Acne marks/scar treatment and accutane treatment

[Shari]

I used Accutane 6 yrs ago(40mg/4mos). I was so happy being "cured" for 3 yrs. Now its back. Considered mild, used every product/pills w/no success, so my final straw was Accutane. Recently I have become very depressed over the acne marks/scars. They seem to take 9-12 mos to fade significantly. Luckily, make-up covers marks at this time & I know it could be so much worse-But doesn't make me feel any less depressed or better. Anyway, I'm very happy w/my derm & that she is putting me on Accutane, stating in 1 month. Getting married the end of this year & am sad that my acne marks may not be healed by then. Going on vacations is nerve-wracking b/c you can't keep marks covered w/make-up so easily on the beach & showering. At home, I don't have anyone to see me after showering.
-Is there is any product that truely works to hasten the healing of these marks? I just started using a scar lotion I think is helping on an old mark, but I have 2 new ones.
-I may get pregnant after I'm married, possibly 8 mos after I stop Accutane. Will being pregnant cause my Accutane to stop working and give me acne problems all over again?!  
-Does Accutane help with the marks/scarring as well?(not just the active acne)
-Is it truly safe to have a baby after you've stopped accutane for 30 days?
Thanks for answering my questions.  I greatly appreciate it.

[Shari]

I'm not sure if you realized that you posted a comment to my subject but thought you were asking the doctor. You would need to go to "Ask a new question" and pay a $19.00 fee to ask the doctor a question.
In any case, I cannot give you any advice but I can share with you my own experience.  I can relate to how you feel.  I tried all the anti-biotic and topical treatments. My derm said Accutane was a last resort, so I finally reached that point. You need to talk to a dermatologist and read info online to get all the info on Accutane.  You can google Accutane at google.com.  The one thing that is stressed is that you CANNOT get pregnant while taking Accutane b/c it causes birth defects.  They are VERY strict on this issue.  Now they even developed an IPledge program to stress this issue, which didn't exist 6 years ago.  The IPledge program lists the method of birth control they accept to use accutane.  A doctor visit is confidential if your the legal age, so I would talk with him/her regarding your concerns regarding birth control and accutane.
There are side effects that may occur.  I remember any tiny cuts I had (like paper cuts) would get infected, so I needed to clean any cut or scrape with peroxide and I was fine.  I think I did get a rash once, but I used a rash cream and it went away and didn't come back. As mentioned, talk to a derm and look online for info.  My friend used it years ago and told me he had to drink a lot of water becuase he was so thirsty.  
That being said, I would absolutley recommend Accutane (under the proper doctor advice & supervision).  I think it is a miracle drug!
Good luck!

[VUSL]

Having recently entered graduate school, I have noticed my acne has gotten much worse over the last year.  I am now 23, but back in high school was on minocycline, tetracycline, and tried every topical cream, seeing no improvements.  I am currently using prescription topical creams and once again am seeing no improvements.  For once in my life I would like to be able to not worry about my skin when I have more serious matters such as school to concentrate on.

I have wanted to go on accutane since high school but my mother would not allow it given the requirements of taking birth control and the like.  Can you inform me of the possible adverse side effects, or point me in the right direction to find such?  I am worried that taking accutane may effect my ability to study long hours and keep up with my hectic graduate school schedule, should this be a concern?

Thank you!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

There really isn't a scar cream that makes a difference--waiting the spots out and leaving them alone will do the job.  Many of them will be significantly faded by the end of the year.  Being pregnant later will have no effect on the way Accutane has worked.  Yes, it is completely safe to become pregnant 30 days after finishing the drug, because none of it is left in the body.  There have been no exceptions to this.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, and best of luck.

Dr. Rockoff