right, after reading eveyones comments here and on other websites i decided to try B5. I've tryed all the different treatments and none work and im not tryin accutane cause i want to keep my hair. ive had skin problems since i was about 12-13 but only recently, past 1-2 years has it turned really serious. I ignored it for a long time but the past 8 months it has started to get to me. I would say i have serious acne. I started taking B5 around 4 weeks ago. i took around 5grams a day for those two weeks but stopped for one week when i became ill. i started again 1 week ago on 7g a day and find it has started to make my skin less oily and greasy. My chin doesnt get any major spots like it used to, just smaller ones which dont bother me. What does bother me is the large cystic types of acne below my ears around my jaw line and on the top part of my neck. The two bottom corners of my face near the neck are very red and each side has at least 3 of these large painful cysts all the time. I really wanted to know if anyone can give me any feedback as to how long it should be before i would start to notice any difference with the cysts from taking the B5? because i really cant stand them much longer. i have no problems with my cheeks, it is mainly my neck, chin and forehead/temples that seem to get the problems. if u can help me out then plz email me, it would be much appreciated.
dave

Dosage wise for b5 I started on about 10 500mg tablets a day (5g). I saw improvement, but upped my dosage to 18 tablets (9g) and I've been on that for months and months. My skin has totally cleared up everywhere (face and back) and I get the occasional spot but I use a bit of Differin on it and it's gone in days.
Only problem is that b5 is expensive - about £30 for 2 weeks supply, but in my view worth every penny. It's been a really remarkable turnaround.

Well i have been reading this website, well the message board a lot recently.
I'm a 17 yr old male and have had spots since i was around 15. by the time i was 16 i don;t like 2 admit it, but these spots "turned" into the dreaded word, ACNE!
Well my mum advised me to go to my GP. He was quite helpful and i was perscibed 100g tablets of Minocyline, 1 to be taken once a day.
I have been on them nearly a year and a half/ There was no major improvement, my spots were still on my face. about 8 months ago i booked an apointment with my local Derm. He had a looked, told me to come back on Oct 1st, and have a blood test and then would 99.9% likely to go on Roacutane.
Well about a week ago my Minocyclin ran out, i rung up my GP and he said there was no need to get another perscription. so guess what.....My acne has flared up and is the worst its ever been. I cant look in the mirror without Cringing.
I have decided to Start on this B5 stuff, how much should i be strating on a day?

Just an update with regards to vitamin B5. About 4 months ago I see a posting with regards to taking vitamin B5, I used to take about 1-2G a day but this was obviously not enough. After seeing the posting a upped my dose to 5G a day and saw a great improvement in the next 2-4 weeks even my face doesn't look oily any more. It's now very rare if I do get a spot now, all that's needed now is my moisture levels to return to normal after using various lotions and roaccutanne. I'm trying a product at the moment from dermadoctor.com which is MD Forte's Advanced Hydrating Complex Formula Gel (a very good and informative site with regards to products for acne sufferers), I would say my moisture level is getting better but I probably wont be satisfied until I get it back to normal.
I hope this has been informative and wish you all the best.

Anybody got any good remedies for healing acne scarring?
Because I had really bad acne just over a month ago I have very pink skin at the moment. Does anybody know how to reduce the reddness?
By the way I have cleared up because I've been on Vitamin B5 for about 2 1/2 months and Vitamin A for about 3 weeks. I think that vitamin A is working better for me at the moment.
Anyway, hope you can help!

does anyone know if smocking cause acne??

OK,,i was on B5 for 2 weeks,,,at the end of the first week i saw amazing results on a high dosis of B5 but then this week i stop the total use of it,,didnt had the time cause all the comotion that this city is on,been out to the city a lot..OK yesterday(Saturday) i wake up to see that my face had 3 large red bumps and some tiny bumps...I felt so bad...I am back on B5
with a much higher dosis,,but also yesterday i also started taking HYDROCYCUT which is for energy and gaining muscles so as well losing weight..Today i started taking Tetracycline.....My questions are.
Is Tetracycline good for controling acne?what is the effective dosis i should take(ml)?..
Does is going to do any harm on my body or have any bad affect on my acne if i take 8 tables of Hydrocycut,,12 tables of B5(500ml each),,3 tables of tetracycline(250ml)..I am still dont know whats the right dosis of tetracycline..Please answer my questions ..I want to have a smile on my face again everytime i see my face on the mirror..Thanks
e mail gabo2001us@nyc.rr.com

For the past 6 years I have suffered with skin problems i.e ulcers, acne on my face and body.
This problem no longer persists however I am now experiencing problems with sores that contain hair and take a long time to heal and are very painfull.
My doctors have informed me that this is due to excess weight, (I am only a size 12) . I have lost weight over the last few months but was never excessively big from my point of view.
The losing of this weight has not made any difference to the appearance of the sore and giving out of hair strands. Th other symptoms that have been recommended to me is to take a tablet (like the pill) for the rest of my life or laser treatment but this will not happen overnight, three or four visits at least which I do not feel very confident about. I have already had electroylsis on my face but caused acne to appear on my face.
I am desperately in need of any help that may be available as it is becoming extremely stressful and depressing.

BE CAREFUL WITH THE PRODUCTS SOME DOCTORS OFFER YOU!!!!!!!!!!
THIS LETTER IS for Catherine in San Diego (21 years old female, message #36, etc., etc.) OR FOR ANYBODY WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO IN A SERIOUS WAY.
My name is Valeria Soledad Andrada, I’m from Córdoba, Argentina, I’m 19 years old and since I was 17 I have had a serious acne. I’ve been treated with tetracicline, eritromicine and a gel called Isotrex (topical), and also with some commercial creams, some months with Aloe Vera, etc., but any one of these have had results indeed. As I said before, I have a severe acne, almost every day I have a new spot and besides my face is full of scars and red patches. I do not trust in my dermatologist because in my opinion she doesn’t care about my real problem and she only wants to make me buy Roaccutane may be ignoring the serious and devilish effects that it can have - actually, it carries so dangerous effects, such as depression, which can keep to commit suicide (you said in your letter you were afraid to take Roaccutane because of this, I agree with you and I would never have that medicine), and I’ve been investigating in different sources of information about other effects; in the website of Roche (the makers of Roac.) they mention fatal pancreatic disease, psicotic behaviors, bone changes, pseudotumors in the brain, increase of cholesterol and lipids, fulminant acne, photosensibility, photophobia, hepatitis and several other diseases.
Besides, it is a relatively new drug: I know it hasn’t been tested for more than forty years in human beings so we can’t know some possible effects in years (like carcinomas, mental illnesses, etc). Of course, nothing of this information was told by the dermatologist to me (except for the danger in pregnant women and their babies). I can’t believe I have to search alone without any advice of her, and I have to decide solely to what kind of doctor I have to visit. She didn’t explain me the causes of my acne; she just told me to have first tetracycline and as I had no results, accutane.
As I didn’t trust her, I decided to visit a endocrinologist, who told me to make blood and urine tests in order to guess if I suffered from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which causes hiperandrogenization, that can reveals in hirsutism and/or acne, in my case. Among women with resistant acne, not responding to conventional treatment, the PCOS is very common.
So my endocrynologist told me to take an oral contraceptive called Diane 35 or Dianette in some countries, which inhibits the action of testosterone produced by PCOS or aiming to other reasons, and the sebaceous gland activity decreases over a period of three to six months, leading to disminution and even clearance of the acne. I haven’t still taken it because I have to start on the third day of my period.
So, before taking Accutane try to visit an endocrinologist, gynecologist, and other professional opinions: do not trust too much I only one doctor , because some of them have got money motivations and agreements with medicine enterprises like Roche. It’s extremely dangerous to consume certain drugs but sometimes doctors ignore or do not care about their consequences.
I still haven’t got the solution for scars, at the time I’m just washing a lot my face trying to remove old cells, I also use a cosmetic product which it’s supposed thet clears scars but I can’t see any result yet (I have been using it for 15 days, it’s too little time).
If some of the readers of this site has got any posible solution to this trouble, or just for telling me your experience, please send me en e-mail to: soleandrada@hotmail.com. I hope this letter is useful for you. Good bye…
DONT LOOSE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just thought it was about time for another update. Today I have a smile on my face. My acne is clearing up (and if you excuse me for saying but it is that time of the month which normally makes my acne much worse).
Well, I've made a few changes to my regime. I still take vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) at about 8g per day.
I also take Vitamin A which is supposed to be very good for women but please don't take lots of it if there is any chance you might be pregnant as it can cause you to mis-carry. Also this vitamin is not water soluble like B5 so you must be careful.
Here is a quick overview:
Vitamin B5 8g a day
Vitamin A 48,000 iu ish per day although I'm not sure on safe dosages
Vitamin E 900 iu per day
Selenium 200mcg per day (good for the immune system)
Zinc 45mg per day
Vitamin C 1000mg per day (body can't store this vitamin)
Wow that does sound a lot. I'm suprised that I don't rattle and I'm sure that I don't need them all but something is working for me.
Girls, to help pre-menstral flare ups vitamin B6 is apparently very good. I have taken it this month and I haven't broken out yet.
I have also cut my sugar intake (although that is debatable this week!)
As always, please feel free to e-mail me if you want somebody to talk to or if you want some information.
Make-up wise, for those girls based in the UK I buy Marks and Spencers Light Reflective Foundation and Boots ACT Concealer. I don't break out with either of these products.
Well, good luck

Hi Guys
just a few question please!!
1) do you think sport can make acne worse? [specially cyclette and body building]
(what's your own experience??)
2)what about food? is there anything that can make it worse or better??
3)has any of you ever heard about ozone therapy for acne??
ok thanks
(I can't stand it anymoooooooooore!!)
Bye

Mark...
I think B Complex will not work - you need to be taking just B5 on it's own. I can't remember why, but I think I read somewhere that some of the other B vitamins affect the b5 because b5 is easily destroyed. Like I said, I'm not sure where I read this, but I don' think B Complex will help at all

Hi all. Here's my experience with acne.....again another one... .
I started having acne when I was 15: I was camping with a friend of mine in the Netherlands. When camping, hygiene is always pretty absent, so I didn't wash my skin at all. When I came home I looked into the mirror and I must say that it was very hard to see that my previous totally clear skin was turned into a real mess, just in that one week. From then on my struggle began.
Two years I did nothing about it. It was moderate acne, which is in my opinion severe acne....but okay, in comparison to real severe acne I had no reason to complain. However, it was EXTREMELY frustrating to see that the majority of my friends had no or much less acne than me. A good friends of mine often commented on my acne in a not so gentle way: people that don't suffer acne just can't get, or can't understand how devastating that is for your self-esteem and self-confidence and your way of communicating with other people.
Anyway, I went to a dermatologist and she gave me an anti-bioticum named Mino. I took this about 5 months I think. My acne was gone, but came back in a few months. Then she gave me a treatment of tetracycline, which didn't help at all. And then finally, when I was 17 years old, I started a 5 month cure on Roaccutane.
My experience with this drug is very good: my skin totally cleared up. I had some side effects: dry skin (everybody has this), some eczeem on top of my hands and time by time a bleeding nose, and my sight could be a little bit troubled when I was tired.
Now, about 2,5 years later things are coming back. Certainly NOT as severe as a few years ago, but my skin is just not clear. Let's say that I have pretty mild acne, but it bothers me, I hate it, and in all those years I got very tired of it. So, I started taking B5 exactly ONE week ago at about 4-5 gr. /day to kill the the surviving army, hehe ;-)
The results so far are...well...strange. My underlying redness is fading away fast, the few spots I have go away, but slowly. I can say there's a general good improvement. However, I have a breakout on my forhead, which I normally never have. I suppose this could be a reaction to the B5 I take. I've read that other people have this too the fist week(s) they take B5. I am pretty confident that B5 will work really well in the next few weeks. I'll keep you updated.
For people interested: I'm taking B5-powder, because I don't want to take 10 pills every day. Disadvantage is that this powder tastes awful! And if I say awful, I mean terribly awful ;-) However I must say that I get used to the taste and that it isn't that bad anymore as I started to take it a week ago.
I solve 1 teaspoon of B5 in a bit of warm water. Secondly, I fill a big glass of water. Then I drink the really bad-tasted B5 solution, directly afterwards I drink the glass of water. That helps very well.
In Belgium I was able to buy 100 gr. B5 for about 12$ in the local drugstore. For other people that live in Belgium, let me tell you that prices differ a LOT: I went to a drugstore and there it would cost about 36$ for 100 gr. (!!) I asked them if prices would differ with other farmaceutical tradesmen, but they told me it wouldn't. Yeah right, I went to another drugstore and there they could deliver it for only 12$. The pharma company is named MEDEVA PHARMA NV/SA. You can't order directly from them (I think), but if you tell this in your local drugstore they may be able to order it for you.
Wow, I think I could write a book about all of this. I 've just told my medical experience and some psychological experiences, but I have tons of other things to mention, as there are: I have a beautiful girlfriend, she thinks I'm pretty too, nevertheless I'm still experiencing strong psychological consequences like I can't look into the mirror with a lot of light in the room, sometimes still have trouble going out, can feel pretty depressed when a spot appears,....I'm just obsessed with my skin. I know I shouldn't, but it is something I feel I cannot control. If you people, that read this, would see me, you 'd be probably all angry with me that I dare to be complaining when I look "so good". (that's what other people keep telling me, but I just don't see that).
I don't want to sound too depressed, and actually I'm not. Generally I can go out, make a lot of fun, get a lot of compliments....in other words: I really shouldn't complain, but it's just psychological and I can't help it when I'm feeling bad. I also must say that when time passes this stupid psych. stuff starts to fade, so if my skin totally clears now that I'm taking B5, and time passes I'm convinced that those 'problems' I have with myself will fade away.
Enough said, before I write a book.
Greets,
BB

Is it ok to take vitamin b5 as well as taking roaccutane? PLEASE email me at jess_h_xxx@hotmail.com with the awnser. thanks.

Hey people how is it going?...
well i just brough vitamin B complex,,which mean it has all the vitamin b,,,will this make any difference?
is using all the vitamin b will affect my face?
PLEASE ANSWER

Just another update. I've been on 10g b5 for ages now, (4 maybe 5 months) I don't know. I've stopped keeping track because my skin has cleared up so much it isn't something I think about too often.
I got one spot on my chin yesterday and started to get worried. But then I realised how improved things are - my back which was covered in cysts is perfect, my face is perfect cept for a spot now and again.
I'd advise everyone to use b5, I dunno where I'd be now without it. Also get hold of Differin - I use it daily, and put it onto any new spots and it dries them out so quickly.
Cheers for the info from Solgar about b5. They're the brand I use, expensive but apparently the best. I'm glad to hear about no side effects from taking 10g a day, I'm too scared to reduce my dosage and my sister is always on at me that too many vitamins can alter your DNA (she talks some s**t sometimes)
Good luck

Finaly I'm able to post something here, I tried it a lot of times but it didn't work. Now it does!
I'm on Vitamine B5 since I red something about it on a dutch forum. Not much, only that this forum existed and that there was something interresting on it about vitamine B5.
And it certainly is interresting! I'm on it for 4 weeks now, a 10 grams dosis a day from the start. And it is absolutely great, my face has so much cleared up, just like somebody is playing under my skin with a vacuumcleaner :)
Normaly I would need to works things out with a little needle (jak) but now it's only once in a couple of days. I'm still getting some new zits but nowhere as much as before. It's only a matter of time now, so that the little scars can heal up. A specialist told me that that could take 6 months. But I'm hoping that when I go to the Costa Brava in September for a week, a nice brown tan will make things less noticable.
I called a producer of the vitamine, Solgar. They have heard of the survey, but he had some questionmarks. First he said that the magazine it was published in is known for its radical new medical treatments. I don't now whats wrong with that but ok. He found it strange that the theory hasn't been further examined after this survey, even though this one is from 1995.
He also questioned the high dosis, but when I said that you can lower it to 2 mg after maybe 8 weeks, he didn't saw it as a problem, but he thought one pill, 550 mg should be more then enough. Something you have to try for yourself I think.
Furthermore, he said there are no known negative side-effects with a 10 g dosis. (I have had diarra one time.)
And something I found interresting was that if you use antibiotics wich I have and what worked, it kills all the life in your intestine. Also the good bacterians, and they happen to produce...vitamine B5!! So not anymore when you kill them, wich tells me that if you quit with the antibiotics wich you should in the summer or after a longer period, there is even less vitamine B5 in you're body!
It doesn't sound healthy, vitamine B5 does. I can absolutely advise it to anyone. I begane with a 10 grams dosis just like in the survey. I didn't want to be able to blame it on a too low dosis if I didn't saw any improvement.
In that I case I'm also eating more healthy, less fatty products. Not completely without them, I tried that for a week but it made me feel weak. It's not healthy either not to eat fat at all, eat the good fats like in fish and nuts and less the badd one's, like in dairy.
Eating healthy makes me feel good and gives my selfesteem a boost, especially because I really thinks it's hard not to eat all that delicious foods like candy's and all. But i can tell you what has surprised me, eating healthy and only good stuff can really be very very tasty!! I really enjoy eating now.
So I'm using the vit, and a fasewashing product and a not very fat moisterizer. And a product wich shrinkles a pimple if you put it on.
Not much work, that's a relief :)
And the last thing, its getting a bit long, I have already had three people who noticed the improvement on my face. That instead of they saying 'how is your acne' and therefore making you remember that other people notice it, is so much greater.
It really makes me happy to hear that.
I'm working on a dutch website eather, to make people aware of the theory. Not much people are.
Good luck to everybody, feel free to mail me if you can bare my writing mistakes.
Hai, Kasper2.

posted here about two weeks ago when i started taking b5...started with 4 grams a day and i went up to 6 grams a day already...not very spectacular changes even though i use antibacterial soap and b5 vitamin moisturizer...im thinking of taking more grams of b5 but i feel its too much....im already takin 12 pills a day how much more can i take before i see any changes? think that 6 grams of b5 in a day is way more than a healthy individual needs to maintain a clean skin...anyway ill give it another try, i already finished a bottle, ill buy one more and gradually increase the dosage...hope ill see some changes even though im scheptical...

