Cystic Acne & Accutane?!
Question:
Cystic Acne & Accutane?
I'm 26 and I have been suffering from cystic acne for about 10 yrs. I've tried all the topical creams and anti-biotics for it, nothing has ever worked even remotely. About a year and a half ago, i finally decided to give Accutane a go. I took accutane for about 4 months, but i was not regular with it. I would miss days often. My acne did get much better, it's a year and a half later and my cystic acne has returned with a vengance. Now, was it that accutane just didn't work, or was the fact that i wasn't very regular with the treatment the reason?
Also, i'm considering going back on accutane, as i didn't suffer from any of the side effects the first time around. Is accutane my only option here?
Answers:
I have to disagree with Ryan S., at least that was not my experience. While there is the potential for VERY SEVERE side effects, I did not experience any besides becoming extremely sensitive to sun exposure. With a few "inconvenient" proventative measures, I was able to cope with that. My advice would be to make an appointment with a good dermatologist, and discuss the benefit-to-risk aspect for your individual profile. Medical history and many other things must be considered, but you said you were on it before. One thing I can say is that your behavior (not taking the meds properly) is certainly not going to achieve results.
For me, it was worth it. I had pretty bad acne, and all other treatments (several topical and antibiotic combinations) had not worked. I could not have been happier with the results. I have never had acne again since going through the full course of treatment on Accutane. That was when I was 17-18, and I am now 35.
Talk to you Dr. and do YOUR part, if he/she decides Accutane is for you. If you are OK in terms of no severe side effects, and take the meds as you are supposed, I am almost certain you will achieve similar results as I did.
Below is a link to Accutane prescribing information.
Good luck. Acne is a terrible thing to have to live with - believe me, I remember.