmeric- no luck. Couldn't tell if it had any affect.
A number of vitamins
Diet Changes
Sulphur- hardened outer skin, though pimple was still sore and angry underneath.
Mario badescu products- was really loving this, until my acne started to become unresponsive.
OCM- clogged me up.
Acnease- no effect, in fact seemed to make acne worse.
Diannete- got chin acne which I didn't get before, and had severe stomach pains, so I got of it after two weeks).
Antibiotics- worked for a while, but acne came back worse.
other BCP only tried for 4 months, didn't have any affect.
Currently I would say my acne is moderate, but really persistent, angry and inflamed. I also have little scaring which im not too worried about at the moment.
I have tried a number of things and spent soooooo much money in the past few years, trying to "cure" my disease. Everyday has been a struggle for me and a nightmare 
. I go by everyday putting on a mask (my makeup) which takes me 3 hours (sad I know! its the only way I can deal with my face).
I have been referred to a dermatologist 3 times, and have been refused Accutane each time. I went without makeup each time and my acne was at least moderate. They said they only prescribed Accutane for people with severe acne and scaring, and I simply wasn't in that category. They sent me away saying I should cover with makeup and hopefully I will "grow" out of it. They also sent me to a nurse who showed me a number of camouflage makeup that I could use. Ridiculous. I have spent my spare time searching the internet hoping to find something that will set me free from this evil curse.
As my graduation is coming up (currently studying Msc Psychology) and I have been offered an admin/managerial role at work for one year, I am hoping to get rid of my acne and focus on the more important things in life, like work and my career.
As per usual I searched the internet, this time for private dermatologist and found one in the city (20mins away). I rang him up and asked about his opinion on Accutane and whether he would prescribe it to me. his initial reaction was positive, though he did ay to me that he would only be able to give me an answer once he has seen my face for himself. I went in for a consultation this Monday and told him my story, and that I was considering roaccutane. He agreed, and said that seems the best option at the moment, and went through everything in detail with me. He did ay to me though, that I will have to get blood tests done by my GP, go on a BCP and also get pregnancy tests done. He faxed a letter to my GP about everything that we had discussed, just to make things easier for me.
I went to my GP today, and I was really disappointed. Again! he disagreed and said that makeup does wonders and I should carry on. I was heartbroken. I explained everything. He had my record in front of him and he still was so adamant and against the whole idea. I couldn't take it and I broke down crying my eye out there. Although he did agree in the end and said he will do my blood tests and put me on BCP, so I can get started, because it was affecting me soo much. He did add a little disclaimer in the end though, and said he didn't agree because I was crying, but because I had been patient for the last 5/6 year and I had tried sooo many things.
So here I am. Ive been prescribed Yasmin as my BCP, and I will also get my blood tests done soon. my next appointment with the derm is in September because he is going on holiday and he wanted me to be on BCP for at least a month before I start Roaccutane.
I am soo excited. Finally I have hope. My face is awful at the moment, and its a shame that I cant start straight away!
I am a little apprehensive about Yasmin though, as I don't want to rely on BCP and im scared that ill break out after roaccutane because of it. Tell me your experience guys and what you think.
Also, anyone have any ideas on what I should be taking whilst on Accutane, any advice and any products that will be beneficial???
Dreading work in the morning, because of my acne
Im also starting my training on Monday, and I have to complete my dissertation. I have sooo much on my mind right now. A little support will be really appreciated.
(pics will be coming up soon to track my progress)
Ok so I've been on Yasmin BCP since this Tuesday, so far I haven't noticed any side effects. Though my face is breaking out horribly eurghhh it hurts sooo much especially when I wash In the morning. I feel really down about my skin sigh
I can't wait to go on roaccutane. I still have to wait till sept coz my derm is going to be on holiday till the 6th of September and I also have to get my blood tests done.
I hate my face right now it's so annoying and frustrating right now
Sounds like you've tried everything but Accutane, which should clear you.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835909/pdf/de0103_0162.pdf
( I'm going through a lot of stress right now in terms of work, uni dissertation and my relationship, maybe that's why I'm breaking so bad. I don't know.
Hi,
I am also from the UK. Unfortunately my experience is quite similar to yours, in that there is an _extreme_ reluctance to prescribe accutane to anyone, however bad their problems might be. Like me, you will have far more luck going private than expecting the NHS to deal with you.
I have done this and basically pay my way for consultations and drugs as I go along. I am getting good results from accutane, and only have mild side-effects (lip dryness and a bit of nasal soreness). This is after about a month.
Best of luck, and be persistant with pestering doctors. Have you started taking accutane yet?
S.
Hey thanks for replying its so nice to hear from you guys 
I haven't started taking roaccutane yet my derm said he wants me to be on BCP for at least a month before I start. I still have my blood tests to do too. I'm thinking of getting it done next week or so. My derm is also on holiday and will be back On the 6th of September, so I'll be booking an appointment sometime then. He said he will prescribe me accutane When I go for my next appointment with him in Sept, that is if all goes well with my blood tests.
My face is still horrible ATM. I haven't gotten round to post any pictures as I have been busy with work and just generally overworked up. Will Post as soon as I can. Not looking forward to work tomorrow
That's a really interesting point that the both of you raise about the availability of Roaccutane on the NHS. I actually found their attitude to prescribing it as the complete opposite to how you describe; it was one of total indifference! Well of course I only have my own experience to draw on, and being male it probably makes it easier to prescribe, but nonetheless it is interesting to see the marked difference. Sucks that you've had to go private, NHS may not be perfect but it certainly saves you a wad of money.
Anyway good luck with your treatment when it gets underway. One piece of advice (you probably already know this, but no matter how many people warned me of this I was still most shocked when their words came true): It may well get worse at first (your skin that is), and I mean MUCH WORSE. Just try not to get too disheartened if this happens, because it's shit there's no getting away from it, you just have to ride it out. Soldier on like a Brit, employ the stiff upper lip!
All the best
Hi,
Going private in the UK is the only option for some people; the only game in town.
My acne is not that bad - in fact now, at the age of 43, it's the best it's ever been. But the point is it's still there at the age of 43, and it ain't ever going away on it's own.
It's odd how you get told "no mate, can't do nuffink, against the rules" etc etc when dealing with the NHS, but somehow those "rules" and jobsworth criteria mysteriously evaporate when you're paying 200 per consultation. Oh well...
Well, my results so far are very much worth it.
S
It was really easy to get roaccutane on the nhs for me, but that may be because my acne is quite bad and I've exhausted all other options! To be fair I work in a pharmacy and some people who bring in private prescriptions have really really mild acne and since roaccutane is such a drastic measure I don't believe they should be on it (especially when they are only 13/14 years old).