I want to take roaccutane but im afraid of it's side effects or of acne coming back afterwards! Help
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Hello, im new in this page and im doing this from my phone but im really desperate and i need help. I am 15 years old and i want to take roaccutane. My mom tells me she doesnt want me to take it because she's afraid of the side effects but i am desperate for a solution. I do not have sever acne but im right there in the path to it. I have a lot of whitespots and everyweek two to five new HUGE pimples appear in my face and most of my face is red. I have tried everything and have wasted thousands of dollars in treatments, natural or not. I have even tried minocycline but it did not work on me! Im currently going to 10th grade and i have had acne since 7th grade!! My acne is starting to spread to my back and my chest and you can see some of it going for my arms too. I am bullied at school because of my acne and I have days I dont even want to go to school but I have never suffered of deppression or anything like it. I am the only one in my grade to have acne along with another girl so i want the quickest solution out there but Roaccutane seems very risky but I feel it has more pros than cons. Girls think that my acne is disgusting and that really kills my morale and I am even ashamed of being close to people or taking selfies. When i look myself in the mirror I hate my face so much!!! Should I take roaccutane?? I really want to but im looking for others opinions please help me!
2 likes, 26 replies
Rafapk4
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Georgia123456 Rafapk4
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Guest Rafapk4
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tracy999 Rafapk4
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declan05984 tracy999
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beth_62254 Rafapk4
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I went on roaccutane after seffuering with acne from teh age of 8 until i was 18 and finished the treatment! I am now 6 months on and my skin is perfect. I have not had a spot since i finished and it was the best life changing decision i have ever made.
I was too worried about the side effects. I had the common dry face dry lips etc. I also had severe sweating, not a nice side effect (i think it is one of the very rare ones anyway) but looking back that too was worth it. I was on it for 4 months, and before you take it you think ooh i dont know if i could cope with those side effects for that long, but honestly, it is the quickest and most effective solution to long term acne.
I have been given a new lease of life, a new confidence, (which i had lost ALL of during the time i had acne) I now want to help others!!
You can read the good and the bad, at the end of the day , you need to make the decision but I strongly recommend it.
Doctors moniter you closely due to the nature of the drug, it really isnt as scary as it sounds! I had blood tests every month, I didnt drink alcohol for the duration and that was about it! Doctors monitor you so you are safe!
Some of the worst side effects are extremely rare, if you have a good support netowkr around you and a good doctor you will be fine they are going to know if you have any mood changes.
I know you posted this a few months ago, so depending on whether you have started the treatment already or not. I would recommend 2 things.
1. is aquaphor, it is a product made by eucerin, ( you can get it in pharmacys in both the uk and usa, it is originally from usa) and it is in alternative to vaseline and is 10x better, i put it on my lips which were awful at the time and woke up the next day and it was compeltely sorted. No kidding! It was a miracle, try it!
2. Arbonne baby care face wash and lotion. After I finished roaccutane i was left with dry skin, no moisturisers worked and all sting when i put them on apart from this one. MY skin is now soft and smooth and pain free.
Goodluck with your decision!
Rosey16 beth_62254
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However, now I'm pretty stuck. A bit of background, I perform locally and play at gigs in the hope to have a career in music/music business, and I have always been extremely conscious of the fact that when I am playing at venues there are lights shining on me and people often videoing or taking photos, and all I can think is that they are thinking about my skin. The thing that's really set me off these past couple of days is that I recently filmed with a group of people for a "live session" and the video went online yesterday evening, and all I can see in the video is my disgusting skin. It made me cry, and I felt like/still feel like I can't carry on doing things that involve people seeing my face like that while my skin is so terrible. My mum saw the state I was in over it and has booked another dermatologist appointment for me and is adamant that I get prescribed roaccutane to sort it out once and for all. I feel like she is right, but I'm terrified of the side effects still. I've been doing so much reading online about it and just came across this post. I would love it if you could try and help me make more of an informed decision on it. I'm sick of having my skin like this, and while I'm lucky not to have worse things to be on medicine for, I feel as though my skin is forcing me to be unhappy and roaccutane would have the power to stop that, I'm just a bit worried still.
declan05984 Rafapk4
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andy63507 Rafapk4
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i suffered from acne for 7 years without any medication working. I know exactly how horrible it can be. I think roaccutane is a little too strong a medication for you to go on if you haven't tried other medication. For girls birth control pills are particularly successful. You also sholdn't try to go on roaccutane as a 'fast' solution-it takes around 2 months for it to kick in and during those 2 months your skin can actually get worse. I would make sure you have tried topical medications (creams, gels etc.) and antibiotics as well as the pill, then discuss roaccutane with a doctor. The side effects can be horrid, my lips bled for a while, but if your acne is severe it is really successful at getting rid of it. I really hope this has helped. If there is one piece of advice I can give it's ignore the bullies and try to live your life. Looking back at the years I wasted upset about my skin and now I really dont care when other people have acne, I wish I'd got on with life! Best wishes to you x
kayleigh34942 Rafapk4
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sara_29294 kayleigh34942
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I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind, explaining what you mean when you say that the medication changed you and that you still have side effects years later?