Just leaving a further update.
The bad breakout that I encountered during the first and second week of taking B5 and Zinc has cleared up. However, I read somewhere that Zinc can cause the skin to break-out if you take alot of it, but, its also very good for the skin. As a consequence I have stopped taking Zinc now and the break-out has stopped. I don't know if this is just a coincidence though because I stopped eating sugar at the same time. I will try Zinc again very soon to see what happens but I've got a party this weekend so whilst I'm clearing up I don't want to risk a break-out.
The big infections along my jaw line are going nicely now so thats good news. My face isn't so swollen and its not so red either.
Well, just thought I would let you all know how I was getting on.

Hi all,
I had been on a 4 month course of Roaacutane (50mgs per day)but spots appeared 5 weeks after finishing treatment. I decided to try vitamin B5 and am currently taking 18 550mg tablets per day, I have been taking them now for 3 weeks and can see a definite improvement in the last week. My skin looks clear and pores are decreasing in size- so hopefully this will continue.
I will let you know how things are going again in a few weeks.

Here's what I do, and while I'm sure I could improve it, this regimen has cleared up 99% of the acne on my face and back, except when I'm lifting weights, in which case I would say the back only clears maybe 90%. I know a lot of this has been posted before, but it's a success story - on any given day my face is totally clear:
Wash with Lever 2000 anti-bacterial soap. This is pretty harsh stuff, and really dried out my skin for several months, but then I acclimated. I think it was the single biggest contributor to fighting my acne. It worked better than other anti-bacterial soaps, Dial for example.
Moisturize the face with St. Ives Clear Pore moisturizer immediately after washing, but don't use too much. This is the only stuff I've found that doesn't cause breakouts. As a side note, I have yet to use a St. Ives product that I wasn't very happy with. Their Dark Circle Diminisher for under the eye works great.
Use a perfume and dye-free laundry detergent.
Wear a clean shirt or pajamas every night. Keep your sheets clean.
Shower immediately after working out. Always wash your back, but don't scrub it with a brush, a washcloth is fine. (See below for comment on weight lifting.)
Eat healthy and stop eating refined sugar. Don't drink too much alcohol, it definitely causes problems because of its diuretic effect. Caffeine is also a diuretic but doesn't cause problems as long as you don't take too much.
Take a multivitamin. I also take flax seed oil and zinc, I don't know if that has had any effect. Massive amounts of B5 did nothing for me.
If you have an office job like me, don't lean back all day. Sit up straight part of the time to keep the "sweat sandwich" effect from happening to your back. That heat, pressure, and moisture make bacteria very happy.
I don't use salicylic acid anymore. It ALWAYS made breakouts worse. I do use benzoyl peroxide for spot treatment of the occasional zit.
Don't buy into those "Chinese cooling herbs" being sold under various names such as Dermacleanse. I spent $100 and it did absolutely nothing. I've since learned that the "success stories" on their web sites are fiction written by them.
I don't believe it's possible for people prone to acne to have a clear back when they're also lifting weights and eating enough to grow. I think it's caused by the excess blood flow to the muscles and skin, and the testosterone generated when your body is in a growth mode, similar to what happens when you take steroids (which I don't). When I'm just dieting and doing cardio, the back acne is non-existent as long as I shower afterwards.
Any comments? I hope this helps someone.

Just leaving a further update.
I have been on Pantothenic Acid for nearly 3 weeks. The good news in that I'm starting to see an improvement.
The bad news is that I had a really bad breakout after the first week, however, I can't be sure that it was down to the B5 as it was during my period.
I started by taking 5g per day but have increased it to 10g like what was carried out in the report.
The only "side effects" that I have encountered (if you can call them that) was that I was bloated for the first couple of days. No major problem though.
As previously mentioned, I also take Zinc and Vitamin C. I try to eat carefully to. Even though it hasn't been proven that food effects acne, I believe that it plays a part.
I have started keeping a diary of anything that could possibly affect my skin. This ranges from the food that I eat to wearing make-up, sunbeds, drinking alcohol, hot weather, etc. This way I can hopefully eliminate anything that makes my break out.
I only suffer on my face and I still have the big spots underneath my skin along my jaw line. They are so painful so if anybody has any advice on how to get rid or at least stop the pain, then please let me know. Do you think I should use Benzoyl?
Hope everybody else is having improvements.

Hi
I am currently using Benzoyl Peroxide, this comes after using Roaccutane for 4 months. My Acne is mild but VERY persistent. I thought the Roaccutane would kill it off, and it did, but after 2 weeks my skin gor greasy again, and I have been getting spots on my nose. Benzoyl Peroxide got rid of those, but they now seem to fight against it - my nose just gets greasier, and greasier. Can anyone help - what should I do? Stop using the Benxoyl Peroxide - or go to a higher dose?
Thanks, Neil

Hi
I am looking for an acne treatment produced by Neutragena. I`m not sure what the product name is, but it`s a Multi-Vitamin acne treatment.
I haven`t been able to locate it anywhere - does anyone know how I can get hold of it?
I`m in the UK, so it may not be available here. If this is the case, does anyone know of another Multi-Vitamin acne treatment that I can find in the UK?
ALSO - I have a bad case of acne on my bottom (!). It appeared during my recent stay in hospital, where I was being treated for depression. The doctor there confirmed it as being acne, and said that it would clear up. Can acne be caused by stress/anxiety/depression? Can it go away on it`s own?
I`ve only had acne one time before, and that was during a previous depressive episode. I got it under my chin and all over my chest. It DID go away.
Can anyone help? I`m pretty desperate.
Thanks,
Anna (UK).

saw some good coments on the b5 thing and thoughs i should buy it...so here i am with this 200 capsules bottle from twinlab...price? 13 dollars ...i started having acne a few years ago and even thought it was never really severe it affected my confidence ...at times i would have break outs, sometimes i would feel my skin bumpy, somethimes dry(which was when my face look pretty clean) and sometimes oily which usually proceeded a break out.im still using many cleaners"shower facial cleaner, moisturizers and other things but they don't really work...hope that combined with b5 and better nightime rest(im taking z-mass too)all should be beneficial...
whish me luck

Imay be starting Accutane my doctor has talked to me about it before. if you can help me with this desicion and please give me some information.
Thanks!!!

Hi there, i've been reading everyones letters with a great deal of interest. I am currently on roaccutane (50mg per day) and have been for over 4 months now. My acne started when i was 15 both on my face and back. I did the usual route of over the counter creams, tetracycline, erythromyacin etc. - none worked! The roaccutane has worked in fits and bursts: the good news is that my face has completely cleared up; however, my back is, if anything getting worse. My chest, too, is developing a few large red spots. It is pretty much all over my back. It is so frustrating as i am very outgoing, i also like to exercise a lot and this gives me rashes and sore eyes as well as dry, chapped lips. I've seen the doc @ the NHS 3-4 times and he just suggests creams and upping the dose but to no real avail. I wish there was something that could be done to rid the acne on my back. I've never heard of this B-5 stuff or the Pantothenic acid. It sounds as though it works on a high percentage of sufferers. I know that there are many people , like me, who are struggling with roaccutane. I think i will stick with roaccutane for a little while longer although i would desperately like to find out more about these other options. Homeopathy and Acupuncture has been suggested by some people i know although i'm not sure about that. If anyone has any suggestions or advice i would be grateful. Thanks for listening.

Hi everyone,
I thought I'd post my Pantothenic Acid update too. Short and simple, my skin right now is better than it's been since I was 12 years old (I turned 18 on July 5th). This is after all the antibiotics and Roaccutane. I take 10g a day - that's 20 500mg tablets from Holland & Barrett - two with brekky, two at lunch, two with dinner, two mid-evening, two just before bed. On top of that I take 1.5g of Vit C a day, 75mg of Zinc, and 30mg-ish of garlic. All of those three are said to have antibacterial qualities. Alas I also go on sunbeds, because it makes my normally pale skin look SO much healthier. I'd say my skin is now 95-100% clear, and the only spots I'm getting at all are tiny (less than 1mm in diameter) bumps which don't even go particularly red. Whiteheads, cysts et al seem to be a thing of the past. I currently have about 5/6 of those tiny bumps on my face, and I honestly wouldn't even call it acne. That's it. Back and chest are absolutely brilliant, I can go weeks without a thing on them. The inside of my thighs (which for some reason began to break out a little before B-5) are also good. I have to say that I think my diet has also helped; I don't actually diet to lose weight as such, instead I cut out fatty foods that may go against the work of the B-5. This is stuff like dairy and red meat, which is easily avoidable.
The one thing which I have to stress, and which others also have, is that you must give the B-5 time. The first two months that I was on it my skin was all over the place, sometimes clear and sometimes breaking out. Just hang on, you'll get there in the end. And anyway, it's -nowhere- near as bad as the Roaccutane initial breakout. Try to be consistent with your pills, and don't do something half-hearted and take 1 or 2g a day - this won't do anything. As for cutting down my dosage, I'm not even considering it. What's the point in messing with something that works when so many people never find it? I don't believe there are any health risks, and I'm happier than I've been for a while.
Hope this finds all of you in good skin and spirits - feel free to mail me (oceanicboii@hotmail.com) with questions or comments.
Take care
Alastair

Well, just thought I would post my 1st update. I have been on the Pantothenic Acid (B5) consistantly for a week.The good news is my skin is clearing up. There was an improvement for my birthday which was great. My spots haven't gone but I haven't had any new ones (this is a very good sign because my skin was getting much worse on a daily basis). A few of the blemishes that have been resident on my face for a while have come out in the last day or two but they have gone practically straight away.
I do have a really bad infection on my jaw line which causes considerable pain. This has started to dry out now but hasn't really gone down much but I am remaining positive. I am going to buy a vitamin cream today that contains B5 and hopefully vitamin A or zinc to help.
There is definite improvement. I will post my next update in a few weeks so my progress can be monitored as evidence.
By the way, I'm not sure if I have mentioned but I am taking a Zinc tablet each day as it is said to be very good in repairing the skin.
I have also stopped going to the chinese doctor. The logic being that it is so expensive and as the Pantothenic Acid is working I don't need to go. If it turns out that Pantothenic Acid doesn't work I will go back but I feel confident that I won't need to do that.
Bye for now

Hello to you all.
For anyone visiting this site for the first time like myself, I have found it very comforting and exciting that there may be a solution for us Acne Sufferers. I have suffered with what I thought was teenage spots for almost 5 years now. However, of late it has become much worse and I have been diagnosed as having Acne. Its awful and so depressing.
I have done so much research on the web over the last few weeks and have listened to so much advice that I have become so confused. The worst thing about Acne for me is that I have spent hundreds and hundreds of pounds and still never found a "cure" and it's the fact that I couldn't find a cure that has become so depressing. My social life has come to a complete stand still because I refuse to go out whilst I look like this. I do remain positive as much as possible though.
Anyway, I am just posting a note to say that I have been to Holland and Barrett today and have brought the Vitamin B5 (known as Pantothenic Acid). I have made a start on the dosage. I am going to take 10 tablets spread throughout the course of the day. I am a mild-medium sufferer who tends to get breakouts on the lower half of my face. Its my birthday in 4 days so here is hoping for some sort of improvement however small. PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE LINKS FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE THAT EXPLAIN IN FURTHER DETAIL ABOUT VITAMIN B5.
I have taken Dianette (a form of the pill for women only) which helped me in the past. I came off it in January this year and have just gone back on it but it can take upto 6 months to get into your system.
I am also visiting a chinese doctor. He gave me these herbs that I needed to boil and drink. Absolutely MINGING but I will keep going with that to.
If anybody would like to know anything further, I am more than happy to chat but I by no means have the answers. Good Luck

Hey,
It's been a while since I've posted here since my skin has cleared up so much. It sounds wierd to say that, and I don't really like to tempt fate by saying it (I'll probably get a load of spots tomorrow), but I felt that I had to repay the help that this page has given me over the past year.
Briefly, I've had medium acne for about 2 years and at first I went on OxyTet and Benzoyl Acid and they didn't work when I first went to the doc. After a while, my new doc put me on Lymecycline and Differin and there was a slight improvement. Then someone on here mentioned a study that showed a correlation between acne and vitamin b5 defiency, so I decided to buy some b5 (pantothenic acid) and try it.
Basically, the results have been amazing. I can't remember when I first started taking it - the posts are somewhere below here - maybe April or May? But it's just been phenomenal. My skin hasn't looked this good for ages! Obviously I still have patches of redness that will go soon, but I have been spot free for so long now I can't remember.
It would be foolish to say that the b5 did it alone - maybe the Lymecycline played a role (though I doubt it - I was on it for months before I went onto b5) and I think Differin definitely helps (as soon as I feel a spot coming through, I just put on a bit of differin and it totally dries up and disappears in a day), but it really has been astounding. I met a mate I haven't seen for about 3 months and he just said he couldn't believe the improvement - he said it was the first thing he noticed when he saw me.
My skin is very smooth, and it looks fantastic. I remember dreading looking in the mirror, but now it's totally the opposite. It will happen for you, just give b5 a little time to work. For the record, I have been taking 18 550mg pills a day - about 9g a day in all. This is 1000's of times above the RDA, but I haven't seen any ill effects, and I know of many other users on the board who have been using high doses of b5 successfully. I started with about 10 pills a day, then slowly pushed up the dosage - I managed to avoid the diahorea you can get if you fill yourself full of vitamins. Like I said, I take 18 a day - 5 in the morning, 4 at lunch, 4 after dinner, then 5 before bed.
Seriously, give it a try. I think all the posts about where to find info about why b5 helps get rid of acne are somewhere below. Basically, it's an essential part of the breakdown of fat, so that the fatty lipids don't block pores in the face. After using it for a while, you'll start to see your skin becoming less oily, and the pores starting to shrink. The only drawback? Price - I'm still paying £26.99 for 250 pills (about 2 weeks worth), but I think it's a price I'm willing to pay for a while (apparently, you can start to reduce dosage after a while - I don't dare to yet). I buy "Solgar" b5 because apparently it's the best quality - buy it from healthfoodstore.co.uk
Hope this helps.
Tim

....just when i thought i was alone...
anyways my skin took a turn for the worse middle of last year, when i stopped using a particular facial product (they stopped manufacturing it or smtg..egads!)
i was really quite distressed by my skin, constantly making silent oaths to myself not to be such a vainpot and be bothered by my acne coz afterall, beauty is only skin deep rite??*cliche* but i used to get these HUUUUUGGGGGGGGEEEEEE pustules near my mouth or on my chin, 2 or 3 sometimes up to 5 giant,red bumps just on my chin alone. this is excluding the rest of the face, my cheeks, foreheads, almost every inch of my skin is not spared by the evil,evil acne..grrr
the last straw came at the family gathering, where everyone i met just HAD to comment on my skin. a cousin said (as he hovered over my face as i lay sleeping) he felt like apollo 10 looking at the moon in space. i paid a visit to the doctor who decided to put me on the 'conservative' acne treatment of antibiotics (doxycycline) and a whole myriad of creams. my skin has improved, not tremendously but there is a noticable improvement. i don't get those bighugeredpusfilled zits on my chin anymore (touch wood!). she also gave me AHA cream to reduce the scarring and sunblock to prevent my face from turning black-red (it happened to a friend). this treatment is supposed to continue until i don't get pimples anymore *sigh* so i am thinking that's goin to be a really long time. in comparison roaccutane or nimegen offers fast and effective(?) cure.
mm just my 2cents worth. acne is not the end of the world, its just too bad some people cant look past the surface to appreciate what's inside.

