berkeley parents network: acne

8/13/2019 Berkeley Parents Network: Acne

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worse had I not done the Accutane.

Not sure if they still do this since it's been 20 years, but when I was 11, the drug was experimental

and my dermatologist tried to insist that I take the monthly preganacy test required of users.

(severe, debilitating birth defects are the major side effect if one is to become pregnant while taking

Accutane) No way, no how, my mother said. After a couple moths of arguing, I got a special

dispensation from pregnancy tests, but still did the monthly blood panels. After the first month, it

was no big deal. I'm a champ at giving blood now.

I'm always the one person writing in to say this, but for me, its true: Accutane saved my self-esteem

and social skills. Before taking it, I couldn't look anyone in the face, wouldn't go to the pool ever, had

maybe two friends. After taking it, I left high school reasonably popular, confident, with an

understanding that crippling self-esteem issues do not have to be forever. I know it sounds like a

drug testimonial, but Accutane IS a giant pain in the ass and it IS worth every bit of the effort when

nothing else works.been there

I would really read the side effects of accutane - here is one listhttp://www.acne.org/accutane-sid-

-effects.html

How hard have you tried topicals?

ProActiv has been working for us, and it really helped to have its' inventor and her staff show us how

to use it. Dr. Rodan is in Oakland: http://www.drrodan.com/

Yes it takes time to use it, but you could use a reward system. My daughter started in middle school

and uses it still today, with no harsh side effects. She has used it at summer camp, traveling in

Europe and on a 5 week wilderness retreat.

There are other systems that work too.accutane should be a last resort

My 16-year-old son has been taking Accutane (Claravis) for just 4 months now.He tried almost twoyears of Tetracycline which initially seemed to be working, then not at all.I was very reluctant to

have him try the Claravis, but our dermatologist was very supportive.Apparently his acne is a pretty

severe case; it's taken 4 months, double-dosing three nights a week to get over the horrible initial

flare-up.He had to take a short, low-dose course of Prednisone to bring down the redness after the

first 2 months.He now seems to be ''almost around the corner'' as well put by our doctor.None of

these drugs has had any negative effect on him; he has a fasting blood draw once per month to keep

watch on triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which are so far looking fine.

The only problems he's encountered are severe dryness of his lips, and some dryness also around the

cuticles on his hands.This seems a small price to pay for the amazing improvement that is

manifesting on his skin surface.I really think now that we waited too long to do this.I feel that a lotof what he was feeling about his appearance was just shoved under the rug, and that he was

suffering a lot more than was visible to us, his parents.I say ''Go for it.''This drug has been used in

some form or another since around 1970 I believe.Teenage self-esteem is a hard thing to go without.

Here are a couple of websites you might want to look at:

http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/accutane.html

http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/472/Green.html

You are welcome to email me if you think I could help answer any questions about the process my

son is going through.elaine

Experience with teens using Accutane for acne?March 2010

My 16.5 year old son has had pretty bad acne for a couple of years.I have been very resistant to


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having him use Accutane because itseems like such a dangerous drug with so many potential

sideeffects.He took antibiotics for 6 months about a year ago and thatseemed to help some but not

that noticeably. His acne is notoutrageously bad but it really bothers him and he has been

beggingme to let him try Accutane.

Please let me know if you have experience with your teenager usingthis drug. Did it help? Did the

teen experience side effects? Wehave not yet seen a dermatologist. Our pediatrician said he

didn'tthink the drug was that dangerous.Thanks for your feedback.Worried Mom

I thought Accutane had been taken off the

market.Seehttp://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aRyzfbTsj3h8I know a girl

who was an athlete and it does something to joints orligaments. She fell while running ALL the time.

Read the article - thelawsuits are huge and serious, and Roche has lost them all.PeggyPlease see a

dermatologist before trying Accutane. This is notsomething a pediatrician can handle. My 16 year

old daughter hasbeen dealing with acne for several years. Her acne is moderate andcurrently in

control. What does she do? 1) washes her face twice aday with Proactive; 2) takes an antibiotic for 2

months and thentakes a break until she feels it's getting out of control again; 3)applies a topical

gel(Differin and another stronger than Differin)inthe morning; 4) applies Proactive's face mask on

blemishes at nightand sleeps with it.Proactive recently came out with a clear maskyou can wear

during the day. Haven't tried it yet, but the regularmask reduces redness and helps blemishes heal.

It's a rigorousroutine but worth it in the end. Acne can damage a kid's self esteemand with work, it

can be managed. Good luck.Fellow Acne MomOver the last decade, I have worked with about 10

adolescents who usedAccutane and experienced moderate to severe depression, increases

inaggressiveness and suicidal thoughts and feelings, with no priorhistory of these difficulties. These

problems tended to lift fairlyquickly (from a few days to a few weeks) after cessation of

Accutane.Michael Y. Simon, MFT Dear Worried Mom:My son begged me to used Accutane. His acne

too, in my opinion, wasnot that bad, but he didn't want to go through High school with anyacne. A

dermatologist we saw advised us that it was okay, but I hadsevere misgivings. Luckily, we found a

great treatment, not very wellknown. It is called levulan blue light treatment....aphotosensitizingagent is applied to your child's skin, and they sit under the bluelight lamp for about

30 minutes.They cannot go out in the sun forthat day, so we did it on a saturday. Unfortunately, we

had to pay outof pocket for this. In my opinion, I think dermatologists pushaccutane so much,

because it is covered in most insurances. I thinkaccutance should only be used for Severe acne, as a

very lastresort. It worked very well for my son. It didn't clear up everysingle drop of acne, but it

worked well enough for him to stop beggingus for accutance. If you have any more questions, feel

free to contactme.MicheleMy daughter's experience with Accutane was different than the

otherposters so I thought I'd give you the benefit of a different opinion.My daughter had serious

acne starting in 6th grade. Her father and Iboth had acne as teens and residual physical scarring.

Afterconsistent treatment with a dermotologist, and using variousantibiotics, which worked for atime and then stopped working, by 8thgrade the dermotologist suggested Accutane. After two years

ofantibiotics and other topical agents, her acne was getting cystic.So, after consulting with her

pediatrician, she started on Accutane.I was aware of the depression side affect so I watched

carefully forit. She had blood work done monthly because Accutane can affect theliver.She was on

Accutane for six months. No side effects, otherthan dry lips and flaky skin. It completely cleared her

skin.Statistically, in 70% of patients the acne does not reoccur.Would do it again.Our daughter used

accutane, for over a year, from ages 12-13. Wehave very severe cystic acne in our family-- the kind

that scars theface and back deeply-- and tried everything possible before we wentthis route. My

daughter had no history of, or tendency towarddepression, and those who take it must get their

cholesterol checkedevery month (as well as take a pregnancy test). Our daughter'sdermatologistnever treated accutane lightly; we understood it was aserious yet necessary drug, in this case.This

meant that ourdaughter needed to see the dermatologist every month for follow-upcheck-ups and if

anything was amiss, they let us know (One month hercholesterol was high, and the dermatologist


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slowed her intake toevery other day for a month. When it went back to normal, sheresumed her

regular daily dose until the trematment was over).

It did all it promised to do, although our daughter had to take two5 month courses (instead of the

usual one), because of the severity.A year later and all is well. We are so grateful for accutane (and

Iwish that it had been an option for me). Again- it should be takenonly with medical supervision, but

many people who dimiss it (orsay, ''just wash your face; this will help'') may not understand whatit

means to truly have this kind of acne, and the miraculous effectaccutane can have on it.

- a mom who would make the choice again

My son's acne was really affecting his self-esteem (he is 15).We trieddealing with it through his

pediatrician, but it was months and monthsof trying creams that were doing nothing.Luckily, he had

a skinirritation from swimming all summer that necessitated us seeing adermatologist.Again, he

went for months trying the creams again. Finally, the dermatologist offered him antibiotics.Several

of theoptions were scary, but we chose the least scary one: Tetracycline. He's had wonderful results

with this drug, with no side effects.Idon't know what antibiotics you were using, but I urge you to

take yourson to a dermatologist.These doctors know what they are looking at;not so with a GP.

Elaine Before you go the Accutane route I would strongly recommend you checkout Face Reality

Acne and Skincare Clinic in San Leandro.My daughter(now 21) had always had relatively clear skin

until spring 2006 whenshe developed major breakouts that started to scar her skin (andimpact her

self esteem.)High school is trying enough without theadded stress of acne.We tried ProActive (which

only worked for about2 months) then I took her to a dermatologist who put her on anantibiotic and

RetinA cream regime for 8 weeks that resulted in overdrying her skin and clogging her pores.Next,

the dermatologistrecommended Accutane.I, too, wanted to research alternatives beforegoing down

this potentially dangerous path.My daughter's majorconcern was to get clear before she started

college that fall.

