I know exactly how you feel. I went to the dermatologist awhile ago with such high hopes, and all she did was give me BP and other irritating treatments that just did nothing for my acne but make it more irritated. I think the best way to treat your acne is to get things tested such as hormones, thyroid, your ph levels of your skin, and then see if you have an imbalance anywhere!

That's too bad it felt rushed. I'm sure he/she just wants to take an aggressive approach to get you to stop breaking out ASAP since you probably already have some scarring ? if you've had acne 10+ years. The faster you stop breaking out, the faster any additional scarring will be put to a stop. Hope your antibiotics work!

What kind of acne so you have? I'm quite surprised she brought it down to those two choices, especially roaccutane. I'm from the UK too but I'm consisering paying private for to see a derm..in a way I kind of want to try roaccutane though since i have had my fare share of most all treatments.

One thing that I got going for me is thankfully my acne doesn't scar too badly. When my face decides to give me a break (usually between the months of sept to early dec) my face would be completely clear with very unnoticeable indents if you focused hard.

my acne from the age of 16 - 26 has always been mild to moderate. However it has only been in the past few years that I started getting cystic acne. I would say my acne is now more on the moderate to just touching severe level at its worst time. MissSac17 as long as you have tried absolutely everything under the sun before going on roaccuntane. Being a believer in the holistic/diet approach I think the negative outcomes should be carefully considered. If you haven't already, u should visit the holistic section of the forum for experiences and advise.

StephCC have you gone on antibiotics before? The derm said it's more of a ban-aid fix and won't be a perm solution.

In the US the dermatologists always seem to be busy or booked for months. Before my 1st derm appointment I made a spread sheet of every treatment I've tried and how long I used it, plus my current routine.

The dr. probably thought I was nuts when I gave him the sheet at my 1st appt. I think writing it out helped him because he spent less than 5 minutes with me and had no knowledge of my prior medical history. With the spreadsheet, at least he got an idea of what I tried before without having a long conversation.

Lol...anything for clear skin!

Im guessing your in the UK invisiblenetrix ? I am paying private for a derm, but the receptionist told me its better to get a letter of referral from your doc as apparently your doc writes down all the stuff you have tried before?

I am asking my doctor next Friday for the referral. Honestly I have tried everything; antibiotics, BCP's, loads of topicals including Duac BP Differin Azelex other shit and I have ventured down the holistic way to no avail to be honest, I just end up frustrated and hungry.

I was thinking about DIM, I currently take a supplement called Accumax which contains VIT A, C AND E and DIM - only 80Mg in 4 tablets though. I seriously don't know. I have actuallyread up on the side effects of Roaccutane and it scares me not gonna lie but to be honest I think I should have been on it years ago! I hate my skin currently, hate it..its too persistent and its causing me so much depression and being unsocial. I think the Roaccutane (if I can get it) is my only hope left.....OR maybe a retinoid.

Talk about being anti social, I've cut out absolutely all social events for the past 8 months and have not gone out apart from the overseas trip I planned with my mates that was booked last year when I was completely clear. I'm kinda beyond the point of depression. Just in a state where I get sad but not depressed which is a good thing.

I'm from Australia. The derm I went to only accepts referrals and when you get referrals over here, you get a rebate on your consultation with medicare which is great.

A quick update, it's too early to pin it down on antibiotics but my face started to clear up the second night into the antibiotics. There has been no new acne since and even the harder lump pimples have reduced in size. I really hope and have all fingers crossed that it's the result of taking antibiotics. I'm taking two a day of Akamin 50 which is the minocycline type. Along with that I'm taking 1 probiotic pill (inner health plus brand) and also drink 2 yakult's a day.

Im guessing your in the UK invisiblenetrix ? I am paying private for a derm, but the receptionist told me its better to get a letter of referral from your doc as apparently your doc writes down all the stuff you have tried before?