Hi there every one,i have just found this webpage & thought i would add my 2cents worth to the list!I would just like to say that i thought i could never gets rid of these spots untill my derm. told me about Roaccutane I've been on it now for 2MTHS & have not regretted itonce.In just that time my acne is already half of what it was! My only side effects have been dry lips & dry skin,which is a small price to pay i think!!To all those who wish to try it I say GO FOR IT! as far as depression goes acne gives you that & whilst I've been on roacc I've never been happier due to its incredible results so far!!!!!!!!!!

hello, I wanted to share a tip with everyone that you may have heard rumors of before, as I had before I finally tried it. My friend told me about it a long time ago, but I thought it was just way too disgusting to entertain.
He told me that he read in a medical home remedy journal that if you apply some of your urine from the first urination of the morning to your face like and astringent or toner, leave it on for about 3-5 minutes and then wash your face like normal, that you will notice definate results in your acne and acne spots or scars. Well, my acne got continually worse over the past year and I became desperate. I started doing this about ten days ago, and I must say that there is a DEFINATE difference in my acne, and the scars. Supposedly, it is the agent UREA in your urine which has a strong healing effect. It isn't even that gross, if you drink a few glasses of water within the last hour before bed the urine is mostly clear anyway.
In combination with doing this every morning, (and supposedly it must be the first urination only),using vitamin E lotion as a moisterizer 2 times a day, and being on the birth control ortho tricyclin my skin is almost all clear and Im watching the scars heal more each day.

Hi all,
I started developing acne about 2 years ago now. Ive tried all the none medical mehods such as taking sulphur and all that crap. Totally useless. I then went to the doctor and he gave me "Oxytetracycline" for 3 months. I took all the tablets as the doc said and it did nothing. I then started smoking and strange as it sounds the spots started to go a "bit" better, not much but a bit. I was smoking about 20 a day then. A couple of months ago i tried stopping smoking but as i cut down the spots started to go worse. Now i've realised what a waste of time smoking is and my face is worse than ever... What do i try now? Please help.
Many thanks.
Ben Noden
ben.noden@ntlworld.com

hello criseida, please, can you write me in spanish about roacutan. I'm beginin a test with it. I hope your letter. Mi e-mail is pavech02@hotmail.com

I am finishing an 8-month course of Roaccutane. It's my second time around and my doctor decided to keep me on the treatment for a long period so as to avoid any relapse. I'm happy to report that I've been practically zit free for the last 7 months. Got a few during a particular stressful period of my life at the beginning of the treatment, but it was really mild. I cared for my lips with petroleum jelly and begun using some mosturizing lotion in my face for the first time in my life. The only important side effect I suffered was a huge fatigue. At first I didn't associate it with Roaccutane and I even went to a general physician to tell me what was wrong with me: if I'd exercised for over an hour, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed for a long time. I was generall tired and I felt as if my arms where heavier than usual. After a general check up (which resulted in me being the healthiest in my life ever), my doctor suggested that I could be dehydrated because of the Roaccutane. I couldn't believe it because I generally drink over 10 glasses of water and stay out of caffeine and so forth. But when I began drinking about 15 or more glasses of water (especially right after exercising) I began to notice how much more energy I had. I've begun to lower my dose, and my energy level is defenitely going up.
So, to all those just beginning the treatment, please, hang in there that you'll get amazing results and the side effects can be kept under control.

I took Vit B5 after reading some success stories only to end up with a nasty case of the runns. Dark discusting runns. It was not worth staying on it to see any results though. I was taking around 10 pills a day split up. Anyone have similiar results.

Hi
I got a bottle of this Pantomic Acid 550mg x 250 capsules today. Ive had 3 so far, but I just want to make sure it is safe in taking so many pills a day? I was playing on taking about 8 a day.
Ive seen people taking 15 a day here - but is it really safe to do so? I dont wanna take an overdose or do some damage to my insides???
Thanks

Karen,
I'm glad that you've been making progress, however I feel that I really should warn you about sunbeds. I'm sure you're aware of their dangers anyway. But setting that aside - you definitely shouldn't be using sunbeds if you're on tetracycline. Tetracycline significantly increases your photosensitivity, so you are doing real damage to your skin.
good luck

Just a note to let you know how the B5 is going. I have been taking it for a month now, and the results are brilliant. The problem is, I am also taking tetracycline and using a sun bed, so out of the three, it's difficult to say which is having the most effect on my skin. The good news is, my acne has almost cleared! I have not had any major spots, and the couple I have got on my forehead and chin have cleared up within a few days. I am pleased to say that things are looking up!! I was extremely unsure about how effective B5 would be - I think someone said that it would be extremely annoying to find that a vitamin you can get from your local health store would have a greater effect than any of the treatments prescribed by specialists. In fact, when I saw the derm recently, he almost laughed in my face about the prospect of Pantothenic Acid having a greater impact on my skin than anything he could give me with a prescription! Anyway, thought I'd let you guys know how I was doing. By the way, I take between 8-12 500mg tabs a day, 4 at a time, at meal times. I often forget the one at lunchtime due to a busy work schedule, but hey, I'm still reaping from the results! As I say, I can't promise to you all that B5 has been my miracle as I am using many possible 'treatments' at once, but good luck to all you guys out there, stick with it.

hey, on my last visit to the derm he suggested accutane if my skin didnt improve with my current treatment(tazorac). I really dont want to deal with accutane but i think i will if i dont see an improvement by my next visit. However, Ive heard about this B5 treatment and how many people think its good. I was wondering what everyone thinks is a better route to getting clearer skin, accutane or the b5 treatment. I have seen people who took accutane and was surprised by how good the results were, but ive also heard about the many risky side effects. Ive heard good results about the b5 treatment but havent seen for myself someone who has taken it. Anyways please post me what all of you think, b5 or accutane?...thanks alot

Hi everyone
A bit of a negative posting I'm afraid. Even though I upped my B-5 dosage from 7.5g a day to 10g a day last week, I'm breaking out all of a sudden (or think I'm about to). My forehead is bumpy and my chin has had 2 large-ish whiteheads, and I have a horrible feeling more are on the way. I'd like to think that is another kind of initial breakout because I'm ingesting more of the Pantothenic Acid all of a sudden, but I don't know. I may wake up tomorrow morning and my skin will have magically cleared - it's done this once or twice while on B-5 - but today has just been a bit depressing. It's not that I have spots everywhere by any means, or even more than 2 or 3, I just think that more might be coming, and anyway I was expecting perfection. Ho hum.
Could other people on B-5 perhaps make a posting here or drop me a mail to let me know how they're getting on? Tim, I'd love to mail you if that's ok, as we started about the same time, but your e-mail addy doesn't seem to be about anywhere :>
Anyway... I really really hope I have something more positive to post here next week.
Best of luck everyone
Alastair

I have read all the messages about B5 and acne. I am 40 years old and have suffered with acne since I was 15. I've used Accutane 3 times and all kinds of medication. I am currently using differin cream and benzoyl peroxide. I would like to use b5 but i need more information. Who is this chinese doctor thats been reffered to? Are there any other sources of information outside the internet such as books etc.,that I could read.Are there any dermatologists in the area that use this treatment. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

hi, im a 17 yr old male with moderate-severe acne. I am currently putting on tazorac gel at night and azelex during the day. It has been two weeks since i started this treatment and the results have been none to perhaps worsening my acne a little. I was curious if anyone else has gone under a treatment using one or both of these medicines and what your results were?.thanks

Totally agree with everything Alistair wrote below. The results with b5 have been amazing! I am almost totally clear of spots on my face (one small one on my chin) but otherwise my skin is 1000% better than it was before I started on vitamin b5.
No doubt I'll probably break out tomorrow because this always jinxes it when I post here, but it is so much better that I'd recommend everyone tried b5.
I've been on it about 5 weeks, gradually increasing the dosage when I didn't see improvement after a week or so at the same dosage. I'm now using 18 550mg tablets a day (9g) and I'm just astounded at the improvement. In fact, I went out on the lash on Saturday for the first time in a while, and I felt more confident than I have in a while. And it got even better when I got chatted up by two girls at the chip shop on the way home - that hasn't happened for a longtime - but b5 has really turned things around for me.
So, I'd really recommend trying b5 for about a month - just give it a try?
As for Liver problems, I didn't read anything about that - can someone give me a link to the article about it, I'd like to check it out.
Cheers
Tim

Hi everyone
I've been on B-5 for 5 weeks now, 7.5g a day, and have experienced simply incredible results. My acne is now 95% gone, and seemingly getting better all the time. I was about to make a really upset post on Saturday when it seemed I might be breaking out my chin, but by next morning all the little red marks had disappeared, and I think it may have just been because I'd eaten some spicy food. I have a single tiny spot on my chest/back, where previously there were a good 20 or 30, with countless more small bumps. That's all gone now. My face now makes me really happy. For the first time I don't have to look in the mirror to see if I can go when invited out for a drink, because I know my skin is ok. In fact, I got back this morning after a night clubbing (after which everyone's skin looks a state, but in my case is goes horrendously blotchy after all the sweating and dancing) and my skin was wonderful. The tone was even and the only bits of redness are the marks left by old spots that are fading now anyway.
I'm truly happy with the results, and can only hope I go on to a full 100% remission. I am getting the odd spot, but it's nothing I can't handle. And it's certainly nothing like have huge whiteheads all over my chin like I used to previously. For anyone who's thinking of trying B-5, I'd definitely say go for it. (Although remember some people do believe there is risk of liver damage - you have to make your own choice on this). I'll make another posting in a week or two to let you know how I'm progressing.
Good luck
Alastair

Hello everyone. First, some history. Went on a 6 month course of Roaccutane which finished in January this year. The acne on my back is dead and GONE, as well as on my chest!! My face is better, not perfect, but i'm not complaining about Roaccutanes efficacy. What has started happening now, is that sections of my skin are slowly bleaching. I know Hyperpigmentation (darkening) of the skin is a listed side effect, but Vitiglio (bleaching) is not. If there is anyone out there who has had the same problems or has heard of the same thing happening could you PLEASE email me back (victorz@ozemail.com.au) Thanks - Vic.

Hello everyone. After reading the numerous messages about acne, I have finally decided to share my own experiences. I developed acne when i was about 15 but never considered my problem as being acne related, i jus thought that they were just a few spots. Well, it eventually hit me that i really did have acne, and then the nightmare began.
I am currently completing my first year at college, and what a bad time it's been. My attendance is now about 84%, all down to me not havin the guts to show my SPOTTY face to everyone at college. I never tell my parents the reason why i stay of college, they just think that I'm genuinly ill.
Nowadays, im beginning to express my problems to my familly, and they've been a great help for me. I'm goin for a docters appointment in two days to try and find some kind of "cure". I'm also trying to comply with a new diet that will hopefully stop the creation of spots.
I hope my spots will one day disappear, so that i can be myself and once again be the loudest person in the college. It's been hard over the years though, I even sometimes cry about it when im alone (i feel like such a wimp), I find it hard to look people in the eyes when i talk to them and often become really stressed out among friends and familly. One major problem that is innevitable for me, is my college work, because i cannot think about anything else exept spots. WHEN WILL THEY GO.

Why do you still have acne in the year 2001?
Simple answer because the company (Roussell Uclaf) who own the rights to a topical antiandrogen “RU58841”, developed by a Dr. Sewaya….and I quote “Arent interested in curing these particular conditions”
Make no mistake “RU58841” will cure acne and hair loss 100% without the systematic side effects associated with the drug accutane that can be a very dangerous drug. “RU58841” works in a similar way to accutane in that it will shrink your sebaceous glands but without the side effects, more effectively and in a quicker time frame, unlike with accutane it can also be used on a continued basis.
This is NOT a new treatment, in fact it has been in the possession of this company for over 10 years yet they do NOTHING with it, they will not even sell the patent rights to this treatment so no other company can pursue this product.
The reason for this a number of people believe is, if this treatment were brought out it would cure all androgen-dependent conditions (I.e hair loss and acne and unwanted body hair) not treat, CURE. And all the hundreds of acne treatments and hair loss treatments, hair removers that are sold to the public (that we all know DON’T work) would be put out of business, now that’s a MASSIVE turnover of money, we believe these company’s are paying Roussell Uclaf not to release this treatment.
So what does that mean? Your thinking “GREAT There’s a topical acne cure out there but, uh….what the hell good is that to me since I can’t get it if they wont market it.”
This is where I come in and tell you I am going through the acne and hair loss forums in an attempt to gain 1,000 traceable non web based e-mail addresses (in other words not yahoo, hotmail ect ect accounts that are internet based accounts) of potential consumers of this product should I find a legitimate supplier. Now a country like India is not subject to the patent laws that stop companies in other countries from making this drug and this is why they produce “generic” drugs, which are identical to other drugs but don’t carry the brand name, they are essentially rip off drugs because they don’t carry the brand name, much like rip off cloths.
These are high class respected and professional company’s, not kids whipping up drugs in there basements with bunson burners, one such company is http://www.cipla.com/ .
When we can achieve 1,000 traceable e-mail accounts I can begin looking or a supplier and show the petition as proof this stuff has large interested group, this will be an incentive for them to produce this topical for us, and as we are dealing not only in generic treatments but also in such a large group the price will be fairly cheap.
I kid you not, this will cure you of your acne and oil, the petition link is
http://mars.guestpage.com/home/view.rc?LoginName=bukem
Please add your name if you would be interested in a supply should we find a legitimate source willing to make this PROVEN treatment, below are a few links “RU58841” please read them and see for your self. And do a web search for yourself.
http://www.karger.ch/journals/SPH/sph10-6/SPH0288.htm
http://www.brinkzone.com/hair.html
Why take the risk of accutane that can cause serious side effects like permanent hair loss (and I know of several people who have lost almost all there hair from this drug and NOTHING will work to re grow this lost hair) when you can use a topical with none of these side effects?
I will remove the names from the petition onto my hard drive on a daily basis.
P.S this is not illegal, it would be illegal for someone to make it in western countries but not India that is not subject to the same laws, nor is importing this stuff

One more thing I have noticed since starting on b5... When I tense up my chin and jaw (so that all the skin stretches and you can see what's just beneath the skin surface) most of the bumps that I used to see are now gone.
Maybe I'm the only one who does this, but before b5 when I did it I had lots of bumps under the skin that I was sure would turn to spots(possibly blocked pores?). Since using b5 though, almost all of them have gone - maybe the pores are no longer blocking, and once all the "old" ones have gone, I may be clear. Who knows?

Hey,
Just a quick update on the b5 I'm using. I'm still on 7g a day (14 pills) and have been on the vitamin for about 3 weeks. There has been improvement - my forehead has completely cleared, and my cheek was looking better (until I got a spot there a few days ago). I saw my sister the other day and she was amazed at the progress I had made since I saw her last (two weeks ago). She thinks all the pores look much smaller and my skin much healthier.
I was optimistic too a few days ago, but recently it's gone downhill a bit. I'm getting about one new spot a day on my chin, and I have about 4 active at any one time. I'm not sure why, but I always seem to break out around the 15th of the month ?? Wierd? Then my skin gets better and better until the next month. Also not feeling to good about my skin because I made a very stupid mistake lats night and tried to get rid of a spot I thought needed a little help to get rid of. After eventaully getting rid of this big spot, all of the skin around the spot began to seep sebum and I now have a very large (1cm diameter) reddish scab forming on my chin. Luckily I spose it doesn't look too much like a spot - more like I've been punched in the chin, so it could have been much worse.
Anyway, that's my update - another month's supply has just arrived so I may even pump the dosage up a little. Seems odd that all the rest of my problem areas are clearing up except for my chin...

