<p>Since I had my terrible acne before Accutane was developed, I didn’t use it in my youth. I had acne until I was 24, when someone suggested I try zinc oxide ointment (diaper rash ointment), a thin coating at night.</p>
<p>It cleared up my skin, toxin free, in two months.</p>
<p>I’ve suggested it since, here on CC, and some people have had great success. It is cheap, easy, and makes you feel like a bad mime.</p>
<p>As far as dry skin, our dermatologist also recommended Dermalogica’s Active Moist. The same company also makes another lotion that is more moisturizing than Active Moist if the skin gets really, really dry. It’s also non comedogenic.</p>
<p>Make certain any moisturizers used on the skin are non comedogenic. I only recommend Dermalogica as it’s worked for my D. She also carried lip moisturizer with her everywhere - her lips and skin were really dry. We kept some in the car; made certain there was always some in her backpack, etc. If she forgot it her lips were so dry they cracked and bled.</p>
<p>When the skin is so dry during the Accutane treatment that it feels like it is burning our dermatologist recommended olive oil. There are some cosmetic grade olive oils sold for skin, but the one in your pantry should do as the burning skin issue (if it appears) does not last for long.</p>
<p>And once you are through treatment a good facial monthly or every other month is also good for the skin. My D would have facials every 45 to 60 days with an experienced aesthecian (recommended by our dermatologist) Now, she has a facial whenever she is home and the aesthecian can steam the pores to unblock them, etc. At this point my D has had more facials than I have had in my entire life!</p>
<p>My son used Accutane for the usual period of time (four or five months, I think) during his freshman year in college. He had almost no acne for more than a year afterward, and now, during his senior year, his acne is mild. He was pleased with the results.</p>
<p>Don’t underestimate the “chapped lips” side effect, though. For some people it can be extreme. My son still has it. It did not go away when he discontinued the drug. It doesn’t matter much to him, but for anyone who plays a wind instrument, lip changes of the degree that he experienced would be a disaster – an absolute career-ending injury.</p>
<p>Another note about Accutane: even for guys, it requires monthly dermatologist visits. And some colleges don’t want to have anything to do with the stuff. My son’s college health center pharmacy refused to stock it. He had to go to a pharmacy in the community to get it, and he had to see a dermatologist who was not affiliated with the college.</p>
<p>One of my friends just started Accutane, and it has worked wonders for her. She might have chapped lips, but she uses chapstick all the time anyway so I wouldn’t really know. :)</p>
<p>For nosebleeds there are saline sprays - the one we used is called “Ocean,” but most drugstores carry a wide selection. The spray will moisturize the nasal passages and help prevent bleeding. My D used this spray when her nose bled while she was on Accutane.</p>
<p>Wow! Just looked on line and now there are now nasal gels made by the manufacturers of saline sprays. Bet the gel would do a better job for those nosebleeds.</p>
<p>It was a miracle for my DD1 back in 9th grade. Chapped lips but it just made it all go away and it has stayed away. She has lovely clear skin. Wish we hadn’t hesitated as long as we did.</p>
<p>Ok, If your kid is tan, i would highly recommend requesting Doxycycline, an antibiotic, instead of accutane. Accutane makes your skin dry and disgusting, can cause depression, and you have to sign something saying you won’t get pregnant and carry a child. Obviously last resort stuff. </p>
<p>Doxycycline works just as well but it makes your skin sensitive to the sunlight so if you’re pale you’ll burn incredibly easy unless you constantly wear sunscreen. </p>
<p>They’ll probably start you on topical stuff, which actually works really well if its not extremely bad. I would avoid accutane until nothing else works and the acne is disrupting their life. It even stunts growth.</p>
<p>I am very tan but Doxycycline didn’t work at all for me.</p>
<p>I’ve been off Accutane for about four months and my skin looks incredible, minus some scarring. I get the occasional little blackhead, but it’s nothing like before. I would recommend planning that Accutane so that you don’t have to take it during the winter, or the summer if you live in a very dry climate. My dermatologist gave me little tubes of Eucerin Aquaphor for my lips that worked well–I still ask for them because they’re so nice! :)</p>
<p>The online stuff is a mess, but it’s worth the trouble.</p>
<p>To be prescribed Accutane, the prescriber must be registered with the i-Pledge program. The pharmacy also is registered with that program. Since he is male, he just needs to get the i-Pledge registration number. He won’t have the 30 day wait period which females of childbearing age have to have.<br>
An Accutane prescription, like a C-2 prescription, is only valid for 7 days from written and has no refills. He will have to go to his dermatologist monthly for blood draws. A common side effect is high triglyceride levels. Other common side effects are dry skin/mucus membranes (lips), dry mouth, joint and muscle pain (contact prescriber if this occurs), dry eyes, headache, fatigue, and mood changes.
