Accutane...2nd try?

[Anonymous]

I am meeting with my derm next week to discuss options. Acne has returned after a 3 month treatment 5 years ago. Nothing topical works, and it's awful. I feel 13 again, and not in a good way. Accutane was so successful for me, totally clear skin, but then I got pregnant and I think the hormones went into overdrive again. Has anyone been successful with a second round, so far after the first?

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Retin-A? I was in the same situation as you are. I had a round of Accutane in my mid 20s and then had a baby at 30. My hormones lost their minds after that and I considered another round of Accutane. My derm had tried antibiotics which worked okay but didn't do the trick. Then, she put me on Retin-A generic even though I told her no topical had ever worked for me. 4 months later, my skin is as clear as it has ever been. I only use it every 3rd night b/c it is very drying otherwise. My skin was horrible the first 2 months and then it cleared up and has stayed clear. I am also on a BCP too.

[Anonymous]

Accutane in high school helped take the edge off but wasn't great. Tried again in college a few years later and it worked then. So whether it was the second round or just a change of body chemistry, it worked.

[Anonymous]

Op here...many thanks for those thoughts. I ended up going with accutane and will start in 30 days. I figure I don't want to take the antibiotics just to SEE if they work when I know the accutane worked for me those years back. Crossing my fingers, so incredibly tired of having acne!

[Anonymous]

I did take a second course of accutane. The first worked fairly well, but the second took me the rest of the way.