From the initial phone call to the consultation, treatment and follow-up Face Reality Acne Clinic

provided a professional and verypersonalized approach towards my daughter's acne problem.It

tookabout three months for her to get clear, but she started showingsignificant improvement in thefirst few weeks.The program requiredan acne treatment ($75) every two weeks (I'm not sure if the

price haschanged) and the consistent use of several products every morning andevening.The cost of

the products was reasonable ($120 for a 3-4month supply.)As her skin adapted they needed to

introduce anotherproduct here and there, but it was still very reasonable, but moreimportantly, it

worked.

The Face Reality staff also encouraged communication between visits. If my daughter was concerned

about how her skin was reacting orwhether she was doing her routine properly, she felt

comfortableenough to call.She was always able to speak to someone knowledgeableor get a prompt

call back. They are professional, kind and completelyapproachable to teens, who can be supersensitive to their acne issuesat this age.

My daughter has remained clear and still continues with her simpleskincare routine. In 2007 my

then 17 year-old son started going to theclinic.He, too, had great results and remains clear (99% of

thetime) despite a less than healthy diet and stress related to being acollege sophomore.For more

info you can visit their websitehttp://www.facerealityacneclinic.com/ It's a great resource

ofinformation. Good luck!Relieved Acne Mom

Experience treating cystic acne?Nov 2009

Has anyone had experience treating cystic acne?? My daughter has been diagnosed with it and itseems to be a difficult form of acne to treat. It sounds like each case is very individual.Am wondering

what experiences people have had with it in terms of treatment,alternative therapies and/or

nutrition? We are being told to treat it initially with antibiotics and then eventually accutane. Any


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than usual. You have towear sunscreen because sunburns can be bad. But all of that wasworth it in

my book.

I have an NP at Kaiser Oakland now: Claire Wing. I really likeher because she talks to me like I'm an

equal decision-maker intreating my skin. Most important though is that you have adermatologist

who is willing to make adjustments in treatment.Like you said, it is very individual. If Dr. Reisman

sees yourdaughter fairly frequently and is willing to tinker with themedicines she is using to find the

right combo, then he's agood fit.jessica

It took me almost 20 years to figure out that my cystic acne was the result of eatingfoods with a high

iodine content.I eliminated all fish from my diet.Hard to dobecause sushi was my favorite food - but,

it is also loaded with iodine; the fish, thekelp, the soy sauce.I made a list of *all foods* that are high

in iodine and never eatthem because if I do, the result is a breakout of cystic acne.It is a sacrifice,

but thepayoff is beautiful skin.Such a relief after YEARS of terrible acne. - finally, acne free.I had

/have cystic acne, with a severe occurenece as a teen andsmaller recurrences during and after my

pregnancies. One of mybrothers also had severe case, and my father, even worse. Iwent through

standard antibotics as a teen,and although my facehas a few scars,it is mostly ok.But my back that is

so severelyscarred, I never wear anything with a low back or withoutsleeves(including bathing

suits),even today.

When it was clear my daughter inherited the condition, we tookher to the dermatologist, who after 6

months of entry-leveloptions, put her on accutane at age 13. When she startedtreatment,she had

already gotten 4 or 5 terrible cysticbreakouts, ones that infect close to a square inch, deep underthe

skin's surface and are not only painful but definitelyleave scars. Plus she had over 50 blackheads on

her back(despite VERY careful attention to washing and topicals).I'mhear to tell you that accutane is

a lifesaver. She went throughtwo courses of it,which the dermatologist said was quiteunusual, but

she finished the treatment with a TOTALLY clearback. You have no idea how big it was for her to

buy a dresswith an open back for the 8th grade dance. Not only has it beena huge boost for her self

confidence as a teen, but I know thatavoiding lifelong scars will benefit her forever.

Some of the earlier posts suggest that washing one's face orcertain dietary restrictions are somehow

the key.Honestly,these people have no idea what it really means tocarry this gene! Going on

accutane should not be a casualdecision, but one that should definitely be made and monitoredby a

doctor.... but severe, cystic acne is not the same thingas getting a few zits.(My son has had a bit of

regular teenacne, which he has treated with topicals. It is NOT the samething as cystic acne!!To

suggest that washing up or removingdairy will take care of problem just doesn't understand

thenature of the problem). Accutane is carefully regulated; notonly did my daughter take a

pregnancy test each month, but theyalso checked her cholesterol levels and adjusted intake

levelswhen needed.

I truly believe that kids should not have to suffer fromlifelong scars in today's world.If everything

else is ok withyour child medically speaking (and she doesn't have apredisposition toward

depression),and she has a severe problem,then she should absolutely seek this treatment.- been

there and relived it

Green, natural acne treatment?Dec 2008

My young teen has mild acne but it is a source of some stress. Seeking effective treatments that are

less toxic to her & the planet. The website doesn't seem to have anything recent but hopefully there

are ideas out there. Thanks!teen girl's mom

http://www.keys-soap.com/Keys soaps might be a solution. I like the island rx soap and the extrahealing serum ( not sure of the name, little roll on bottle). I'm a former clairol/clearasil early 40s

type who had her skin dried too much by proactive (even when just targeting the acne area). I can't

guarantee this works for teen skin, but testimonials indicate it does. And the ingredients run toward


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rosemary and carrot seed oils in terms of 'toxicity.' They one an award for best non chemical

sunscreen--a product I also like.happy with keysThe best esthetician that I know of in our area is

Kathy Stephens.She only uses green, non toxic products and has worked wonders for both of my kids

throughout their teen years.She's very gentle and gets great results.I always consult her (for both

myself and my kids) instead of a dermatologist.She is in El Cerrito and her phone number is: 510-

232-0641.Long Time Satisfied ClientI've had pretty good luck with Neem soap - Thera-Neem is my

favorite. You can also take Neem internally.clearer every dayI don't know if it is green or not but my

daughter has had great success at Face Reality in San Leandro.I am a big fan of their procedures

and products.It is expensive because you pay for the visits and you buy their products.They look at

your daughter's skin, do some extractions and change up to stronger products as the skin adjusts. It

does get pricy,since the products change as the skin changes, but I feel it is so much better than the

trade off of other options we tried before.And if I consider how much I spent on dr. visits,the lastest

advertised or recommended acne products,antibiotics and Acutane which didn't work, or didn't work

for very long, I wish I had just given Face Reality a try years ago.Not to mention that I have nagging

worries about the Acutane.My daughter is away at college now and calls them when she needs

product.She recently contacted them to get a stronger moisturizer since the cold climate is drying

her skin too much.Her skin is looki! ng good with the continued use of their products.Check out their

website.If you have any questions, I'll be happy to talk with you.cynthia

16-year-old wants to try AccutaneOct 2008

My son is 16 and wants to try Accutane for his acne. His dermatologistthinks that it is okay to use. I

am really concerned, but my sonreally wants his acne to clear up. He has been on the

antibioticminocycline and also using Retin-A for the past two months, and it isnot really working

well. I am interested in other parents experiences,worries and opinions about accutane, especially

parents ofboys. thanks.M

My son took Accutane when he was around 16 and it worked beautifully in clearing up his acne.My

only regret was that he didn't start it sooner.I believe that his insurance required that he be on an

antibiotic for one year before Accutane could be prescribed, and that was a long year.However, if

he's already seeing a dermatologist, maybe that rule doesn't apply.To take Accutane, monthly bloodsamples are required so the doctor can keep make sure that there are no negative effects.Well worth

it.AnonymousProActive works well for my daughter. Also Dr. Rodan is in Oakland andsees patients, I

believe she has sold her interest in ProActive andhas a new formulation. What is really great about

Dr. Rodan is herspecific instructions in using topicals. Generally when ProActivefails it comes back

to ''user error'' for my daughter. Before you goup the ladder with pharmaceuticals please consider

reviewing allpossible details of self care. Also has your son ever been tested forallergies? Low level

allergies can aggravate skin conditions. It isoften not something the dermatologist will acknowledge

or pursue.momMy daughter did Accutane and had none of the mythic sideeffects. She had to be

(even more) careful about the sun,but the results were almost life changing. I grew up with abrother

who battled acne well into his late 20s when theonly treatment was tetracycline, and that wasn'tvery effective.

If my son had severe acne and wanted to use Accutane & theDermatologist recommended it or was

willing to prescribe itI would go for it, with or without insurance paying for it.I know kids who have

used it for more mild acne, and I thinkthat was a bit much.

Why not be known for some other feature?

I don't have a son, but my daughter had to use Accutane toget rid of persistent acne that nothing

else worked on.

It is even more odious for girls as there is the wholepregnancy/birth control element to deal with

monthly, but itwas worth it. She took the Accutane for 6 to 7 months andher skin is perfect.

