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Seeing a dermatologist - what to expect?
After 18+ months of three different antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide creams, silly over the counter products and various vitamin supplements I finally have an appointment to see a dermatologist in relation to acne in two weeks time (paying £130 for a private consultation but will then be treated on the NHS - hopefully avoiding a 2/3 month wait) . My acne became severe a few months ago after exams though has calmed a little now and has left some scarring (indentations not pigmentation which I know is temporary).
I'm considering pushing for roaccutane because I'm worried about scarring and my skin is affecting me emotionally. I'm aware of possible side effects from roaccutane but am becoming increasingly desperate.
I'm curious about other peoples experiences of seeing a dermatologist and possibly roaccutane. Have any of you any such experiences?
Thanks for reading.
I'm considering pushing for roaccutane because I'm worried about scarring and my skin is affecting me emotionally. I'm aware of possible side effects from roaccutane but am becoming increasingly desperate.
I'm curious about other peoples experiences of seeing a dermatologist and possibly roaccutane. Have any of you any such experiences?
Thanks for reading.
Reply 1
I have been on Roaccutane twice and have been under the care of a dermatologists for 12+ years now... Well when I had my first ever consultation, I was offered Roaccutane from the very beginning. If your acne is quite severe then they will offer it to you straight away. However, in my experience is does have to be quite bad... My brother is also under the care of a dermatologist and has been for about 5 years now and he will not get prescribed Roaccutane because they don't deem his acne to be severe enough, even though he has pushed for it.
Roaccutane was brilliant for my skin whilst I was on it, the only side effects being very dry lips. However, my skin did get progressively worse after stopping the course, hence the need to the repeat dose. My skin is getting bad again *sigh* so I'll probably have to get back on it again soon... But don't worry, apparently I am a rare case, with Roaccutane curing 80% of patients for life
Anything else you need to know, just ask And good luck!
Roaccutane was brilliant for my skin whilst I was on it, the only side effects being very dry lips. However, my skin did get progressively worse after stopping the course, hence the need to the repeat dose. My skin is getting bad again *sigh* so I'll probably have to get back on it again soon... But don't worry, apparently I am a rare case, with Roaccutane curing 80% of patients for life
Anything else you need to know, just ask
And good luck!Reply 2
A few of them are very leanient to giving out medication but don't expect all of them to give you a prescription just like that. I have had cyctic acne in the past and was refused accutane.. though its cleared up now a lot and i was apprehensive about the medication. There are many side effects that are possible such as hair loss and thinning, it can also give you rosacea in some cases. There are other less reported side effects such as permanent changes to brain function ,memory and emotional state.
hair loss: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/The-answers-I-got-from-my-doctor-about-hair-loss-t152239.html
hair loss: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/The-answers-I-got-from-my-doctor-about-hair-loss-t152239.html
Reply 3
Thanks for the replies. I think it's quite bad - lots of non inflamed spots, two more severe ones, some hyperpigmentation and some scarring. I'm so worried about what my skin is going to be like after I get through this (if I do!). I'm not being vain.
I start my third year of university next week and it's going to be difficult - I've barely been out all summer and suddenly have 20+ hours of lectures mon-fri and everybody I haven't seen all summer wondering what happened to my skin. How could things get so bad in 3 months?
Thanks for the link to acne.org - I'm sometimes read the forums there but I've also scared myself so much by looking at things on the internet.
There's just no easy option - I feel jealous of all the people with clear skin when I eat healthily, don't drink/smoke/take drugs etc. etc.
Ack - so much angst! Sorry!
I start my third year of university next week and it's going to be difficult - I've barely been out all summer and suddenly have 20+ hours of lectures mon-fri and everybody I haven't seen all summer wondering what happened to my skin. How could things get so bad in 3 months?
Thanks for the link to acne.org - I'm sometimes read the forums there but I've also scared myself so much by looking at things on the internet.
There's just no easy option - I feel jealous of all the people with clear skin when I eat healthily, don't drink/smoke/take drugs etc. etc.
Ack - so much angst! Sorry!
Reply 4
I had really bad acne, and was referred to a dermatologist because none of the other drugs were working. Roaccutane worked wonders on my skin. I really wish i had taken a before and after picture because the results were so good. I was the same as Dita_Parlo with the side effects of dry lips. My skins also got quite dried out, but e45 or any basic moisturiser does the trick on that. They gave me lots of information on it and all possible side effects before i was given it. They make sure it's 100% your choice to go forward with it.
