Mystie
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Post by Mystie on Nov 24, 2015 22:43:22 GMT
My 14-year-old niece has terrible acne on her face, and her dermatologist has tried everything else with no success and is bringing up Accutane as the last-ditch solution. My mom and my sister and I are a little concerned about the side effects and the testing that goes along with the program for Accutane. So Mom asked me to ask here (because the Peas know all!) and see if anyone has any experience with it: good, bad or indifferent. My niece is really pushing for it, too, which makes it harder--she is feeling very self-conscious and upset and worried about permanent scarring, which has already happened with her older brother's acne.
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kate
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Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Nov 24, 2015 22:54:06 GMT
My brother and my college roommate were both on it. They both have great-looking skin now, in their 40's. The dryness was a PITA, but both of them felt it was worth it.
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Post by cmpeter on Nov 24, 2015 22:56:54 GMT
Has she tried birth control pills? My dd (15) has taken Yaz for the past two years. It's completely cleared up her skin when nothing else would. Accutane would have been our next choice.
As for Accutane, my son took it. He took it for six months when he was 16. He had monthly blood draws during that time. It's been four years and his complexion is perfectly clear. The only side effect he had was dry lips and some dryness around his mouth. He used Aquafor and wasn't too miserable. He says his only regret was not starting Accutane sooner.
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Gravity
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Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on Nov 24, 2015 23:01:16 GMT
My DD used it when she was younger than 14. It was after we had tried all kind of prescription topical products and antibiotics that didn't work to clear her face up. Her only side effect was dry lips, but that was manageable. She had to have blood work monthly during treatment. Contrary to what some people say, she did not have to be on birth control. She had to confirm monthly that she was abstinent. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.
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TankTop
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Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Nov 24, 2015 23:05:39 GMT
Dd's best friend used it for 6 months. She had extreme dry and flaky skin. Now she is two years out and the acne is coming back. She is going back on it.
BFF's son was on it. His face is relatively clear, but he did confess after he was off it that he was depressed when on it. It made him feel like he was in a fog. No highs and lows. He didn't tell anyone for fear they would take him off of it.
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Post by AussieMeg on Nov 24, 2015 23:15:52 GMT
My (much younger) BIL had terrible acne about 12 years ago. The doctor suggested Accutane but my MIL was really concerned after reading about the possible side effects. There was even a story about a guy flying his light plane into a building that was attributed to the side effects of Accutane. (My MIL is a worrier.) Anyway, BIL took Accutane and it worked really well. Thankfully he didn't have any side effects. ETA: I just googled to see if I was remembering the plane story correctly. Here is a news story from CBS News - it happened in Florida. |
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ellen
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Post by ellen on Nov 24, 2015 23:27:48 GMT
My daughter took it and it cleared up her skin beautifully. If I had to do it over again I would have let her do it earlier. Her side effects were dry skin & lips, and a sore back.
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Post by stingfan on Nov 24, 2015 23:35:52 GMT
I took it over 25 years ago. Having been the teen with the self esteem issues that go along with horrible acne, I'd say to do whatever it takes to help her feel better about herself. Accutane really saved me at that age and if my kids ever need it, I won't hesitate.
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Post by nnnsmom on Nov 25, 2015 1:05:55 GMT
My now 16 yo DS took it at 13. No side effects other than really dry lips during treatment. His skin became flawless and looked great until this summer he began having a tiny bit of small acne during football workouts. He's on a Rx topical now and looks great. His Derm said the younger they are when it starts, the higher the chance that they might need another round on it later on down the road.
Our twins are 13 now and are having a normal amount of teen acne, but if it became as severe as DS1's, I would put them in it without worry.
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Dani-Mani
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Post by Dani-Mani on Nov 25, 2015 1:11:56 GMT
I would encourage her to see a dermatologist. Mine has found the perfect regimen for me and I'm very happy with.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Nov 25, 2015 1:12:45 GMT
I took it at about that age. It only took one round and completely cleared up my acne. The only side effects were dry lips and sensitivity to sunlight.
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Post by myshelly on Nov 25, 2015 1:37:24 GMT
I used it in my early 20s and had some very serious side effects - decline in vision and loss of hair - along with some of the usual side effects like the dryness and flaking.
To make matters worse it never improved my acne.
My hair eventually came back in after stopping the accutane, but the vision decline was permanent.
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Post by catmom on Nov 25, 2015 2:43:52 GMT
I took accutane in my twenties. My skin got so dry it actually cracked and bled at the edges of my eyes, nose and lips. I looked worse than with the acne. Plus pains in my hip. For me not worth it but if I was 14 I would feel differently.
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Post by robinm on Nov 25, 2015 3:11:19 GMT
My son took it when he was 15- I think. It helped a lot. He's 21 now and has good skin. A little back acne but he's lazy scrubbing his back in the shower.
He had very dry lips. I made sure he had very good lip balm with sunscreen and SPF shirt for his water park field trip.
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schooner3
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Post by schooner3 on Nov 25, 2015 3:17:33 GMT
My DD took it when she was 16. Her side effects were dryness. Her doctor did make her go on birth control. They said there needed to be two forms of birth control, one of which was abstinence. The hardest part of that for her was the gynecologist insisted she have an internal exam. She did let me be in with her and my DD held my hand the entire time. She was, and still is, very modest.
It did clear up her acne. She also had to have blood draws every month. She is very glad she did it.
