ROACCUTANE/ACNE

If you are on the fence about taking Roaccutane that is completely understandable, the drug is not for everyone. It can have severe side effects and is certainly a lengthy process.

Having had severe acne since I was 12 years of age, I thought I'd share my story to see if it helps anyone who is struggling with it at the moment. Acne can be caused by many things and often it is a case of your diet effecting your skin. However, many families have individuals who overproduce dead skin cells, which may lead to more clogged pores, which can cause acne. These individuals go on to have families of their own, and pass it down genetically. I am not a dermatologist, I'm speaking about my own issues with acne and the advice and medication I received off health care professionals. Below are a list of things I tried that failed.

Various face-washes / Creams : Failed

Topical Medications : Failed

Oral Antibiotics: Failed

Dianette ( PILL) : Failed

I pretty much tried everything I could from the age of 13 up to 17. Nothing worked. Of course there were people in school who'd say "Wash your face", "Eat better", "Just cut out dairy". Looking back I understand they were just trying to be helpful but at the time I found it very upsetting. I felt like I had porridge on my face. The foundation I wore would cover all the lumps and bumps. My face would be one color, but the levels were not flat. That was the dream, to have "Flat" skin.

Roaccutane,The Last Resort

I stepped things up a notch and the GP referred me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist handed me a leaflet for Roaccutane. This drug is for severe acne. If you get the odd breakout you will not be referred it. For people struggling with irritation, discomfort and pain from acne this drug is recommended. I couldn't carry my school bag on my back as that's where the worst of it was. Blood tests are carried out before you start taking Roaccutane and then regular blood tests are taken during your treatment.

My skin became very dry and sensitive to sunlight from taking the treatment. My lips became chapped and I'd wake up with bloody lips due to the dryness creating cracks in my skin.

You have to take a pregnancy test prior to taking the treatment and it is so important not to become pregnant while using it. Roaccutane can harm an unborn baby in very scary and serious ways. If you become depressed or think about harming yourself while taking it, stop. Tell you doctor and you'll be taken off it.

I experienced many side effects from Roaccutane ( you can find a list from the link attached). Your dosage increases the longer you are taking it. You take a capsule once or twice a day. The dosage varies from person to person.

I took Roaccutane for 24 weeks. The change in my skin was absolutely incredible. Unfortunately for me my acne came back 2 years after taking the drug. Thus, I went on it again for another 24 weeks.

I still have many scars and craters on my face but I can't complain. My skin has healed nicely. I am however, incredibly sensitive to sunlight now. Due to taking the drug twice my eyes got very dry, which is a common side effect. Whenever I'm in the sun I feel very sensitive to the light and my eyes feel like they are shrinking! I usually just pop on a pair of sunglasses and then feel fine. I wish I had some before and after pictures but I wasn't too keen on taking photos of myself back then because of my skin being bad. Here is a picture of my skin after taking Roaccutane for 24 weeks, it was clear for 2 years then reappeared like this. Not as bad as before going on it the first time, however still not great! It has improved so much since then. I rarely get breakouts just a few spots from time to time!

Pic 1 : Before my 2nd round of treatment

Pic 2: After my second round of treatment

Although it is a serious prescription and a lot of work, I would recommend it to anyone who has acne and experiences severe pain and discomfort. I asked three people who have also been on it and each one would recommend it. That's 4/4 people seeing positive results from taking Roaccutane. I really did try everything to fix my skin, this was the only thing that worked for me. I would love to get the scars cleared and craters filled that still remain. However, I'm happy to finally be comfortable without feeling the need to cover up my face with a scarf, hair or makeup.

Anyways, thanks for reading!