Make sure to visit my other website which is all regarding home remedies for acne scars. You will
http://www.cottagebythesea-gifts.com/how-to-cope-with-cystic-acnehttp://www.cottagebythesea-gifts.com/how-to-cope-with-cystic-acne


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beevaluated ASAP!NP Mom

Tetracycline for 16-year-old's acne?Sept 2005

My 16 year old just started taking tetracycline for acne.It is the first few days, she has been upset

anyway, and I am so worried about how she will manage any adverse reactions at school.She started

over the weekend, but I think the next two weeks will be crucial.Can anyone tell of their experience

using this drug?It is the first level of meds suggested by Dr. Walker, after trying topical agents.anon

I presented a talk on acne after doing quite a bit of research on the topic.Use of antibiotics has had

mixed results. The latest published info: long-term ( 1 year) use of antibiotics predisposed women to

a much higher risk of breast cancer in one large study.Some other methods to help deal with acne

include asuperlative diet with lots of fresh whole foods, adequate protein, essential fatty acids, and

1/4-1/2 cup of lactofermented foods (cleanse the liver and colon; recommended by Dr. Tom Cowan,

MD).As acne has been called ''skin diabetes,'' avoiding all sugars (even fake ones) can help. Grains

and milk products can raise insulin-like growth factor-1, which raises both androgens and insulin,

plus stimulates sebum and keratin.Special foods to use will be high in real vitamin A (eggs, organ

meats, shell and other fish), vitamins C and E, plus the minerals selenium and zinc (the ''ACESZs''). I

would add folate, niacinamide and chromium rich foods too.Supplements that have helpful include 1

tsp Swedish Bitters at bedtime (more cleansing) and internal and external use of beta sitisterol, the

latter being a plant phytonutrient that naturally lowers the provocative androgen contributing to

most acne. Other topicals that have a high success rate are tea tree oil (5% solution is as effective as

5% benzoyl peroxide), aloe vera juice, and bee propolis extract.Exposure to UVB can decrease acne,

but our season at 38 degrees N ended in September for obtaining this from the sun.Look forward to

it in May, however.Nori HudsonTetracycline works extremely well against acne, and I can't

remember experiencing any side effects other than increased sun sensitivity. The problem is that

there are obvious drawbacks to taking antibiotics for an extended period of time ... but as soon you

stop taking the tetracycline, the acne comes back. So I'd suggest getting some opinions from other

dermatologists. Personally, I've had wonderful results from Neutrogena's home microdermabrasion

kit ... but if your daughter has cystic acne or rosacea, I wouldn't recommend it.-- Long-time acne

fighterI took tetracycline for acne for several years, beginning in my late teens.I used it incombination with Retin-A and Cleocin (both topical agents).While this combination didn't completely

clear up my acne, it did help considerably.Has your daughter discontinued the use of the topicals?I

haven't heard of giving just an antibiotic and nothing else, but I'm sure it depends on the severity of

the condition.I wish her luck.I know how difficult it is to have problematic skin.Anon28 years ago, I

started taking tetracycline for acne and continued for about 4 years with no side effects then or now.

It cleared my skin quite a bit, but later prescriptions worked better. Please email me if you have

questions. Best regards,emrosenYikes! I had to respond to your post and share my experience,

which was NOT positive. I took tetracycline for acne for almost 2 years in college. Unfortunately, it

didn't do much for my acne at all. But it wraught havoc on the rest of my body, and I am still paying

for it 15 years later. Tetracycline is a VERY STRONG ANTIBIOTIC, and taking antibiotics of any kind(even milder ones) for more than 2 weeks or so, can be very harmful on your body in several ways.

In the process of killing harmful bacteria, it also kills the good bacteria your body needs to digest

food, fight off colds, flus and other illnesses, fight off yeast infections, and pretty much everything

your organs need to do to keep you healthy. Taking antibiotics for extended periods of time, such as

for acne, does not allow your body to replenish its good bacteria (as it would do after a normal

course of antibiotics, say, for an infection). It leaves your body extremely weakened and susceptible

to all kinds of things.

My personal experience was that the tetracycline did not help to clear up my acne - but I was young

and desperate and hated having acne, and I kept hoping it would work and help it go away. As a

result of the tetracycline, I got ulcers in my esophagus because the antibiotics had eaten into myesophagus. The Physician's Desk Reference says that tetracycline has to be taken with a lot of food

or milk (not something my dermatologist told me) and that it CAN cause ulcers (again, not

something the dermatologist told me). Needless to say, I was so surprised, and extremely miserable


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from the experience, and it took several months for the ulcers to heal (ouch). Needless to say, I

stopped the tetracycline, and eventually the acne went away on its own (more on that in a minute).

As a result of having been on antibiotics for so long, I had no good bacteria to fight yeast, and

therefore got yeast infections about every 2-3 months the whole time I was on it (and later - I still

struggle with them occasionally when my yeast gets out of whack). I went travelling in Europe, and

caught parasites because my body had no way to fight them off since all my good bacteria was gone.

The parasites went undiagnosed for too long (the medical system... don't get me started) and as a

result I ended up with ulcerative colitis in my large intestine. That lasted 3 years and took a LOT of

work to clear up - I've been clear for over 5 years, thank God.

All this to say a few things: I am not at all saying that all this will happen to your child. But what I

am saying is that there are long-term reprecussions to long-term use of antibiotics, especially such

strong ones as tetracycline. If your child's skin does not respond to antibiotics at all after a month, I

would take her off them as they are clearly not helping. Give your child acidophilus daily the whole

time she is on the antibiotics, to help replenish her good bacteria. And try to help her cut down her

sweets and bready things - so that she doesn't get an overgrowth of yeast in her system. Yogurt is

great for good bacteria intake.

If I had it to do all over again with what I know now - and I have learned a lot as the result of all I've

experienced health-wise - I would go see an allergist or alternative practitioner to be tested for

allergies to foods, because I am pretty sure that the reason my body had acne in college was (1)

because I was eating WAY too much dairy and my body didn't like it, and (2) because my hormones

were out of balance and having a hard time being processed by my liver (this is actually something I

am working on now with an alternative practitioner with great results). Maybe my hormones

eventually got balanced and that is why the acne went away, or maybe I eat less dairy and cut out

caffeine - who knows. But I do know that the tetracycline sure didn't help with the acne.

Also, the longer you use an antibiotic, the weaker it gets and the less effective it is on your body. I

am pretty convinced that after having used it for so long, it wouldn't do anything to kill bacteria in

my body if I ever had an infection that required antibiotics. Ultimately, you want to ''save'' use of

antibiotics for life-threatening illnesses, so that they will actually work if you really need them

I would be happy to talk to you more about this if you have questions. As you can probably tell, it is

something I feel really strongly about. Feel free to email and I will give you my number. And I would

be happy to recommend some great people who might be able to help with a non-medical approach

to your daughter's acne.galadam

I took tetracycline for acne when I was a teen. It was moderatelyeffective in reducing acne, but myacne was never especially bad.I'm not sure what side effects you are worried about, but Ididn't have

any of them.

However, one day, several months after after starting the drug, Istarted itching intensely all over my

body. It wasn't pleasant,but neither was it excruciating--maybe comparable to the chickenpox.

Apparently it was an allergic reaction. Following thedermatogist's recommendation, I discontinued

tetracycline, took abenadryl or something similar, and I was fine in less than a day.I think he put me

on a sulfa drug like Keflex next.

I hope this isn't alarming, because I didn't think it was bigdeal then or now, and I would put my child

on tetracycline foracne if the dermatologist were to recommend it.i took tetracycline for acne and had a hard time committing tothe eating restrictions (take around,

not with, food; no milk,which i drank at the time). but the worst problem was the yeastinfections. i

don't mean to be gross, but i was thirteen anddidn't know why i was ''peeing cottage cheese'' -- it


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literallyflowed and looked like wet toilet paper clumps. for this reasonalone, i would definitely not

recommend. why kill all the body'snatural flora?anon

Non-medical solution to teen's acne?Oct 2004

Please advise re skin care products for a teen girl withfrequent break-outs, and many red spots

(from picked-openpimples).We are not interested in a ''medical'' solution. A friend'schild had severe

mental side-effects from Retin-A, and thisis not uncommon.Proactive web reviews indicate severe

burning and skincracking as a side-effect.Have you or your teen found any products that work?Anon

I have a good friend named Gillian Christie who markets aline of all natural, botanically based skin

care productsby a Swiss company called Arbonne.She reports manyposaitve outcomes with her

products.More info atwww.gillian.myarbonne.comlarryI have now had two children (teens) who have

benefittedfrom skin care/products offered by Katherine Leverette, anesthetician who operates

