Hey Will! I wondered if any of the people featured were members on here!

I was interested in whether you were able to go into a bit more detail of what your treatment consisted of. They didn't go into too much detail on the program, but you had good results! Hope it's all going ok for you!

Follow my new blog by the way, will be posting loads of stuff on it

http://dyingforclearskin.blogspot.co.uk/

Hey Will! I wondered if any of the people featured were members on here!

 

I was interested in whether you were able to go into a bit more detail of what your treatment consisted of. They didn't go into too much detail on the program, but you had good results! Hope it's all going ok for you!

 

Glad you guys enjoyed the documentary. I enjoyed making it.

What was your favourite part?

3 topics merged. There's also a topic in The Lounge, but considering the fact that several posters don't have access to it, I'll allow one topic here.

Congrats, William, you're a celebrity now!

You can watch it from the US through a proxy. If you want some instructions on how this can be done, PM me.

Not sure if I liked the show or not...At the end of the day, there's always going to be people that react badly to certain things (in this case, Accutane). I also feel that they should have looked into the dosage that these guys were taking each day...

Glad you guys enjoyed the documentary. I enjoyed making it.

What was your favourite part?

 

Well apart from your part Will of course I quite liked when that presenter had the different photos of acne and was asking members of the public what they thought. I do wish they had gone into a bit more detail about what causes acne and that people dont have it because they dont wash their face properly or something as I feel its quite misunderstood. My dad for example said a while ago 'its probably because you kiss the cats all the time' i mean geezzz!!!

i have watched bits of it as i haven't had a chance to sit down and watch it all.

Seems like a decent attempt to educate people on acne some what. Each treatment has its pros and cons along with all medical prescriptions there is a risk i suppose you just have to balance it all up and see what's best for you.

Nice to see you on here Will , what is your after treatment like i.e. your routine am/pm if you don't mind sharing.

When I was watching 'I'm a Celebrity' (it was just on. Don't judge me) I was shocked to hear people talking about Helen Flannigan's acne. Especially Eric's negative comments on it. I've not really heard acne talked about on the TV before.

 

I thought the exact same thing. Eric joked he would squeeze her whole head to get all the puss out and Helen broke down in tears.

I thought she seemed alot more paranoid after that (understandably), started overdosing on her fake tan (camouflage behaviour) and was swiftly evicted. Amazing really.

Glad you guys enjoyed the documentary. I enjoyed making it.

What was your favourite part?

 

Hi, thanks for the show.

Do you think you would ever take Roaccutane after what you've learnt William?

I think this documentary was okay-ish at best...let's say it was better than most documentaries on BBC3.

I still think that ultimately it's up to the person to decide whether they want to take a drug, and you just cannot blame the drug itself, drugs aren't living things, they're objects, or tools in our hands. It's like blaming the knife for cutting you. You can only blame yourself, or your prescriber for not giving you enough information before you made the decision to take a drug. You made a decision, you deal with the consequences. I'm sorry, but that's how life works.

Not to say I don't feel for Jesse's family, but I urge everyone to take notice of the fact that he was prescribed anti-depressants, medications actually known to cause suicidal thoughts or make depression worse in people under 25, and that was actually proven in clinical trials, whereas Accutane was not conclusively proven to cause depression in trials. Do I think he may not have killed himself if he was not given anti-depressants? Absolutely. I believe there's a high chance that actually, the anti-depressants are to mostly blame for his suicide and the general lack of support (personally knowing how shit mental health services are on the NHS)

I think this documentary was okay-ish at best...let's say it was better than most documentaries on BBC3.

I still think that ultimately it's up to the person to decide whether they want to take a drug, and you just cannot blame the drug itself, drugs aren't living things, they're objects, or tools in our hands. It's like blaming the knife for cutting you. You can only blame yourself, or your prescriber for not giving you enough information before you made the decision to take a drug. You made a decision, you deal with the consequences. I'm sorry, but that's how life works.

