RACHEL MOSS

Hello everyone,

Well, as you all know, roaccutane was my last resort of having a clear complexion. I was on roaccutane 80mg a day for 6 months, and while it has cleared some of my face, it has not totally cleared.
I am now finding, spots appearing around my chin and upper lip area, however these are not cystic, but very tiny white heads
You wouldn't beleive how upset I am at the moment, because I have not had this many spots in a very long time. Whilst on roaccutane my skin was fine, maybe only 1 or two spots at a time, but now it seems as though my whole chin has broken out really bad

Is it worth asking the derm for another course of roaccutane, but maybe keep me on it this time untill I am clear?

Or does anyone else know of an alternative treatment if roaccutane has failed??

Thanks for all your support,

Love
Rachel
x x x x

highhopes

Rachel,

I really feel for you, honey. I had a similar experience with Accutane. My derm kept me on the drug for close to 8 months, loooong after my acne had cleared up because she knew that hormonal acne is very resistant to treatment. I started getting little pimples in the first few months after I finished my Accutane treatment, so my derm told me to take a "maintanence" dose: 40 mg once a week. So far (the last year or so), that has worked wonders for me. I get a little dry the day after I take the pill, but I don't have any real side effects on such a low dose.

This is considered "off label" usage, and due to the increased restrictions on Accutane I doubt that I'll be able to get a refill or get my derm to prescribe another 6 months worth of pills. You may want to talk with your derm to see how she feels about a maintenance program.

Also, you may find that going on the Pill or spironolactone will help prevent future breakouts by managing your hormones (I have found it helpful, but I still needed Accutane to do the "dirty work.")

Good luck to you and feel free to PM me.

RACHEL MOSS

Hiya high hopes,

Thank you ever so much for your reasuring words.

I didn't totally clear during those 6 months of treatment, so maybe my derm should have kept me on it untill I had fully cleared. Its just so weird, because I never used to get these tiny white heads. Its easy for people to say "leave them alone" but its so diffficult because I feel like a mess with puss on my face!
For, me, this was the last resort. Ive tried pretty much everything

Im gonna book an emergency appointment with my derm tomorrow, and hopefully get an appointment for Friday.

Thankyou x x x

Fayth

Hi Rachel
Im on accutane as well...4th month, my doc plans to keep me on it till im totally clear with no new ones for a month.

Iv been reading up quite a bit on natural progesterone and wondering if ur on it. Dr Lee talks about how the natural progesterone helps acne. I plan to start on it.

Fayth

voodoo_child

Hi Rachel

Wow only 6 months on Roaccutane? did you have any spots while you were still on it?
I was told that you had to have a month with no pimples before you could come off it.

Before i chose to go on Roaccutane, i drank a lot of water! like 2 litres a day they recommend - and it works! Also, you might want to buy some gentle clenser and toner (don't know if you can get it over there, but Johnson and Johnsons ph5.5 is brilliant) and if you do it twice a day, so it cleans out your pores then you will notice a huge difference.

You also might want to try a good mud mask. They usually bring out more pimples the day after you try one, but thats cos its cleaning out your skin properly.

Hope this helps

Mathisk

Since you know what the side effects for youwill be can you take a 2nd course? I read that sometimes it takes that. Just my thougts.