I was always told by doctors that eating habits have nothing whatsoever to do with acne, some of us are just unlucky.
It was really affecting me emotionally as well, but even though they started me on a lwo dosage of roaccutane i actually saw changes in my skin almost straight away.
Good luck with it all!
I was always told by doctors that eating habits have nothing whatsoever to do with acne, some of us are just unlucky.
It was really affecting me emotionally as well, but even though they started me on a lwo dosage of roaccutane i actually saw changes in my skin almost straight away.
Good luck with it all!
Reply 5
15
Being inside wont help at all. Acne is reduced in sunlight, so sunbathing etc is good for the skin. Also, they might give you different anti-biotics and/or differin (a retinoid) cream. Wait a few months, then see if it improves. If not they might try you on roaccutane.
Reply 6
Thanks - am going to go see my tutor on Monday so hopefully that will help too.
Reply 7
17
Haven't done dermatology yet, but I saw a bloke in A&E with acne the other day, the charge nurse laughed at him and sent him away.
(Sorry, sorry, sorry)
(Sorry, sorry, sorry)
Reply 8
10
Renal
Haven't done dermatology yet, but I saw a bloke in A&E with acne the other day, the charge nurse laughed at him and sent him away.
(Sorry, sorry, sorry)
(Sorry, sorry, sorry)
Well, to be fair acne isnt an accident or an emergency and he was wasting resources that are there to save lives. Its something that should be dealt with by a GP or referred to a dermatologist.
The reason they're often unwilling to use isotretinoin (Roaccutane) is that it can potentially have some quite nasty side effects.
Reply 9
I had my appointment with my dermatologist today and thought I would give a brief update.
My visit was very reassuring. He assured me that most of my scarring was quite superficial and would fade in time while the general appearance of my skin will look a lot better when the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation disappears. He's hopeful that it shouldn't be noticable that I've had acne after a year or two.
To treat the acne he's recommending Roaccutane which I'm inclined to take. I'm very worried about the possible side effects (particularly the more severe or persistent ones) but apparently those are very rare. I think I've scared myself rather a lot on the internet with these - perhaps certain internet forums make them seem so bad perhaps because only the people that had problems really comment. Nevertheless I'll be on the phone if I sense anything other than the usual dryness, aching or decreased night vision.
He's recommending a 4 month course - the acne isn't too bad at the moment but it is very persistent and I have lots of redness / some scarring which I really want to nip in the bud before it becomes a problem. He described my skin as moderate-severe. Apparently I won't need a checkup every month? He seems to think I should be okay with a blood test later this week before I start, one during the course and one after. Does this seem okay to other people? I'm male so obviously pregnancy is not an issue.
Hopefully I will be starting later this week and am suspending usage of my various vitamin supplements now to allow my system to return to normal before my blood tests and the start of my course.
Does anyone have any words of advice in regard to coping with a course of roaccutane? I'm aware that I'll need some sort of lip balm (suggestions?) and very probably a moisturiser (suggestions?) - the moisturiser I use at the moment has a source of Salcylic acid and is gently exfoliating so I want to change to something less potentially irritating when on my course.
I may keep a blog or at least periodically post my progress either in this topic or another since I found it useful reading that of Mustard-Man.
Here's to a new beginning!
My visit was very reassuring. He assured me that most of my scarring was quite superficial and would fade in time while the general appearance of my skin will look a lot better when the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation disappears. He's hopeful that it shouldn't be noticable that I've had acne after a year or two.
To treat the acne he's recommending Roaccutane which I'm inclined to take. I'm very worried about the possible side effects (particularly the more severe or persistent ones) but apparently those are very rare. I think I've scared myself rather a lot on the internet with these - perhaps certain internet forums make them seem so bad perhaps because only the people that had problems really comment. Nevertheless I'll be on the phone if I sense anything other than the usual dryness, aching or decreased night vision.
He's recommending a 4 month course - the acne isn't too bad at the moment but it is very persistent and I have lots of redness / some scarring which I really want to nip in the bud before it becomes a problem. He described my skin as moderate-severe. Apparently I won't need a checkup every month? He seems to think I should be okay with a blood test later this week before I start, one during the course and one after. Does this seem okay to other people? I'm male so obviously pregnancy is not an issue.