I am asking my doctor next Friday for the referral. Honestly I have tried everything; antibiotics, BCP's, loads of topicals including Duac BP Differin Azelex other shit and I have ventured down the holistic way to no avail to be honest, I just end up frustrated and hungry.

I was thinking about DIM, I currently take a supplement called Accumax which contains VIT A, C AND E and DIM - only 80Mg in 4 tablets though. I seriously don't know. I have actuallyread up on the side effects of Roaccutane and it scares me not gonna lie but to be honest I think I should have been on it years ago! I hate my skin currently, hate it..its too persistent and its causing me so much depression and being unsocial. I think the Roaccutane (if I can get it) is my only hope left.....OR maybe a retinoid.

Have you not been on a retinoid before? If you haven't I would strongly recommend that before you try the Accutane. Although if you skin is scarring easily at this point, Accutane is something I would consider. Are you having any luck with the DIM?

Talk about being anti social, I've cut out absolutely all social events for the past 8 months and have not gone out apart from the overseas trip I planned with my mates that was booked last year when I was completely clear. I'm kinda beyond the point of depression. Just in a state where I get sad but not depressed which is a good thing.

I'm from Australia. The derm I went to only accepts referrals and when you get referrals over here, you get a rebate on your consultation with medicare which is great.

A quick update, it's too early to pin it down on antibiotics but my face started to clear up the second night into the antibiotics. There has been no new acne since and even the harder lump pimples have reduced in size. I really hope and have all fingers crossed that it's the result of taking antibiotics. I'm taking two a day of Akamin 50 which is the minocycline type. Along with that I'm taking 1 probiotic pill (inner health plus brand) and also drink 2 yakult's a day.

Aww man that makes me feel sad that you haven't gone out for that long. It's even more shit that our 20's are supposed to be great years of our lives. I wish it were just more easy to put this negative getting behind us and...Well live. It's easier said than done though isn't it.

I'm happy you skin is looking better. But when you take antibiotics are you meant to take them for a very long time? That's great your taking probiotics alot of folks miss that fact.

Im guessing your in the UK invisiblenetrix ? I am paying private for a derm, but the receptionist told me its better to get a letter of referral from your doc as apparently your doc writes down all the stuff you have tried before?

I am asking my doctor next Friday for the referral. Honestly I have tried everything; antibiotics, BCP's, loads of topicals including Duac BP Differin Azelex other shit and I have ventured down the holistic way to no avail to be honest, I just end up frustrated and hungry.

I was thinking about DIM, I currently take a supplement called Accumax which contains VIT A, C AND E and DIM - only 80Mg in 4 tablets though. I seriously don't know. I have actuallyread up on the side effects of Roaccutane and it scares me not gonna lie but to be honest I think I should have been on it years ago! I hate my skin currently, hate it..its too persistent and its causing me so much depression and being unsocial. I think the Roaccutane (if I can get it) is my only hope left.....OR maybe a retinoid.

Have you not been on a retinoid before? If you haven't I would strongly recommend that before you try the Accutane. Although if you skin is scarring easily at this point, Accutane is something I would consider. Are you having any luck with the DIM?

I've been on differin twice, I've when I was really young and one a couple years ago but I didn't like it, possibly because my skin was worse than it is now and broke me out horribly..patience wasn't my strong point then.

I don't really scar, unless you count hyperpigmentation marks after the spots go away.

I'm really unsure about the DIM, I started taking this Sep last year at this dose (2 of my supplement twice a day equalling to 80mg) along with a face regimen, which I never had before..it was more washing with water and Tea Tree oil. My skin cleared beautifully in a matter of months...but now things have slowed, I get ALOT of non inflammatory acne and clogged pores..but still get cysts a few times a month. I don't have much acne around my chin is mainly my forehead and cheeks. Somehow I feel hopeful about Accutane but I'm going to wait and see what the derm says.

Skip the antibiotics and go for a low dose accutane. Antibiotics are about as dangerous but don't have the potential to cure you.