Hi everyone
Before I begin this posting on Pantothenic Acid can I just say - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER TODAY!!!! My formal education is now completely over. I have exams (A-Levels) coming up, but that's it. Roll on university.
Here's an update on my skin, taking 7.5g of Pantothenic Acid a day. Since last time it's pretty much unchanged, that is I seem to have at least one growing spot on my face at a time. There tend to be 2 or 3 others healing, with nasty looking scabs. Now, this is definitely a VAST improvement from what it used to be before I started on B-5. If you scroll down to my first post here, on the day that I came on the net in desperation to find some miracle cure I had 3 or 4 very large whiteheads, with a great deal of redness. My temples were also one big blotchy mess. That's faded a bit now, and the spot that I currently have seems to be only a re-infection of an old one - nothing too major.
Nevertheless, I haven't had a 100% remission of my acne, and am not at the stage where I'll go to bed without my face covered in creams (which I really hate). The thing is, I don't think I should be expecting that after only 3 or 4 weeks. The study by the Chinese doctor said 6 weeks, and that was on 10g a day (I'm on 7.5g). I think I should at least give it 8 weeks, especially as the improvement is already very noticeable. By the way, did I mention that my chest, having previously been covered in big red welts and bumps, is virtually perfect? It's really fantastic. My back is clear too.
To sum it up... going well. It's a little disappointing when I see the odd spot or two, but I just have to keep reminding myself that
a) it's 10 times better (80/90% clear?) than before I started on B-5, and
b) it hasn't been long enough yet for me to expect no spots at all.
For anyone considering Pantothenic Acid I'd definitely recommend it. The only thing you might get annoyed with is that you'll find yourself turning into a skin perfectionist, like me :P As a reminder I'm taking 15 500mg tablets a day - 3 with breakfast, 3 at 11am, 3 at lunchtime, 3 at dinner, and 3 before bed. I buy the slow-release ones from Holland & Barrett, and am considering ordering in bulk from an American website (£8.95 for 100 500mg tablets - SO expensive!).
Best of luck to everyone - I'd really like to be kept updated as to how you're all going.
Regards
Alastair

Hi all. Just to let you know that I have also purchased some Pantothenic Acid. I think I have the same as Tim - the timed release ones from Holland & Barrett. I've only been taking them for a few days, but I have to admit that I haven't had any really big spots, just lots of little whiteheads around my nose, chin and forehead - the usual hotspots. I'm still a little pessimistic on how well they work to clear acne, but I suppose only time will tell. After having no success with other treatments, I guess being pessimistic is quite understandable!
A warning to those who are considering purchasing 'cheaper' B5 from american sites. The ones I have been to were really good value, however, the shipping costs turned out to be more than the value of the goods, so watch out. If anyone does find an american site where the shipping costs don't cost the earth, I would be grateful to know about it. Thanks - and good luck to all on B5. I'm watching this discussion board with interest and will let you know how the treatment is going for me.

I spoke too soon - woke up this morning with two new spots on my forehead. One's really big too -what a b***h.
Alistair, I know what you mean tho - just knowing that if that spot and that spot went, then I'd be almost clear (except for the red marks). But then another one comes along instead and ruins it. Still, I'm hopeful that the b5 will work better at 7g a day and I'll stop seeing the new ones appearing.

Hi everyone,
Here's my second B-5 update, after starting it two weeks ago last Saturday. My results have been more positive than Tim's - there's a definite, noticeable improvement. However my skin isn't perfect yet. I'm getting one or two spots on my chin, some tiny ones around my mouth, and 1 or 2 on my forehead. However I have to say that is a HUGE improvement from what it was before. My forehead and chin used to be a big red mess, but they're a lot better. It's a bit discouraging sometimes because I've been looking at my skin the past two weeks and thinking "right, once this one has gone that's it". It was like that for entire second week (boy was it an amazing feeling :>), but last Friday I began to get a few, and am currently as described above. I have to say though that my chest and back are vastly improved too, and it's now at the stage where I can definitely live easily with what's there. Don't get me wrong, I don't want any spots, but previously it was so bad that I was dreading going on holiday this summer. Just want my face to reach that stage now ;)
I hope what I've written doesn't sound too negative. I keep expecting to look in my car's rear-view mirror (the worst one, it manages to catch all the daylight there is and magnify it so my skin looks frighteningly bad) and get a shock, but in fact it's pretty good. I've started taking 7.5g instead of 5g, because Kathy was on 10g. I can't afford that many pills, but I think the boost should help. I really hope B-5 works, not simply because acne can make me a little bit suicidal sometimes, but also because it's not going to 'cramp my lifestyle'. Having to worry about creams and facial washes all the time is miserable, and cover-ups can be incredibly stressful ("is it obvious? isn't it?"). What would be worse would be to have to worry about that stuff while on vacation - I'm going to Spain with some friends this Summer, and I hate to think what it would be like if my acne was still here because for a start I hate bright sunshine (makes every blemish look ten times worse), and also because things like sweat and chlorine make you feel extremely dirty. I don't know about you, but when I'm in hot places I'm always dashing to the toilets to check up, and I kinda feel like I'd go mad if it was the same this year. It just makes makes you feel so ugly, you know?
Anyway, enough negativity. I have faith in B-5: it's given me much better skin so far, and I really hope that it's going to continue. I'll try 7.5g a day for two or three weeks, and if there are still spots coming up (admittedly they're small-ish) I'll order some cheaper online from a US site and go up to 10g. The only thing that worries me is that the pills I get from there wont be as potent. I read on one of the studies that a lot of the Pantothenic Acid can be lost during production, and that only a few brands are really powerful. Kathy, you use Now - have you found that okay? I'm on Holland & Barrett slow-release 500g, and admittedly I haven't used anything else, but I trust them because it's a big health-food store chain.
Anyway, enough rambling :) I'd really like it if people already taking B-5, or considering taking it, would get in touch. Oh, and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at oceanicboii@hotmail.com.
Best wishes and good luck
Alastair

Hi Kathy,
It's great to hear that vitamin b5 does work! I have been on it for about 2 weeks now, on 10 550mg capsules a day (5.5g). I take 3 when I have breakfast, 2 after lunch, 2 after dinner, and 3 before bed. And the results...... I *think* it's working. I haven't had a spot on my forehead or temples for quite a while now, and they are beginning to lose their redness. My cheeks are usually okay anyway (although today I have a large cyst appearing), but my chin is still a mess. I'm not sure whether this is just old spots finally coming through (I hope so), but apart from these spots, the rest of my chin is starting to clear up.
I really just want to get rid of the 4 or 5 spots I currently have there to see if anymore appear. What I have found since using b5 is that some spots that do appear, are much much smaller than they usually are. They also seem to heal quicker as well.
After reading about your success, I have decided to up my dosage to 4 at night, 4 after brekkie, 3 after lunch, and 3 after dinner (14 capsules in all - about 7g daily) in a bid to get rid of spots on my chin. But obviously this is going to cost more, so I just wondered where you buy your tablets from online, and what brand you use? (and does the site ship abroad?) I got Solgar b5 from healthfoodstore.co.uk and it cost me £27 for 250 550mg capsules (pretty expensive). I would really like to find somewhere which is cheaper, but the quality is still there.
As for telling your kid's friends about it, I understand what you mean. If this works, I'd like to tell my friends about it, but it would be very difficult to do it without embarassing us both. Also, some people have so much self confidence that to tell them face to face would just shatter it - this is what happened to me. I was ultra confident, so I didn't see my skin as a problem, it didn't stop me from going out etc. But then one drunken night out, a friend called me "Pizzaface" and that really hit a nerve - I was speechless. It took away ALL my self confidence in one sentence, and the next day I went to the doctor. Try to be subtle about it, maybe leave a leaflet about it (or printout) on the coffee table when they visit or something.
Cheers
Tim

I have always had the occasional spot, especially the monthly breakouts, however early at the beginning of this year my skin went haywire, and I quite bad lumps and spots around my chin and mouth. I became very self conscious of it, especially as I was now 20, and thought I should be getting over it all. Anyway my dad (who's a doctor) recommended I go on Diane 35. I started it about 3 weeks ago, and my skin has gone from an absolute mess to pretty much clear. I know I'm obvioulsy one of the lucky ones who it has worked for, but for any girls who sound like they have similar skin problems to me I definatly recommend you give it a go. And my skin from here should only hopefully keep getting better. The only one drawback is that is it relatively expensive compared to the other "pills".

I have been trying to post here for a long while and gave up and emailed Pete directly as he seemed to be the only one with a posted email address. I really wanted to get this message to a couple of others that have been writing about Pantothenic acid and lo and behold, it will finally let me post. Since I already wrote out everything to Pete in an email, I'm going to do a copy/paste here rather than re-write it. Thank you:
First, let me tell you my story (I'll try to make it short and sensible):
I am 41 years old and female and live in Florida of the US. I have had acne since my early teenage years and throughout high school. That would be in the 70s and then parents didn't think to take the kids to a dermatologist as "every kid has acne, it's normal". Anyway, it wasn't until I was in my 30s that I decided I'd had enough and went to a dermatologist. She was my age and was very sympathetic and helpful. First we tried tetracycline and Retin-A and that worked, as long as I used it faithfully. I was on that for several years. Then I asked what was next and I did the Accutane thing. What a miserable experience. After the 5-months I was glad to take the last one. That lasted for about 8 months, perfect skin. Then it all came back again. She put me back on the antibiotic and cream. Wonderful. I did a second stint on Accutane and again it cleared up, and again it lasted only for about 8-9 months. She said she really didn't recommend doing it a third time. But she had just returned from a dermatology conference with her "dermatology guru" and he said that a lack of Vitamin-B was the culprit to chronic acne. His remedy was over-the-counter Pantothenic acid 2.5 grains three times per day. That was 2,500 mg four times a day. She wrote it out and I went to the healthfood store and they thought I was nuts, but I bought a bottle and took it, every 8 hours five capsules of 500 mg. After about 5-6 days, my skin was perfect. Even the pustules that were beginning to come out dried up and receded. The Doc told me that after about 6-months, to begin to wean back, eliminating one dose a day and see how that goes. It didn't go well. I stayed on the beginning dosage and as long as I do, everything's great. Lately, though I've been forgetting to take it regularly and I seem to be getting by with 3 and sometimes only twice a day and everything is still good. Perhaps I'm getting old enough to get rid of it (otherwise, she says it won't stop until I go through menopause - YUCK). I stopped buying the supplement locally as it was too expensive. I found a site online to buy it and it's cheaper and it comes within 10 days. I order about 6-bottles at a time. My eldest son is about to turn 19 and since he was about 17, he started with acne and I gave him the Vitamin and again, as long as he takes it, his skin is perfect. I can definitely tell when he's not and he knows. My daughter is 16 and my other son is 13 and (thank God) they haven't shown any sign of acne. Hopefully they got their father's skin.
Anyway, end of story: I've been taking Pantothenic Acid now for approximately 6-7 years and it's a Godsend. I used a currency exchanger to see how much in pounds my American cost would be for you and here it is:
250 capsules of 500 mg costs $13.10 or 9.12502 for UK pounds. I'm not familiar with your view on expense, so I don't know if this would be expensive for you or not. For me locally, it was more than $17.00 a bottle (11.8399 UK pounds for you) and THAT'S TOO EXPENSIVE. Especially when you're buying in multiple quantities.
Anyway, that's my story, A success. I hope that you achieve the same success in your stint with the Pantothenic acid as I have. I try to tell my kids' friends about it (if they appear to be suffering), but it's hard as I don't want to offend them in any way. My kids tell me to stay out of it, but I remember how embarrassed and self-conscious I always was in school and don't like anyone else to go through it if there's a solution.
Thanks for listening and I'll be checking back to this page for further stories and hopefully success stories with people, like you that use this supplement.
Kathy Wilson
Naples, Florida USA

Hey,
I've been on Vitamin b5 since Tuesday last week. I ordered some from healthfoodstore.co.uk but they said they couldn't deliver for over a week so I went to the local store and bought some that were very difficult to swallow (and were only 250mg so I had to take twice as many).
Anyways, I emailed the online health shop, threatened to take my order elsewhere, and suddenly they couldn't wait to get my order to me (odd eh?) so I got hold of my Solgar tablets on Saturday and I've been using them since. 3 in the morning, 2 at lunch, 2 after dinner, and 3 before bed.
The results? Difficult to tell at such an early stage. My skin has been improving anyway with Differin and Lymecycline, but I'm hopeful that Vit b5 will help as well. Had a few spots today, and my skin felt much more oily, but I think it's too early to tell.
Cheers

Hi everyone,
I made a post here last week, regarding Pantothenic Acid. I've been taking 5g a day since then - 2 500mg pills with breakfast, 2 at about 11:30am with a snack, 2 at lunch, 2 with dinner, 2 just before I go to bed. I think this way I'm spreading it out quite evenly, plus, I'm buying my pills from Holland & Barrett and they're slow release, apparently working over eight hours, so I'm not too concerned that it's all passing out straight away in my urine.
I suppose the bit you all want to know is how well it's working :> I suppose all I'm going to say right now is "Ok". My skin does seem to be clearing, and towards the end of this week shaving wasn't so much a chore as there was so little redness to aggravate. Perhaps the most pleasurable thing has been looking in the mirror when I get home from school - there's always usually been a new problem on my skin to agonise and get miserable over, but this week it's been fine. I say "ok" and not "wonderful" because just today a few bumps have been appearing. However I don't think they're going to be major spots, and develop huge whiteheads or anything.
In conclusion... I'm a bit happier. Getting some new spots today was quite upsetting, but I have only been on it for a week, and as I said they don't feel like enormous ones - this seems to agree with a posting I read elsewhere where the person said his acne got smaller before it disappeared. I'm really hoping for a full cure, I'm sick and tired of this disease ruling my life. People say that you shouldn't let something like spots bother you, but it's really hard when we live in such a beauty-orientated society.
Feel free to mail me personally about anything I've raised (oceanicboii@hotmail.com), as sometimes this board is quite hard to post you. Good luck everyone, I know exactly what you're going through, just try to stay positive if you can.
Best regards,
Alastair

Managed to get some b5 from a local store- hopefully will keep me going until I get stuff from healthfoodstore.co.uk, or I order some more. Interested to see the effects!

Hey,
Just got an email from Healhfoodstore.co.uk saying that my b5 won't be ready till NEXT WEEK!! Emailed them back asking for a refund - I want the stuff now - not next week. Can anyone recommed where I can order b5 today, and have it delivered tomorrow? How long to Auravista and garden.co.uk take? Also, what is the exact name of what you order - both sites seems low on details.
Cheers

I started getting acne when I was thirteen, by the time
I was seventeen it was pretty severe, big painful
lumps under the skin and whiteheads that scarred the
surface but didn't leave it pitted. No creams I tried worked AT ALL, retin-a, various solutions creams etc.
I was on low dose antibiotics for a year which didn't
help but caused a few problems in themselves. Then I
finally found a specialist who suspected I had polycysitc ovaries - around 1 in 10 women have this, some have no symptoms, other have acne, hair growth on the body, hair loss.....
I went for a ultrasound and a hormone test. The hormone test was normal however the ultrasound did show
I had polycystic ovaries. My acne was very bad by now,
I was crying, wouldn't go to school, became very paranoid etc. I was put on Marvelon contraceptive pill
and spironolactone tablets. These had little side effects - I lost a little weight and energy on the
spironolactone - but nothing to bad. Within a month I had stopped getting spots. Obviously I still had scarring and a few pre treatment spots. A year later,
I have slight scarring, get spots v. v. occasionally ( and no really nasty ones) and I would say my skin is probably better than an average person who's never had acne.
The point that I really want to get across is, if your
a woman with acne definitely get yourself checked for
polycystic ovaries. Its not that well known (educate your doctor) but I know in the UK there is a support group called Verity, and books being written about it.
Its great if u catch it early because it can lead to
infertility. And of course you get that joy of waking up in the morning to a pretty, happy, normal face.
Please email me with any queries or if you've suffered
from polycystic ovaries yourself.

Arh... just got up after watching the boxing... I don't believe Rahman won it in the 5th! If only Lennox had survived another another 37 seconds I'd be 100 quid richer! Still, I was almost right with my prediction ;-)

Hi,
I take 9 550mg capsules a day, which is just over 5grams a day. Its recommeded to take the capsules if you can with food, but also to take them equally during the day. This is because Pantothenic acid is water soluble so any that the body doesn't need it gets rid of in urine so if you take 3 at once it might get rid of alot of it whislt if you take it evenly across the day it as a continuing but not over excessive supply. I tryed to buy some more of the vitamin from www.healthfoodstore.co.uk yesterday but the order form only had credit card as a payment option with the other 3 options blank on clicking credit card it says my order is being processed and shipped to me with a personal order number and I havn't even payed for it. I sent them an e-mail so hopefully it should be sorted out.

