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Hey guys
I'm 27 and have had moderate acne appear out of the blue since this summer. It has DESTROYED me inside and out, I no longer go out (except to work and sometimes I can't even go), it's putting a strain on my relationship and has left me feeling extremely depressed (I'm on antidepressants following a suicide attempt).
I'm currently using differin and doxycycline (I have been on both for I'd say 3 months), I've been on dianette for 7 weeks. Nothing seems to work so far.
I'm FINALLY going to see a dermatologist on Wednesday, I'm trying not to get my hopes up because I honestly don't know what more can be done for me, I would like to take accutane but I don't think my acne is severe enough for her to agree to prescribe it to me...
I think my acne is hormonal, however I've been tested for PCOS and I don't have it...
What do you think a dermatologist could bring me that my regular doctor can't? Do you think it will give me some comfort or hope?
Thank you for your replies. X
I also have depression and unfortunately for that reason my dermatologist will not prescribe me Accutane until I can get my mood under control (which is obviously very difficult with such horrific skin!) However, if your depression is a direct result of your acne then they might still prescribe it to you if they think your skin is bad enough to warrant it. They're just extra jumpy about prescribing it to people with a history of depression because some people have committed suicide whilst taking the drug.
Other than that, the only extra thing my dermatologist could offer me was a short course of steroids, but again he was worried about that accentuating my anxiety issues so we didn't go down that route either. He said that the Epiduo and Lymecycline combination I'm on can be really effective for some people and negate the need for Accutane so he wanted me to stay on that for two more months before reconsidering Accutane.
Being on Dianette myself, I would say that although it's frustrating you may have to wait more than the 7 weeks to see any significant change in your skin. Mine only started noticeably improving at the end of month 3 and still breaks out even now at the start of month 5, but nowhere near as badly as before. I was also tested for PCOS but it came back negative even though I'm convinced my acne is hormonal. I take comfort in the fact that if it had come back positive Dianette would probably still have been the first thing they tried me on so hopefully I can still get some positive effects from it in the long term.
Good luck, I hope the appointment goes well. 
You never know with derms.. when i went to mine to ask for antibiotics (tired of waiting spiro to work) the first thing he said was accutane. At that time i had 3 active papules (and several red marks) and i really thought that even if i asked for it noone would give it to me.. i have read that it is possible to do accutane and hormonal treatment at the same time but i think you have to give up the antibiotic, ask for it. However your depression could avert her from prescribing accutane and maybe she will suggest waiting more for your bcp to work.