As someone that had acne on both face, chest and back, I can comiserate. I have tried everything as well. I kept a clean diet, but even still, acne came to my back, which my dermatologist said was not the case of what I was eating. I hate to say it, but the only thing that truly ever cleared my body/face up was accutane. As someone that come off it recently, here is how it went for me, just in case anyone might be thinking about it, or at that point. I would be concerned if you saw a dermatologist and he did not address everything I went through in my program, should you get to that point. 1. A dermatologist will never give it to you off the bat. They will try antibiotics that kill bacteria first (amoxicilin, doxycycline, etc.). Only after a couple months is it determined that accutane is the right way to go. 2. If you decide to go on it, read the risks, but also consult your dermatologist. Mine did his residency at the Mayo clinic and was a delegate on the American Board of Dermatology, so I believed what he had to say. He was very nervous to put anyone on it because it is a rigorous program, plus a lot of people do not follow through on everything. The way he treats patients through Accutane is by doing the most aggressive treatment for a limited number of months. I did 120mg/day for 5 months, and that was it. Keep in mind you will have to get your blood tested every other week for the first 6 weeks, then 1/month, then finally 1 time after two months of your last dose. If you are not strict, do not think about going on it. 3. Understand you will not be drinking anymore. Accutane is very rough on your liver, so the doctor will tell you right up front. Since your blood gets tested so frequently, they will know if you are doing things you aren't supposed to. As well as being tough on your liver, it gets very rough on your skin (you've never experienced dryness like it, so carry tons of chapstick and moisturizer). You will also have to enroll in an iPledge program and will only get 1 month administered at a time. Failure to get things prescribed and filled on time causes problems. In a nutshell, that's the program. I never had any issues that are named in lawsuits and never felt any suicidal thoughts. Since you get tested so often, you should know if there are any problems when they come up. If you are taking any meds, namely anything for depression, adhd, etc., it might not work out. Honestly, it was the best decision I made because my skin looks fantastic and people really noticed the differences. I have tons more confidence taking my shirt off in the summer. I was told by my dermatologist that I should never need it again, and by the looks of it, I won't. The last part that sucked was it was expensive. I was paying about $300/month for visit/tests/drugs. IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY! If anyone needs any more info, or wants to know more, let me know. I am here to help.
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