I have also ordered my Vitamin B5 - 250 tablets of 550mg (about 26 quid). They should be with me pretty soon and I can't wait to see if they have any effect. Just to make sure - ten 550mg tablets a day is 5.5g a day? Is this right? I don't want to be taking 50g a day! Is this right?
I think I'll do what Alistair does to - 3 in the morning, 3 at lunch, and 4 after dinner. Hope it works. My skin has started to clear up a bit anyway since changing to Lymecycline and Differin about 2 months ago. Still get whiteheads every couple of days and cysts once a week, but the major problem is the scarring. Hopefully the B5 will give everything a push in the right direction.
While I'm feeling in a good mood (!) I'll even share my tip for tonights boxing - if Lennox doesn't get him in 5 (do a handicap bet) then put a few quid on Rahman in the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th. I can't see it going any further than 9, and if it goes past 5 rounds, Lennox is going to struggle. (Rahman is 100-1 for 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th)
Cheers

Hello everyone,
I've finally been tempted to make a posting here ;) I've suffered from moderate acne since I was 13 - I'm now 17. In that time I've been on Roaccutance, Retin-A, Minocycline, and a myriad of other drugs. I've also been to a naturopath who's prescribed not eating wheat or dairy, and I've taken every supplement know to man (A, B, D, Echinacea, Evening Oil of Primrose, etc.). However, none to any avail. I woke up this morning with 3 or 4 large whiteheads in prominent parts of my face, and in quite a depressed mood came on the internet not really expecting to read anything new.
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) is a revelation. I've never heard anything about it, but as soon as I read the postings here I decided to try it. I went out today and bought 100 500mg tablets from Holland and Barrett, and took my first dose half an hour ago (woohoo!). I don't know if it'll work - I really hope it does - but I've decided to keep you all posted on the results whatever happens. Hope some people find it useful ;) I'm taking ten tablets a day, 3 with breakfast, 3 with lunch, and 4 before bed. I'll let you all know...
Best wishes,
Alastair

Hi Tim,
Yes I included those reports so people could get the full picture and not just take my advice, but thanks for sifting through the main areas of concern :)
The best way to take the vitamin is as equally separated as possible across the day to get a continuing dosage of it across the day.
Diarrorea is only an effect if large amounts of B5 is taken this is about 10 grams a day the recommended is 5 grams to clear up acne. After all B5 as well as helping skin is good for digestion too but 5 grams a day is not enough to cause diorrorea - thankfully !
I buy my dosage of Pantothenic Acid - Vitamin B5 from www.garden.co.uk I buy 4 bottles a go so it is slighty better price for shipping.
Its is recommended when taking B5 for acne to take 5 grams a day for a month and then after that I have heard it is a good thing to do to take 2 grams a day after that to maintain the vitamin source in your body.
As you were saying about the research which I have read all myself a lot of things to seem to make sense due to a lack of this vitamin in the body.
Pete

Site selling Solgar (the best one apparently) at:
http://212.53.77.150/cgi/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ehealthfoodstore%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=acid%20pantothenic&PREVQUERY=PRODREF%3d%26RANDOM%3dNETQUOTEVAR%253ARANDOM%26PAGE%3dSEARCH%26SS%3dPantothenic%2bAcid%26TB%3dA%26SX%3d0%26ACTION%3dSearch&PN=hfs_Solgar_P_110%2ehtml%23aSOL190#aSOL190

Hey Pete,
I've looked all the URL's and the research seems quite promising. I have decided to try vitamin b5 at 5g a day (should I take it after meals? before meals? all at once?), but I think there are some important points that you missed out.
1) Taking large doses of b5 can cause diahorrea (ok, not a major problem, but I think people should be aware of it)
2) On one site selling the vitamin I found "Contraindications and Cautions: Prolonged use of high dosages of individual B group vitamins should be accompanied by a Balanced B Complex supplement." - which you advised against.
3) One the acne care board, the doctor posted this: "I have done extensive Medline searches and have found no reason not to take it. However, I did find one in-vitro study from the 60's which showed that pantothenic acid was a mild tumor growth promoter (which would make sense since tumors have greater metabolic needs)". I suppose this is only a problem if you already had a tumor?
4) Found on sbwise.com site: "The official RDA for pantothenic acid has not been established, but a daily intake of 4 to 7 milligrams is considered adequate. An average American diet will provide between 6 and 16 milligrams daily. Safe and adequate ranges for older children and adults are 4 to 7 milligrams; for children 4 to 6 years, 3 to 4 milligrams; from 7 to 10 years, 4 to 5 mg; for infants 6 months to one year, 3 milligrams and for infants under 6 months, 2 milligrams. A higher intake of pantothenic acid may be required after injury, severe illness, of antibiotic therapy (Kirschmann, 1996)."
If people were taking 5g a day, this is over 7 times the RDA. However, it also states that any vitamin b5 not used is usually secrected in urine.
5) In support of using it from Healthy.net - "Teenagers are more likely to experience a deficiency, because their diets often include high amounts of "fast foods" sugars, and refined flours (all low in B vitamins). And the problem may be compounded because the acne often associated with this type of diet is commonly treated with tetracycline antibiotics, which reduce the intestinal bacteria and thereby the production of pantothenic acid in the colon. "
Overall, the article is very interesting, and makes a lot of points that make sense. This would explain why people believe fatty foods affect their acne, and even why some people think increased sexual activity has an affect (increased sexual activity will mean more of the pant acid is used for replenishing the sperm, rather than breaking down the fat.)
Personally, I think I will try 5mg a day for month and see if I see any results. My skin has started to look better anyway since I started on Differin and Lymecyclin, but hopefully the b5 will give it a little extra push in the right direction.
How should it be taken? (after meals? etc)
Cheers
Tom
ps. where do you buy it from - the http://www.auravita.com/ is about the only UK site that sells it

Everyone please don't see this as an advert. The news I'm gonna give you has been on a lot of the support forums online and I saw this one and saw that it has not been posted here. I will introduce you to myself and then tell you the news.
I’ve spents many month on medications prescribed by my dermatoligist, these medications include Roaccutane and Zineryt. I’ve taken these with mixed success. The fact of the matter is that at aged 19 I had mild to semi-mild acne. However in the past 2 weeks something great has happened my acne is clearing up and getting clearer everyday with no sign of it returning.
Reading through all the support forums I noticed they were swarming with a revelation and a topic which has completely taken over the support forums and something which surprised and angered me.
Here is the news. There is one vitamin which is said to cure acne! Now I’m a skeptic and whenever anyone mentions a cure it always makes me further skeptical. However what I read forced me to to take the advice given and take the following: Vitamin B5 - Pantothenic Acid. I don’t want to make this sound like an advert yet it is hard to avoid, so here goes. A lot of research has been carried out by Eastern dermatoligists who have had a 100% ! success rate with acne sufferers who have taken this vitamin and seen an incredible improvement in their skin condition. The reason why I highlight eastern is that many people online believe that the Western drug companies wish for this news to be kept underwraps for reasons I am sure you will soon realize.
Within 2 days of taking the vitamin I noticed results! It turns out that this vitamin is found in mostly all foods but is lost a lot in the cooking process, its responsible for good healthy skin and healthy digestion. I have read that acne is commonly referred to by dermatoligists as a form of “skin diabetes” where there is a severe lack of this vitamin in the body. 5 grams a day (the recommended dosage) replenishes and maintains a large source of this vitamin in your body and in turn gives the skin all the health it needs to stay clear and free of acne !
The only draw back is the vitamins price for 50 550mg tablets it costs around £6.50 to buy online at least in the UK (very expensive how surprising ! if you catch my drift). But I can tell you its well worth the expense. Its been 2 weeks since I have been on it and my skin has completly cleared up. The first thing you notice is your spots get alot smaller and you get fewer and fewer which in turn lets your skin heal and clear up. Here are some links to other forums of prove that other people have taken this with the same success and also a link to an official report by one of the eastern dermatoligists that carried out the research:
The main one you should definatly read: http://www.healthboards.com/acne/24028.html
http://www.sbwise.com/ingredients/pantothenic_acid.htm
http://members2.boardhost.com/acne-care/msg/300.html
http://www.elitefitness.com/ubb/Archives/Forum1/03-2001/052638.html
http://www.naturalhealthconsult.com/Monographs/pantothenic.html
http://www.auravita.com/secure_check.asp?prodpage=http://www.auravita.com/healthnotesonline/ukinet50/Concern/Acne.asp

I have had acne problems since I was about 13 yrs old. Over the years, I suppose you could say that the oiliness has subsided slightly, as have the breakouts and the severity of them. However, I do have mayn scars, particularly the pitted scars. I was thinking of strating Roaccutane. Can anyone pls. tell me if it will help these scars.....or is there another method which would be better? Thank you all.
Bella.

Hi everyone! Before i start i'd just like to say that i think it is great how you all help each other out. I have been an acne sufferer for almost 8 years now and never have i come across helpful information and support like this. Bang on!!
I first started getting acne at 12. I feel like i have had it all my life. I can't remember where i started with treatments but over the years i have had them all - topical lotions/antibiotics/creams/off-the shelf products/dianette/roaccutane - the lot! Some worked , some didn't, but I generally found though that anything that did work, worked for a few months and then stopped having any effect.
I first went to a specialist 3 years ago (after waiting for 6 months i finally got a 10 min appointment, costing £60, with a 'specialist' who found it highly amusing that i wore makeup to cover my spots and was more interested in talking to my friend than me!!). Anyhow, he prescribed me Roaccutane for 6 months and i got on very well with it. I had no side effects other than slightly dry skin and it made a fantastic improvement on my acne. A few months prior to this i was put on Diannette too, which again helped a lot.
After the Roaccutane i was pretty much spot free for months - put it this way, i could actually start wearing low cut and backless tops!! I felt 'normal'!
Then 6 months ago it all went wrong. I still had mild-bad breakouts from time to time but i could handle that, then i moved house and changed doctors. When i went to see my new doc for more diannette he insisted i had been on it too long and put me on another pill which made my skin v. greasy so i stopped asap. I then saw another doc who put me straight back on diannette but i then developed some sort of horrid anxiety disorder (nothing to do with the spots!!) that meant i had to stop taking it again. 6 months on, the 'weird' symptoms of the anxiety disorder have gone and i am back taking dianette. It's been 2 weeks now and even though i can see my skin is becoming less greasy,i still have the spots - on my chin and forhead, on my back and chest.
My boyfriend has never seen me with such bad skin before and even though he says he doesn't mind i am ashamed to undress in front of him. Especially when he has pictures of gorgeous models all over his room. I hate him seeing me with no makeup and i have a bad mood every morning (after spending ages covering up all of my spots) which isn't doing our relationship any good. He has never had spots so he doesn't understand, and all of my friends have clear skin which makes me even more depressed. I hate to see myself with no makeup - 9 times out of 10 i end up crying for ages and my boyfriend thinks i am crazy for covering up the spots on my back and chest when no one can see them. It makes me feel better, but i know i am getting obsessive.
I have given up chocolate, i have taken up drinking lots of water, i am eating much better and the only think i am outting on my spots is E45 cream which helps the spots on my back and chest. My face is a diff. matter though. I get small, clear pimples under the skin that won't budge and i have had a load of dry, headless, red, irritated pimples around my mouth for weeks and nothing is even calming them down. I can't believe i have to start again!! I have just made an app. to see the doc again for the first time in years about my skin, but what he can do i don't know. I am considering asking for more Roaccatuane but to be honest i am getting really annoyed. My confidence has dropped, i never feel like i look nice and i wish it would all just go - it's been 8 years!!
Sometimes i feel bad coz i know there are people out there have have much worse acne that i have but it affects us all the same. I know my friends don't consider me 'spotty' but it's how i feel that makes the difference. If anyone has any tips that might help me out i'd be really grateful - has anyone had Roaccutane twice?
Sorry i have wrote so much, but i have never told anyone any of this before. Cheers for listening though!
Good luck to all of ya!
H

My I say, thank got I found this web discussion room, hearing you all you guys talk about your problems made me realise that I'm not the only one suffering this horrible, hummilating disease. I've had acne for quite a long while now and after trying every product on the market and wasting way to much money on useless products, I've gone onto Oratane, which is the same as Roacutane (sorry if the spelling is wrong). I've put my hopes into this drug in a last effort to clear my skin up so I can feel normal again, although one of the sideffects at the start of treatment with this drug is that your acne will flare up and I'm experiencing this at the moment as I'm only finishing my second week and it's really stressing me out I don't even want to step out of the house in fear of embrasment, as if feels like everyone is looking at me. Can anyone offer me some advice on how long this flare will last and how effective this drug is as I'm worried that I will never get back my clear skin that I once had, any help would be VERY VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. Joey

This is just some thoughts on oily skin. I have read and heard from many sources that high sexual activity causes testosterone levels to rise. Also testosterone is known to be the main cause behind oily skin. I am not suggesting that everyone who is highly sexually active has got acne but it would seem possible that in someone who is already hormonely inbalanced, high amounts of sexual activity could be responsible for oily skin. I think that this only applies to males. The reason i am saying this is because i have noticed that when i go for periods withot high sexual acttivity my face seems less oilier. I have not got a single spot on my face regardless of how sexually active i am, my problem is very oily slightly blotchy skin. I would not suggest for a minute that stopping sexual activty will cure spots as spots are caused by bacteria. However i feel that there maybe is a connection between high sexual activity and testosterone, and there definitely is a connection between high testosterone and oil production. Also when i say sexual activity i mean actually having sex or masterbation, i doubt your body is able to distinct between the two as you are fundamentally doing the same thing. Anyone with any thoughts on this subject please air them.

gosh. I've never been so thankful for Internet before. Am so thrilled to have found this website that I decided to post a msg online for the first time! =) Been plagued by pimples, then acne, since 12. and it's been a nightmare since. Spent tons of money on doctors, taking funny-coloured pills for 4 years..to no effect, all the while, the friends around me have survived teenhood without so much as a little pimple, and I don't think wrinkles are on their checklist too. ANd all the while, I've been suffering from depression whenever i look at myself/ them, and suffering from the depression after the utopia of 9 months on Roaccutane, and suddenly, my face became worse. It cleared up slightly in 1999, but in 2000, it just played me out again!! Often felt that I'm the only "freak" ard with acne but now i know that it is really, a common problem. SO hey! don't fret about it!!Have faith in urself..and remember, there's A LOT of ppl out there who have this prob too, and that many manage to still lead fantastic lives... ANd I hope those whoever called me "pimply" or made fun of me, I hope they get their fair share of spots soon..... ;)

Hey. I just want to say i have acne sometimes, and it really get's me depressed. But, then I think, most kids my age have it. It's my age where they all get it. And then i think, few years from now it should be done with. Then i forget about it and have fun. Sure the depression comes back when I look into the mirror, but then i forget again and live my life happy again. And also remember, with acne, it's not your fault. Later.

Hey all, I haven't used accutane but myy uncle was on it and it helped him a lot.
Although it made his skin dry up really bad and he had to use chapstick all the time! And his snot was dried up too and sometimes he practically had to yank those things out his nose! It was always so crusky and bloody- he got nose bleeds a lot too.
While he was on it he got really depressed and almost never smiled.
But too him the end result was worth it. But some of those potetnial side effects can be dangerous and scary. Death by acne. What a way to go.
Back to the yellow brick road,
MsGt

Can anyone tell me if retin-A micro is availiable from the NHS in the UK? (or privatley even).
Thanks

Hi all.
Pretty depressed today as I thought I was getting somewhere and then they all start to come back. My chin and forehead are my problem areas (whiteheads that sometimes go cystic) but it goes in cycles. My chin becomes clear, and so my forehead breaks out. After that, for ONE day, my face is clear, before the other breaks out while the other clears up. It's getting very depressing.
However, the best thing to do is to look forward to when I have spot free skin, and to what medication I will be on if this one (lymecyclin and differin) doesn't work. I go on holiday in July (god I hope I'm clear by then) but if not, I'm dropping the lymecyclin (it will have been 4 months) and going on Accutane. That's what keeps me sane! If there was no other med left to go on I dunno what I'd do!
Take care everyone. We'll all get there soon.