Solutions Center (510-893-7546).The Center is near Laney College in Oakland.For years, wehave

referred to her as ''the Acne Queen.''She uses naturalproducts, explains a lot about skin care, and is

a total,delightful character.IleneBelieve it or not, we have found head & shoulders shampooto work

quite effectively.My family uses it all the timewhen they start breaking out.Just wash your face

withit.Worth a try.This to the parent who seeks products for their child'sacne.There is absolutely no

product that will work if theyoung person ''picks at'' his/her skin.The number onefactor in whether

small blackheads become pimples iscontact with the hands.Bacteria and irritation are goingto win

every time.Please help your kid train him/herselfto NEVER touch the skin on the face except when

washing.How I wish I'd been told this before I endured Phisohex,Clearasil, Retin -A treatments,

sunlamps, tetracycline,chocolate-deprivation.A dermatologist taught me this andmy skin cleared up

perfectly from that day forward.Good luck.Kathe

Birth Control Pills for Acne?June 2003

I am looking for someone who can give me an education regarding the benefits and side effects of

taking Triphasil -28, a low dose birth control pill, for control of acne.My daughter was given these at

the Berkeley Health Clinic, without my knowledge, after she and I had briefly discussed how these

were offered as an possibility for controlling her skin problems (which in my opinion could be much

worse, but her face was broken out much of the month).When she originally brought it up I said thatI thought that hormone control for acne might be effective, but seemed very intrusive for the body

and I said I did not want her to do it.However, Arianna went to the clinic and the pills were

prescribed, according to the clinic doctor and Arianna, when we talked about it, both for acne and to

control menstrual irregularity, which she apparently has been experiencing since joining the BHS

crew team.I tend to stay away from most medical treatments for my children, and would like to know

how to discuss the pros and cons with my daughter, and to better understand any long-term

consequences of this.The clinic doctor said that as far as they were concerned, there was no danger

in low dosage birth control pills, either immediate or long-term.Also, if anyone knows the regulations

regarding treatment of minors without parental consent, I would also be interested in understanding

that better.The clinic apparently supports kids with any kind of need for sexual activity withoutcontacting parents, which I actual would agree with; but since this wasanother kind of treatment I

wonder where the parent fits in.Has anyone had experiences of this kind?I want to support my

daughter to make informed decisions, and realize she may not always agree with me.Thanks.

RE: Birth Control Pills and Acne

1. I prefer Dr. Katie Rodan MD, 510 763-2662and her Proactiv system. 1-800- 950-4695. Properly

applied - use enough and every day, follow directions it works wonders. We found that we do not use

enough to be on the monthly delivery. We get shipments once or twice a year. We do see Dr. Rodan

once or twice a year also, though our insurance covers the visit. Proactiv is over the counter.

2. There is a lot of free literature in the library and on the internet to treat this naturally, though I donot know the best direction for this. Cleaning the face with non-allergic, non irritating cleaners is

always important no matter what method you choose.


13/31


14/31

However, everyone reacts differently to every treatment, and if your child is already getting physical

scars (not to mention the emotional ones) from severe acne, you might want to explore Accutane.

Actually, if you are already being seen by a dermatologist, and various antibiotics haven't worked,

the doctor will usually suggest Accutane. As controversial as that drug is, it is actually a cure for

acne in most patients. It has been a miracle drug for my teenage daughter, even though I am

uncomfortable with medication that isn't absolutely necessary.

Acne is a ''hot'' topic for me, having suffered my whole life with severe acne that has been resistant

to all meds and treatments, both Western and alternative. The only thing that worked for me was in

1966 (!) when I took a high-dose estrogen birth control pill that cleared up my skin but caused

terrible side effects (migraines, huge weight gain, edema,depression) that forced me to quit. I am in

my 50's and still have acne flare-ups, plus my face is badly scarred.

People who have never experienced severe acne may not realize that not only does it cause

emotional distress, but it is also quite painful to have huge infected cysts all over one's face, back,

chest, and arms. No, it is not a life threatening condition, but it sure makes day-to-day life tough,

especially for sensitive teens. Please don't let people give you a hard time if you decide to go with

something as heavy-duty as Accutane.

When my daughter developed acne when she was about 12, we tried Proactiv first, which worked

great after about 3 weeks. After about 7 months, though, even with diligent use, the products didn't

work anymore. The pediatrician prescribed a topical cream, which worked for awhile, too. Then

came the dermatologist, and a series of topicals and antibiotics which all worked for awhile, then

lost effectiveness. Her skin scars easily, and she already had several purple ''pits'' on her face. I

finally gave my OK to Accutane, and although she still has scars (that will supposedly fade with

time), she has perfectly clear skin now. Those of you who have suffered from true, severe acne know

what a miracle that is.

Whatever you try from the advice you receive from this list or from the archives, remember that anytreatment usually takes at least 3 weeks to work.

anon

To the concerned mom who's dealing with her daughter's acne - my advice is to keep trying. My son

went through treatments with clearasil, benzoyl peroxide, minocylin, tetracycline,benzamycin gel,

and retin-a - none of which made a dent for long. What I didn't realize is that cystic acne can get

very bad very fast, so while we were ditzing around with these remedies, he was getting worse. He is

now on accutane (the generic version) for three months now (the full course is 5-6 months), and his

skin is almost completely clear, except for some scarring. It is a scary drug and I wouldn't

recommend it if your daughter is already prone to depression or unable to talk about her feelings. It

has been (rarely) linked to suicidal feelings. I monitor my son's mood closely (this just means that Ipay attention, not that I interrogate him...)and he's required to get monthly or bimonthly blood tests.

It is also a very expensive drug, although covered by most health plans. The good news is that it

works when nothing else does. I wish you luck in your search. AnnaRe: the Proactiv system, my wife

purchased it, both for her self and our younger son (now 21!!).It works well for my wife, but not so

much for my son-- the difference is (no surprise) that you need to be pretty disciplined in your usage-

- our son runs around so much (college student, active social life w/ erratic hours), that he doesn't

use it appropriately and doesn't get the same results.Hope that helps...Jim W.Dear Concerned Mom:I

don't know whether techniques useful for males are also helpful for females, but if they are, then you

should know that my sixteen-year-old son has just begun using an over-the-counter twice-daily wash

on the strong recommendation of the parents of one of his younger friends, who claim (and theirson's face apparently proves) does wonders: Clean & Clear( Continuous Control( acne cleanser by

Johnson & Johnson.

ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES. The unique ingredient is benzoyl peroxide, which is neither hydrogen


15/31

peroxide nor any another other kind of peroxide. As I understand it, no other product contains this

particular kind of bleach, and, in using the facial wash twice a day, a small amount of bensoyl

peroxide remains within the skin pores, which inhibits the development of acne, whose growth

depends in part on bacteria. The benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria, so no acne can develope.

NOTES: Because

-acne developes over approximately three months (or so I'm told), it takes about ninety days for the

twice-daily wash to show its full effects: perfectly clear skin

-the active ingredient is a kind of bleach, it's recommended that anyone using it sleep on white

pillow cases; while normally my son enjoys deeply colored flannel bed fittings, he has no problem

whatsoever using white pillow cases -- at least for the summer!

Please also note that, while our very good friends highly recommend this cleanser, our own son has

just begun using it, so we cannot personally attest to its effectiveness. Nevertheless, on seeing how

well it has worked with our friend's son, we are eager to spend the summer testing it. If you decide

to do so as well, our best wishes on your daughter's success!Anonymous

Nov 2001

My daughter, 12, has recently started to get acne.What meds (over thecounter or prescription) have

your found that worked?Thanks

My daughter uses Clean and Clear compulsively and it keeps her face in good shape.I have to buy

her TUBES and TUBES of the stuff -- for her backpack, locker, gym bag, volleyball bag, etc., but

something is working.Maybe it's just washing her face often.BarbaraMy daughter is using

Bezamycin gel (it's actually a cream) which worksgreat. It is a brand name prescription medication

however and it's VERYexpensive (like around $90/jar) so it's only practical if your healthinsurance

pays for it. However, if they don't, I've discovered that itcontains 2 active ingredients; one is over-

the counter (about $3 a tube)and the other is a generic prescription (so a lot cheaper). (What a

scamthose drug companies have got going!)I can't remember the names of thetwo active

ingredients, but any pharmacist can tell you.ClaireMy daughter's acne responded well toProactiv.This is a kit with severalparts that must be used daily for decent results, so your child must

bemotivated.The best price we found was through WonderfulBuys on the web.You can join a "club"

where they will ship the stuff to you every 2 or 4months, and you get free shipping that way.Here's

their e-mail address,or you can just go search the website (wonderfulbuys.com):"proactiv club" Good

luck!DawnIn reply to the mother asking about acne medication:my daughter has usedProActiv for

the last two years with good results.I can't recall offhandtheir website address but if you search for

it, you'll find it.It'srelatively economical especially in comparison to prescription medication,about

$50.00 for a 60-day supply of treatments.I think their start-up packis the facewash, lotion and spot

treatment.It may take a month or so tosee results, depending on your daughter's case.In this case,

anyways, youcan believe the infomercial hype.KarenBoth of my kids have had acne and have beentreated by a dermatologistover a period of 3 years.Many of the prescription topical applicationsand

oral medications worked in varying degrees and for varying periodsof time.I have learned that the

combination of medications in relationto the specific kinds of acne present make a

difference.Also,sometimes the acne becomes resistant to the medication.Unless yourchild's acne

responds to over the counter benzoyl peroxide, I recommendyou find a dermatologist (who hopefully

is covered by your health plan).

