Accutaine

[sleepness]

Has anyone ever took this drug? If so, what are your experiences? I have a medium case of acne that just wont go away with any type of the medication the doctor has given. She put this option on the table, but looking at the side effects (possible death, blindness, hearing problems, mental problems, bone density) Is it even worth it?

[Wrathcaster]

I took acutane for a year and a half when I was a freshman in high school. The shit made me go absolutely fucking berserk. Maybe I was one of the rare cases, but acutane made me seriously more aggressive and unstable. Luckily, I was playing football at the time so I had a method of release but it did significantly alter my personality after 3-5 months of regular use. It did make my acne go away, to the point where I no longer have any problems with acne whatsoever now. If I were you and were really desperate to get rid of skin problems, I'd try it for 3 or 4 months and if you noticed no significant negative side effects, then stick with it.

[Sthythys]

Personally, I never felt a little acne was worth risking those side effects so never tried it.

[Eomer]

I've heard some bad stuff about it, there's been studies that show it can cause mental issues with kids. So be mindful of that.

I never had that bad of acne on my face, but I've always had it on my shoulders and back. I got a prescription for this stuff called Dalacin, basically it comes in a bingo dabber type thing and you just apply it to the affected areas. It seemed to clear the stuff on my back up quite well over a month or two, then after the scrip ran out it stayed away for quite awhile. I think it's coming back a bit now, though.

[Mkopec1]

Just deal with it untill you start getting some facial hair.

Usually when you start shaving, the acne goes away, since the act of shaving naturally opens up your pores.

Just make sure you keep your face clean. Zits form because of plugged pores, which are usually plugged by dirt or whatever.

Dont take no fucking drug that makes you nutty, its not worth it. unless it made you high

[tanjo]

I took it when I was a freshman. It made my lips extremely dry. I'm not sure if it messed with me emotionally. My freshman year was kind of a blur. How old are you? Do you play sports?

[Jabberwhacky]

I'll second the dry-lips thing. Morning, noon and night you're gonna want to have chapstick on hand. I didn't have any serious side effects and it did seem to help the acne (it's kind of hard to say how much was the accutane and how much was me just growing out of it).

Just last night I was talking to my housemates about this and one of em mentioned that she wouldn't take it because of the risk of birth defects, even down the road after you're done taking it.

Plus it's hella expensive.

1. Go to a pool supply store.
2. Buy a 1-pound bag of Chlor-Brite, Quart of Muriatic Acid, and some ash powder.
3. Mix 3 tablespoons of Chlor-brite, 4 drops of Muriatic acid, half teaspoon of ash powder.
4. Once the mixture becomes a paste, apply to face avoiding eyes, lips and nostrils.
5. Let mixture sit for 2 minutes.
6. Spritz your face with brake fluid.
7. Wait 10 minutes.

Acne now will become the least of your troubles.

Seriously guy, "medium case", didn't we all have a medium case of acne growing up?

You gotta have some defects when you are growing up. It will be very boring in 30 years sitting around the fireplace of your Aspen lodge with your Supermodel/Popstar wife looking at high school photos ... and nothing to giggle over.

Yer fine, leave it alone, quit touching your face. Eat more bacon.

Obese > Acne

[sleepness]

Thanks for the opinions guys. I was just worried about it decreasing my chances of getting laid in college, but Ive decided not to go with it.

[EnigmaticParadigm]

Read up on what it does to your liver, pancreas, and blood values (HCT and HGB most importantly). Great stuff.

[Frawdo]

I had a clear face all my life, right up until Grade 11. Grade 11, 12 and even the beginning of college I had pretty bad acne.

I too had the mindset of "Oh, everyone goes threw this at some time, it'll go away eventually, I'll grow out of it, etc, etc.".

When the first year of College was over and I STILL had bad acne, I decided something need to be done. Went to the doc and he prescribed Clindoxyl, a cream with 5% Benzyl Oxyl (which, alone, is availble over the counter) and 1% anti-biotics. It worked like a charm, within three weeks my face was much clearer, and after several months it almost looks like I never had any acne.

Might want to give something like that a try before you go taking drugs that may or may not effect you mentally.

Just deal with it untill you start getting some facial hair.

Usually when you start shaving, the acne goes away, since the act of shaving naturally opens up your pores.

Just make sure you keep your face clean. Zits form because of plugged pores, which are usually plugged by dirt or whatever.

While this may be partially true some of the time, it really sounds like it's coming from somone who didn't have to deal with much acne in their life. This simply cannot be taken as the rule.

All throughout the time I had acne I washed my face AT LEAST twice a day, trying out all sorts of different "facial cleansers" but mostly sticking to plain old soap. And for a good 60% of the time I was shaving on a regular basis. These two things alone had very little impact on my acne.

However, I will admit that during the rare time that I didn't wash my wash or shave for a period time (four days camping or whatever) I did breakout a lot worse.

[Frawdo]

Something else to note quickly. I did not decide to see the doctor and get a prescription because I was worried about looking like a dork (that I can deal with) or not getting laid (haha, yeah, right).

No, it was because I was beginning to worry about permanent scarring. That is a big concern for people with bad acne, and it was the major issue which pushed me to get something done about it.

[Renolin]

Originally Posted by Frawdo

No, it was because I was beginning to worry about permanent scarring. That is a big concern for people with bad acne, and it was the major issue which pushed me to get something done about it.

And that is what my doctor said. Unless you risk permanent scarring, it's not worth it, just wait a few years...

And the women like you if you have a nice personality, regardless of how you look!
right!
right...
right?

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

While there has been some decent advice here, I suggest hitting up Acne.org and checking out their forums. Tons and tons and tons of information and personal accounts of everything from Accutane to Benzoyl Peroxide to holistic remedies.

As for 'Tane, I have three close friends who went on it, and all experienced some straaaange ass side effects. One, my first year roomate in college, had burning skin whenever he sweat for two years after the stuff. One had chapped lips so bad he couldn't speak a lot of the time because it would split them open. The last one got it the worst. He now has almost permanent Tinnitus, a constant ringing in the inner ear, which is nasty stuff.

One thing is for sure though, they all cleared up 100%.

[Phoenix]

IMO go for retin-a or any other typical creme. Those worked the best for me. Also, a few different types of soap can be moderatly effective, but wont elminate acne.

Fucking sucks getting acne treated, with all the side effects of the medicines. My brother took antibiotics for his acne and it permantly bleeched his teeth, a friend who also took antibiotics had diarrhea all the time while on them.

And "washing your face" wont get rid fo acne. Pimples and zits and stuff and burried deep in your skin and can stay beneath the skin for weeks before they show up. And soap doesnt kill the acne bacteria either.