Hi all.
Pretty depressed today as I thought I was getting somewhere and then they all start to come back. My chin and forehead are my problem areas (whiteheads that sometimes go cystic) but it goes in cycles. My chin becomes clear, and so my forehead breaks out. After that, for ONE day, my face is clear, before the other breaks out while the other clears up. It's getting very depressing.
However, the best thing to do is to look forward to when I have spot free skin, and to what medication I will be on if this one (lymecyclin and differin) doesn't work. I go on holiday in July (god I hope I'm clear by then) but if not, I'm dropping the lymecyclin (it will have been 4 months) and going on Accutane. That's what keeps me sane! If there was no other med left to go on I dunno what I'd do!
Take care everyone. We'll all get there soon.

Hello everyone, Just to update everyone and let you know that its worked and I am now spot free with a few scars!
I am on my last month of taking Roaccutane 60mg a day and have had a few side effects which are on going, like very dry lips, a few nose bleeds, sore eyes, back ache and fatigue but these are worth putting up with to have a clear face to look at in the morning!
Its definatley worth taking this drug if you can put up with the side effects. I am hoping that these side effects will wear off once I stop taking the drugs and my face will continue to be spot free.
This roaccutane is the only thing which has worked for me to get rid of acne and believe me I ve tried EVERYTHING!
Hears hoping for a spot free face forever!!!!

Hi everyone.I thought i should join in with any useful advise or solutions to help you all out, like myself i suffer with moderate acne and am currently using antibiotics - called erythmolicin (can't spell it) for 3 months now and its aload of bullocks, i haven't yet seen any improvements and am due to come off the med in a weeks time, i think that my body is immune to antibiotics (oh no)! Like 'Depression' i also had a GP who i think must have cheated his way into the medical profession, as he has no clue on anything. He prescribed me with Oxytretrancycline back 1998 and kept me on the med for 3 years - i only found from my derm,nurse, beauticians that the maxium duration for that type of med was 6 months. My derm who i have been seeing recommended Roaccutane but i wasn't sure and thought at first that it would not have any effect,as i was getting sick and hopeless of using tablets one after the other.(Sorry i talk too much) the BIG problem is that i am going on holiday in a month and a half time and can't actually go on accutane yet (arrrah). The other BIGGEST problem is i have tanned colour skin and i get blemsihes / pigmentation marks after the spot has dried (purpulish scar like) they take ages to fade. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE GOT ANY RECOMMENDED ADVISE OR PRODUCT THAT HELPS GET RID OF THIS DISTINGUSHING MARKS?
I need something stronger - ive tried face masks, over the counter fade out creams, even tried md formulations (its provided by lasercare, not sold over the counter)and NOTHING works!ANY SUGGESTIONS!ANYONE......

hi everyone hope ur hanging in there(BY THE WAY I COULDNT POST ON THE ROACCUTANE MESSAGE BOARD AS IT WOULDNT LET ME!). OK i had acne on/off since i was 14, it wasnt bad acne the doc described it as mild but i wanted a spotless complexion. so when i was 16 my derm put my on roaccutane for a period of 6 months. ive been on it now for 8 months (my derm exteneded the treatment). It took 4 months for my spots to disappear and ive been spot free ever since except one or two but who cares about them aslong as there not major. Anyway i had some minor side effects e.g dried lips and nosebleeds however one thing is worrying me. My skin is fairly sensetive and i 'glow' bright red with embarresment over the stupidest of things e.g my name being called out. This has led to my confidence plummeting and im feeling a little depressed. I need your help as im desperate for advice on whether to stop treatment or not PLEASE HELP!

Hi Jason,
I was using a oil based (vaseline intensive care) moisturiser for quite a while upto a few weeks ago. My skin had gotten better and I attributed it to the mosituriser, but then it began to get worse again. I went to the doc, he changed my meds, and told me NOT to use a moisturiser at all. I stopped using it and my skin went so dry for about a week until it began to look normal again (but still spotty). Since then, things have improved and I don't use one at all anymore. My advice - don't use any at all - but if you really must, go for a water based one coz it is less greasy.

I was just wondering, if using a Mosturizer clears my pores? Because if it does, then obviously I won't be getting anywhere. And if I should not be using Mosurizer, what should I use as a substitute? Please respond. Thank you.

Dear Jenny,
Give the Ortho Tri-Cyclen a little more time, it needs to get into your system. It worked wonders for me, I used to have a terrible complexion but my face has improved tremendously. Another product I highly recommend is Proactive Solution from Rodan & Fields...It is truely amazing!!!!!
Together these two products have changed my life.
Good Luck,
Angie

Hi,
Your doc sounds like a right fool - I'd get rid of him straight away and change to another GP who can help you. There's no use sticking with a GP who doesn't understand what you are going through.
Good luck!

I am posting this request to ask fellow acne sufferers for some help. I have posted before, complaining about the lack of concern from my GP & how unhelpful he was (unlike Tim's). I received a reply from someone who gave me some advice about 'arming' myself with a collection of antibiotics/medicine I could try (my GP thinks I've 'exhausted' all prescriptive medicine, although I have only been on two different antibiotics). I have been on Roaccutane - when I was 20yrs old, but had severe side effects & don't fancy going back on it (also there is the fact that I suffer side effects from the Pill, so can't take it making this idea no good). If possible, I would be grateful if anyone could e-mail me with medication they have been prescribed so I can go along to my GP with them as he seems unable to pick up his own drugs reference book, and make an effort to look for anything that may be suitable. I am also doing my own 'research' into the different medications that can be precribed. From this noticeboard, it becomes clear to me that I haven't exhausted all medicine, just that my doctor appears too lazy and unsympathetic, to help. Many thanks - any help would be appreciated!

Hi,
I wrote a couple of days ago that I was going to see the Doc on Monday to ask him for something other than OxyTet. I was debating whether or not to ask for Roaccutane (I have mild acne now - the OxyTet did help somewhat) but by the time I got in there it didn't sound he wanted to give me it anyway. He reckons that I have to do at least one more antibiotic, and I might as well do it with him as opposed to the Derm because the derm would do the same thing. Fair do's.... I like my doc - good bloke.
Anyway, I was right that he wanted to get me off the OxyTet. He put me on TetraLysal (Lymercyline) and reckons it'll take about 3 months to see any improvement. He also asked me about the topical stuff I was using (Benzoyl Peroxide) and said that I should use Differin instead. I then asked about using moisturiser and he said I should steer clear of it if possible, and use water based if I must use it.
So, here I am, Thursday night and I'm not sure how to view things. I haven't had too many new spots in the last few days (just a few big whiteheads in the usual areas), but I think this is due to the lack of oily moisturiser I was using. I used it pretty religiously (loads at night) but now I try to use none, and only a little water based stuff when my skin starts to peel. I think the doc may be right that the oily stuff was clogging my pores, but I guess I'll have to see.
Moral of the story, don't use loads of oily moisturiser!
Cheers, I'm off for a beer ;-)

Hi there
I've just stopped taking the tablets for 4 months. But I've still got scars on my chin and she said they take a while to go away.
Please someone tell me:
How long the scars will take to go?
It still looks like spots, even though it isn't
Can I do anything to gte rid of the scars?
Thanks a lot
The more replies=the better
Cheers
dave(alias)

hey everyone, I have suffered from acne for many years now untill one day i heared of this Roaccuatane there was so my hype over it and i was promised so many times even by the doctor that it will clear. that was 5 months ago my spots have gone by there is alot of red marks or scars and it really bothers me because other people dont know what they are they still think you are spotty and I get called it every day at scjhool and it really lets me down. Does anyone know a fast and efective way of clearing these red marks? I still get dperessed when I look in the mirror and see my terrible skin how am I supposed to impress girls with my skin loking like that? I bet everyone reading this has sometime in there life been called lots of horrible names becuase of there spot's i know i have and even when they are just red marks i still get called names I really kneeed a cure for these marks please I cannot look people in the eye when i talk to them or go over to a group of people standing without feeeling embarrased or ashamed of my skin its reuining my social life. I have twice come close to cutting my wrists and trying to commit sucide because i get so depressed but luckly i suppose i was caught and saved. All i want is what every other peson wants reading this clear skin why cant we get it?

MATT - I've been on OxyTet for about 10 months now. It has improved my acne (probably from medium/severe to mild) but now I think I have reached a plateau because things haven't improved much in the last 3 months. I take OxyTet before I go to bed (on an empty stomach) and I would give it 6 months to see any real improvement. Because I have been pretty much the same for the last 2-3 months I'm seeing the Doc on Monday and I'm going to ask him what he recommends (I'm going to ask for a 4 month course of Accutane if possible).
Also, could someone answer my questions about 3 posts below. I'd really like to have some info about Accutane before I see the doc
Cheers

hi, im 17 and have had mild acne for about a year now, the ability of the over the counter products, was limited for me so i took a trip to see my GP. He put me on a course of oxytetracylcline, and a gel called PanOxyl, i was wondering whether anyone knows of these, if they have been good/bad, and any dodgy side effects that they've experienced?!
Cheers,
Matt

hi!
i don't have acne anymore, but i've it before and it left me with scars on my chin and forehead. plus it didn't help that i got chicken pocks when i was 14. i used johnson's baby lotion (aloe vera and vit E) and it cleared up the scars totally. if you have acne scars, try to use lots of vit E products, cause it heals them real fast. and drink lots of water. :) never use products with AHA cause it's kinda strong for your skin and will result with more breakouts. just use baby lotion and it WILL prevent acne even though it might feel greasy on your skin.
well, hope you all will feel better, cause i myself have bdd and i know how it is to hate yourself all the time.
love and hugs...~*~*~*

Hi everyone.
I've been reading this board for about a year now on and off - it's the place I come to when I'm feeling really depressed about my skin (like minded people rather than the perfect skin complexions of all of my friends). Anyway, I've had acne (probably mild to severe) for about three years, but it was only about a year ago that it started to get to me. So, I went to the Doc and he put me on OxyTetracyline.
I figured that it would take a while to work, so I kept on it, and I'm still on it now (about 10 months). It has worked - my friends and family say my skin is looking lots better - but I still have problems with my chin and forehead. It's almost as though I get maybe 6 red whitehead spots... they gradually go, and just as they are gone, another 6 appear... it's so depressing because I get excited when my skin begins to look much better, only to wake up the following day with 6 new spots...
I have to see the Doc again in about 2 weeks, but I don't know what I should do. I think he want me to change medication, but I'd prefer not to because OxyTet has worked to some degree. If I get off it, the cystic spots may come back, and it would be another year on OxyTet before I get back to where I am now. I'd like to be on OxyTet and some other drugs - is this possible? Can the Doc put me on a cocktail of antibiotics? If all else fails, I may just ask to be put on Roaccutane, but my worry with that is the alcohol - I'm at Uni and if I stopped drinking all of a sudden people will start to ask questions that I don't want to answer (I try to keep my treatment rather secretive because it embarasses me).
So, could someone help me out:
1) Can the Doc put me on a cocktail of antibiotics?
2) Can you drink on Roaccutane?
3) Should I be drinking while on antibiotics?
Thanks
Tim

I heard sexual activity has a bad influence on the severity of acne ?

http://www.wasatchpharm.com/history.html
I stumbled on this web site a few days ago. They seem to imply they have a product that cures not just acne but several skin disorders. The only problem is that this is seems to be the manufactures web site and has no mention of where to purchase the products and I can’t find anywhere that sells the stuff. It may be just another load of online bull but anything is worth a try. If anybody finds anything please do tell, my second six month course of accutaine is now beginning to wear off and once clear & smooth skin is once again becoming infested. A permanent cure would be nice!

From: Doug Jacobs in Basel board of dirs. A 11 to 19 mainly year old roche pd exec/agant.
Subject: paid up fraud execs
Date: 25/01/2001 at 00:02 - Message #202
The chief exec of Roche is a wealthy guy. He owns and controls this and most other sites on drugs produced by Roche. He is pathetic, he is an angel of death.Age or colour or being just 13 or 15 or 20 makes no difference to him. We started a few years ago investigating Roche drug that became known as the date rape drug, then moved onto the Roche anti malaria drug that was causing deaths like people walking off the edge of a cliff without knowing what they were doing. We then accidently stumbled on the Roche drug accutane a few years ago on web site http://www.accutaneactionaction.com
we had already established that Roche have the most terrible deathly numbers of drugs on the market.Over 26 drugs withdrawn within a few weeks of being launched because of the number of deaths and other side effects not disclosed in pre trial studies.Let you.....it must be a test conducted by you, if you have any responsibility.... do a test and post the results to this site.
1.Roche site on web shows annual report for 1999. (see Roche web site)
2. Roche Group settled three fraud claims in 1999 for 1.5 billion dollars......this means Roche, paid as compensation for fraud the company had committed and which was discovered in one year ie 1999 a figure of 1.5 billion US dollars...let us try to write this for those who front this and other Roche sites.....US$1,500,000,000 penalty to US government and compensation to those who Roche defrauded, mainly in U.S.
3. go to note 5 and note 6 of Roche 1999 annual report and accounts for 1999, see web site, pages 66 onwards
for details on the three frauds perpetrated by Roche disclosed in 1999 annual report where Roche paid fines, compensation and penalities of US1.5 billion dollars.
4.Please take time to check the extent to which the makers of accutane/roaccutane are involved in fraud of every kind, involving the theft of not thousands, or hundreds of thousands or millions or hundreds of millions or billions, but 1.5 billion....please, please someone check this info out and post message so that we know that the company who produce this accutane are the most corrupt company in the world.
Is a company who was forced to pay $1.5 billion in fines and compensation for corruption in one year 1999, worthy of trust in the administration of a drug prescribed mainly to those 13 to 19 which has warnings, including suicide, which that number one fraud corporation in the world says is safe.
5. Can someone help to post message that gives automatic cross reference to notes 5 and 6 of annual report of Roche for 1999, so that thew full extent of Roche frauds revealed in 1999 can be savoured and absorbed by those who front this site for Roche, the makers of the drug accutane/roaccutane.

I would like to hear from anyone who feels that diet could play a part in acne suffers. I have had acne since I was 14yr and I am now 30. I have done all the lotions and potions avaliable as well as the antibiotics. I am now on my first course of Roaccutane ( today it will be six weeks). Ive only had a few nose bleeds and constant dry lips, which is bearable, but I would like to know if anyone can tell me if this really works without having to have another course of treatment. No one seems to have had one course and been blemish free. I haven't had a allergy test but I wonder if its worth it. A little tip for anyone on this drug, Ive found using Comvita make of MANUKA HONEY is good on dry lips and the spotted areas on your face. Its bloody messy but if you put it on a clean face and leave it for about an hour before bed and wash it off, for me at least it does seem to calm them down and dry them out.

you just have to sign some papers stating that you understand the risks and that you are on 2 different birhtcontrol methods....
and then best would be not to take any risks ie abstain...
depends in which country you are i think

Ever since I was about 12-13 I started to develop some acne problems on my face. It was relatively mild so I didn't really worry about it. Then further down the road it kept on getting worse. I started to get a lot of black heads on my nose and pimples. I noticed a trend forming.. Then I started to develop acne on my chest and acne. The next day it would always be worse. Now I am 17 and my chest and back acne is absolutely horrible. It's painful as hell and embarrassing as hell. I can't stand this stress anymore. I've tried so many things such as proactive.. some doctor prescriptions but still no improvement at all. I always wear a white undershirt and every time after I take my shirt off I always see blood spots on them because of my acne... Its absolutely horrible.. If anyone has any suggestions please help out. Its painful, embarrassing.. and very depressing. Please email me with suggestions or something that may be beneficial to acneinfested@hotmail.com

Its hard to be positive when you have acne popping out on your face.I thought that no one understood how i felt till i stumbled upon this page. I have taken many forms of medication but none had worked .. i had actually given up and was willing to live life with zits. A friend told me bout this clinic she had gone to years ago .. she cleared her acne as well as her scars.I started treatment again in december last year .I was on dorxy for nearly a month .. it did not work that well so i'm taking nimegen now .. i think its the equivalent of accutane .. its been over 2 weeks .. and i see acne bigger then ever popping on my face ...it scares me .My back hurts .. i'm beginning to wonder if its all worth it. I also go for AHA peels every two weeks .. it diminishes the scars..Mt doctor told me that all will be better within 6 months. I pray what he says is true . I miss not having to worry about how i look .

hey ive found i good way to get yourself motivated for life, GET INTO A MOSH PIT, dont worry about your acne or in my case acne scars just make sure you live. i know how some of you feel, sometimes i wake up and think whats the point. But then i say to myself DON'T WORRY EVERYTHING FADES IN TIME. so forget about spots and just get on with your life. I LOVE GOING TO SEE BANDS PLAY, IM GOING TO SEE PAPA ROACH ,DEFTONES, SOULWAX, MUSE , AND COLDPLAY, ANYONE WANNA COME?????