Not to say I don't feel for Jesse's family, but I urge everyone to take notice of the fact that he was prescribed anti-depressants, medications actually known to cause suicidal thoughts or make depression worse in people under 25, and that was actually proven in clinical trials, whereas Accutane was not conclusively proven to cause depression in trials. Do I think he may not have killed himself if he was not given anti-depressants? Absolutely. I believe there's a high chance that actually, the anti-depressants are to mostly blame for his suicide and the general lack of support (personally knowing how shit mental health services are on the NHS)

 

Totally agree. "It's like blaming the knife for cutting you"....nicely put.

Also think this dude (god bless his soul) almost certainly had Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Nevertheless, without the original Acne, I bet he would still be alive today.

No, accutane isn't the drug for me, or anyone.

Hi, I'm new and joined pretty much just to share my experience.

I just watched the show on Catch up and I found it tragic.

I have been a long term sufferer of acne, started getting spots around age 11 and I am now 26 (with highs and lows inbetween), so basically I have had spots for more of my life than I havent! I have good and bad days. I wouldnt say my skin is at its worst these days by any means. But I do find myself repulsive, like a child who has never grown out of it. I have been through most treatments available on the NHS, from topical creams to antibiotics.

And YES I have been on roaccutane twice in fact. It seemed to help my skin while I was on it, but it all just came back when I stopped.

I was sad about my spots as a teenager, these days I am more just annoyed and wow do they hurt! But I dont think the drug made me any sadder and I do not feel a lasting affect from it. My boyfriend when he was younger had bad acne, not that I was ever witness to this, however he went on roaccutane and has never looked back. He has perfect skin (not that I am bias), but I would have never had known had he not told me! He never suffered any suicidal thoughts and I know it might be strange to say, but maybe in a way it saved him from ever being depressed. The strain of having acne is never something anyone wants and it can take its toll.

Here is my drug summary:

The best thing I have ever been on for my acne was a pill called dianette cleared up all my spots, but gave me migranes so I had to give it up.

Worst thing I have ever been on was a pill called microgynon (not used for acne, but I thought hormones are hormones) it made me weep, uncontrollably for no reason (aka emotional wreak)

Roaccutane doesnt even make my list. But I do believe drugs affect us all differently and we just have to be aware.

I intend on getting laser treatment as my last stand! - wish me luck!

No, accutane isn't the drug for me, or anyone.

 

I'm glad you're spreading this truth.

I'm here to tell people that accutane is wrong. I have friends who have gone on it, and regret it entirely.

It really pains me to see people promoting it because they take it, and don't want to feel as if they made the wrong decision.

I'm a firm believer in diet, and went clear through diet.

No, accutane isn't the drug for me, or anyone.

 

I'm glad you're spreading this truth.

I'm here to tell people that accutane is wrong. I have friends who have gone on it, and regret it entirely.

It really pains me to see people promoting it because they take it, and don't want to feel as if they made the wrong decision.

I'm a firm believer in diet, and went clear through diet.

 

I hope you are not implying I was promoting it, I wasn't I was just stating my experiences!

Whereas you on the other hand condemn others cause they have?! - claiming they need to justify their wrong choices?!?

You haven't even been on the drug, you have no first-hand experience so how can you say its wrong?

All you have is an opinion like me, so stop quoting it as truth and fact. At least mine is based on my own first-hand experience!

No, accutane isn't the drug for me, or anyone.

 

I'm glad you're spreading this truth.

I'm here to tell people that accutane is wrong. I have friends who have gone on it, and regret it entirely.

It really pains me to see people promoting it because they take it, and don't want to feel as if they made the wrong decision.

I'm a firm believer in diet, and went clear through diet.

 

I hope you are not implying I was promoting it, I wasn't I was just stating my experiences!

Whereas you on the other hand condemn others cause they have?! - claiming they need to justify their wrong choices?!?

You haven't even been on the drug, you have no first-hand experience so how can you say its wrong?

All you have is an opinion like me, so stop quoting it as truth and fact. At least mine is based on my own first-hand experience!

 

I would like to comment on the drug, but as for now, i can't.