My older son ultimately took Accutane, and I wish he had begun it muchsooner.None of the other

treatments helped very much and those thatdid help stopped working after a while.He finished his 5

month courseof Accutane last March, and his skin has been clear since then.By theway, he had

relatively few side effects - slightly raised cholosterollevel and dry lips.

Other medications that have been helpful are oral Minocyclin, Bactrim(though my son turned out to

be allergic to it), topical Tazorac andXerac AC, topical Benziclin.


16/31

My son started developing a few pimples around 12 1/2.The followingyear they were more frequent

and lasted longer, but would eventually goaway.When he was 14, the pimples seemed more

intransigent.I took himto see a dermatologist, Dr. Greta Clarke on Milvia Street.Sheprescribed two

creams, to be applied on alternate nights.The firstcream, BenzaClin (clindamycin-benzoyl peroxide

gel) is stored in therefrigerator.The second cream is Differin (adapalene).They didn'tseem to work at

first, but after a month his skin completely clearedup.He continues to use the creams to forestall

new pimples and thereappear to be no side effects, although I have not researched thetoxicity of

these drugs.We're very happy with the results of thisregime.I only wish I had taken him to the

dermatologist earlier, butit's hard to tell if acne is a problem that will go away or if it willget

worse.Good luck.I have found that an easy and cheap acne treatment is to dab Hydrogen Peroxide

on your pimples after cleaning your face with gentle cleanser. Do this preferably at night.My son

developed pretty severe acne so after trying all the over the counterproducts we went to his

physician and ended up over a period ofmany monthsgoing through all the progressively stronger

prescription medications foracne up to the maximum allowable dosage for Acutane, which is pretty

scarystuff.He had to go off Acutane eventually because they can only prescribeit for a certain period

of time, then you have to wait 6 months or so beforethey can represcribe it.After the Acutane, he

tried Proactiv and that'swhen his skin finally cleared up completely and has been clear now

forprobably a year without any follow-up care.Wish we had tried Proactivfirst!!I have had great luck

with an infomercial product called Proactiv Solution(http://www.buyitontheweb.com/hit-

proactiv.html).

It has helped my teenage daughter's acne tremendously and is also great on adult acne.Em (7/00)

Accutane and DepressionDoes anyone have teenagers that have used the presciption drug for

acnecalled Accutane?I recall reading somewhere that it has been known tocause serious depression

and even suicide with teenagers.I have a friendwho has a daughter that began using it and caused

serious depression soonafter.Anyone with information on how to reverse the side effects would

begreatly appreciated...To the person who wanted info about teens and Accutane:My daughter took

Accutane for the entire treatment last summer and earlyfall(about 16-20 weeks). She was fine whiletaking it, and it reallycleared up her skin. I was very concerned about possible depression becauseI

have a lot of it in my family, but the doctor assured me that this sideeffect was rare. So far, she's

been okay except for the usual ups and downsof adolescence.Regarding Accutane and Depression:

I do not know of depression associated with Accutane.You can look upinformation on most drugs,

their uses and any warnings on line orthrough a physicians desk reference (PDR) which should be in

mostlibraries.

Counseling is obvious as a suggestion because there may be deeperreasons which the Accutane only

sparked.

HOWEVER, regarding reversal of depression caused by a nutritionalimbalance or drug reactions,

there are some nutritional approaches aswell.In her book, The Diet Cure, Julia Ross, who runs a

large drug,alchohol and diet addiction recovery program in Marin, outlines the usesof amino acids

her clinic uses (suplements found at most wholefood/nutrition stores.) and which ones work to offer

support for eachset of problems (depression being one).This is also a great referencefor those

dealing with issues of diet (and dieting) related mood swings,obsessions, cravings, and mal-nutrition

(often a part of female teenageeating patterns).She also addresses hormonal shifts, food

allergies,etc. which could be at the root of the acne problems.I wouldinvestigate the nutritional side

of the issue immediately.While I wasusing them for allergy reactions, the few amino acids

supplements I'vetried worked almost immediately.BettinaIn 1998, there was a Medscape warning about accutane (http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety.htm)

"isolated reports ofdepression, psychosis and rarely suicidal thoughts and actions.""FDA and the

drug manufacturer are strengthening this label warning,even though it is difficult to identify the


17/31

exact cause of theseproblems. Such problems could already be more common among the

patientpopulations likely to be on the drug.However, because some patientswho reported depression

also reported that the depression subsidedwhen they stopped taking the drug and came back when

they resumedtaking it, the agency and the manufacturer felt the strengthenedlabeling was

warranted as a precautionary measure."My understanding is that this possible side effect needs to

bebalanced with the depression involved for teenagers with severe acne.SherryMore info here:

About.com - AccutaneMarch 2004

There have been postings in the past regarding taking the prescriptiondrug ''Accutane'' or

isotretinoin for acne. Saw this article regardinga new national registry for all users of this drug

because of thesevere danger the drug poses during pregnancy. The article alsochronicles other

specifics about the treatment that people should beaware

of.http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040227/ap_on_he_me/accutane_pregnanc

y_7

claudia

Natural Remedies for AcneI would appreciate recommendations of natural or less-toxicapproaches

to a mild case of adolescent pimples. I've checked the digest, and was surprised to see this hasn't

come up on the teen list! Thanks.

Joan

I have worked with a number of parents who introduced their teens to Super Blue Green Algae

(Aphanizomenon flos aquae) and have had great results. One man told me that his back acne cleared

after one week.

MaryAnnI have had a good experience treating acne with a Chinese Herbologist in San Francisco

who is a skin specialist.Her name is Prof. Jialing Yu, and her office number is 415-337-0308.Both my

14-year-old neice and I have been very happy with her treatments.She gives Chinese herbs which

are all natural.The treatment is on the expensive side, though, so may be overkill for a mild case.But

if you are wary of Accutane or antibiotics, which you would probably get at a Western dermatologist,this seems to be a safer approach.

Diane

Acne in Adults

Painful adult cystic acneMarch 2010

I am a 40-year old woman who has been dealing with painfuladult cystic acne for a decade.As

background, I useProActive, I am Retin-A and Benzoil Peroxyde interolerant,and I have been on and

off acne-related antibiotics.Aftera recent bout, my dermatologist has recommended I go on

thegeneric form of Accutane (Accutane was pulled from themarket last summer, but generics are

still available).Iwould love input on the following:

Accutane (Isotretinoin):There are numerous proven andclaimed side effects to the medication which

make mehesitant to use it, despite the praise as an acne miracledrug.La Roche claims it pulled

Accutane b/c the genericswere eating into their profits, but I suspect there is moreto the story given

the $25 million verdict awarded this weekto a man who developed ulcerative colitis from

Accutane.Please share your experience w/ the drug.What side effectsdid you have while taking

it?How long did it keep youracne away?Have you had any conditions/issues occur aftertaking the

drug which you suspect are linked to the drug?

Accupuncture/Alternatives:I am exploring alternatives tothe drug, and I would love to know of a

good accupuncturistwith experience treating acne or other skin conditions.Iam open to othertreatments as well.

Acne isn't supposed to come with wrinkles and saggybreasts...Bumpy


18/31

I took Accutane twice (at 20 and again at 23) and it was theonly thing that truly stopped my acne.I

hated to resort totaking such a harsh drug, but I was to the point where Ididn't want to leave the

house because of how I looked.People who have not suffered from terrible acne rarelyunderstand

this. I followed dr.'s orders and was extremelyvigilant about birth control and sunscreen, and did all

theregular labwork recommended. I suffered no ill side effectsfrom Accutane besides dry lips, and

now at 39 only rarelyget even a pimple or blackhead.no more acneAfter trying many options (retinA,

benzoyl sp? peroxide,tetracyline, etc.) from 7th-11th grade, I went on Accutanein high school.I have

only positive things to say aboutthe results.Yes, my hair and skin are not as oily as theywere pre-

Accutane (but for me that was a positive) and whileon it I had really dry skin and lips, but I didn't

have anyother side effects.

I did go on a briefer stint in college as some acne hadreturned, but it was never to the adolescent

state.Again,no side effects.

Let's just put it this way: I got a comment that I had a'peaches and cream' complexion.I NEVER

thought I'd hearthat.