Robyn - I think it's worth talking to your GP or a derm about taking roaccutane. I've been on it for a few months now, and it's going ok.
Pregnancy is a major issue when you're on the treatment though. The tablets come in blister packs, and each one is printed with a warning about the harm it can do to unborn babies. My derm had me sign a form to show that I'd been clearly informed of this, and in some circumstances, would consent to a termination if I became pregnant whilst on the treatment.
That said, she didn't force me to go on the pill (there are various medical reasons why it's probably not a good idea for me anyway) and took my word for it that I'd be super-careful. Apparently, most derms are happier to prescribe it if you're already on the pill, or have some other method of birth control in place. If your skin is bad enough for you to post on this site, it's probably bothering you enough to make seeing a derm worthwhile. Good luck!

IS IT TRUE THAT THERE IS A TOPICAL ROACCUTANE?

I AM A 25 YEAR OLD MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. I HAVE SUFFERED WITH MILD ACNE FOR YEARS. I HAVE TRIED TO GET ROACCUTANE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. INFACT MORE THAN SEVERAL TIMES, LOADS OF TIMES AND WAS FOBBED OFF WITH STUFF LIKE OXYTETRACYCLINE AND RETIN A GEL. LATELY MY SKIN IS GETTING WORSE AND EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND I AM DESPERATE TO TRY ROACCUTANE YET A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS ON IT SAID THAT NO GP WILL PUT YOU ON IT UNLESS EITHER MYSELF OR MY HUSBAND GET STERALIZED. IS THIS SO? BECAUSE AT 25 NEITHER OF US WANT TO BE STERALIZED YET ANYWAY, BUT I AM BECOMING DESPERATE IT WOULD BE GREAT IF SOMEONE COULD RSVP

Thanks so much! I'm thinking that if I take it easy for four months, one real good night isn't gonna kill me. I appreciate the advice, take care! Mon

Mon,
From what I've been told by my derm and my doctor there is supposedly no problem with taking alcohol whilst on Roacc. Ie it 'shouldn't' screw your liver anymore than normal. :)
In my opinion you should be fine, (I've been on the drink heavy a couple of times and I'm still alive!) but take it easy because you'll probably have a reduced tolerance to alcohol. Just don't make a habit of it! hehe
F.Y.I alcohol and roacc was one of the first things I asked my derm about. Apparently they've done a study on the vitamin A levels in the liver (hi levels being bad) some time ago and found that roacc raises these levels. This study was published, but was later withdrawn because it was flawed. All tests were done on freshmen on monday morning. Now what usually happens during the weekend? Alcohol - which raises the vitamin A levels.
So in the end, all I can say is - The 'Offical' word is that Roacc and Alcohol are safe... But then, they said that about DDT to..
Hope this has answered more questions than it has raised. Hope you enjoy the wedding! And remember to drop by in a few months and let us all know how you/your skin are doing!
Peace and Love

I am a 33 year old mother of two kids. One son who is 14 and a daughter 9. I am one of those people who developed acne in my 20's. I had good skin when I was a teenager and then all of a sudden my skin was a mess. You name it, I have tried it. All the over-the-counter medications, perscriptions and all kinds of creams and lotions. They would clear up my skin for short periods, but it would always return. It seems my skin would be it's worst right after the summer. The sun is very damaging to your skin. It might clear it up for a short time, but then it gets worse as you stop going out in the sun. I was at my wits end and decited to ask my dermatologist about accutane. He said if I was determined we could try it. I am now in my 4th month of treatment, and my skin is completely clear. For the first 3 months or so I would get one or two really large cyst like pimples. Now my skin is is the way I always imagined. I wish I didn't wait so long. I don't have bad skin, but I have a few small scars for prior acne. If you are in your late teens or early 20's and nothing is working, don't think that time will heal your acne, because that isn't always the case. The only side effects I have had is a really dry nose and dry lips. Chap stick works great and the dermatologist can give you something for your nose. I hope I have helped anyone who feels there is no hope. Good luck.

WESTIE, I APPRECIATE THE QUICK RESPONSE!
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SPECIFIC PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE HAD WITH MIXING ACCUTANE AND ALCOHOL. I GUESS I JUST NEED TO WEIGH THE SITUATION. I'M IN MY BEST FRIENDS WEDDING TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY DOSE ENDS, IN MAY,AND I PROBABLY AM GONNA TIE ONE ON!
I JUST DON'T WANT TO NEED A LIVER TRANSPLANT THE NEXT DAY!
ANY INFO WOULD BE HELPFUL!
MON

Ok, I had a few spare minutes so I figured I'll put in my 2cents worth. My brother and I have both had not mild, but not severe acne. We both started taking Oratane (same as roaccutane except it's gov subsidised = $3 for the whole prescription!). Our experiences were quite similar, the usual dry lips (use petroleum jell on this - it works wonders!) dry skin (some cheap moisturiser keeps this under control), dry eyes (which seems to stop after about a month). After about 4 weeks the acne on my back was completely (COMPLETELY!) gone and my face was clearing amazingly well. My brother had the same, then in week 5 (as with many other people) we both had an outbreak. My brother's was quite bad, for me it wasn't much worse than previous. It was about this time that I contracted glandular fever, initially I thought the symptoms were a result of the oratane until I saw the doc. I'm still shaking the final effects of the fever and now at the end of my second month I have nearly completely cleared up from the week 5 outbreak. But I seem to have developed some new problems that may be Oratane related (any feedback on this would be nice). I've been getting blood noses (in addition to the blocked nose which I beleive is also caused by the Oratane?). I've just started using petrolleum jell (as recommended in the oratane info sheets) but it's too early to see if it's working - anyone else had this problem - any advice? Also I seem to get a lot of infected (like they're ingrown) fingernails (my bro had this on his toe), possibly as a result of dryness?
I havn't really noticed any depression (but I'm not usually the type to get depressed) and currently my skin is wonderful, better than it has been for years. I have a comment to make on alcohol tho. Although the 'official' word is that u can mix roacc and alcohol, I've found u get drunk quicker, stay drunk longer (nothing bad so far), but also had one of my first hangovers (something I very seldomly get). Some other people have had problems with alcohol as well, so for me I have decided to go dry till the end of the prescrip. Also, Re 'Depressed's posting about sunlight and acne. Exposure to the sun drys your skin (not necessarily bad), but it also damages it. So for a few days after being in the sun your skin will be nice, but after that it will be worse than before.
As far as the longer term outlook for those who finish the prescription, according to my derm - if u finish a 6 month course, there is an 80% chance that you will stay clear for 6 years or more. Just remember that u probably won't see posts from people who have been cured for 6 years cause they will have forgotten all about acne - a dream for all of us no doubt.
Oops, gone on for a little longer than I was planning to.. Wish you all best of luck with your treatment, but remember - People love you for who you are and not what your skin looks like - Just ask yourself how many people are your friends simply because they have nice skin? :)
Feedback appreciated,
Peace and love

i have a problem.. i have this kinda rash..but i dont know if its a rash. i get red or blush very easy, and mostly it happens at work. this red kinda rash appears on the t-zone of my face, on top and near my nose. can it be rosacae? when i talk to people, i might blush and it gets worse..does any body have the same problem??help

i've read this page for about a year now without posting anything but i need some help now please guys. Ive had mild acne which gradually worsened since the age of 13 and after trying various drugs my derm put me on roaccutane.Results wernt immediate but after 4 months they cleared my skin totally.i had minor side effects e.g chapped lips etc but they didnt bother me much. HOWEVER recently ive been lacking in self confidence alot (not major depression or anything) because my skin is so sensetive i BLUSH very very easily over the stupidest things. i wonder if anyone else is like me? And if it is because of roaccutane which ive taken now for 5 months? Please please can people try to help me as its stopping me being who i am, any advice is good advice, thanks!

Re: new Channel 4 documentary
Just to say thanks a lot to everyone for the great response I've had. I'm still trying to find a guy to tkae part, though - so if there are any blokes with acne out there, please get in touch!
Email Jack at: maverick@mavf-tv.demon.co.uk
Thanks a lot

To Karin. Thanks for your comments. I have tried Roaccutane - it got worse when I started it (I was 21yrs at the time), then, as if by miracle, I had clear skin for about 8 months. It was fantastic! Then, one day, it all came back again. One or two at first, then before I knew it, I was back at square one. It's been down hill since then. My doctor (yes, him again) states he does not recommend I go it again. I can't afford to go private and get some off my own back. I am currently on a waiting list (again) to see a dermatologist. It's about 6 months waiting. I much appreciate your advice. And by the way, just by coincidence, my name is also Karin!
Thank you.

hey! i was just wondering if im too young to start roaccutane becuz i really hate the way i look and i get mad to see others with clear skin!!! im kinda worried about those side affects and stuff but im definitely not going to get pregnant so that no worry for me. but is there ne reason y i shouldnt start to use roaccutane?? i ve tried all the other medicantions and my acne goes away and then comes back in short periods of time and it never goes away completly. i have had ance since i was in 6th grade its so annoying to be the only one with acne problems at that age! so should i take it or not? please tell me!!!!!!!!!

To the Depressed: I read what you wrote. I must say I really understand you. I'm on my 3rd month with roaccutane, and my face looks bad (it got worse when I started using the medication). I prefer not to go out, in order not to deal with people's looks. I think that if your situation is similar, you should also start using roa, because you have nothing to lose. You are young,these should be the best years of your life, and you shouldn't feel this way about yourself! when you start using roa, your face usually start clearing up after two month (my case is pretty rare). Think about what I wrote...

Following on from my last message, and reading a few more of the contributions from fellow acne sufferers, my doctor never fails to astound me. After seeing him for 10 yrs now re: my acne problem, his last comments left me speechless.
After he stated I had 'exhausted all prescriptive medicine' I asked if there was anything else I could do. He stated that I 'should pray'.....
He may be able to find humour in this subject, but going to him in desperation, willing to try anything and receiving comments like that, really gives me no hope of having a normal life, free from acne. Has anyone else received little or no sympathy from their doctor or GP? As most of you would probably agree, acne is no laughing matter...it's a soul-destroying disease that rules your life. I feel at 23 yrs I have missed out on going to clubs, on holiday and just out with my friends because of my 'disfigurement'. I wonder if it will ever end.....
With love to you all, keep positive.

To James in London - I have suffered with acne since the age of 13yrs and my mum has always said that being in the sun will help. I didn't believe her until we had a wonderful weeks holiday in Tenerife - and before I knew it, my face had started clearing up! As you said, not much sunshine in the UK to say the least, so at the moment, I'm back to sqaure one. I don't think central heating and things like that help at this time of the year...

Hey people! This is my first time here and I have to say I am pretty impressed with the whole thing.
Acne started tormenting my life just a few months ago, the end of last summer, to be exact. I was doing internship in Indiana and it started little by little. I thought it was gonna go away within the next few weeks. I couldn't stand the sight of it, and began touching and squeezing it. :) More and more came out and before I knew it, my face was bombarded by acne. It got worse during the past few months and it just killed me physically and mentally. Felt down and less active. Stopped working out at the gym cause I was embarrassed. People started asking questions about what happened and I got really tired answering their questions.
Doctor recommended Accutane, but I'm a little apprehensive about taking the drug. And to boost my confidence level, I started wearing concealers. My sis actually recommended it. :) BUt it looks like concealers are making the acne worse. I know I have to stop using it, but I wanna look good.
So, anybody who can tell me other good medications other than Accutane, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Andy

Hello!
If anyone in the UK would like to take part in a new documentary for Channel 4 about skin disorders in teenagers and young adults, email Jack at maverick@mavf-tv.demon.co.uk.
Thanks a lot!

I have just found your site and have to say that it is very good. Personally I have been suffering with Acne from the age of 11 and have tried everything from the doctor and have even seen a specialist and nothing has worked, however, I have never heard of Accutane - is this new or what?
Also, if anyone knows anywhere where I can get scar removal (laser treatment) in the UK I would be most grateful for the details - location, cost, etc.
Nice to know there are people around that DO care about people with Acne.
...and on a lighter note...
Stupid things doctors tell Acne sufferers when nothing is working;
"People shouldn't get Acne in this day and age"
Cheer up to all Acne sufferers! Fight the depression, a positive attitude won't cure your acne, but it might help a bit and it is a cascading effect - positive attitude=slightly better skin=positive attitude!
I've been there and back again, so if anyone wants support, then just email me! foxgamer@talk21.com

this is the first time I'v visited this message board, I guess it helps to talk about it. I'm using Skinoren(Azelic Acid), and I have to say after 3 weeks it seems to be working pretty good, still have a few zits, but the rest of my face is clearing up, and it also seems to be reducing the redness from old break outs.. I know i'll never have perfect skin, but I would be happy with ok skin. There are a lot of times when I look in the mirror and just want to stay in and avoid poeple, sometime's I have. I really try to go out with my friends and stuff, and have fun, but it's hard when you look around and everyone else has perfect skin, and you begin to think you don't belong there. I think the worst part is that I still remember only a few years ago I was called cute, and now well that does'nt happen anymore, kinda sucks...

Hi...i have had acne for 3 years now...and my prob is making it go away...i have used pretty much every antibiotic and cream availible except accutane...MY Biggest stresser about my acne is it will get better and start clearing up for about a week or two and then instantly return to its original moderate case...and im using dicycline pils and differin gel..WHAT IS GOING ON !!!...i keep getting better then getting worse and its like a never ending cylce ...I WANT IT TO stop....someone plese give me some helpfull advice.........thanks.........

I am really very sad because i went to my cousin 's wedding dinner and all the guests looked at my scarred-face instead of the beautiful bride. I had pit-scar and may i know anyone of u out there got any solution to pit scar? please help me,i really want to make my skin smooth and healty. and may i know that does laser resurfacing really helps? please help me and reply to my e-mail.THANKS!!!!

Living in England I don't see much sunshine. But in the summer if the sun is out I find that small amounts of sun-bathing helps my acne. Anyone notice something similar?
I also have seen a couple of TV news reports that have reported the use of a new type of sun lamp that has been designed specificlly to treat acne with promissing results. Does anyone know any more about this, or a place where I could find out more?

Hey there Italian guy!
This is my second week onto Roaccutane. Well, not much progress so far, but right now, my lips are pretty dry and I do have some mild itchness on my face.
I am glad that there is such a site for people like us to be able to share our problems online. I was really devastated at one period of time by just looking at myself in the mirror each day. But luckily I've got my friends and love ones who gave me encouragement and support to pass through this difficult period that I'm facing right now.
I guess I just have to wait for this Roaccutane to take its effect. Meantime, no urge of smashing the mirror yet.. :)
Happy New Year to all,party hard and forget bout' this problem for once!

I've been visiting many sites about Acne and I heard a lot about PANTOTHENIC ACID (B5) - Has any of you ever tried it? Does it really work?
please reply if you can
Thanks
My REPLIES:
to AMELIA
Hi Amelia..I can only tell you that you should ask your dermatologist about LASER CO2 treatment for scares and about COLLAGENE treatment to fill your pit
Good Luck!
to CAT
Hello Cat
I guess your doctor already told you about Roaccutane side effects and you should always first talk to him/her to get information you're looking for..anyhow I just can tell (I tried it) they are generally dry skin and dry lips.You should repeat your blood test every month because Roaccutane can be really bad for your liver and ABOVE ALL it's TERATOGENETIC so be careful about...(you know what I mean..)
Don't believe that Roaccutane causes suicide as somebody wrote..It's despair,loneliness,sadness (and so on..) that make you feel so bad..not a medicine..'cause all in all the most powerful medicine is to be loved (in every sense), is to find somebody who can understand you..understand your feelings and your sorrow..somebody to share it with
p.s.: I've smashed out so many mirrors..expecially in the past....I know that there are times you just can't help doing that..unfortunately it's no use..maybe we should try to smash out something else! I'm only joking now..I think sometimes we should be just more ironic..
good luck Cat!
TO EVERYBODY:
NEVER SURRENDER
NEVER GIVE UP HOPE
JUST KEEP ON FIGHTING FIGHTING FIGHTING
Bye

Hi everyone, I'm on my 4th month of roaccutane and my skin is clearing but now I've developed a pitted scar from a cyst on my cheek. This is never happened before despite having problem skin for 15yrs so it's not a great trade off. Can anyone tell me if pits ever become more/less deep over time? And has anyone tried any treatments. Thanks everyone. I'm desperate for any info.

about the tiredness - i also experienced that. i was in school at the time, and it was so difficult just to make it through the day; i would come home and sleep.
but i'm good now - its been a year and a half since i came of roaccutane, and my skin is treating me reasonably well :-) well, better than reasonably!!
if the tiredness gets too bad talk to your derm about it, maybe s/he can suggest something to at least aleviate it

To the Italian Boy...
I believe that herbs really do help your skin a lot. I don't believe that there are specific herbs for curing acne, but if you go to a herbalist, or someone who specializes in hollistic healing, they can see what you are missing in your system. For instance, I went to an IRIDOLOGIST, this woman looked into my eyes, and saw the weaknesses in my body and was therefore able to help these areas which also affected my skin. There are many ways to go about it, but it is very important that you see someone who knows a lot about these things and not just take any herb cause that could be dangerous. If you have any questions just write me an email...i also speak italian!!

