15 year old son with cystic acne

MacNurse · Sep 25, 2005

I have a friend that's been on accutane before. She had to use liters of moisturizers!

Chicklet2 · Sep 25, 2005

Hey I was on accutane for a yr. Please watch your son for any mood changes as this drug has depressed people before. I did not find a huge improvement while on this drug. In my case 6months after I was off of it, the acne came back, not as bad, but it did come back. Also make sure your son watches what he eats b/c the drug will increase his cholesteral. Take care

allevi · Sep 25, 2005

My son took it for about a year, it was wonderful. Didn't really affect his moods at all. Yes his did get worse before better. And he used a moisturizing body wash and then lotion on his face especially and lots of chap stick.

I would reccomend this med to any one with severe acne, it was wonderful for him. He was also one of the ones that prior to accutane had been on antidepressant for awhile, he was depressed because of the acne.

We fixed acne and it helped him feel better ab out himself

rehab nurse · Sep 25, 2005

i used a course of accutane when i was about 17, and that was before they knew about all the possible mood changes. it cleared my face beautifully while i took it, but i was very DRY~had to drink tons of water, lots of good moisurizers (i think then i used one by purpose and also one by cetaphil)and glyoxy for my dry mouth and tons of chapstick! the derms probably have much better moisturizers now. however, as soon as i stopped taking it, my acne came back, not as bad, but still i'm 28 and i still get those huge cysts. it's very embarassing. i hope it helps your son...

justmanda · Sep 25, 2005

He has started Accutane 10 days ago. Is anyone familiar with the healing process? My poor kiddo has been suffering for couple years with cystic acne and half his back is affected. His chest started up most recently. He seems to be "drying up" and scabbing alot. Normal? It looks like a gigantic patch of red now on his poor chest. Should we put moisturizer on it or leave it alone? He itches(from the dryness I believe).
Just looking for non-medical friendly advice here as he IS in treatment. I wonder if it gets worse before it gets better?
Thanks

I had horrible cystic acne as a teen (on face and back). I took one round of accutane and was able to get rid of the acne without scarring. I can still remember when an old woman commented on what a beautiful complexion I had (a year or so after I completed my course). I actually almost cried. While taking it, though...I was a monster. I think my lips actually peeled off. The skin is quite prone to scarring while on Accutane, so don't peel off any big flakes as it will peel more deeply into the dermis and cause a scar. Also, ABSOLUTELY NO DERMABRASION or laser resurfacing for 2 years after he stops taking the med because wound healing is not as rapid and there is a great risk for permanent scarring. NO abrasive cleansers or scrub pads..it makes is worse. I used Purpose soap and moisturizer, although there may be better one's out now days. Here's the problem. I do have acne scars now because I started getting acne again about 4 years after treatment. I should have taken a second course at that time before it got too bad. I didn't because the acne was a lot less than it had been before accutane, so I wasn't too bothered by it. BUT...had I taken a second course, I wouldn't have the scars I have now. So I encourage a second course if he has the deep cysts like I had. Tell him that there is hope for him...my skin was flawless after treatment...like I had never had a pimple.

Chicklet2 · Sep 25, 2005

Just a quick thought on accutane. For women you are told to NEVER get pregnant while on accutane b/c it will deform a baby. So what happens if a male on accutane gets a girl pregnant. Will the same affects happen to the baby??

MacNurse · Sep 25, 2005

I don't believe so. I think it has to do with exposure in the bloodstream that makes accutane so teratogenic.

lesrn2005 · Sep 25, 2005

He has started Accutane 10 days ago. Is anyone familiar with the healing process? My poor kiddo has been suffering for couple years with cystic acne and half his back is affected. His chest started up most recently. He seems to be "drying up" and scabbing alot. Normal? It looks like a gigantic patch of red now on his poor chest. Should we put moisturizer on it or leave it alone? He itches(from the dryness I believe).
Just looking for non-medical friendly advice here as he IS in treatment. I wonder if it gets worse before it gets better?
Thanks

My husband, his siblings and father all have cystic acne on face & body. We just always considered it hereditary. Anyway, my husband took accutane a while back for several mos (I believe), his acne cleared up. Now several yrs later, he has these cystic areas that have started up on his back. Even though I'm an R.N. I tend to lean on more natural remedies. I have several good herbal books, one suggested making a poultice out of black cohosh, echinacea and golden seal. I mixed the 3 onto a cotton ball, held it in place with a tegaderm, let him sleep with it on at nights, and the cysts started draining the following day. The amount of drainage was incredible with 1 big one. My teenage daughter developed a cyst on her thigh, I did the same thing for her, and 2 days later it was gone. I'm sure you could just rub the mixture onto the face several X's ea. day, let it air dry, and see improvement. I think it's worth a shot.

oramar · Sep 25, 2005

My niece took two treatments courses to clear up her acne. Her skin is now beautiful. She did go through some rough periods when she was on treatment with patchy dry skin and she did use moisturizer. You would not believe that this gorgeous, out going 22 year old was once a selfconcious teenager. It remains a drug with dangerous side effects and no one should enter in to it without being aware.

sharann, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

Thanks to all for the encouraging words.

busykim · Sep 26, 2005

Accutane is often a miracle drug. It is the best drug we have in dermatology to fight cystic and other stubborn acne (usually after all other types of medicines have been tried). I have personally seen it change peoples lives. I think it's almost a crime when I see people suffering with scarring acne and large cysts walking around- when it could usually be changed with Accutane.

Yes it is very drying- moisturizers can help, absolutely use sunscreen (more sensitive to light) Another tip that helps alot of Accutane users is to put vaseline in the nostrils gently with a Q-tip (for pt.'s that tend to get nose bleeds).

Some patients with cystic acne need more than one course of treatment but usually one course is enough. You won't know until you have finished treatment and time will tell.

Accutane users are monitored monthly with labs, pregnancy tests (for females of course) mood changes etc. We have not had one case of suicide or other major depressive conditions in any of our patients (that we know of) and have seen mostly the opposite---depressive, shy, self-conscious people that are changed and thrilled with their acne free skin. :yeah:

Also most of the time people can has laser and microdermabrasion etc. after a year from finishing treatment.

Hope this anwers most of your concerns- Kim (derm and ER nurse)