I looked up accutane and it wasn't the drug for me to take. You may however wish to pursue taking it, put it this way; if someone close to you took it and got some pretty rough side effects which i'm not going to mention as they haven't been proven to be linked to accutane, what would you do? I don't think you can put a price on life, Danne saved my skin and changed my life. I hope you can get the message that i'm trying to say. If not; personal message me as i don't want to talk about it in the public format.

Thank you, stay well. William x

No, accutane isn't the drug for me, or anyone.

 

I understand your point of view dude. I also read your original response and can understand why you took it down. The BBC has to be unbias, so to commission an Anti-Roaccutane documentary would be against it's Royal Charter.

Having watched the show, I do not believe Derek did blame Roaccutane for the loss of his son. He says, and I quote, "I blame it all, really...the emotional scarring of acne, the subsequent low self-esteem, the depressive side effects associated with Roaccutane..."

To singularly lay the blame on Roaccutane is disingenuous.

No, accutane isn't the drug for me, or anyone.

 

I'm glad you're spreading this truth.

I'm here to tell people that accutane is wrong. I have friends who have gone on it, and regret it entirely.

It really pains me to see people promoting it because they take it, and don't want to feel as if they made the wrong decision.

I'm a firm believer in diet, and went clear through diet.

 

I hope you are not implying I was promoting it, I wasn't I was just stating my experiences!

Whereas you on the other hand condemn others cause they have?! - claiming they need to justify their wrong choices?!?

You haven't even been on the drug, you have no first-hand experience so how can you say its wrong?

All you have is an opinion like me, so stop quoting it as truth and fact. At least mine is based on my own first-hand experience!

 

I would like to comment on the drug, but as for now, i can't.

I looked up accutane and it wasn't the drug for me to take. You may however wish to pursue taking it, put it this way; if someone close to you took it and got some pretty rough side effects which i'm not going to mention as they haven't been proven to be linked to accutane, what would you do? I don't think you can put a price on life, Danne saved my skin and changed my life. I hope you can get the message that i'm trying to say. If not; personal message me as i don't want to talk about it in the public format.

Thank you, stay well. William x

 

Hey Will, just curious - that enzyme treatment looks really scary (in that it makes your capillaries dilate like crazy!) Does that last for long or do they do down pretty quickly?

No, accutane isn't the drug for me, or anyone.

I'm glad you're spreading this truth.

I'm here to tell people that accutane is wrong. I have friends who have gone on it, and regret it entirely.

It really pains me to see people promoting it because they take it, and don't want to feel as if they made the wrong decision.

I'm a firm believer in diet, and went clear through diet.

 

I hope you are not implying I was promoting it, I wasn't I was just stating my experiences!

Whereas you on the other hand condemn others cause they have?! - claiming they need to justify their wrong choices?!?

You haven't even been on the drug, you have no first-hand experience so how can you say its wrong?

All you have is an opinion like me, so stop quoting it as truth and fact. At least mine is based on my own first-hand experience!

 

I would like to comment on the drug, but as for now, i can't.

I looked up accutane and it wasn't the drug for me to take. You may however wish to pursue taking it, put it this way; if someone close to you took it and got some pretty rough side effects which i'm not going to mention as they haven't been proven to be linked to accutane, what would you do? I don't think you can put a price on life, Danne saved my skin and changed my life. I hope you can get the message that i'm trying to say. If not; personal message me as i don't want to talk about it in the public format.

Thank you, stay well. William x

 

Hey Will, just curious - that enzyme treatment looks really scary (in that it makes your capillaries dilate like crazy!) Does that last for long or do they do down pretty quickly?

Hey, the dilation usually only lasts around 10-15 minutes! Pretty cool science aye?

*Moderator edit, URL removed - read the board rules*

William x

Hey everyone, just watched 'dying for clea skin' .... well i'v got allsorts running through my mind after watching that. I was once taking ro accutane until the point i couldnt control my anger & frustrations or just everyday life really but I didnt once think it was the ro accutane although after watching that I think it may be the case. I went to my doctor eventually anyways explaining how i felt, they made me fill in a questionaire of how i was feeling etc & i was going through really bad depression, i was having suicidal thoughts everyday, i would wake up & just go back to sleep, i couldnt cope with life, I took it out on my boyfriend at the time (poor guy) he mustve been shocked, no wonder he didnt want to get back with me. i just thought it was our relationship that was causing me to act this way & now my heads thinking was it the ro accutane? did it ruin my relationship? has it ruined my life? i have never got back to my normal self since taking it, i still hate wakening up everyday but i do, i get up but i dont leave the house unless i really make myself.