Hopefully I will be starting later this week and am suspending usage of my various vitamin supplements now to allow my system to return to normal before my blood tests and the start of my course.
Does anyone have any words of advice in regard to coping with a course of roaccutane? I'm aware that I'll need some sort of lip balm (suggestions?) and very probably a moisturiser (suggestions?) - the moisturiser I use at the moment has a source of Salcylic acid and is gently exfoliating so I want to change to something less potentially irritating when on my course.
I may keep a blog or at least periodically post my progress either in this topic or another since I found it useful reading that of Mustard-Man.
Here's to a new beginning!
Reply 10
Honestly, can I ask why you feel the need to be anonymous? You have bad acne, and you're getting something done about it. Where's the shame in that? Why is it a secret? 
I have bad acne too ("moderate" according to the derm), and I've been on roaccutane just over a month.
Don't scare yourself with all of these "ban roaccutane" websites. I can only speak for myself, but I've not felt at all depressed while I've been on it. (For those unfamiliar with these websites: it's claimed to make people suicidal, but there's no evidence of any link.)
The only effect for me has been that my lips are far dryer than usual -- you'll be needing vaseline (or similar). My skin isn't dry though -- if you must know, I use "Nivea For Men Rehydrating Moisturiser".
I've got very drunk a few times recently while on accutane, and have not had any problems at all with that. However, it may well **** up my liver in the long term (derm says 'tane + alcohol = bad idea) so it's probably not advised. I've not really thought about that. Now my dose has been upped, I may drink more moderately from now on.
Be prepared for an initial outbreak, which will last about 2 weeks (if it has the same effect on you as it did on me.) I was told about this, but really underestimated how bad it would be. During that time, your skin may be almost as bad as it's ever been before, but don't panic. I've been on it about 5 weeks, and I'm seeing some improvement already, I think.
I had to have a check-up after one month -- which unfortunately involved travelling all the way down to London from Warwick University -- which was a complete waste of time. You don't need one.
If you're taking Vitamin A supplements, you don't need to take them while on roaccutane (as you probably know.)
I have bad acne too ("moderate" according to the derm), and I've been on roaccutane just over a month.
Don't scare yourself with all of these "ban roaccutane" websites. I can only speak for myself, but I've not felt at all depressed while I've been on it. (For those unfamiliar with these websites: it's claimed to make people suicidal, but there's no evidence of any link.)
The only effect for me has been that my lips are far dryer than usual -- you'll be needing vaseline (or similar). My skin isn't dry though -- if you must know, I use "Nivea For Men Rehydrating Moisturiser".
I've got very drunk a few times recently while on accutane, and have not had any problems at all with that. However, it may well **** up my liver in the long term (derm says 'tane + alcohol = bad idea) so it's probably not advised. I've not really thought about that. Now my dose has been upped, I may drink more moderately from now on.
Be prepared for an initial outbreak, which will last about 2 weeks (if it has the same effect on you as it did on me.) I was told about this, but really underestimated how bad it would be. During that time, your skin may be almost as bad as it's ever been before, but don't panic. I've been on it about 5 weeks, and I'm seeing some improvement already, I think.
I had to have a check-up after one month -- which unfortunately involved travelling all the way down to London from Warwick University -- which was a complete waste of time. You don't need one.
If you're taking Vitamin A supplements, you don't need to take them while on roaccutane (as you probably know.)
Reply 11
16
Definitely stock up on lipbalm - you'll need it!
I was one of the rare ones who it affected emotionally, so I'm just going to say be careful. Most people are fine, but I became very mood-swingy on roaccutane. One moment I could be absolutely hyper and up for anything, the next I'd be very depressed and introverted. Never to the point of feeling suicidal or anything, but just very down and feeling vaguely hopeless.
Ask your friends to keep an eye on you - I didn't realise what was happening until my friends commented on it. If you notice anything, tell your doctor.
I was one of the rare ones who it affected emotionally, so I'm just going to say be careful. Most people are fine, but I became very mood-swingy on roaccutane. One moment I could be absolutely hyper and up for anything, the next I'd be very depressed and introverted. Never to the point of feeling suicidal or anything, but just very down and feeling vaguely hopeless.
Ask your friends to keep an eye on you - I didn't realise what was happening until my friends commented on it. If you notice anything, tell your doctor.
