Adult acne treatment

Digger · 22-05-2006, 10:12 AM

At last a serious GC post from me...

...albeit a tad embarrassing.

I have slightly greasy skin, and suffer from mild acne, mostly on my chest, back, and face. Unfortunately I have the odd occasional tendency to have a bit of a pick, and a squeeze at the ones on my back and chest, which obviously means those spots might take 2/3 times longer to heal! If I manage to leave them alone for a week or so the skin looks quite presentable, but if I can manage to improve the core problem, that surely would help more...

Does anyone have any real world experience of oral treatments for mild acne. I am not interested in creams, local topical treatments, as I have two showers a day...sweat alot at the gym, so I really dont think the time applying these on my skin is going to benefit the problem, as it wont stay on for long. I have booked an appointment with the doctor on Wednesday morning to see what he suggests. Thinking about it I might suggest he sends me to a dermatologist

I dont wash with traditional soap as it would dry my skin too much which presumably cause the body to over-react and become more greasy still. I have been using Sanex anti-bacterial shower gel for the last few years.

Just to re-iterate I've done all the googling I care to, and was wondering what experience some ex-spotties here have had...

Any advice would be appreciated
Digger

kelvin · 22-05-2006, 11:51 AM

I was prescribed Roacutane (spelling?!) a few years ago after suffering from particularly bad acne for 3-4 years. It was very effective, and may be worth a mention to your GP...

It does take a while before it kicks in (about 4 months in my case) and has the effect of drying out your skin to prevent the formation of spots. I won't lie, it was damn painful at times (particularly given that I was on it over the Winter period) but it achieved exactly what I had hoped - it gave my skin the break it needed to allow the acne to clear up.

I barely get spots at all now and my skin has no signs of having "suffered" in the past

K.

22-05-2006, 12:10 PM

Also was presrcibed roaccutane (sp?) quite a few years ago, and thought it was a miracle cure. It seems to be a cure as opposed to a treatment, after maybe 6-9 months all clear, and carries on working once you stop taking the pills (unlike the antibitoics i was given first, which stopped working if I missed a day or two). Does give you severley chapped lips though and dry skin.

Also, the warnings. In some people it can cause severe depression, and normally doctors are reluctant to prescribe it straight off, without trying all the alternatives first. There are some well documented cases of teen suicides where roaccutane has been suggested as the main cause. I think though that as long as you are aware this might happen, you're fine. It's probably more likely to be a problem with teenagers who are maybe more susceptable to depression anyway (but that's just my opinion). Very occasionally is linked to liver failure too, so you have to have ongoing blood tests while you take it to check the levels of something in your blood which suggests liver damage (not sure what you check for though).

I was given a few antibitotics before finally getting roaccutane, with mixed success, and in retrospect wish I had been given it from the start, was great. I think you do have to see a consultant dermatologist before you get given it.

Good luck!

22-05-2006, 12:15 PM

Just re-read your post and thought I would add that I've found you can become accustomed to a certain face wash, and they can get less effective over time, so try changing to something new. The ones with bits in them ('scrubs' maybe !) were specially good, and the more bits the better

Digger · 22-05-2006, 12:42 PM

Thanks for the responses guys. My face is generally in quite good nick...presumably because it is constantly open to the fresh air, where as back and chest areas are almost constantly clothed. What I do find helps is some doses of sunshine can clear up the skin quite nicely...

who stole the sun

Was reading up on Roacutane et al, and they do seem to have a few side-effects attached plus it seems to take ages for the effects to kick in...not sure I can be that patient. Remember I dont have bad acne, but a tendency to have a little scratch at those spots that rear their ugly heads...

Yes, maybe I should try a different body wash...any suggestions...obviously must be anti-bacterial...I have to say I think the Sanex shower gels are very good...

mjn · 22-05-2006, 12:57 PM

I use Quinoderm, i know its a cream, but its very good. I too sweat a lot when at the gym, and quite often have 2 showers a day. But if you only have mild acne, try using it before you goto bed, thats what i do.

Digger · 22-05-2006, 1:00 PM

lol...I was just looking at Quinoderm as it came up in a google result...thanks mjn...

mjn · 22-05-2006, 1:44 PM

I also find that changing my pillow case every other night, helps a lot. Basically, you're sleeping on a fresh side every night.

Mrs AutomanUK · 22-05-2006, 2:03 PM

Avon do a great line in Tee-tree poducts for cleaning up acne, and treating areas of spotiness. My hubby uses it to shave with cos he finds he would get a few problem areas if he uses shaving cream, but finds that tee tree is great.

You said that sunshine sorts them out.. so here is a good idea. Add Vitamin A and vitamin D to your intake. You can get these on line or at any chemist. Vitamin A works by reducing the fatty build up in the pores, whereas Vitamin D is liquid sunshine !! Your skin heals up when the sun is on it, and this is because of the vitamin D you are getting from the sun (believe it, it's true !) so if you take it as a tablet version then you can treat your body to liquid sunshine all year round. Vit D is good old Cod Liver Oil and comes in a variety of forms, which don't have to taste disgusting !!

Good luck at the doctors. See if they will add the vitamins you need to your prescription if you are lucky enough to get them free. Otherwise, off to superdrug you go my friend !!

phillfyspoon · 22-05-2006, 3:26 PM

I was precribed minocin and it worked very well, it stop new spots forming so after a few months there are hardly any

Digger · 23-05-2006, 9:23 AM

Any nasty side effects with this one?

mij · 23-05-2006, 9:23 AM

Try giving up milk for a few months and see if it helps. My wife did this and no longer has a problem.

Digger · 23-05-2006, 9:26 AM

What would I put on my muesli in the morning? I drink skimmed milk anyway, so hopefully thats not a contributary factor

w3dal · 23-05-2006, 10:37 AM

Hi,

The doctor will put you some something like minocin MR or Oxytetracycline which will can help and in most cases very effective - these take atleast 4 to 8 weeks before results can be seen.

Roaccutane is hardcore and that would only be prescribed as a last result as its so strong and im not even sure if its avaliable anymore...???

You have done the best thing going to see the doctors!!

Good luck

Dal

BandofBrothers · 23-05-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w3dal

Hi,

The doctor will put you some something like minocin MR or Oxytetracycline which will can help and in most cases very effective - these take atleast 4 to 8 weeks before results can be seen.

Roaccutane is hardcore and that would only be prescribed as a last result as its so strong and im not even sure if its avaliable anymore...???

You have done the best thing going to see the doctors!!

Good luck

Dal

it is available still

(I finished a 6 month course a few months ago, and now I don't have a SINGLE spot anywhere)

My acne was just like a red "rash" all over my shoulders and back, and now my skin is COMPLETELY clean

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