Cysts and Accutane

On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 16:19:09 +1000, Anna Micallef
<anna_micallef RemoveThis @notmail.com> wrote:

>Lol - my acne is mainly on my chest, back, and upper arms. And it aint so
>pretty. Yes, I can cover most of it, but you cant be clothed ALL the time
>if you get my drift. Also, it restricts the clothes I wear (ie no V-necks
>or low-cut tops, no sleeveless, no singlets, no bathers). And I've had 12
>years of this (I'm 22 now). I've tried everything except Accutane, which
>I'm not willing to try because I can cover it up, and it's not worth the
>risks.
>I'm hoping I grow out of it eventually... I figure 24, 25 maybe.. If not I
>may just give accutane a go....
>Good luck with your course.

In high school, my face wasn't a serious problem, but I got a lot of
cysts on my upper back and shoulders.

I've gotten several cysts on my back/upper shoulders since starting
Accutane over 6 weeks ago. Plus a few on the back of my neck.

Anyway, my upper back skin is basically smooth and healed, but it has
a lot of pink splotches from the scarring. Just fantastic. I'm sure
that'll do wonders for my confidence if I'm ever with a girl who wants
to go swimming or something.

I turn 22 at the end of the month. Apparently you're a girl, so I
completely understand why the back and upper arm acne is a ton more
annoying for you because of female clothing. But hey, if you're
covered (with the right blouse), you're covered, and NO ONE knows.

I have to put concealer on my face EVERY DAY and my break-outs are
still obvious. I can't exactly wear a ski mask. I'm a 22 yr old
*guy*....I should be the last person spending 30 minutes in front of
the bathroom mirror in the morning with make-up.

Thanks for wishing me luck....I'm really trying to keep the faith and
hope that this flare-up is a result of Accutane waiting extra long to
'purge' my skin.
 >> Stay informed about: Cysts and Accutane 

"Ron Haskins" <ronhaskins RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> What gnaws at me is the people I've heard from in this group over the
> last several months (like notarealname) that have been on Accutane
> but STILL have problem skin. I mean, Accutane is the "when all else
> fails" treatment. There's really no fallback after this. That's a
> very sobering thought.
>
Ron, I believe that the point is that not everyone's acne is caused by the
same thing. Because doctors aren't really interested in finding out what is
causing YOUR acne as opposed to MY acne, they just treat us all the same.
Accutane will work...if it addresses the cause of YOUR acne.

ar
 >> Stay informed about: Cysts and Accutane 

Anna Micallef <anna_micallef.DeleteThis@notmail.com> wrote in
news:BCE6517D.74FE%anna_micallef@notmail.com:

> Lol - my acne is mainly on my chest, back, and upper arms. And it
> aint so pretty. Yes, I can cover most of it, but you cant be
> clothed ALL the time if you get my drift. Also, it restricts the
> clothes I wear (ie no V-necks or low-cut tops, no sleeveless, no
> singlets, no bathers). And I've had 12 years of this (I'm 22 now).
> I've tried everything except Accutane, which I'm not willing to try
> because I can cover it up, and it's not worth the risks.
> I'm hoping I grow out of it eventually... I figure 24, 25 maybe.. If
> not I may just give accutane a go....
> Good luck with your course.
>

I was in exactly the same situation as you. Hadnt been to the beach for a
swim since I was 15. I kept waiting to grow out of it until I was 28
before I was so sick of the situation I decided to get on accutane. Been
on it for 11 weeks now and havent had any major side effects. I think its
worth any risks to have a chance at having a 'normal' acne free life.
Fingers crossed.
 >> Stay informed about: Cysts and Accutane 

Ron Haskins <ronhaskins.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:v5h4c05r3sao9lee4f04b7b5navjgrs7r6@4ax.com:

>
> What gnaws at me is the people I've heard from in this group over the
> last several months (like notarealname) that have been on Accutane
> but STILL have problem skin. I mean, Accutane is the "when all else
> fails" treatment. There's really no fallback after this. That's a
> very sobering thought.
>

I know, I was quite shocked to read those as well. If it doesnt work I
think Ill go crazy.
 >> Stay informed about: Cysts and Accutane 

On 7 Jun 2004 10:53:35 +1200, samg <samg.DeleteThis@inter.net> wrote:

>Ron Haskins <ronhaskins.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in
>news:v5h4c05r3sao9lee4f04b7b5navjgrs7r6@4ax.com:
>
>>
>> What gnaws at me is the people I've heard from in this group over the
>> last several months (like notarealname) that have been on Accutane
>> but STILL have problem skin. I mean, Accutane is the "when all else
>> fails" treatment. There's really no fallback after this. That's a
>> very sobering thought.
>>
>
>I know, I was quite shocked to read those as well. If it doesnt work I
>think Ill go crazy.

No kidding. You know, they warn that you may experience depression
while on Accutane....maybe I see why. Maybe the depressed people are
the people who made it to the final week of treatment and realized
their acne hadn't left.

After I pop my two pills tomorrow, that will mark the completion of 7
weeks on Accutane for me. My face still has a long ways to go...my
bad break-out from the last 10 days has mostly 'healed'.....but of
course the red marks from the blemishes are all still very visible.

So to the casual observer it looks like I'm STILL experiencing the
break-out. I HATE the damn red spots that comedones and cysts leave.
By the time they're mostly faded, I always seem to have a new batch of
comedones appearing.

C'mon Accutane, please do your thing.
 >> Stay informed about: Cysts and Accutane