The Student Room Group

Acne

Basically, I've had moderate acne for around 8 or 9 years. I'm so fed up of it now, I've had various treatments such as antibiotics, the pill, creams and lotions, but nothing has ever kept it away for long. Has anyone had experience with a treatment that actually works? It's starting to get me down, I'm in my twenties and still my skin isn't clear!
Thanks x

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Reply 1
There is a sticky at the top that deals with common questions like this. Here, I've even looked for you. They suggest going here:

www.acne.org

and following the instructions.
Reply 2
Roaccutane - is potenised pharmaceutically produced retinol (akin to vitamin A). I took it for 4 months about 3 years ago and it was highly effective - it is considered as the only treatment to really work - and rightly so. I only had moderate acne but was advised on taking it by a Harley Street consultant dermatologist. Four of my cousins have also taken it and it has been successful in all their cases. There have been a lot of horror stories surrounding this drug - as with any drug there are possible side-affects - and therefore I suggest you make an appointment with a dermatologist before proceeding. You will be required to take a blood test to make sure your body will support the treatment.

Don't be scared off by the bad publicity - it is the only drug that worked for me - and if other methods have not worked for you then I would suggest it as a viable option.
You always see negative stuff on forums about accutane, but they are mis-leading because the majority of them are those who have had bad experiences. Don't be put off, only a very small minority may experience the bad effects.

p.s. I havn't been on it
Anonymous
Basically, I've had moderate acne for around 8 or 9 years. I'm so fed up of it now, I've had various treatments such as antibiotics, the pill, creams and lotions, but nothing has ever kept it away for long. Has anyone had experience with a treatment that actually works? It's starting to get me down, I'm in my twenties and still my skin isn't clear!
Thanks x

Don't worry about it, most guys like pizza anyways, :yy: :p:
lucho22
Roaccutane - is potenised pharmaceutically produced retinol (akin to vitamin A). I took it for 4 months about 3 years ago and it was highly effective - it is considered as the only treatment to really work - and rightly so. I only had moderate acne but was advised on taking it by a Harley Street consultant dermatologist. Four of my cousins have also taken it and it has been successful in all their cases. There have been a lot of horror stories surrounding this drug - as with any drug there are possible side-affects - and therefore I suggest you make an appointment with a dermatologist before proceeding. You will be required to take a blood test to make sure your body will support the treatment.

Don't be scared off by the bad publicity - it is the only drug that worked for me - and if other methods have not worked for you then I would suggest it as a viable option.
doesn't that cause severe depression? :redface:
saiyamana
doesn't that cause severe depression? :redface:


yeah, I heard there were a few suicide incidents as well
Mustard-man
yeah, I heard there were a few suicide incidents as well
same here :frown:

when i was on them, there were a few times when i was really depressed :frown:
Reply 8
saiyamana
same here :frown:

when i was on them, there were a few times when i was really depressed :frown:


It can cause depression but this is usually temporary (only people with a history of mental illness are advised against taking roaccutane) - also depression is a normal thing from time to time in young people and the correlation between the suicides and roaccutane was never proven. Many drugs react badly with people - but the cases you hear about are a few out of the thousands of people who have taken the drug (it's been on the market for almost 20 years)...as i said all my cousins on my mother's side (where we have that pesky dominant acne gene) have taken the drug with brilliant results. Antibiotics are not long term solutions as they do not shrink the sebacious glands (which produce the sebum where the bacteria multiplies) like roaccutane does - therefore they clear up your skin whilst taking them - but the acne comes back after stopping. I also experienced a terrible painful rash which left blotching on my torso after experiencing an allergic reaction to Trimethoprim. Minocin (tetracycline antibiotic) had almost no effect. However using Benzamycin gel after treatment with Roaccutane can make sure the acne doesn't return. I now have very mild acne - well just a few spots which I keep at bay with this gel applied once a day.

Hope this helps :wink:
Accupuncture, works very well.

Be prepared to spend 1-2K though...
I've had acne since I was 7/8 and it's been eight years that I've had it. I was on different antibiotics for six years, given creams, acupuncture, facials, homeopathic treatments, but nothing worked. My last dermatologist correctly diagnosed me with digestive problems, but none of her prescriptions worked.

My school GP on the other hand, gave one look at me, prescribed me something called 'Zineryt' and it cleared up most of my acne within days. If you're suffering from depression (I hope not) or have problems with your digestive system, those might be the root of your problem, but I really recommend Zineryt. It's produced by a company called Yamanouchi, and it's easy to use - apply day and night, no need to wash off, etc.

Different things work for different people I suppose, and I've heard of several types of the pill that are also quite effective (assuming that you're a girl? @.@). All I can say is have a go and see...

Hope this has helped :s-smilie:
Reply 11
this is in order of your treatments - im on dianette now after going through all the other motions

1)try over the counter stuff
2)try benzoyl peroxide cream (this works good for me sometimes, oxy10 is good)
3)try mild topical prescription creams like erythromycin, skinoren/azelaic acid this one is good for scarring on dark people's skin
4)try oral antibiotics like tetracyclines, maybe combine with topical
5)if you are resistant, as may be the case here, try MINOCIN (MINOCYCLINE) as it is very hard to be resistant to
6)try Dianette if you are a woman
7)Ro accutane
Reply 12
Thanks for everyone's replies. I've already tried dianette. I was on it for around 5 years, and then when I went to get a new prescription for the pill from my new doctor at uni, she took me off it. She said my skin was clear (it was fairly clear at the time) and it's a bad idea to be on it for a long time because it's a high dose of hormones or something?? Anyway, I never had any problems with it, do you think I should ask to be put back on it?
Reply 13
sugarwhirl89
I've had acne since I was 7/8 and it's been eight years that I've had it. I was on different antibiotics for six years, given creams, acupuncture, facials, homeopathic treatments, but nothing worked. My last dermatologist correctly diagnosed me with digestive problems, but none of her prescriptions worked.

My school GP on the other hand, gave one look at me, prescribed me something called 'Zineryt' and it cleared up most of my acne within days. If you're suffering from depression (I hope not) or have problems with your digestive system, those might be the root of your problem, but I really recommend Zineryt. It's produced by a company called Yamanouchi, and it's easy to use - apply day and night, no need to wash off, etc.

Different things work for different people I suppose, and I've heard of several types of the pill that are also quite effective (assuming that you're a girl? @.@). All I can say is have a go and see...

Hope this has helped :s-smilie:


Is the Zineryt stuff a cream?
Reply 14
Make sure you eat healthily too. Lots of fruit and veg. Oh, and drink loads of water.

Exercise helps too. Keep your head up :smile:
Reply 15
Anonymous
Is the Zineryt stuff a cream?

No. A lotion.
Reply 16
toothpaste
Reply 17
I've tried Zineryt, hasn't worked for me, I'm going to go to my GP tomorrow and see if I can get prescribed roaccutane.
Reply 18
Nichrome
I've tried Zineryt, hasn't worked for me, I'm going to go to my GP tomorrow and see if I can get prescribed roaccutane.


You'll probably be referred to a dermatologist - and on the NHS they'll be very reluctant to prescribe it as it's very expensive. I only got it through my bupa health insurance - and even they didn't want to pay for it at first...
The red marks left after acne are just as horrible.