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Deleted
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Jun 15, 2024 18:00:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2015 3:20:50 GMT
I think it's a miracle drug. There will be horrible dry lips, but the clear skin is worth it! I understand they closely monitor all those on it now for possible mental health side effects, so that is good.
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Post by holly on Nov 25, 2015 3:42:45 GMT
My bosses DD was on it this Spring and it didn't really make much difference they are going to try something else. I don't know what because Accutane was the last resort for them. She's 18 now.
My DD's friend was on it this summer and it's working very well for her. It definitely makes you look worse (all the dry skin and such) before it gets better. She had really red cheeks and nose and even though it hasn't totally cleared up it looks way better. She's 14. I know she was teased a lot about her face.
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Post by mikewozowski on Nov 25, 2015 4:16:42 GMT
both my girls were on it at the same time. they were 16 and 18. cleared them both up beautifully! side effects or dry lips. dry eyes for one of them. they did not have to be on BC. blood draws are no big deal.
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Post by underwatermama on Nov 25, 2015 4:26:19 GMT
My ds was on it last year when he was 16. The results are great, the side effects of dry skin and lips were really annoying, but he was more than happy to deal with it for the results. He also did monthly blood tests.
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Loydene
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Post by Loydene on Nov 25, 2015 4:37:23 GMT
DS took Accutane about 9 years ago. The derm started him on a very low dose that we kept increasing. He had dry lips. The monthly blood draws. I watched like a hawk for the suspicions of any "emotional" side effects. His skin was clearing very well but he wasn't completely clear when he chose to stop it due to ROTC matters. His skin has stayed clear - where it was clear before he stopped taking the drug. He still has had some breakouts - though much lessened - where he wasn't clear when he stopped taking the drug.
Accutane is about the only drug that will work on cystic nodular acne. He doesn't regret taking it; I don't regret him taking it; I wish the dermatologists got us to Accutane earlier in all his treatment. Accutane was brutally expensive, but that expense was compounded by the ridiculous treatments that the derm. insisted on before moving to Accutane (weekly Blue light treatments? -- what a waste of time and money!)
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trollie
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Post by trollie on Nov 25, 2015 4:44:39 GMT
I knew an adult woman that was on it and it worked wonderfully for her.
Has your niece tried the Clairsonic? My teenager has/had quite a bit of acne and has been using one for about 2 months now. It has taken some time (and faithfulness to using it every night), but it is really working for her. (Note: the acne gets worse bf it gets better.)
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Post by shaniam on Nov 25, 2015 5:45:00 GMT
My 16 year old son is on it now. He hasn't had many issues with side effects except for dry skin and extremely dry lips. The lips are rough for him since he plays saxophone. He doesn't really care for the monthly blood draws. He has been on it for about 3 months now. His face has cleared up a lot but he still has a way to go.
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AmeliaBloomer
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Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Nov 25, 2015 6:32:22 GMT
My daughter was an acccutane failure. Her acne returned with a vengeance. She won't go on it again because she had some scary intestinal side effects; there was a fear of internal bleeding and she had to have several tests. She won't do a second course of the medication because she doesn't want to court any more side effects that might cause permanent damage.
My son finished his course of accutane two months ago and his acne is starting to return. He is willing to do another course.
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Nov 25, 2015 6:43:52 GMT
...Just interrupting to chime in on the possible emotional cause of acne:
Not enough self acceptance
More self love is requested if it resonates
Carry on...
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Post by peasapie on Nov 25, 2015 10:05:49 GMT
As for Accutane, my son took it. He took it for six months when he was 16. He had monthly blood draws during that time. It's been four years and his complexion is perfectly clear. The only side effect he had was dry lips and some dryness around his mouth. He used Aquafor and wasn't too miserable. He says his only regret was not starting Accutane sooner. This was my son's exact experience. He used it at 15 for cystic acne. He's now 30. I wish I had let him use it sooner because he does have some mild scarring. He tried everything else with no effect, but one round of this completely resolved the problem. |
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mallie
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Post by mallie on Nov 25, 2015 13:04:27 GMT
The adult I knew who took it had dry lips, etc and it took forever to start to work. When she went off it, the acne came back. She didn't try again.
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Post by julieinsweden on Nov 25, 2015 13:53:09 GMT
I used it when I was 23. My only regret is not using it earlier.
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Post by mtscrapper on Nov 25, 2015 14:16:54 GMT
My daughter used it at 15. She had terrible acne over her face and chest and upper back. We had seen one dermatologist who didn't prescribe Accutane and she kept going back and back and back and her acne wouldn't get any better with anything he prescribed. We finally switched doctors and she prescribed Accutane immediately.
She had to have blood draws once before starting and then a month later, but then didn't have to have her blood drawn again. Every month she had to have a urine test to test for pregnancy. Also, before we could get the prescription for the month, she had to go to a website and answer questions. I think she also had to provide proof of 2 forms of birth control. I can't remember exactly what we had to do to get past the 2 forms of birth control thing since she wasn't on any, but I think both she and I had to sign something saying she was abstinent.
I think after the first month or two, they did put her on a higher dose than what they first gave her because it wasn't working as much as it should have. She had extremely dry lips and dry skin and she kept Vaseline with her all the time, as that was the best, she says. She says going on Accutane is the best thing she ever did and wished she had done it sooner. She occasionally gets outbreaks on her chin, but nothing like it was.
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