very long term antibiotics for persistant acne

hello

i have been on oxytetracycline and minocycline for 6 months. i had a two moth break and now its back

my acne isnt particularly bad, so my doc says roaccutane is not needed. they also offered me dianette (the Pill) but as i do not need contraception they said the side effects outweigh the pros of taking it.

he says i should take erythromyacin indefinately for like 10 years or more. he says its safe and ok.
i read "More than a 6 month course and you are putting yourself at serious risk and comprimising your immune system."http://www.acne.org/rate_item.php?item_id=26

is anyone else on very long term acne treatment, and is there any once and for all treatment that will cure it?

Reply 1

dancingqueen

11

I was on antibiotics for my acne for ages, and I came off them because I was worried about becoming resistant to them (I'd also taken lots of antibiotics as a child because I had frequent tonsilllitis). What side effects of dianette are you worried about? I've never had any, having taken it for 5 years (I don't take it anymore, because my skin is almost clear). I also didn't need it for contraception because I was only 13 when I started taking it! It's pretty good for clearing up your skin I've found (and also several friends who've taken it).

Reply 2

andy5788

14

I think I can pop in here.
I was on oxtetracylcline and erythromycin from age 13 to 16. On my 16th birthday I switched to roaccutane, which I took for a year, and am now on a topical cream which is small part oxtetracyline and very small part accutane (EDIT: remembered what it's called, Isotrexin!).
As for the once and for all cure, if I knew it I'd be using it! So I'm afraid not....
Just try not to let it get you down and remind yourself however it looks to you, it looks a lot better to others. I've pulled twice so I can't be too horrific! And one of those was in the middle of my accutane treatment.
So yeah, just don't let it get you down!

P.S My main tip, NEVER EVER skip a face wash, no matter how late it is, how drunk you are etc...

Reply 3

tana

i dont really think there is a cure for acne but just ways of preventing breakouts. i never really wanted to try anything like antibiotics so ive opted for proactiv solution. i only have to cleanse my face morning and night and my face stays clear. there are so many treatments so i'm sure you'll find the one for you!!

Reply 4

frost105

14

I took dianette for 3 years for acne and it was great but when I went to my doc for contraception and asked fo dianette (as I knew I had no prblems with it) she said it wasnt prescibed for contraception largely anymore!

Reply 5

shinytoy

OP

18

im lucky that my face is clear, my acne is only on my back and upper arms. and its only the odd spot. the main reason im being given hard core anti acne treatment is that my acne leaves dark marks like freckles for about 8 months after the spot. this is ok as a fake tan or camoflage cream hides it ok. but i just wana be rid of all spots

Reply 6

norelle

5

frost105

I took dianette for 3 years for acne and it was great but when I went to my doc for contraception and asked fo dianette (as I knew I had no prblems with it) she said it wasnt prescibed for contraception largely anymore!

Yeah, Dianette is primarily prescribed for acne rather than contraception apparently. I've got to say, it was the only thing that cleared up my skin - I was on oxytetracycline for about a year and it didn't do much.
Honestly, if your acne's severe and the antibiotics haven't worked, I think your only options are the pill or Roaccutane (but the possible side effects for Roaccutane are major, so it's a big thing to embark on.)

And to the person who said never ever skip a face wash, you are SO RIGHT!

Reply 7

shinytoy

OP

18

my acne isnt severe, it just is recurrant and leaves long term marks.

Reply 8

Anonymous #1

norelle

Yeah, Dianette is primarily prescribed for acne rather than contraception apparently. I've got to say, it was the only thing that cleared up my skin - I was on oxytetracycline for about a year and it didn't do much.
Honestly, if your acne's severe and the antibiotics haven't worked, I think your only options are the pill or Roaccutane (but the possible side effects for Roaccutane are major, so it's a big thing to embark on.)

And to the person who said never ever skip a face wash, you are SO RIGHT!

Is this Dianette thing any good? & would it act as a decent replacement to microgynon 30 too, as I'm currently on that to control my periods? When I do get bad skin I find it really embarrassing to a ridiculous extent - this is despite the fact I have mostly clear skin and just get minimal breakouts when I'm stressed :rolleyes:

I considered seeing a dermatologist but as my friends say I'm blowing everything out of proportion, and it's true that I don't really had bad acne, I feel it might be OTT.

Reply 9

shinytoy

OP

18

if its affecting your self confidence etc then maybe. but i think all women tend to get the odd spot at that time of the month or around exams. also i think you need to be referred by your doc to the derma.

the side effects probably would outweigh the benefits if you already have good skin

Reply 10

Anonymous #2

I have been on Tetralysal 300 (equivalent to lymecycline) for about 3 years and asked my GP about having been on it for such a long time but he says it is safe. Trust your doctor.

Reply 11

*tinkabella*

i was on oxytetracycline for about 9 months for acne - it did nothing at all so i was then put on dianette - which was amazing! after about 4 months all my spots were gone, and didnt come back.

