Acne.org Products
Hi,
I'm 34. I've had mild-moderate acne but PERSISTENT acne since I was 16 i.e. nearly every day for nearly 20 years I have had at least 2-3 spots. Like with most other people, pretty much tried most things. Topicals, oral antibiotics etc but nothing really worked for a significant period of time.
I've been on accutane twice before at age 20 and 24, it did clear up during treatment but promptly came back.
This is the 3rd time I'm on accutane, initially started on 40mg then 60mg now 80mg for a total duration of 6 months. I would say my acne has not cleared up this time - every few days I'll get a new spot. Reduced but definitely not 'cured'.
But since I've been on it for 6 months, they want to get me off it. I dont even get to see the doctor, just the 'accutane nurse' who was keen to get me off it even last month, they said they can get the dermatologist in if they really have to.
My (potentially) last appointment is this Friday where I'm pretty certain they'll try their best to get me off it.
Shall I insist to stay on it longer? Would it help to stay on it longer? No major side effects, just some dry lips.
Is there any chance if I stay on it I can be 'cured'?
I just feel if I get off it now, at my age and given this is my 3rd time on accutane, it'll be akin to raising the white flag and acne for the rest of my life....
On 7/19/2017 at 11:43 PM, Achilles82 said:Hi,
I'm 34. I've had mild-moderate acne but PERSISTENT acne since I was 16 i.e. nearly every day for nearly 20 years I have had at least 2-3 spots. Like with most other people, pretty much tried most things. Topicals, oral antibiotics etc but nothing really worked for a significant period of time.
I've been on accutane twice before at age 20 and 24, it did clear up during treatment but promptly came back.
This is the 3rd time I'm on accutane, initially started on 40mg then 60mg now 80mg for a total duration of 6 months. I would say my acne has not cleared up this time - every few days I'll get a new spot. Reduced but definitely not 'cured'.
But since I've been on it for 6 months, they want to get me off it. I dont even get to see the doctor, just the 'accutane nurse' who was keen to get me off it even last month, they said they can get the dermatologist in if they really have to.
My (potentially) last appointment is this Friday where I'm pretty certain they'll try their best to get me off it.
Shall I insist to stay on it longer? Would it help to stay on it longer? No major side effects, just some dry lips.
Is there any chance if I stay on it I can be 'cured'?
I just feel if I get off it now, at my age and given this is my 3rd time on accutane, it'll be akin to raising the white flag and acne for the rest of my life....
You're not alone. My acne is mild but persistent. I'm 30 yrs old and for me to get results I had to be on 60mg a day. I went on that for 3 months and my acne pretty much cleared. When I went down to 40mg a day for a month and shortly after that my acne came back. So I went back to 60mg and now I am nearly on my 5th month of Accutane. It's the worst it's ever been and I'm having my doubts. Though the reason it's gotten worse is that I changed moisturisers to that Acne.org moisturiser and I have regretted it ever since. It broke me out in so many acne spots it's unreal. I've had to go back to my old moisturiser now and I'm hoping things will settle down soon.
Now if I were you I would go seek advice from an actual dermatologist and not a nurse. A nurse isn't really qualified to make an in-depth analysis on your acne. But like yourself, I'm also thinking if I'm wasting my time with Accutane. I've been given 3 more months which will result in 7 months.
Thanks for the replies.
So the 'roaccutane specialist nurse' (roaccutane is what we call it here in the UK) said accutane is only for cystic acne and cant cure 'small spots'. After she went off and had a chat with the dermatologist she said I could stay on it for 6 more weeks, which should come to total of 7 months and then the treatment has to end. Reading around the net and responses from actual dermatologists it seems usual treatment period is 6 months, and sometimes extended to 8 months, so I wont push for more than this, given all the possiblity of side effects.
On 80mg at moment till the end, but still have one or two small spots every day. Noticed a new one just a few minutes ago!
Carlo - what moisturiser have you found works for you?
4 hours ago, Achilles82 said:Thanks for the replies.
So the 'roaccutane specialist nurse' (roaccutane is what we call it here in the UK) said accutane is only for cystic acne and cant cure 'small spots'. After she went off and had a chat with the dermatologist she said I could stay on it for 6 more weeks, which should come to total of 7 months and then the treatment has to end. Reading around the net and responses from actual dermatologists it seems usual treatment period is 6 months, and sometimes extended to 8 months, so I wont push for more than this, given all the possiblity of side effects.
On 80mg at moment till the end, but still have one or two small spots every day. Noticed a new one just a few minutes ago!
Carlo - what moisturiser have you found works for you?
Yea, that's happening to me too. I'm getting spots on my forehead every day. I got a freekin army of them here now. I use E45 intense recovery spray. It's the best one suited for me. The white top one isn't strong enough to sustain the moisture in my skin. No no no no......Roaccutane is supposed to get rid of acne completely, and I mean all types. I'm so frustrated right now. I was so close to skin perfection and it got taken away from me. That bloody acne.org moisturiser has ruined my skin and made the acne stronger as well as more wild. My acne hasn't been this bad for a very long time. I've had nowhere near this many spots before. My skin seems to be slowly recovering though and getting better. I have to give the witch hazel a rest for a day or two now to regain the moisture back in my skin. Although it conquers acne spots like a boss most of the time, it's also making my skin extra dry in the process too. ( like a double edge sword ) So with the roaccutane and witch hazel drying my skin out at the same time, my skin is getting irritated. Now I have to leave it to recover. When my skin recovers a bit more and stops looking weird every time I move my skin on my face I'm going back to the witch hazel, then it's hunting time for these little buggers.
You know I have a theory here that might make me think why I'm getting more spots than usual at this stage. Because of the moisturiser I used before, it upset my skin and caused chaos which resulted in me using too much witch hazel on my face. When your face gets too dry I'm sure the body produces more oils to try and naturally balance the oil levels out. But it's producing too much which is resulting in me breaking out more than usual. Once I get the balance right I'm sure most of the spots will go on their own. (hopefully) But once this course of roaccutane is up and the results are still garbage, my derm said he'll refer me to a professor in London for advice on the matter. My derm said he's never had a patient like me who has such persistent acne.
13 hours ago, Achilles82 said:Sorry to hear that Carlo, do let us know how you get on with that Professor. Looks like I'm going to end the roaccutane treatment too with little success, and persistent acne. Does make you wonder whether some people are just destined to have acne for life...
I won't accept it! I will find a way to beat this disgusting disease. I was close before with Roaccutane. If all else fails I will go see this Professor.