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#684624 - 04/16/08 04:16 PM
Depression r/t Acne
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PrivateRealm
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 03/18/03
Posts: 3067
Loc: In my realm, I'm QUEEN
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I know to some of you this may seem silly, but to me it is very real and debilitating:
Since age 24-25 (30 now) I developed acne that has led to scarring. No acne in my teens, so it has really taken me by suprise and taken a toll on my life.
All the scarring is from whiteheads and blakheads, so to speak. I have even ended up with scars where I did not even realize there was anything there. That is what is even more amazing to me. How do I end up with scars all over my face (mainly cheeks, chin, and nose) when I do not even get raised eruptions. And nothing makes it go away, not even a small difference, and I do not squeeze them, so it is a mystery to me. My dr is even suprised that I am getting such scarring. All my pores seem to be clogged, but if you looked at my face, you would not notice anything unless you looked really close with no makeup on, but the scarring is very obvious.
Honeslty, the recent scarring over the past few years has kept me from developing a close relationship because I am ashamed and though honestly (not vainly) I was a striking woman before the scars, I feel like a freak of nature now and am very depressed. I have the lowest lighting in my house that I can function on and I avoid mirrors at all costs.
The dr says it is superficial scarring, but it is all over my face and I cannot even count the number of scars anymore,
_________________________
Anne~~~
"A person's true identity is rarely apparent in the life that they lead."
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#684641 - 04/16/08 04:45 PM
Re: Depression r/t Acne
[Re: jl767]
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darkmantis
Old Hand
Registered: 11/03/05
Posts: 418
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All I have to say is Accutane! I don't honestly know why more people don't use this wonderful medication. I was tired of acne at the age of 30. I don't have scarring, but I get real sick and conscious about zits on my face, shoulders, etc.
So, I went to a dermatologist. He examined me and basically said, "What do you want?" I wish more doctors would ask that for pain meds! hahaah.. j/j..
I was afraid to take accutane just because I heard so much bad stuff about it, so I said let's try the acid cream and clyndomiacine and doxycycline antibiotics. Well, after 12 weeks, nothing! Still breaking out, still frustrated. So I went back and said, "let's do the accutane." I could tell that he wanted to put me on that from the get go, but I started out at 60mgs a day after initial bloodwork. I eventually went to 80mgs a day for the rest of my 6 month cycle of accutane. Let me tell you, life is so much better! I used to get these huge, puss filled acne on my head! zits on my face, and now I hardly ever break out. I still get an occasional pimple here or there, but who cares! Accutane will permenantly change your skin forever..and if you are still breaking out as an adult, I would highly recommend it.
Obviously there are side effects like getting really dry in the eyes, face, skin, lips..But after going through 6 months of it, I can write extensively on the topic and help you get through it and minimize the sides. I got it down so well that it was a breeze..awesome stuff..
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#684801 - 04/17/08 12:27 AM
Re: Depression r/t Acne
[Re: jl767]
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darkmantis
Old Hand
Registered: 11/03/05
Posts: 418
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well, call me a pro at accutane 
it is now a controlled substance in the US. They cracked down on regulating it because of all of the petty lawsuits. My dermatologist explained to me that if you took 1000 teenagers with acne and 1000 teenagers without acne - guess which one has a higher rate of suicide? Yes, the one WITHOUT acne. People are hormonal and depressed and they blame it on accutane.
Personally, after doing a 6 month treatment of 80 mgs every day, I think the stuff is a miracle drug! Plain and simple. You get blood work every month from your doctor to make sure your liver values and cholesterol are in check, and that's it. Sure, your lips, eyes and skin dry out during that time, but if you put eye lubrication drops in every hour, use aquafore lip therapy treatment and lotion down using vaseline intensive care lotion (not greasy no smelly stuff)..it's a pretty good ride.
A doctor told me (natural path/reg. medicine) to take Omega 3 fatty acids - about 3-5 grams a day along with the accutane. O-3s will help joint pain, plus...the major part..is LOWER your cholesterol. Most people who use accutane get around 200+ for the total cholesterol, but the entire time I was on accutane, mine was at 150 or lower for the total!!!! My doctor flipped everytime..
Expensive? Yes. Very. If you don't have insurance, 2 boxes per month at 80mgs , which is a typical adult accutane dosage, costs about 485$. If you have insurance it will cost anywhere from 15$ to 80$ depending on your plan.
I have a website that's offshores that sells 90ct x 20mg pills for about 150$. You could start out at 40mgs per day and increase it to 60mgs. A common side effect that doctors look for with accutane is a 'feaver' rash that appears on the forearms. This is a sign that the dosage is right and this is where you stay or you can increase a bit. Mine appeared in 2 months at 60mgs. I opted to go to 80mgs because I never wanted to see it again, plus it was actually cheaper to run it at 80 than 60 on my ins. plan.
You'll be amazed at how fast and how quick your acne will disappear, and for good. It's awesome!
Now...
