Some doctors like to insert their opinion and authority over their patients. I would reschedule another appointment to see your previous derm. It should be your choice, and your parents if they have responsibility over you, to decide. Accutane does have lots of side effects which I am sure you are aware, and it does control oil, practically halting all oil production.

To be on Accutane though, you must be on birth control. Which one are you on? It should help with the breakouts. If you feel while even BC isn't helping, you can look into spironolactone. Sometimes you can get this without the requirement of birth control, some derms say you must be on birth control with it. Either way, see your previous derm or a different one.

My current derm tells me nothing I do will have an effect on my acne unless I get back on birth control. I made an appointment with another derm for a second opinion.

Thanks for the response. I probably should have mentioned this, but I am a male, so the birth control isn't an option (however, sometimes I wish it was given some of its benefits...). I have an appointment with another derm in the next few weeks (exactly one year since my last). I wouldn't say my skin has gotten worse, but it has remained constant, preventing me from pursuing options to reduce the effects of scarring over the years (peels, laser treatment, etc.). Best of luck with the next appointment. May I ask why you are off BC?

Well, im 99% oil free after 18 days of taking a low dosage Isotretinoin 10mg/day..

Accutane is dangerous drug, so no wonder that some derms don't want to prescribe it(let's not forget that originaly it was treatment for most severe of cases of acne), but your derm just said something that is not true. I don't know if he/she was lying or simply don't know how Accutane work(what's worse - derm that don't know about his/her job or a liar?) because Accutane in fact control oil. In a very harsh manner no less.

Agreed. The derm is wrong in her statement that accutane does not affect oil production. It dries out and shrinks oil glands which is why many get that 'my face is falling off' dryness. With that said, what else have you tried. Accutane should be a last resort after you have exhausted many options. If you have not tried diet changes (up to 3 months) , at least 2 different topicals and maybe some oral meds then i woukd suggest to look into those before accutane.

Thanks guys, glad to know I wasn't horribly confused. As for other things I've tried, from first to last: erythromycin, azelaic acid & doxycyclin, retin-a and clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide. I have experimented with diet changes (i.e. no diary) with no success, and I generally eat very clean (no soda, no fried foods, etc.). Recently I have been just washing with water and started taking vitamin D pills after reading another post on this site. My skin has actually been doing well this past week, but would not be surprised to wake up soon with some scarring breakouts.I just need an end to whiteheads so I can start with the healing process and removal of scars.

4 hours ago, Zaaacdy said:

Well, im 99% oil free after 18 days of taking a low dosage Isotretinoin 10mg/day..

Good for you, dude. Do you mind giving me your weight in kg? I am trying to figure out what a low dosage for me would be based on weight. I am about 75 kg.

28 minutes ago, DTMC7 said:

Thanks guys, glad to know I wasn't horribly confused. As for other things I've tried, from first to last: erythromycin, azelaic acid & doxycyclin, retin-a and clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide. I have experimented with diet changes (i.e. no diary) with no success, and I generally eat very clean (no soda, no fried foods, etc.). Recently I have been just washing with water and started taking vitamin D pills after reading another post on this site. My skin has actually been doing well this past week, but would not be surprised to wake up soon with some scarring breakouts.I just need an end to whiteheads so I can start with the healing process and removal of scars.

Good for you, dude. Do you mind giving me your weight in kg? I am trying to figure out what a low dosage for me would be based on weight. I am about 75 kg.

Last time i checked Im at 76kg. I really dont have severe acne just some clogged pores, black and white heads and super oily skin, that is why the derm give me a very low dossage for 6mos. Thank God no IB so far.. Its actually effective, they all dried out and you can just scrape them out using your nails and they will come out and fall apart, but I try very hard not to do that to avoid scarring.

I also dont have severe side effects just the usual dry lips and skin.

4 minutes ago, Zaaacdy said:

Last time i checked Im at 76kg. I really dont have severe acne just some clogged pores, black and white heads and super oily skin, that is why the derm give me a very low dossage for 6mos. Thank God no IB so far.. Its actually effective, they all dried out and you can just scrape them out using your nails and they will come out and fall apart, but I try very hard not to do that to avoid scarring.

Sounds like we are in the same boat (skin condition and weight class). My nose and cheek pores always seem to be clogged and just take turns forming whiteheads. I see my derm in about a week and will ask about a ~10mg dosage plan. That'd be sweet if you can dodge the IB. If not, its just one more obstacle to get through and is totally worth it.

23 minutes ago, DTMC7 said:

33 minutes ago, Zaaacdy said:

Last time i checked Im at 76kg. I really dont have severe acne just some clogged pores, black and white heads and super oily skin, that is why the derm give me a very low dossage for 6mos. Thank God no IB so far.. Its actually effective, they all dried out and you can just scrape them out using your nails and they will come out and fall apart, but I try very hard not to do that to avoid scarring.

Sounds like we are in the same boat (skin condition and weight class). My nose and cheek pores always seem to be clogged and just take turns forming whiteheads. I see my derm in about a week and will ask about a ~10mg dosage plan. That'd be sweet if you can dodge the IB. If not, its just one more obstacle to get through and is totally worth it.

Im pretty sure your derm wouldnt hesitate to prescribe such a very low dose My derm wasnt even concern asking for bloodworks because she believes its very low to have any bad effect to my liver profile, but I insisted just to be safe.