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I have been hovering in these boards but decided to take the plunge and join. Brief acne history- had acne since 15, now 31. Went on Dianette at 18 which worked for a few years then in mid 20s got really bad acne all over my chin and jawline. Went on Oxytetracycyline with Dianette which worked wonders very quickly. Took this for 4/5 years. Everytime I tried to stop, jaw would break out in cysts. Then when I hit 30 in 2013 I started to suddenly get cysts all over and around my nose. Never had this before. Was finally referred to an NHS dermatologist who prescribed Accutane. Woo hoo- my nightmare was finally going to be over! Wrong. It did not work. After a 5 month course I continued to break out every day, and things deteriorated pretty rapidly after finishing. Although, my jaw and chin problem has never returned so I guess that's something. Was referred back for a second course in Nov 2014. Whilst waiting I caved and went back on antibiotics. This time Tetralysal/lymecycline. This worked pretty well actually. To the point that when I went back to derm in Jan she said she couldn't give me a second course and I should continue on the antibiotics for a couple of years (!)
However, this last month the Tetralysal doesn't seem to be working as well. I'm starting to break out again. Totally depressing. feeling very down and wondering where to go from here?
Just wondered if anyone else had failed with Accutane and how you found the mental strength to carry on?
Lastly, I have dabbled with topicals over the years but I've never found they do anything other than irritate my skin more. I have been using finacea on and off the last year which is possibly helping a little but hard to say for sure.
Essay over. Feeling very depressed to still be dealing with this at 31, especially as I'm getting married this year
Look forward to hearing from someone
yep failed Accutane- sounds like it DID resolve your jaw and chin cystic acne, so maybe not a complete failure
mine was complete total, ended up far worse, more cysts and a pile of scars...after 7 months and multiple doctors who all said, gee that's odd, should have worked....yeah
so that is not a good feeling- you come on this board and everyone says yeah it's a miracle, cured, initial breakout for one week oh my god, but they I cleared up and my life has changed, and so on and so on and so on....because it IS a miracle for 95%+
but alas we are in that tiny minority...I have this thing about not complaining, and just doing something, so I kept trying things- kept a journal of everything and did diet changes, dairy and gluten were big for me, big triggers....and I'm always honing my topicals and other supplements, constantly journaling and tweaking
and I never do anything fast- I go very slow when adding a new topical or supplement
so for me I just had to keep moving and solve things for myself- tough when the miracle drug doesn't work for you, very tough
Thanks for the reply. Good to know I'm not alone. It's frustrating that the doctors/derms just don't seem to have any answers.
I was told by the gp it would be perfectly fine to take another course, whereas as the derms ruled it flat out.
Have you ever done a second course?
Lotty, I am a four time accurate failure so you are definitely not alone. Like the previous poster said, you just have to keep on moving forward and take each day one step at a time. I have tried almost everything including lifestyle changes, pills, topical and of course the holy grail of accurate and I still struggle. Though some days are better than others.
Just acknowledge that you have a skin disorder, do what you can to help things alone and still go live your life. It's much easier said than done but the more you practice it, the easier it gets.
Wow, 30 an 40 year olds that still have acne. I feel even worse now knowing that my acne will never go away and I'm still going to look like garbage in my 30's, 40's, and the rest of my life.
Please keep replies to member threads supportive and helpful to the OP and such remarks restricted to your own threads. Thank you.
Im 40 and on my 4th course you are not alone the derm should maybe have kept u on the roaccutane longer until u was completely clear on the first course?
I never saw the Derm at the end of the treatment. They just discharged me because they said I'd had the max amount they could give me. When I saw another Derm on second round referral she again said she couldn't give me any more because id had the max amount. So frustrating
Hi lottylou, what dose was u on when u was on roaccutane? Unless u had a ridiculously high cumulative dose can't see why your derm says u have been given the maximum amount? 5 months is a standard course but im into my 7th month as I asked to have check ups with my derm throughout my course so I could discuss extending course which she has done as I was still getting acne at end of 5 months, I would ask to see another derm maybe at a different hospital because I think they should have seen u at least at end of the course to see if it had worked, I would have a chat with ya gp, out of curiosity where in uk are u?
so lottylou, how are things going for you? you asked if I tried Accutane again, no I did not....I have a derm who keeps suggesting it, but I've really made great progress the old fashioned way.....but it's the harder way
you thought gluten might be a trigger, have you tested that again? I kept a diary and really worked at it, and in general I try to eat whole foods, minimize sugar (can't give it up totally!) and no junk food....not as hard as you think once you get going.
and give the routine here on acne.org a good trial at the same time, it does work wonders for many, especially if your cystic acne has abated to some extent
good luck, chin up and I know you can make some good progress- and if you decide to go back on Accutane, you do what you need to do, and what feels right for you....come back and keep us posted
Im 40 and on my 4th course you are not alone the derm should maybe have kept u on the roaccutane longer until u was completely clear on the first course?
I never saw the Derm at the end of the treatment. They just discharged me because they said I'd had the max amount they could give me. When I saw another Derm on second round referral she again said she couldn't give me any more because id had the max amount. So frustrating
Im 40 and on my 4th course you are not alone the derm should maybe have kept u on the roaccutane longer until u was completely clear on the first course?
I never saw the Derm at the end of the treatment. They just discharged me because they said I'd had the max amount they could give me. When I saw another Derm on second round referral she again said she couldn't give me any more because id had the max amount. So frustrating
>Im 40 and on my 4th course you are not alone the derm should maybe have kept u on the roaccutane longer until u was completely clear on the first course?
I never saw the Derm at the end of the treatment. They just discharged me because they said I'd had the max amount they could give me. When I saw another Derm on second round referral she again said she couldn't give me any more because id had the max amount. So frustrating
I was on 60mg a day for 5 months. I weigh around 61kg. I am in Surrey. I believe there is another hospital I could go to but would obviously have to be referred again by the GP which would likely be another 3 month wait. I'm getting married in November and as much as I don't want acne on the day I also don't want bleeding lips and lizard skin. 
The lymecycline keeps the big cysts at bay but I still constantly have pimples and occasional whiteheads. So depressing.
I am continuing to not eat bread. Haven't eaten dairy for years. I'm not sure how much diet really helps in the grand scheme of things but it's worth perservering I suppose