Stace.x

Here is the documentary for anyone who is looking or it.

It was difficult for me to watch. I related to every single person who was suffering with severe acne. I cried my eyes out multiple times and could barely get through watching it, but I'm glad I did. I'm so glad I never got on accutane.

I am currently taking Roaccutane (5 weeks into treatment) and decided to watch the documentary - me and my mum saw it advertised on BBC before it was due to air and my mum was very scared - she asked if this was the drug I was taking for my skin, which then scared me (if you've seen my log i've just posted you will see that i've been very reluctant to take Roaccutane and it was not somethng I took lightly), anyway I decided that I would watch it.

Ever since starting treatment I have been paranoid and i've tried to let everyone work colleagues, friends and family know that I am taking Roaccutane so that they can keep a very close eye on me and monitor my moods, after watching the documentary part of me was so ready to give in and give up on the treatment but i've suffered for 3 years - this may not sound much to anyone else who has suffered for longer but everyone is different and we are all affected by acne in different ways - I can't leave my house without a full face of make up, I bore my friends, family and work colleagues to death with my constant worry over how I look and whether you can see how bad my skin is through the make-up. For me I didn't take the decision to start Roaccutane very lightly, infact it took me 3 different attempts within the space of a year to actually get the guts to start the drug - 3 different dermatologists.

I feel for the families of the people involved in this documentary and I have to say i'm not biased towards any of the opinions on the programme - I work for the NHS - yet I feel this does not make me any more confident in taking this medication, I also do not have very much faith in the treatments that they offer.

I feel that acne is not treated very seriously by GP's, they just think it's people being vain over a few spots, I dont think enough was shown on the emotional side effects that people experience before they even consider using any form of treatment - it's absolutely crippling and I believe acne alone is enough to change the type of person you are.

Going back 3 years I was a completely different person, outgoing, confident and ambitious - now i'm shy and lack confidence in everything I do - i'm constantly having to be re-assured and I feel that my acne has effected my dreams and ambitions, I am not where I thought I would be 6 years ago. I don't care what people say, acne has a major impact on your self-esteem and I think this should have been taken into consideration a little more.

Will - I think you are so very brave especially at your age for going on TV knowing that you were going to be watched by lots of people, It takes real guts and i'm glad that you have found your cure. I am nearly 25 and I could never have done what you did even when I had clear skin. You are an inspiration!

As for the treatment you used it works wonders, I often contemplated going private for treatment similiar to what you have had but the truth is I could never afford that kind of treatment as I am sure is the case with most people on these boards and all over the country.

I think that we should all be trying to do more to help to get treatments like Will's on the NHS so that in the future people can get clear skin without having to suffer side - effects.

You will see from my logs that I am taking Roaccutane but it does not mean to say I am completely in favour of Raoccutane nor does it mean that I am against it, I have just simply given up on all treaments that I can afford to have, I think it boils down to the NHS needing to take acne more seriously! I'm fed up of people telling me i'll grow out of it, i'm 24 nearly 25! x

Just be glad you have the NHS. In America, we have zero help for people with acne or most other medical conditions. If I get sick, I better get myself better or I DIE. There isn't help unless you're rich enough to buy your own insurance or medical care. I guess president Obama wants to change that, but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

Here is the documentary for anyone who is looking or it.

It was difficult for me to watch. I related to every single person who was suffering with severe acne. I cried my eyes out multiple times and could barely get through watching it, but I'm glad I did. I'm so glad I never got on accutane.

 

Thank you so much, I've been waiting to get a chance to see this since I'm not from UK. Kinda have mix feelings right now before watching it, I'm excited to see the show everyone is talking about, but also quite anxious because I'm on my last month of Isotretinoin and now I will see what effect it has had on some people.