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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Severe Breakout after getting on Roaccutane
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Severe Breakout after getting on Roaccutane
by lkao, May 01, 2004 12:00AM
Dear Dr. Rockoff,
I have mild acne problems for the past 7 years (on one side of my face) and have gone through several antibiotic treatments (tetracycline, doxycycline). My doctor has recently put me on a one-month course of Roaccutane (10 mg/day). Ever since I started the acutane treatment, I developed severe breakouts and flare (on the side of face that I always have acne problem). I have never had so many acnes on my face in my life and I thought accutane suppose to cure my pimples? I am on my 2nd week of accutane treatment now and the acnes just won't stop growing (usually I have one or two acnes on my face. Now I have 10+ and they just keep on coming!!) I am scare to look at myself in the mirror because of the severe breakout. Should I stop using accutane? Is it normal to have such a severe breakout when undergoing accutane treatment? If so, how long do I have to wait until the acne clears up? Do some people react adversely to accutane, thus making their acne problems worse? Should I just go back to antibiotics instead? It seems like accutane has made my skin alot worse than before...
Your help & input is much appreciated. Thanks
Laurence
I have mild acne problems for the past 7 years (on one side of my face) and have gone through several antibiotic treatments (tetracycline, doxycycline). My doctor has recently put me on a one-month course of Roaccutane (10 mg/day). Ever since I started the acutane treatment, I developed severe breakouts and flare (on the side of face that I always have acne problem). I have never had so many acnes on my face in my life and I thought accutane suppose to cure my pimples? I am on my 2nd week of accutane treatment now and the acnes just won't stop growing (usually I have one or two acnes on my face. Now I have 10+ and they just keep on coming!!) I am scare to look at myself in the mirror because of the severe breakout. Should I stop using accutane? Is it normal to have such a severe breakout when undergoing accutane treatment? If so, how long do I have to wait until the acne clears up? Do some people react adversely to accutane, thus making their acne problems worse? Should I just go back to antibiotics instead? It seems like accutane has made my skin alot worse than before...
Your help & input is much appreciated. Thanks
Laurence
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 01, 2004 12:00AM
, May 01, 2004 12:00AM
Some people do indeed flare up early in the course, though I must say that 10 mg per day is an awfully low dose. If your acne is severe enough to warrant treatment with this drug, you should not give up on it. Ask your doctor about treatment for the flare (if that's what it is.) Roaccutane doesn't start working for 2-3 months, so some people just go up and down until then, until the medicine takes effect. That may be all that's happening. My advice is not to be alarmed and give up.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (1)
by karvedys, Mar 26, 2008 04:03PM
A related discussion, Dosage and period of roaccutane was started.