I've had acne since I was 12, I'm now 27. I've literally been on every drug and cream available apart from roaccutane. It has been suggested to me many times over the years but I've always been too afraid of the side effects, paticularly depression as this is something I have suffered with in the past (about 10 years ago but the possibility still worries me).
I would be willing to risk it if I thought that any side effects would disappear once the meds were discontinued but your post has given me second thoughts.
Any help would be massively appreciated.
joey566 sara_29294
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joey566 Rafapk4
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I can completely understand you will do ANYTHING for clear skin but there are other options!! Try aromatherapy, reflexology.....
In the UK there was a programme called "Dying for clear skin" whcich was all about Roaccutane. Yes there are "success stories" but you cannot guarentee this will be you. In US I know there are protests trying to stop this drug being made available and I've heard of families in the UK of those affected my suicide from Roaccutane trying to get it off the market. It does sound an easy option but believe me, it could have awful side effects. You may be one of the extremely lucky ones, I assumed I would be.
I spent over 2 years on anti depressants, having to see counselor, psychiatrist, yet "talking" therapies did nothing as my reason for being depressed was due to the medication! I can completely empathise with you about hating your skin, as even after taking Roaccunate for 2 months my skin is now even worse, yet I had to over come depression to realise I would rather have bad skin than a mental health illness.
Please just think very carefully about this. It is easy for those who have had a successful time with the medication and have clear skin now and I am really pleased for them as that was what I wanted. Yet I want to make it clear that not everyone has that success story. Trust me, your life and mental health is definitely not worth the risk!!!
kj2804 Rafapk4
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I was like you, whilst everyone else seemed to have perfect clear skin and would complain about the tiniest 'under skin' spots, I would be there listening with big red, painful spots clearly visible and think "ugh you have no clue." I would get so frustrated with them as I had suffered from around 13 and by 17 my skin was getting worse, with boils being a big problem as well as acne on my back and face.
I had tried face washes and the pill which didn't seem to have any affect over them, i tried prescribed roll on treatments, toothpaste, vinegar, and antibiotics to no success and my self confidence was at an all time low, seriously affecting my personal life in regards to relationships (seemingly important at the time).
Anyway after being referred to a dermatologist i decided to try roaccutane, my mother was very concerned with the side effects and it worried me too but I got to the point where possibly stupidly I was willing to risk it! So i started roaccutane and ended up taking it for 6 months at quite a high dose for my weight and frame, however, apart from insanely dry peeling lips, very dry and red eyes (which people commented on thinking i was crying) and mild back pain it did eventually get rid of my acne and my skin has been clear mostly since then which is nearly a year! I still have light scarring on my face but I am very happy with the results, however I still get frequent painful boils which I know am seeking to treat. I would say if it is a risk you feel will benefit you then go for it, personally I am prone to not depression but bouts of low dark moods and suicidal thoughts but the treatment did not affect me in that way and I am mostly positive now after it! It is the only thing that has helped me but that doesn't mean it will help you and you've got to think if why you are wiling to do it is as important as it seems. Good luck with whatever you choose!!
marc78972 Rafapk4
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I'm 28 years old now, but started roaccutane at the age of 16. I'd suffered with moderate to severe acne all through high school, and had zero confidence in myself and hated looking in the mirror! I'd tried every pill, and cream my gp has prescribed me, non of which worked, plus every acne treatment you can buy in shops, and none of them did anything. I began using sunbeds to help, which did improve alittle, but luckily I had a referall to see a dermatologist at the hospital. Once I explained I was using sunbeds to try help they were not happy and prescribed me roaccutane there and then!
I have not looked back since taking this! My skin is ridiculously clear and dare I say perfect now. I have confidence, walk around with my head held high, and now when people look, I'm not paranoid thinking there thinking terrible things about my skin and how ugly I am. Yes, the side affects aren't great. Dry skin, lips, and red face, but compared to a face full of acne, it was worth every second! They subside after you stop the medication. When I tell people I had terrible acne in my teens they never believe me, as my skin is so good now.
I'm not saying any other person will have the same outcome and experience as me. But for someone who tried everything to help my skin and get my life back, it was worth it. In my eyes roaccutane is a miracle drug, and I can't thank the dermatologist who prescribed it me enough.