I don't know if the kind of acne makes a difference withregard to outcome, so I'd talk to your MD

about it, but Iwould use Accutane again in a heartbeat given my previousexperiences with it.thankful

to be post-acne

Dear Bumpy,I had multiple rounds of Accutane treatment in my teens.myfamily has a horrible

history with acne and my mother andyounger brother also went through rounds of Accutane.Forme,

it was the most painful experience and I would seriouslyurge you to consider all other

options.Unfortunately, Idon't have any experience with accupuncture in this area orany other

solutions that you haven't tried already.I quitsmoking cigarettes and tried to follow a stricter

regimentwith antibiotics and topical solutions, which has kept myskin very clear recently and I am

so thankful to whatever itwas on my path of medication and topicals that ended upworking.From

what I remember of my time on Accutane, itvery much felt like I was taking something very

dangerousinto my system. The pills would come in individuallypartitioned foil sections with a pieceof paper you wouldhave to pop out bearing an image of a pregnant figure with ared line through

it.Scary image, but I kept on taking it.My skin dried out so much that I developed cracks in my

lipsand the skin on my face would flake off. I had multiplenosebleeds in a given week and I suffered

from extremeembarrassment from the flaking of my skin. I was in highschool, after all. I made it

through one course and hadsomewhat recovered from the side effects but still had verypainful,

severe acne.My doctor offered another course ofthe Accutane and I agreed, feeling like I was at my

witsend. After the whole ordeal, I really felt that I hadsuffered major depression as a side effect. In

fact, therewere several lawsuits that surrounded the suicidal feelingssome people felt as a side

effect of the drug.I wouldstrongly caution you to be careful with generics. This is adangerous drug.

I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions foryou otherwise, but I hope that there is something outtherefor you that alleviates the struggle that you are goingthough. Good luck.My daughter took

accutane last year (a generic) and I wentin with a very cavalier attitude that the mental healthclaims

surrounding Accutane were all a result of acoincidental suicide of the child of a prominent

person.Mydaughter began a normal dose for her body weight and withintwo weeks began to have

severe mood swings with odd suicidalovertones.She also suddenly stopped eating and becamesuper

skinny.She had Never had any depression or moodswings prior, nor had ever had any eating

issues.Idiscontinued the med and watched her closely.Thedepression abated a few weeks after

stopping.Meanwhile, Iresearched a bit of the 'evidence' that has not fully borneout the claims that

people become suicidal on this med eventhough it is on the package insert.I was loathe tocompletely

discontinue the medicine as it really worked andgave her truly beautiful skin.I reintroducedaccutane onvery very low sporadic dose and her skin has remained reallyclear and she has not had a

recurrence of mood swings orsuicidality.

There are some that theorize that depression can betriggered and abated by shocks to the brain


19/31

system (anabrupt change in homeostasis).For whatever reason, I KNOWthat this med did trigger this

severe reaction in mydaughter.I'm not sorry that we used it but I would suggestthat you have really

good support and really monitor yourmental health.Anon

I feel your pain.Don't live with cystic acne anymore!Idid accutane twice, many years ago.No

difficulty withdepression or any of that, only very dry skin and worse acnefor a few months.The first

time I did it didn't reallyimprove, but I did a second course and the acne greatlyimproved for a few

years at least.Over the years I've hadups and downs with my skin through pregnancy and

such.However I have now found a light therapy, blue light withlevulan.It definately clears up my skin

for several monthsat a time.It takes a few treatments the first time but nowI just do a maintenance

tx every 6 to 12 months.Look intoit, I think it's great.good luckI also had adult cystic acne that was

incredibly painful notto mention unsightly. I was put on Acutane for a 5 monthduration, and looking

back, I would not do it again. Ideveloped night blindness, which affected my ability todrive, I had

recurrent nose bleeds, amongst other bleedingareas like cracked skin between fingers and corners

of theeyes... 10 years later, my eyes are extremely dry where Ihave to use eye drops daily. I had a

feeling of bone painupon waking in the morning. It felt like when I stepped outof bed my bones

would shatter. I also developed elevatedliver enzymes. My skin was SO dry Vaseline was needed

butdidn't help.Yes, my acne went away, but to this day, myskin is still extremely dry.It wasn't worth

it for me. Iwish I would have been able to manage my skin throughprofessional facials ( think

European facials withextractions), diet, and natural means like herbal remedies.Good luck!J SBelieve

it or not, I had success with a homeopathic solutionI got at Whole Foods. Cheap, no side effects.

Vitamins(especially B vites) helped, too.KCMy sister and I both experienced rather severe cystic

acneas adults.After Retin-A didn't work for me, mydermatologist recommended Accutane. I was too

afraid to takeit after seeing what happens to a fetus if you get pregnantwhile you're on the drug, so I

went with a very strong doseof antibiotics instead.The antibiotics worked for a whilebut the acne

came back when stress in my life ramped upagain. It finally went away after I went on birth

control.My dermatologist would have required me to be on birthcontrol before prescribing Accutane

for reasons mentionedabove, which led me to wonder if some of Accutane'seffectiveness is really due

to birth control leveling offthe hormones.Then my sister started taking Accutane without taking birthcontrol (she wasn't in a relationship at

the time andconvinced her doctor that she wasn't at risk for becomingpregnant). It eventually

worked for her but she experiencedsevere dryness while she was on it - dry lips that no amountof

chapstick would relieve, dryness on the inside of hernose, etc.She also still has scarring on her

cheeks.

Neither of us had tried acupuncture, but since there aren'tside effects it's probably worth a try.I've

heard thatoregano oil capsules can help with acne and hormoneimbalance but haven't tried that

either.

I had horrible cystic acne since I was a teenager and I wentto Bina Jangda, LAc who has been theonly person that coulddo anything about it.I've tried everything. Literallyeverything.Acupuncture

worked. Her herbal knowledge isimpressive.She hand-made an herbal toner and a nightlyherbal

mask which helped control the acne betweenacupuncture sessions.I could see visible reduction in

thesize of the acne after each treatment.Treatments are 1hrand 15min to 1 1/2 hrs long.She accepts

insurance whichcovered most of the expenses for me.The herbs wereout-of-pocket.I'd give her a try.

Her number is510.393.7565www.binajangdalac.com RL Ugh, tough decision. Accutane is scary, but

cystic acne istruly, truly awful (and physically painful too!). I was onaccutane for about 6 months in

1997-98. Prior to accutane,I'd had horrible cystic acne on my neck, shoulders, back andbuttocks.

Accutane made it all go away, and it has nevercome back (12 years later). I don't remember

anyparticularly bad side effects. My skin did dry out, and Ihad to be extra-vigilant with sunscreen(which I am anyway).

I did not take birth control while on accutane. I wascelibate at the time and convinced my doctor let

me skipbirth control if I came in once a month and took a pregnancytest. I also have some hormonal


20/31

imbalances (low thyroid)...all of this is to say that I suspect that with furtherresearch, they will

discover that there is a hormonalcomponent to some people having depression and other badside

effects and other people doing fine on the drug.

At the time I was on accutane, none of thedepression/suicide risk was known (or at least I didn't

knowabout it). If I were deciding whether or not to go on ittoday, I think I would probably really

work at exhaustingall my other options before making the choice to tryaccutane.Hope you find a

solution...

Acne back after stopping the PillOct 2008

I'm suffering through adult acne after stopping my birth control pills for about 6 months.I used to

have a bad case of acne when I was younger, and then my skin was under control (because of the

pills, I guess) and now I'm going through it again.(I'm 45.)I hate seeing acne and acne scars on my

face.Help!!Should I go back to the pills?What over-the-counter products work for adult acne

(hormone-related, I think)?Murad?Proactiv?And what product can help with the scar?If you have

success with certain dermatologists, I'd appreciate hearing about that as well.Thank you!Anonymous

Laura Cooksey of Face Reality Skin Care in San Leandro is an estheticianwho has specialized in acne

for years. She came to this specializationwhen she started experiencing her own acne as an adult,

and I wassurprised to learn that people come to her clinic from all over the BayArea (as far as Santa

Rosa!) and consult with her from places around theworld regarding the products she provides. She

has been a godsend to me- literally no one would even suspect I had ever had a serious problemwith

adult acne.You can reach her at 510-351-1842. Her website atfacerealityskincare.com also has a lot

more information, includinguseful articles about acne.L Helizabeth at alexander pope works great

with adult acne she helped withmine!!www.skinbyelizabeth.compinkisses

Products that help with adult acne?Sept 2008

I'm looking for recommendations, especially products to help with teen acne or adult acne?Leslie

Hi,I had terrible acne when I was in my early 20's. The best thing I've ever used(that wasn'tRX) was

the Pro Active Repair Lotion and the toner.( They have a cleanser that has scrubbing beads but thatwas too rough on my skin andcaused me to break out worse). I've noticed at the Hilltop Mall they

have a vending machine where you can buy the products individually. I would just use the Repair

