Accutane..anyone have actual experience

[Anonymous]

my acne is pretty awful.

That said, i've had good luck lately with doxycycline (and derm suggests minocycline is stronger/better, so i may give that a try to see if it knocks out the last few pimples i do get!) and I use a benzoyl peroxide face wash 4% that is prescribed.. Additionally, I have differin (a gentler form of retin-a) to use but im no good about applying that regularly. My skin is incredibly sensitive, and some of my breakouts occur because the senstive skin gets irritated, so I try to minimize irritation. I finally went a full month without a zit (for like..the first time ever since I was 10!) so I'm hopeful.

I'd not try accutane unless you really truly HAD to. Awful stuff in terms of what it does to your body!

[Anonymous]

I took it at age 31 for persistent acne. Some cystic. I was on it 7 months, which apparently is longer than usual. It dried out my hands and feet and left them dry.....horribly so.....still today at 42.

I also suffered from major depression because of it, before they linked it to depression.

I "am" happy that my acne is pretty much gone. I get a pimple here or there when I have my period, like "normal" women, not the pizza face I used to be. But there were permanent costs to that. I would not consider it lightly.

[Anonymous]

My sister was on Accutane in college. Drinking alcohol was not good and she became very depressed. She looked awful while on it, some scarring. It did end her acne but it was a rough experience.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I haven't had a time to come back for a couple of days. I appreciate all the responses. I'm about to back to a dermatologist who recommended accutane to me like 5-8 years ago.

I figure he'll do it again. Or maybe I need a new dermatologist. Any recommendations in DC or NOVA?

[Anonymous]

Dr. Fuchs, Dr. Fuchs, and only Dr. Fuchs.