Is 13 too young for Accutane?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't use Accutane. It can have really awful long-term effects.
I had extremely bad cystic acne at 13/14 years old. It left prominent permanent scars on my face. It was difficult, but as an adult I'm glad my parents didn't make me take Accutane.
I went on to a great college, now own my own successful business, and have been married 10 years to the best partner anyone could ask for. Acne won't ruin her life.

OMG. Accutane also won't ruin anyone's life, and in fact, will improve it immensely. The side effects that everyone fixates on have occurred in a tiny percentage of cases. Both my boys had horrible cystic acne, both were put on Accutane around 12/13 and luckily, neither were left with scars because we acted quickly. Their skin is beautiful now. They experienced depression - BEFORE taking Accutane, because of how they looked. It was the Accutane which saved them. If my daughter also experiences cystic acne, we will most definitely give her Accutane as well.

There are few things more destructive to a teen's self-esteem than terrible acne. I would never tell my kids they couldn't take a drug that has been proven to be effective for cystic acne.

How long did your boys take Accutane? Also having acne by age 12/13, how long until acne goes ultimately away with or without accutane for boys?

[Anonymous]

My DD had to take it at 13 she was going to scar if not. What a difference it made for her (now 19 lovely skin occasional acne). Youngest is 15 in the pill for it Accutane next if it does t work (Mom here, Accutane for me at 18)

[Anonymous]

I am 39 and took Accutane in 8th grade (so when I was 13-14). I had terrible acne, starting around 5th grade when I got my period. Every option for treatment was exhausted before I went on it (except for BC... that wasn’t offered to me as an option). My skin cleared up before I went into high school and it has a HUGE impact on my self confidence and HS experience and I really enjoyed my time there. I did have to go for monthly blood tests, to check my liver function, but other than very dry lips and sun sensitivity, I didn’t have more extreme side effects. That said, I do have melasma at 39...clear skin for 25 years, but melasma all over my face. (At 39... the melasma don’t bother me nearly as much as my awful acne back when I was younger)