Lotion at night and in the daytime use an oil free lotion (Neutrogena makes nice ones that don't

break the bank). If you have health insurance that pays for a dermatologist I would take advantage

of it , they could prescribe a retin A cream that would help clear up the acne and help with any

scarring. Both of these methods helped me a great deal. Acne free now and happyI have had acne on

and off since I was a teen (mostly chest, back, and neck).I did a course of Accutane when I was 18

and again when I was 33.Since then (3 years), I have been able to control it with an over the counter

lotion from Neutrogena, called ''Oil-Free Acne Stress Control,'' applied once daily (twice a day is too

drying).I buy it at Longs.My 13 year old daughter started using it too when she developed the sametype of acne and it seems to be working for her as well.We didn't see results until we had been using

it for about two weeks.We use a similar foam cleanser in the shower.The active ingredient in both is

salicylic acid; you can find other products that contain it.Good luck.I have found the Murad line to be

very effective and affordable.They have different lines depending on how aggressive of a treatment

one needs.I had tried many things and at the risk of sounding cliche this was what truly worked.If

treating light acne I would suggest their ''gentle acne treament'' as the regular one is very strong

and can be a bit irritating if your acne is not too severe.However the regular line is excellent for

severe acne.Best of luck.anon

Tried everything for my acneMay 2007

I have been suffering from acne for 20+ years--I am now a 36 mother of two and tired of bad skin.Ihave tried everything--from Accutane to Tetracycline to Mario Badescu to Proactiv.I am looking for a

good dermatologist in the East Bay area (preferably Lamorinda/Walnut Creek) and/or product

recommendations.Tired of Teenage Skin


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I also am a 36 year old mother of two with relentless acne! Accutane and everything else didn't help

much.I saw Dr. Melinda Meyers on Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Walnut Creek for two sessions of blue light

treatment with levulan.It held my acne at bay for 14 months, at which time a new round was

necessary.Anyways I think this is a really effective treatment, Dr. Meyers is very knowledgeable

about the procedure and other cosmetic acne procedures.It doesn't last forever, but no acne

treatment does, unfortunately!pretty clear now

Acne fighting on the cheapApril 2006

I have been fighting mild to moderate acne since I was a teenager(I'm 22 now). Recently my acne

has flared up quite a bit althoughit's not horrible enough to do something drastic such as Accutaneor

Proactiv. I need some advice on a)finding cheap products thatwork for acne or b)finding a

dermatologist that sells cheapproducts that work. ThanksSara

One product: PROACTIVE! God this stuff is good, and it really works. Irarely break out anymore(I'm

40 yrs old!), and I just tried this producton a whim. You just have to be consistent with it. On top of

that neverscrub your face with a wash cloth, use LUKE warm water and pat dry. Dr.Rodan(see

below) told me I was washing my face the wrong way all theseyears.

Proactive costs about $38 for two months, but I've been able to stretchmy treatment package to 3-4

months(and I use it everyday).

Call Katy Rodan's office in Oakland at 510-763-2662 (she's the proactivedr) and see if you can buy

the package straight from her office withoutan appt.Then you don't have to pay shipping and

handling.It's about$39, a bit more than you want to pay, but worth it. Clear skin

Some years ago, my primary care physician prescribed a topical ointmentI think was called Differin

(not sure of spelling) which helped my mildcase of adult acne. He said it was mild enough for his

twelve year olddaughter to use. It worked well on my oily skin. During the past coupleof years, I

have also started to wash my face morning and night withPrescriptives' Purity face wash which

seems to have been keeping any breakouts at bayAnonProactiv is just 2.5% benzoyl peroxide.There

are other products mademy Cosco and Neutrogena that have the same ''system'' that

Proactivtouts.The only thing that is over-the-counter that works for acne isbenzoyl peroxide, somepeople believe that salicylic acid also iseffective.Otherwise you need a perscription for retin-A type

products,topical antibiotics, or oral antibiotics...not all of which areexpensive.It is very difficult to

get accutane these days, even forthose with cystic acne PediatricianI have had a lot of luck with the

Clean and Clear line (at Target,Long's, etc).They have both benzoyl peroxide meds, and salicylic acid

ones, so youcan pick which one irritates your skin less (I like the s.a.ones, because they don't bleach

my clothes!).

You don't say what kind of skin you have, whether it's dry or oily orwhat, but my normal-to-dry skin

breaks out less if I make sure it'swell-moisturized, and that I clean it only with stuff that doesn't

stripmy skin.So:no harsh soaps, only Cetaphil in the morning, and I useNoxema pore-refining

cleanser at night, before night cream.Good Luck--DonnaOral antibiotics are the most effective, and don't cost much, although Iam concerned about the long-

term effects after I took them for years.Iwouldn't call Proactive ''drastic'' - the active ingredients are

thesame as in other over-the-counter acne lotions (either benzoyl peroxideor salycylic acid, I'm not

sure which) but in lower doses and withmoisterizers.Lotions only work if your acne is very topical

and youuse it constantly.Otherwise you'll need to take something orally.Ifyou don't want to take

antibiotics, some versions of the birth controlpill can be helpful, but certainly not cheap unless you

have healthcoverage.And there's accutane - one course of it will last 10 years!But not a good idea if

you are prone to depression or have any chance ofgetting pregnant anonymousI have had good luck

with the Neutrogena On-The-Spot salycilic acid gelthat is supposed to reduce redness in 8hrs. I have

also had good luckwith this sulfer based ointment that the aesthatician at Azul Sparecommended tome; it is sold at the spa but I haven't seen it anywhereelse.

Other than that, I highly recommend seeing your dr. I had a two yearbout with what I thought was

cystic acne, but being a mom I never madetime for myself to go to the dr to have it treated


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treatment.What they do is scrub your face, apply thelevulan, it's in a stick form like deoderant, then

it incubates forabout 1 hour, then they put you in front of the blue light.You're notpretty for about a

week.Your face is red, really sensitive, swollenthen it peels like a snake. You can also experience

breakouts and lotsof whiteheads during this time as everything is coming out. But theresults are

great.It also helps with fine lines and discoloration.Ihighly recommend it and will do it again if my

acne returns.I did itwith Dr. Melinda Meyers of Walnut Creek.It's $250 a session.Goodluck!happy

now

My daughter has done the blue light treatment at The Laser Center ofMarin.They suggested an 8

treatment regimen which we did.Her facehas cleared wonderfully and we now go back every couple

months for afollowup treatment.They are in Corte Madera (415-945-9314)

orwww.marinlaser.com.Taylor

Sudden cystic acne at age 22March 2006

I have a combination skin (oily aroung chin and nose and dry on the cheeks). I usually get acne like

one or two would appear right before my period and would disappear in a day or two but since last

month I am getting cystic acne on my cheeks. I have never had cystic acne before. It is painful and

ugly and takes like a month or more for it to disappear. I am not sure why I got it suddenly at this

age. I haven't changed my diet or my face wash (proactive). I am guessing that it is because I am too

stressed this semester as I am taking the MCAT, working and a big course load. I still eat healthy

and get at least seven hour sleep every night as usual.

Did anyone else have a similar experience with sudden cystic acne breakage? If yes then what did

they to to cure it. My dermatologist recomended topical retinol, oral contraceptives, and/or

accutane. I have never used any of these before and am aware of the side effects. Has anyone used

these and have gotten good results? Has anybody gotten steriod injections or have them removed

surgically?

I am avoiding coffee, chocolate, sweets and any fatty food. I have heard and read that diet affecting

acne is a myth. Is there anyone who thinks that diet makes their acne worst? Also does cystic acneleave permanent scars r bumps?Help !!MM

definitely related to stress.

adult acne happens. and cystic acne is most common starting at 20 years old.

as you are pre-med, it would probably be best to consider going on birth control(pills or vaginal ring)

to regulate your periods, so you can skip periods for finals,and spring break, etc... most MDs

(women) I know are regulating themselves to asfew periods per year as possible e.g. 1 or 2 using

continuous cycling of birth controlpills, or the vaginal ring.

cystic acne definitely scars! get it treated. after birth control, I would try oralantibiotics and if it isbad enough then accutane...Sophia, adolescent medicine MD

I developed cystic acne at 24. It took me ten years to decideto use accutane - ten years of mild to

moderate acne,antibiotics, benzoil peroxide, and more and more scars.Accutane is the only drug that

permanently helped me.The first course improved my face a lot, but after about 3years I decided to

try another. That course improved my faceeven more. I then tried another course after that, about

2years later and have had virtually no problems since.You may be told that additional courses won't

improve youracne, but this was not my experience.During the teatment my lips got severely dry, so

dry that theyblistered. But a good dermatologist who has experience withAccutane will know how to

treat the side effects. I went toUCSF.

It seems that doctors in the US are more reluctant than doctorsin England and Europe to prescribeAccutane. An article out ofEngland that my husband found said that doctors there treateven mild

cystic acne with Accutane because of thepsychological distress cystic acne causes.Ellen

Hi, I have cystic acne, though mine did not come on suddenly.First for the bad news: I'm 40 and I


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still have it. The goodnews: There are many effective treatments for cystic acne. Youshould also

know that you are not causing it! No, you aren't.No, it's not what you're eating. And no, it's not

necessarilyfrom stress. It's a hereditary disease.

