Comments on: focus on low-dose accutane

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:17:30 +0000

Ben, I also developed rosacea when I turned 24-25 it’s been 4 years and I absolutely hate the flushing interfering with my public speaking. I am always praying not to flush during a presentation and it always happens. The flushing broken capillaries and the extremely oily face is the worst… How I wish to have a nice oily free, flush free skin. I am also considering accutane. Keep us posted!

By: johntissington

johntissington — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:04:23 +0000

If you haven’t tried Finacea give it a go with IPL and LED light. That affords me more control than I ever had with Roaccutane and no side effects.

Roaccutane is a very powerful drug and even on low doseage would be a last resort for me.

By: ben

ben — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:09:45 +0000

Hi All, I was on roaccutane (accutane) 9 years ago for acne when i was 16, cleared my skin up amazingly! i remember having dry lips and still to this day have dry lips. However i have now started to develop mild rasacea, redness on my nose cheeks and ears. I hoped on line to see if rosacea is a longtime side affect of roaccutane, but by reading your post it might be that accutane can help me,again. Its as if my skin is trying to become oily again and while doing this making my face red. I used to always have to use moustrier but since getting rosacea i havent needed to. The hardest thing for me is the facial blushing, and being a sales rep is so unbelivably hard. I’m going to see my doctor asap and go on a low dose of roaccutane, thank you to everyone who has posted, it does help when you can read other peoples storys.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:28:57 +0000

Dear lili,
I completely understand your frustration!! I’m 31 and have been battling this disease since 24. People have no idea how it affects us emotionally and physically. I find that accutane is the best course of treatment in my opinion. I’ve tried everything basically since my father is a dermatologist…which makes this even more frustrating because my brothers have perfect skin!! Accutane helps control my redness and burning if I take low dosages. Too high a dosage can increase the symptoms. I’m not going to say my skin is perfect, far from it, but accutane works better than ipl or anyother topical drs give out. I only wish my skin would heal quickly but accutane delays this. And a low dosage allows you to have some exposure to the sun unlike high dosages, just use sunscreen. Lastly, I’m sure you are gorgeous and any guy would be lucky to date you!! All the best

By: Lili

Lili — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:25:00 +0000

Hi everyone,
I’ve been diagnosed with rosacea 3 years ago when I was 25. It really took some of my best years away from me. Mine started like Jan’s. I went to a lake for a day and maybe because of too much sun and heat, got a really swollen skin, exactly as Jan said, leather-like and very thin…and there came the pores on my cheeks which never existed before (literally overnight!) and enlarged pores on my nose. I cant tell you the number of days and hours I cried over this. and I still do from time to time whenever I think that nobody in this world would date me in this skin. Anyway, topical creams/lotions did not work on me, and doxy doesnt do much either. I did IPL more than 8 times, used the method that Dr. Soldo recommended (although couldnt go to Arizona to go to him). It did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! Let me tell you one thing though: Filter the water you wash your face with and shower! It makes a big difference! It of course does not decrease the size of my huge pores, but the redness and irritation occur much less.

I’m also considering to take accutane, but some of these messages scared me, could it make it worse? Has anyone on this board has seen a reasonably long-lasting improvement being on low-dose accutane?

I’m very disappointed at dermatologists. It sounds like as long as you dont have a cancer, it does not matter what quality of life you live in!! Is that why there is so little research on rosacea???

By: Digital Davo

Digital Davo — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:03:59 +0000

Hi Lisa,

Have you asked your doctor about trying a lower dose than 40mg a day ? You might find that the side effects are much reduced and the benefits still persist. Low dose accutane is considered to be around 10mg a day.

davidp.

By: Lisa B

Lisa B — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:40:46 +0000

I have rosacea on my nose, above my upper lip and on my chin. Basically looks like I’m wearing a muzzel. i’ve been fighting my roscea for 20 years and find most things work for a little while although I’m fine with being on a lower dose of accutane (or generic) the rest of my life. It’s better then just taking more and more antibiotics. I’ve been doing the accutane for about 6 weeks now 40 mg.a day and my Rosacea type acne and (coldsores/feverblisters) have been eliminated since the third day. My side effects are getting to me. My lips were really raw and i knew the inside of my nose looked like my lips. it’s continuly peeling and bloody and i have to breath out of my mouth which is drying out my lips more. Also my eyes are swollen and tear all the time. Had to quit wearing pierced earings as the wholes seem to be infected and I had a bad reaction to a metel neckless on my chest broke out and it got oily. When ever i would get a cold sore it would trigger a break out but dems refused to believe there was a connection. Now both are gone hmmmm Also forget the IPl i did two rounds two or three years apart. I cried through the whole process it was so painfull not to mention what it did to my pocket book and no positive results, but that’s for someone with it on nose and chin. maybe better for those on cheeks

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:32:02 +0000

Hi, If you are taking Accutane ( at any dose), you want to look into and discuss with your doctor, two supplements that help support liver function. They are “stabilized R-alpha Lipoic acid” and “Milk Thistle” ( silymarin).

Both are considered very safe and are used by some physicians for various issues.

…for what it’s worth.

By: Jude

Jude — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:28:31 +0000

I also find isotretinoin works great while on it (low dose – 10mg every other day) but oiliness and breakouts return soon after. It also have no redness/flushing or ocular rosacea symptoms while taking this drug – it is amazing in that respect. It has been the only thing that has worked for me to this degree.

Side effects have been minimal – dry lips (which I think pretty much everyone gets to some degree) and I have also had some intermittent scalp irritation which may or may not be due to the isotretinoin.

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:48:14 +0000

My rosacea seems to have come about when I discontinued the hormone pill Diane35 which I was taking for mild acne. It came on immediately and aggressively.
I have been taking 10 mg daily for four months now. My flushing has been reduced by about 80 percent. My skin is less oily and nearly free of blemishes. I have experienced no side effects other than dry lips and dry skin.
My flushing triggers include fermented foods, some alcohol, stress, going from cold to warm environment. I still flush occasionally, more so with the winter weather now upon us, but all-in-all the isotretinoin has been a miracle for me because my vision and facial swelling was getting so bad before I started taking it.
I plan to continue taking this drug for the rest of my life if need be.