Let's say you are worried about the liver toxicity since you don't have insurance. They make this in a cream formula. It's the same medicine, but you rub it onto the areas that you want cleared up. So, you'd rub it on your face, obviously. You can get a tube of Retin-a (tretinoin gel) gel for 29$. You put a small dab on every day and it dries your skin out. I used a gel for a while, it's an acid which dries your skin out, called "diffrin." It does work, but nothing works quite like isotrentinoin pills.
You could safely take 60mgs a day for 6 months, omega-3 pills, creams etc and be rid of it completely.
I would say it's worth spending 200+ on insurance for 6 months just to do this treatment. You could always try seeking help at your local medical university or university. They sell meds cheap and they'll see you for free or almost free.
By the sound of your posts, you seem very depressed. I don't know if you are overall depressed in general, or you are coming across depressed because of the acne problems..I don't know how severe your acne is, but by the sound of your words, you really should seek treatment. If you are depressed in general, like your typical regular depression, a doctor might not prescribe accutane or prescribe an anti-depressant while you are on accutane.
There is a risk of depression while on accutane, but I didn't get that during the 6 months that I was on it. And also, if you are a female, you CAN NOT get pregnant!!! Your baby would become deformed..and we wouldn't want that.
I'm guessing by your avatar, you are a female, so the risks are higher for you, unlike men. Accutane doesn't transfer to the child, obviously! hehe.
But this is what I would do... I would definitely seek counsel from a dermatologist. Tell them that you don't have insurance and you are desperate. Tell them about your financial situation. Sometimes they give out samples to help you , but I think since the major crack down, I don't think that's gonna happen. It's a real pain to get on accutane because you have to sign up on a federal program, get blood tests, doctor has to fax that to the fed program, then the fed program gives you an OKAY number, then you go to the pharmacy and give them the okay number and you get your meds...sounds like a real hassle, but honestly,
IT'S THE BEST THING I EVER DECIDED TO DO!
I can't shout that any louder! (sorry for the caps!).. I told a friend of mine who had a road map on her face - as the kids used to say! and wow! 2 months she was clear as a bell and omg...she was as happy as the day is long..
I would post the site, but I don't know if I would be breaking Rules..so pm me if you want it (i have a domestic source and an offshore one) but honestly, I would definitely go to a dermatologist.
Hell, your acne could just be related to hormones..change b-control pill, get on control pill , take an antibiotic for acne, etc.. there are so many options..but if you have the cystic scarring type of acne, you NEED accutane, plain and simple.
Now smile 
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#684935 - 04/17/08 10:33 AM
Re: Depression r/t Acne
[Re: PrivateRealm]
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1954JIM
Enthusiast
Registered: 08/01/05
Posts: 202
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Exact same thing happened to me! People even said things about it... Anyway, try microdermabrasion @ a good salon.
Dermatologists charge too much & a salon gives you a whole
facial along with it. Just had another one yesterday & I feel great about myself. The facial also helps work on your lymph system so toxins will exit. Also, I changed my
diet to vegan. Was a vegetarian and the woman/Anne doing the microderm asked if I ate cheese. She said cheese is a huge no-no for skin. Since then I see very little breakouts & also the microderms have evened out the pigmentation on my face. No miracle drug can do that. Try the homeopathic route & you won't be sorry. After the microderm they do a nice mask that makes my skin GLOW! PM me if you want
b/c I was right where you are & now have great skin. In fact, a new facialist commented on how soft & beautiful my skin is & @,(almost 49!), I took that as a great compliment.
Her associate looked at my skin & also had a few nice compliments! She said they see young girls in their 20's & 30's who smoke & drink so much their skin is dry & grayish
in color. Please trust me on this as I have been there! 
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#685072 - 04/17/08 03:47 PM
Re: Depression r/t Acne
[Re: ttiger]
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darkmantis
Old Hand
Registered: 11/03/05
Posts: 418
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Private Realm- I had the same problem that you do and went with the Accutane after alot of other stuff that didnt work. Understand the problem of no insurance but this Accutane will fix the problem once and for all and will even make the scars look better. I didnt have much $$ but saved on other things and spent on Accutane. It is a miracel pill!
tt
I concur! It is a miracle pill. Think of it this way, you spend a lot of money on a pill that gets rid of your acne for life, makes your skin look beter. In the long run, you might spend a lot during that 6 months, but how much money will you spend throughout your life? Sure, there are some skin systems that semi-work, but nothing compaires to the power of accutane. I hear people all the time say when their kids were on it, they looked worse..that's bs. Because, for one, they put kids on a much higher dosage - 120mgs to 220 depending on how bad it is. 2nd, how many kids are going to douse themselfs with lotion constantly to keep their skin looking lubricated? Not many , especially when you are a guy, sitting in class - you're not busting out with the lotion and eyedrops. Of course it's miserable at that age..But as an adult, how easy is it just to put to drops of lubrication in your eyes and every hour or 2 put lotion on your face and arms and lips? I think people blow it way out of proportion..
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