Does anybody have a cure for acne on the neck - this is the only place I get it, but it is particularly bad there?

Diane 35 and Dianette are the names of to contraceptive pills that help for acne caused by hormon changes. Remember those because you might want to try those in case accutane doesn't work. Anyway, I think you should talk to your derm about those products.

Jenny, I was not on ortho-tri-cyclene, but ortho-cept for many years. My acne became almost non-existent after a few months, and I suspect the same will happen to you. (Little flare ups around my period, nothing serious) Hang in there, but be ready for an outbreak after you get off the pill. I'm now on Accutane after horrible flare ups because I got off ortho-cept wanting to have a child. Of course I'm back on ortho-cept now, just hoping to not have acne (sometime next year) when I'm pregnant. Best of luck to you.

I've had acne since I was in my teens. I had almost no help for it for most of my life, because it simply wasn't available, and acne was seen as even less of a "serious" problem than now. Maddening! When I lived in Dallas as a forty-five year old, I took Accutane. I had good results with it. I was tested weekly in several ways at the doctor's office, and my results were wonderful for me. Unfortunately, I'm now having problems again in my sixties. It's been a gradual increase, but nothing as bad as when I was younger. I haven't yet been to a derm. here where I live. You can see I don't have much hope for a complete recovery, but I do intend to try. I don't get zits now, just serious bumps and blackheads. Did you know that clogged pores are more likely to form in wrinkles? Don't you just love that good news? :-)
My thoughts are that Justin, in Malaysia, has hit upon something that's important. Just because someone has healthy skin doesn't mean they know everything. But they feel they do. It's hard for a healthy person to not think his/her health is something they're doing right. Health is a gift, pure and simple. We can destroy it ourselves, but we cannot always keep it without help and hardwork. It's hard for us to keep from taking the credit for our own health. I have other physical problems for which people who are more fortunate give me advice sometimes. It's very hard to hear this and not tell them what I'm thinking, but they almost certainly will have other problems which I won't be able to understand fully.
I do think Rahul's tips in UK are very useful. A clean pillow case, washcloth, towel, shirt are all so easy once you make the decision to protect and love your skin. That's one clue I think is worth remembering. Be very nice to your skin. Neglect and hard scrubbing are no good, no matter how much you think you hate your skin. Remember to hate the desease only; not your skin. I'm telling you. It's going to be needed, whatever it's condition, for a long time.
And my thoughts on Brett's message are: Don't drink while on any medication that advises not! Trust me; you don't need a drink that badly in the near future. You won't have to give up alcohol forever because of medication, and if the med. is worth trying, it's worth doing right. I'm 62; I know. :-) There's almost certainly a lot of time for partying later.
Take care.

Has anyone experienced hungerloss or weightloss somewhere towards the end of Accutane therapy? - I am on month 5 of 6. Have gone from ~69Kg to a recent all time low of ~59Kg in the past month. I am unable to eat as much as usual and am quite tired. Otherwise, everything is as normal. Acne has subsided pretty well. Fingers crossed.

I would like to share my acne problem with everyone here. I used to have a perfect and flawless face and am the envy of all my friends. I would have never ever thought of this day to happen; was what everyone here dreaded, Acne problem.
My probelm with acne started out somewhere this August with just a pimple or two, and gradually it become heaps of them! In the beginning,I just took it for granted, thinking that it would heal just by applying some medicated cream purchased from over the counters. I was so WRONG! It became more serious and now here I am, worrying day in day out about my face.
I consulted a doctor, who prescribed Dalacin and Differin for me to apply day and night respectively. It doesn't work, instead it kinda made my face worse. It made my face with that really tight feeling and my face peeled off tremendously. This continued on for about two months before my doctor changed some other medications like Retin-A and Eryacne for me. It still didn't work! By this time, I was really devastated! Everyone was asking what had happened to my face.'oh, I'm having some hormones changes?...'
My Doctor prescribed Roaccutane for me just last week.
I had to take a blood test to ensure if I'm alright to take this drug. Today is the fourth day I'm into Roaccutane.I have heard so much horror stories of the side effects of taking this drug and I kinda freak out but then if there is a possible chance of me regaining back from what i had before, I had to give it a try!
I am really depressed nowsdays, whenever I looked into the mirror, I kinda felt like smashing out the mirror into pieces. I wasn't the same old me anymore...wish everyone luck.

Has any of you ever tried medicinal herbs?if so which ones were good?and what about acupuncture?does it work?
please reply
thanks
bye

hi, guys
i tried roaccutane about a years ago..it wasn't that affective for me.
so, i decided try ortho-tri cyclen...which claims it will cure mild acne.
i took 21 pills so far...but my mild acne is not getting any better...it seems to get little worse actually....
is there anybody who tried ortho-tir cyclen??
am i supposed to get worse before i get better? Just like roaccutane?(when i took roaccutane it got worse before it got better)
Should I keep taking the pills for couple more months?
please~~~
i need help~
thank you

Ever since I started having acne,people have been treating me as if it is my fault that I have ugly skin
and that I deserve to have acne.They give me all sorts of advise (often useless) and walk away feeling damn good about themselves.I am sure many of you have experienced this some time or another.lets not let ourselves be effected by these people.What do they know anyway?it may or may not be our fault but we certaintly dont deserve or want acne .Just becouse they have clear skin does not mean they know everything.
Just remember we are not inferior to anyone.

Hi everyone,
I just want to know whether anyone else has got very dry frizzy hair from using retin A. I use it because it keeps my skin under control-not perfect but under controle. I have been through years of acne three courses of roaccutane masses of anti-biotics I have been depressed and suicidal. But after all these drugs I am kind of OK. Not perfect, but I'm happy and pretty. But I'm worried if I go off the retin A my skin will be auful again. My hair which was smooth and straight is now like brillo. It is very ugly. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

'Common People' will never be able to understand us..understand what suffering from acne really means..when you have to wake up every morning and look at yourself in the mirror..and you see something you would never see..and you say:"that one can't be me..it can't be true.." and you feel like wiping out that fuc**ng image from the mirror..feel like crashing that mirror with a punch..crashing everything around you..CRYING SHOUTING WONDERING WHY it had to happen..what's your fault..what's your sin..WHY? WHY? WHY? looking for an answer..that no one can give you..you alone with your sorrow..drowning in the sea of your tears..but still and forever hoping tomorrow will be a better day
LET'S NOT SURRENDER

Hi, I'm using serious skin care. i hate bad skin and wish that I could go out there and enjoy my life. i hate body acne too. it sucks severely. i don't want to workout on my body because pimples all over it will make my body look ugly if i have muscles or not. i hate life, wishing all of us with acne were dead beacuse that would be so much easier than living!!!!!!! bye

Hi everybody!
Reading your messages I don't know if I should feel sadder because there are other unfortunate people like me or if I should feel a little less sad because I can share my pain with you and so many people. .
I am 27 years old and since I was 15 I've been fighting against our common big evil: ACNE.
In all these years I have tried every possible and imaginable treatment (Roaccutan included). .I've traveled throughout Italy. I've spent a lot of money...but so far all is useless..
Dear Shelly you say that maybe we should not care for what people think or say about us. How I wish it were so!!! But how can you ignore what you are and how you look .. when you half wish not to fall in love with somebody because you know that person could never love you. All of us afflicted by our problem/disease know very well that saying beauty is not important is just hypocrisy
..Some of you said that he thought to commit suicide.. .this thought sometimes crossed my mind ..but I don't really know if it's braver to kill oneself or to live in our way. .and perhaps It wouldn't be correct towards those people who suffer more than us because of other more serious disease. .However what I wanna say is that we mustn't give up all hope 'cause I'm sure one day we
too could become "normal people" no matter when..no matter how much we still have to suffer..what really matters is to believe in it and fight till the end till the day we'll be free and finally happy.
I feel so close 2 U
My love to all of you
p.s.:excuse me if my English is not perfect!!! :-)

Hi everyone, I've been reading all of everyone's comments and I see my own feelings and experiences from them. I guess we all are looking for a permaneant answer. Since I was a freshman in highschool suffering from mild acne, I have tried everything! Such as store brand cleansers (oxy, and every other brand), all different prescriptions from my dermatologist for at least 3 months! (including accutane..), and since then I've tried vitamin and mineral supplements, and herbal remedies.. let me tell you some of the prescriptions worked for a year, and some of the vitamins have helped my skin condition. But the acne goes away after a week or two and then 2 days later it's back. My point is maybe we all should try to focus on what we like about ourselves and not worry so much about these spots. They do not define who we are and no one should judge us based on these. I think everyone who has commented in here is brave, and I myself have a hard time admitting to my acne dillema. Thanks.- Shelly

Hi all, I'm about to start my first course of roaccutane after pretty much trying everything else, topical antibiotics, minocin(four courses) and more recently dianette. I'm beginnign to think that my acne is related to yeast intake, as it developed aroudnt he time I started drinkign beer (19 years old). Does anyone else have a similar theory? It does semm weird but at this stage I'm prepared to believe anything! Also any advice on a good facial moisturiser for dry skin thanks!

Let me tell All You good people something dont waste your money on all these expensive medications. You want to be cured well forget it, but you can dramatically reduce your acne by these simple inexpensive methods follow these steps to the letter.
You will notice the diffrence in 3 -4 weeks.
1. WASH your pillow covers every 2 -3 days, (i will tell you lot why, lets take a scenario You wake up in the morning you see spots, youdecide to wash your face with cleaners toners etc. you go out for the day come home its night time and you wash your face again but then you go to bed on the bacteria filled pillow. Thats why its important to wash your pillow covers. i would recommend washing the bed covers too weekly and DEFINATELY YOUR TOWELS A MUST twice a week.
2.If you get spots on the back ( DONT wear the same t- shirt to bed twice. As you sleep on your back most of the times and move around while u sleep which spreads spot causing bacteria imagine your t-shirt as a cotton swap but instead of clearsil you have bacteria on it.)
3.PLEASE PLEASE DRINK 3-4 large cups of water a day flushes the system out and refreshes the body
4 I use Australian bodycare face wash only no creams no medicines just a face wash.
5.Acne takes time to cure, if you think you can cure it tomorrow forget it.i waited 3 years to get rid of my acne i do get the odd spot, but not as worse as before. This magic cure doesnt exist i know people believe it does, i still do but i know better now.
This type of mentality make a person overuse a product which causes more spots and scarring so please take it easy with the products.(twice a day means twice a day three times a day wont make the spot disappear).
4.Stress i think this does aid a spot so relax

5.i would say eat healthy but i dont( I DO RECOMMEND NO PEANUTS OR ANY NUTS) but if you can you can lose weight while you lose spots two for the price off one.
6.I know i am making slight hints of humor but we have been depressed for two long. So if you follow my steps of a month You can be the judge.
8.If you are using any products Still use them in conjunction with this routine i didnt say they dont help.
9.For acne scares leave them alone you might want to try the active face cream by australian bodycare,AGAIN DONT OVERUSE I KNOW ITS HARD NOT TO BUT PLEASE DONT, IT CAUSES MORE SPOTS.
Well thats me done for the day i have to change my covers now so hope this routine helps( I KNOW IT WILL ITS A FACT) and have a merry chritmas all you fine and wonderful people.

Im probably going to go on Accutane and i was just curious what happens if you drink alcohol when your on accutane and exactly how serious it is to stay away from it. Will a couple or so drinks a month do anything?

Hey Misc I experienced back pain in my first three weeks of accutane. When I bent down for more then five seconds and then stood up I felt this really weird pain in my lower back that I have never felt before. I'm now almost on my second month and the pain is gone. Later

Hi, everytime it comes to summer. My face tends to have lots of white heads, black heads and occasionally I'll have 2 or 3 pimples. Especially when I went back to Malaysia for holiay. My face had lots of those things because of the high humidity. I'm chinese by the way. I'm using this Benzac AC Wash currently but it doesn't seem to be helping a lot. I was wondering if I should leave those things on my face. Are they gonna turn to be moles or freckles if I dont squeeze them out of my face? I've read that Roaccutane on newspaper. Does it help my problem? And I have scars on my face as well. Can somebody please help me??!! I really need help Please!!!

hey luke
i also have a cyst beside my nose
they are annoying
and justsit there
i have no clue as to how to get rid of them but im currently on accutane im hoping itll take care of my cyst
its been there 2 monthes
ps-ne one experience ne back pain while on accutane?

Hi everybody. I would be very grateful if somebody could tell me some information about ACNE 2000 Vitamin Complex which is sold on amazon.com . I would like to know if it is effective or not, what type of vitamins does it have, etc. Last year I did an accutane treatment but my acne is back and really bad and I dont want to go through that again although it worked really well.
I will really appreciate an answer. Thank you. Mathew.

Having read through some of the messages, I am really saddened by the amount of people that have been 'victimised' by acne. I use the word victimised because there isn't any reason why some people get it and others don't, it seems to be pure chance. It really is a hugely underestimated disease with very significant and , for some, massive physcological and physical consequences. Having been a sufferer for 20 years the all round effects of this destructive disease are, as we know, profound. Reoccuring suicidal feelings , social withdrawal, unemployment, paranoia always being there in varying degrees, at times extreme emotional anger and frustration at life/god why me etc, confidence you once had has been robbed, the list goes on . Its effects are so strong that I doubt if anyone that has suffered acne ,and not a few spots, is ever the same person again. I do hope that I can get to somewhere near to what I was like before the on set of my teens, I think alot of people will know what I am talking about. I am trying to get roaccutane from a derm, I have been fortunate enough to have not suffered bad scarring, my skin seems to be pretty tough like that. Any way I could go on for hours but I don't want to depress anyone anymore than they probably are. I really hope that everyone out there gets things sorted and can be given back something resembling a life. Respect and commiserations to everyone and really hope that we all get a happy conclusion.
P.S. I would welcome replies to simon_brand@hotmail.com

Having read through some of the messages, I am really saddened by the amount of people that have been 'victimised' by acne. I use the word victimised because there isn't any reason why some people get it and others don't, it seems to be pure chance. It really is a hugely underestimated disease with very significant and ,for some, massive physcological and physical consequences. Having been a sufferer for 20 years the all round effects of this destructive disease are, as we know, profound. Reoccuring suicidal feelings , social withdrawal, unemployment, paranoia always being there in varying degrees, at times extreme emotional anger and frustration at life/god why me etc, confidence you once had has been robbed, the list goes on . Its effects are so strong that I doubt if anyone that has suffered acne ,and not a few spots, is ever the same person again. I do hope that I can get to somewhere near to what I was like before the on set of my teens, I think alot of people will know what I am talking about. I am trying to get roaccutane from a derm, I have been fortunate enough to have not suffered bad scarring, my skin seems to be pretty tough like that. Any way I could go on for hours but I don't want to depress anyone anymore than they probably are. I really hope that everyone out there gets things sorted and can be given back something resembling a life. Respect and commiserations to everyone and really hope that we all get a happy conclusion.

I have started a Roaccutane course about 3 weeks ago and there seems to be a noticable improvement in my skins condition. Although the medicine seems to be working I am begining to have a probelem of these really large sort of cysts appearing on my cheeks. They are not really pimples but they are huge and they just seem to be getting bigger and bigger. I am very worried that these will take a long time to go away so if anyone out there has any suggestions as to what these things are or as to what i can do could you please contact me and let me know, I would appreciate this very much!!! Thanx
Luke

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