Reply 12
I'm posting as anonymous because a few people I know read this forum and I don't really talk about it to people in real life so it's less potentially awkward to post as anonymous. I have mentioned it to one or two people though in case I have any mood swings etc.
I must say I'm impressed by the doctor I've seen and the general level of treatment - I had my private consultation on Tuesday and was transferred onto his NHS patients list and seen at the nearby NHS hospital on Friday where I had the usual blood test, discussed side effects and was given my prescription which I started yesterday. That said, I had a letter from a doctor I saw at home (I'm at university at the moment) telling me I couldn't be referred there because I was only a temporary patient (they took five weeks to tell me this!). Thank goodness I didn't wait.
I must say I'm impressed by the doctor I've seen and the general level of treatment - I had my private consultation on Tuesday and was transferred onto his NHS patients list and seen at the nearby NHS hospital on Friday where I had the usual blood test, discussed side effects and was given my prescription which I started yesterday. That said, I had a letter from a doctor I saw at home (I'm at university at the moment) telling me I couldn't be referred there because I was only a temporary patient (they took five weeks to tell me this!). Thank goodness I didn't wait.
Reply 13
12
Apparently I have one of the worst cases my doctor AND dermatologist has ever seen (God I feel attractive) but no Roaccutane...I used a cream with a tiny improvement for 3 weeks then every time I put it on my whole face went lobster pink, so end of that, now on antibiotics and another cream and the pill (nothing doing anything and antibiotics having a variety of very unpleasant effects on me) so I'll be making another appointment.
If you wear makeup- go without it on (I'm so bad I had to take it off in his room and then run to the loo to put it back on. He just sat me down and talked about previous treatments and how it made me feel, then put a light on my face and ran his fingers over (no gloves- brave!!) and felt some of the BIG lumps and said it was awful and gave me the prescription, but as I said it's doing nothing so back I go....I'm pushing for accutane too- good luck!
If you wear makeup- go without it on (I'm so bad I had to take it off in his room and then run to the loo to put it back on. He just sat me down and talked about previous treatments and how it made me feel, then put a light on my face and ran his fingers over (no gloves- brave!!) and felt some of the BIG lumps and said it was awful and gave me the prescription, but as I said it's doing nothing so back I go....I'm pushing for accutane too- good luck!
Reply 14
Sorry to hear you're having problems too! In my own experience I found that the topical applications like benzoyl peroxide seem to help a certain amount until it gets past a certain level and skin gets irritated and red with post inflammatory marks. It seems quite harsh for your doctor and dermatologist to tell you that - hope you have more success at your next appointment!
Just to check - when taking Roaccutane I shouldn't be taking erythromycin antibiotics should I? I forgot to ask and my derm didn't mention it so I've stopped them and my skin seems to have deteriorated a little. I could phone on Monday but he was going on holiday for two weeks (which is probably why I got an appointment so early).
Just to check - when taking Roaccutane I shouldn't be taking erythromycin antibiotics should I? I forgot to ask and my derm didn't mention it so I've stopped them and my skin seems to have deteriorated a little. I could phone on Monday but he was going on holiday for two weeks (which is probably why I got an appointment so early).
Reply 15
Anonymous
Sorry to hear you're having problems too! In my own experience I found that the topical applications like benzoyl peroxide seem to help a certain amount until it gets past a certain level and skin gets irritated and red with post inflammatory marks. It seems quite harsh for your doctor and dermatologist to tell you that - hope you have more success at your next appointment!
Just to check - when taking Roaccutane I shouldn't be taking erythromycin antibiotics should I? I forgot to ask and my derm didn't mention it so I've stopped them and my skin seems to have deteriorated a little. I could phone on Monday but he was going on holiday for two weeks (which is probably why I got an appointment so early).
Just to check - when taking Roaccutane I shouldn't be taking erythromycin antibiotics should I? I forgot to ask and my derm didn't mention it so I've stopped them and my skin seems to have deteriorated a little. I could phone on Monday but he was going on holiday for two weeks (which is probably why I got an appointment so early).
Come off the erythromycin, the Roaccutane will do the job on its own - it's seriously strong stuff.
After your four month course, see if you can get a gel like Isotrex prescribed - this should help to maintain the balance of your skin.
Good luck - it does work.
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- Weight gain face
- dermatology career
- Can Malignant Melanoma be less than 5-6mm?
- 5 more careers for an adult nursing graduate
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- Where should I apply to med
- what a levels should i take? (info is in the description)
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