Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the laser treatment covered by insurance?

I don’t think so. When I called to make an appt for it, they told me it would be $1000 per treatment and he’d need a total of 3. I almost cancelled but remembered how acne affected my self esteem. I also want to prevent scarring. If it works as well as Accutane, it will be worth every cent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in your DC's shoes OP. We tried EVERYTHING and nothing worked. Until the miracle that is Accutane. Just use it. Don't waste another day.

PP- I was 18 when I used Accutane. 39 now. Went from horrible, disguising acne in senior year in HS to great skin since Accutane. Completely changed my life.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what to do for my 15 yo whose acne doesn't seem to respond to anything. DC has VEEEEERY sensitive skin. Very pale. Gets sunburned so easily. Differin and all of the normal topicals basically result in what looks like burns on the face.

DC has tried various concoctions from different dermatologists. At first, they seem to work a bit, then it comes back. It's not the cycstic type. But the face looks bumpy all over and some red pimples here an there.

Is there any other option besides oral meds? And if you are on oral meds, which worked for you? What do I need to be careful of?

I feel so badly b/c DC feels badly looking at all the kids with "porcelain skin." I never comment on it but I know DC feels badly.

Other background: DC is a year round athlete in her sport so sweats a lot. We've seen a few different derms and none of them have been great about treating it.
Any help is appreciated. I know "acne" is a common topic but I feel like some of the other threads won't really apply here b/c of the nature of her own skin.

Anonymous wrote:Until recently, I would have been in the Accutane camp but the FDA recently approved a new laser for acne that is being touted as the biggest advancement in acne treatment since Accutane. I made an appt for DS. You need three treatments so we won’t know the results for a few months. I took Accutane as a teen and remember it being pretty awful so I’m hoping this works instead.

https://www.medestheticsmag.com/news/news/22144114/cutera-fda-clears-cutera-aviclear-1726-nm-acne-laser

Anonymous wrote:Is the laser treatment covered by insurance?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried Winlevi? It is topical and new in the last few months. It cleared up DDs skin in two weeks.

This is hormonal so they will only prescribe it to females.

NOT TRUE. It stops the hormonal production on the SURFACE of the skin so it can be used by males unlike oral spironolactone.

Winlevi is an androgen receptor inhibitor meant to treat acne vulgaris in both males and females. The drug is a topical cream and should be available early next year. Dermatologists may use Winlevi in combination with other treatments to meet individual needs.

Winlevi is the first to use a totally new active: 1% clascoterone. Clascoterone is a topical androgen receptor inhibitor, meaning it inhibits testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) when applied to skin. The ingredient is also used for the treatment of hair loss on the scalp.

Androgens in your skin are responsible for the production of sebum (oil) and can lead to inflammation, which exacerbates acne. Cassiopea, the pharmaceutical company behind Winlevi, notes that while the exact mechanism behind how clascoterone works is unknown, the cream was proven to reduce acne lesions in clinical trials in both men and women over the age of 12.

What makes clascoterone such a breakthrough is that it's the first androgen blocker for acne that works in both men and women. Women are often prescribed birth control pills and spironolactone pills (off-label) to reduce androgen activity and help with acne breakouts. But as a 2020 study in JAMA Dermatology points out: "Both [birth control] and spironolactone are associated with systemic adverse effects, are contraindicated in pregnancy, and are unsuitable for use in males with acne." The study concludes that not only is clascoterone safe and effective for both men and women, but it can also be used as an adjunct treatment with other acne medications like retinoids.

Anonymous wrote:I was in your DC's shoes OP. We tried EVERYTHING and nothing worked. Until the miracle that is Accutane. Just use it. Don't waste another day.