This is a treatment of last resort unless you have severe cystic acne. It does work very well because it attacks acne for all the angles.</p>
<p>Standard first line treatments include tetracyclines, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, Azelaic acid, Retin-A, and topical antibiotics. You have to fail those before trying Accutane.</p>
<p>My kids used all sorts of strange expensive prescribed topical stuff and oral antibiotics (see above)… but quit all that after reading the acne.org site info and seeing the video on there of Daniel washing his face. (It’s really funny- he is SOOOOO methodical and slowmoving;)). Both now use lots and lots of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel twice a day, then moisturize. The 2.5% stuff is gentle (unlike the 5 and 10% stuff) and they rub it in slowly and thoroughly and it works. It works better than all the other toxic stuff they used to use and it is SO much cheaper. (Plus it works mechanically it doesn’t stop working, like the antibiotics do after time when the bacteria become resistant) Both my kids look good and have very few, very minor breakouts. And I don’t have to worry about them messing up their digestive systems by taking antibiotics, or using the other strange topical drugs. (and I have no affiliation with that website, other than my kids use some of the products mentioned there.) :)</p>
<p>Please maintain a healthy skepticism about professionals and industry insiders who tell you that you dont need accutane, but instead need cream X. Many times they want to sell the treatment and not the cure. Why? Because people who finish accutane don’t ever spend money on acne treatments, again. Nor do they go visit their dermatologist any time soon.</p>
<p>Wow so many helpful and wonderful tips! Thank you everyone. I have a couple of concerns. My son is allergic to all cephalosporins, erithromycin derivitives and penicillin, so many antibiotic treatments are a no go. He has tried the drug store concoctions, Retin A, and Azelex. They help a little, but not enough. Another concern is my son’s involvement in aquatic sports, which could complicate some of the potential side effects (no way will he give this up). I think a trip to the doctor is in order to ask some very kid specific questions. I’ll follow up if we need more help/advice after we see the doctor.</p>
<p>Again thanks this message board is so wonderful!</p>
<p>Hi collegemom,
You are right to be concerned about athletes and accutane. I don’t know the statistics, but two varsity athlete friends of my D used accutane for months at a time. Both had to quit their sports for a time due to intense joint pain. They are both runners, a much higher impact activity than swimming, so maybe that will make a difference. It would be good to find out what most athletes experience when using this drug. One of these kids would say it was worth it, the other quit before treatment was complete due to desire to compete pain free.</p>
<p>I sympathize…acne is no fun.</p>
<p>Thanks riverrunner we will be sure to ask some sports specific questions, especially about when to call the doctor. Nothing ever is as simple as it seems…still it is good to be informed.</p>
<p>My H had horrible cystic acne as a teenager. I was dating him at the time and it really was bad. His father also had this problem when he was a teen. My H took Accutane in the early 80s and it did clear up the skin however he did have residual scarring (his dad’s is worse). H’s major side effect were dry eyes and he did have to put artificial tears to keep his eyes moist. In terms of sports, he was on an NCAA D1 team and the medication didn’t affect his performance. Because it was a problem for 2 generations, H and I are concerned about the kids. The 19 y.o. seemed to have avoided it. The 13 y.o. hasn’t had any acne yet but neither had his dad at this age.</p>
<p>There is another caution if your child is a performer, any drug that had a drying effect of chapped lips and nosebleeds is an outward symptom of what is going on all over. Check with a ENT at a Voice Center. My understanding is that Accutane can have a negative affect on the voice.</p>
<p>Juast a note re “Chapstick”: S’s dermatologist said NOT to use that brand while he was on accutane, or anything else with alcohol. There are various lip balms that are much more effective. The best advice is to get several containers and keep one with you at all times, using it frequently.</p>
<p>Singersmom07 - my D took Accutane and was an award winning classical singer. I was concerned about the effect the Accutane would have on her voice - but there was no effect. She continued to place first in all her competitions. I believe the nutritional support we used made a difference. She also continued to stay well hydrated through her treatment.</p>
<p>Everyone should keep in mind that each person will respond differently to Accutane. This thread is starting to remind me of all the advice people gave me when they found out I was pregnant!</p>
<p>As a last-gasp resort, after trying everything else the dermatologist had to offer, my son took Accutane. His cystic acne was so severe he sometimes couldn’t sleep at night because it hurt. He was VERY hesitant to take it, so the doctor put him on a half-dose regimen for 6 months instead of a full-dose for 5 months. He hated the monthly blood tests, but managed.<br>
He ran track and had a little joint pain, but it didn’t bother him enough to stop running. He had dry lips and skin, and still uses lip balm stuff in the winter. </p>
<p>He had what we consider an amazing response. Not only did his acne clear up but his scars are gone too. He took Accutane 6 years ago and his skin is still clear.</p>
<p>Westcoastmon, I think the issue is not that you can’t sing but that you risk injury to the vocal cords. Not everyone obviously but that is why it was recommended to be under the care and regular monitoring of an ENT, too, that specializes in voice.</p>