I dont think that it has any side effects other than those common to all contraceptive pills, but it is recommended that you do not use it over long periods of time. It would be worth considering even if you dont need it for contraception, as it is such an effective treatment!

Reply 12

music<3

hey, i was on roaccutane for around 4 months for severe acne but as for healing the marks quicker i reckon u could get some treatment moisturisers for it.. im using some at the moment and have noticed significant improvement in the marks since around a few months ago.. all the best with it and try not to let it ruin ur confidence.xx

Reply 13

minimo

15

Heya,
Minocin did not help my acne at all, but Dianette did (I didn't need contraception either). I used the latter for six years and my skin is MUCH better now.

Reply 14

girl afraid

I've been using Zindaclin (Clindamycin phosphate) on and off, mainly on my back because that's where my acne is worse. It seems to work well whenever I can be bothered with it. I took one course of oxytetracycline a few years back, but I didn't get a repeat prescription as I didn't like the idea of continuously taking antibiotics.

My acne isn't as bad, I just get a few flare ups every so often (I'm 21), but I think this is partly due to finally being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and the treatment has settled various ailments.

Personally I wouldn't allow my doctor to prescribe me antibiotics for 10 years! I'd try other things, like Chinese medicine, herbal treatments, etc.

Reply 15

lolaviola

dancingqueen

I was on antibiotics for my acne for ages, and I came off them because I was worried about becoming resistant to them (I'd also taken lots of antibiotics as a child because I had frequent tonsilllitis). What side effects of dianette are you worried about? I've never had any, having taken it for 5 years (I don't take it anymore, because my skin is almost clear). I also didn't need it for contraception because I was only 13 when I started taking it! It's pretty good for clearing up your skin I've found (and also several friends who've taken it).

Hiya! my Doc has just precribed me with Dianette for contraception and moderate spots. so you found it good? iv read such such nasty reviews of it so am a little scared! but i so want to get rid of my spots and i know the cause is hormonal!

Im wondering though...could i poss go on it until skin cleared up and then just come off it. or do spots come back, and worse!? if thats the case i dont think il even try it!

Thanks alot!

Reply 16

squarebobspongepants

I was on Dianette for about four or five months, and it cleared up my spots better than anything else I tried. I did get some side effects though, I got a bit of depression and mood swings though this may not have been the Dianette; I also found I was hungry alll the time so did put on a bit of weight aswell.
Unfortunately my spots did come back when I went off it though so not sure if it was really worth it! I've found changing my diet has helped quite a lot but it still doesnt seem to completely clear it up, I guess the only thing thatll get rid of it permanently is accutane :s

Reply 17

Stephss

7

shinytoy

hello

i have been on oxytetracycline and minocycline for 6 months. i had a two moth break and now its back

my acne isnt particularly bad, so my doc says roaccutane is not needed. they also offered me dianette (the Pill) but as i do not need contraception they said the side effects outweigh the pros of taking it.

he says i should take erythromyacin indefinitely for like 10 years or more. he says its safe and ok.
i read "More than a 6 month course and you are putting yourself at serious risk and comprimising your immune system."http://www.acne.org/rate_item.php?item_id=26

is anyone else on very long term acne treatment, and is there any once and for all treatment that will cure it?

Hi,
I Can definitely sympathise with you! I was on anything and everything for about 5 years! Starting with chemist creams and then doctors perscriptions!
I'd tried both oxytetracycline and minocycline but neither worked for me. I told the doctor and he'd just keep trying new ones.. creams, lotions etc. Going back to him for the 5th/6th time he gave me antibioics.
These really did not work for me, they brought on depression and ill feelings. He then put me on the pill and this brought on the same thing, he swapped it and again nothing.

So as well as still having terrible acne (getting worse over the last 5 years) I was becoming depressed, feeling ill all the time and getting angry that nothing was working.

I came off the pill at my own choice and didn't go back to the doctor! It was the best remedy i'd had! My skin has gotton so much better! Simply leaving it alone.. something i thought would never work!

Id advice to invest in a good Cleanser and make sure you take make up off.. seriously treatments with natural ingridients in are so much better than medical ones that can interfere with the rest of your system! The only things ive used are a Tea tree blemish gel from boots and an SOS cream once or twice.

My skin is clear now, no thanks to any of the doctors! Sorry for the long reply, if you have any questions message me!

xx

Reply 18

Got_The_Bends

Hi, my acne is pretty bad too...I was on tetraysal 300 for three months...this didn't do much for me, maybe I should have stayed on for longer but this is all he prescribed...I am now on the pill Yasmin...it is supposed to be as effective as dianette after 9 cycles. I'm only on the 5th...going into my 6th month in March. So the next 3 months will be crucial...one side of my face is pretty much clear apart from the odd spot, the other side is still bad /scarring etc.

Its done wonders for my shoulders, back and neck though and unlike other BCPs , I have lost weight!

very long term antibiotics for persistant acne

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