In terms of your course of treatment, Accutane is kind of likethe nuclear bomb. It will work, but you

might want to trymilder options first. I wholeheartedly recommend combiningtopical Retin-A and

oral birth control pills. I definitely havecystic flare-ups around my period. When I was taking BCPs

Ididn't have them much at all, but for other reasons I can nolonger take BCPs and now I get a cyst or

two every month. WhenI get them, I get a same-day appointment with my dermatologist(if your derm

is serious about acne, he/she should have sameday appointments available) and I get a steriod shot.

It's notthe world's most pleasant experience, but it's not likechildbirth either, and the cyst is gone in

1-2 days WITHOUT ascar. In short, the shots are great.

In terms of Accutane: I did a long course of it in my 20s andit cleared me up (mostly) for a decade,

but the effect doeswear off after a while. In exchange I had the most unbelievablyscaly skin - my lips

were literally peeling off -and jointaches that kept me awake at night for my entire course

oftreatment. Hence my nuclear bomb analogy.

Retin-A: Takes some time to get used to. You may be red anditchy with some flakiness at first, but

your skin, especiallyat your young age!, will become accustomed to it over thecourse of a few weeks.

And you know, it's good for preventingwrinkles too, though you're probably not concerned about

thatnow.

Lastly - don't get microdermabrasion. It seems like such a goodidea for those of us with acne

scarring, but it's really not.First of all, cystic acne scars are deeper than anythingmicrodermabrasion

can reach. Secondly, and most importantly,the procedure can cause dormant cysts to become more

active.

Hope this was helpful. I feel your pain!mostly clearAt 22 years, I too had a bout of cystic acne. I was in gradschool at the the time and under quite a bit

of stress. One ofmy classmates took me aside and told me that there were many newtreatments

available to treat acne (this was in the late 1980s).B I remember being quite taken aback by her

frankness because Ididn't think my complexion was all that bad. Anyway, she gave megreat advice

and I consequently went on Accutane for six monthswhich resulted in gorgeous skin until I got my

first real job ayear later. The working environment was so stressful and I hadenormous self doubts

about my abilities. The cystic acnereturned with a vengeance and much to my mortification,

Ioverheard my boss gossiping about my skin at work! I decided togo back to Accutane for another

six months and the second courseof treatment really did the trick. Over the next 15 or so

years,occasionally I would still have breakouts but they were so mucheasier to manage. I also thinkwith maturity I have learned tobe more confident and to handle stress better. Hope this helps.Been

there tooI would definitely re-examine what you are eating. Are youeating enough greens, less white

flour, etc? Resting? I readsomewhere that when your internal organs are overloaded withexpelling

toxins and wastes your skin is the next stop. For metoo much sugar, caffeine, and bad oils are the

culprit.Check the types and quality of oils you use in your food(rancid oils do a lot of damage to our

system). EVO andcoconut oils are the best things for skin. Stress is anotherskin spoiler, but you have

a heavy load and unfortuneately itcomes with the territory.

I would definitely say that because you live a stressful andbusy life you need to take extra good care

of your self througheating, exercise, and relaxation. The prescription stuff neverworked for me and I

have really managed my acne with theabove. Check out nutrition tips from the book''NourishingTraditions'' by Sally Fallon.Cystic acne no more.

I haven't been ''officially'' diagnosed with cystic acne, but minesounds just like yours. The only thing

that I have foundconsistent about it is that if I eat gummy candy (jelly beans,gum drops, etc.) I will


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surely break out. Not that I don't breakout other times, and not that it doesn't go away for a

fewmonths at a time. I used to think sunlight helped, but itdoesn't seem to any longer. I'm not willing

to use accutane, andcan't take birth control (though I still had it when I was) so Ijust try to keep my

face clean (I swab with rubbing alcohol) andnot touch my face or eat the offending candies. And that

seemsto keep it down.Spotty

Accupuncture for Acne?August 2005

I've battled acne for years now and have done many many conventional treatments, most of which

have not helped.It seems to come and go but has been pretty present the last five years, and I'm in

my 30's!Has anyone tried accupuncture and if so what were your results?I'm ready to try anything,

I'm so sick of this! Thank you in advance.anon

Sara Rankin of Alma Acupuncture in Oakland specializes in ''Facial Rejuvenation'' which works

really well for many skin conditions (wrinkles, blemishes etc.). She has a lovely office close to

Piedmont and Broadway in Oakland. She takes insurance for medical conditions (Alta Bates and

Kaiser Plans for example). Reach her at: 510 593-7514.MelanieAlthough I don't suffer from acne, I

had another skin problem for several months for which I consulted an acupuncturist. It went away

after a few weeks. I saw Dr. Robert Zeiger, a great acupuncturist and doctor of oriental medicine

that I can highly recommend. His contact info: (510) 843-7397, 3031 Telegraph Ave., Suite 106.

Good luck!Believer-in-alternative-medicineSorry to say I tried acupuncture for over a year for my

adult acne with no results. I kept at it because my insurance covered the treatments, so I wasn't

paying out of pocket. I just started taking tetracycline (again) and using tazorac (a new retinoid

cream). Its too soon to say if these will deliver the results I am looking for, but so far better than the

more natural routes I have tried over the years...I don't know anything about acupuncture for acne,

but I will share our experience.My son is now almost 16 years old, and he had struggled with acne as

soon as he hit puberty.Then last year, when he joined the football team, he developed an awful facial

rash, no doubt exacerbated by the sweaty helmet and chin strap.He had tried all the antibiotics and

face creams perscribed by several dermatologists until it looked like accutane, a medicine not

without significant risk, was our final medical option.Not wanting to go that route, we looked into

unconventional approaches.After doing some internet research, it seemed that some people benefitfrom removing sugar from their diet.My son decided to try it at the encouragement of his medical

researcher dad, and--what do you know--his face cleared up!He still has quite clear skin 3/4 year

later (and yes he is doing football this year again).He eats no sugar or honey or molasses, etc.When

he wants a sweet he eats no-sugar-added ice cream or cookies with no sugar.Thanks to the

popularity of Atkins Diet, you can find lots of substitutes.He still keeps his face very clean and

showers twice a day and uses the topical creams.He feels he is happy to give up sugar to have

normal skin.Hope this helps.I know what a frustration it is.Sugar free momI haven't tried

acupuncture for acne, but I'm a student of Chinese Medicine.A teacher at my school, Dr. Yu, is

supposed to be great.She specializes in dermatology (and teaches it).She teaches at ACTCM

415.282.7600.I'll try to get her # and post it for you.Best,anonDr. Yu is a dermatologist (ChineseMedicine - acupuncture andherbs) in San Francisco.Her number is 415-337-0308.I hear she's

great.anoni've had wonderful luck with Proactiv for the past 10 years or so.itreally works.anon

How to control acne since I went off the pill?July 2003

In my previous life when I was on 'the pill', I did not need to worry so much about regular break-outs

on my face.I then went off the pill to become pregnant and the break-outs were uncontrollable!Then

during pregnancy my skin was soooooo happy again!But now I've given birth and the teenage-like

acne has returned.I have my hands full with a 2 month-old and don't have time to do anything more

than just wash my face in the shower (when I get one!)I'm currently using Neutrogena daily face

wash but I guess I need something stronger.Any recommendations for something I can use on my

face that won't dry it out but will control the blemishes?My skin doesn't seem to be either dry noroily nor combination.I'd call it ''normal'' except I keep breaking out.I really don't have time for

anything more complicated than what can be accomplished in the shower....

too old for pimples


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I have also had problems with adult acne and have resorted to trying many different things.

Currently I have been using an acne bar from Clinique and also being a sometimes showerless

parent, only use it in the morning. I have had very little breakouts since I started using this line early

in my pregnancy. To help prevent dryness I also use their moisterizer which can be put on quickly

after I shower. Both products can be a little pricey but they last a very long time so in the long run

are not much more than what you are currently using.anonHey there. I don't think you necessarily

need something stronger to take care of your acne, especially if you have normal skin. why don't you

try something less irritating than a traditional acne control wash. my skin cleared up when i stopped

using a daily scrub stopped washing my face with a soapier product. Instead, I use Cetaphil twice

daily (sometimes three depending on my activity) and moisturize with an Aveeno product. Then, I

only used a facial scrub once a week. This regimen has worked very well. I too am experiencing acne

related to my pregnancy and got a prescription from my primary care doctor for topical

Eurithrimycin pads - they look a lot like stridex pads, but they don't dry out your skin. basically, it's

applying antibiotics to combat the bacteria in your skin. It works very well and i bet you could get

several months worth that should help you until your skin returns to normal post-pregnancy. Good

luck!Jen I had the same problem you did. Pretty good skin before pregnancy, glowing, gorgeous skin

during and then rotten skin and hair after giving birth (and for about a good 8 month

berkeley parents network: acne

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