accutane

Hi.  I'm twenty two and have sufferred from acne since I was eleven.  I always thought that it would have cleared up by now.  I've recieve MANY topical prescriptions and all that they do is dry my skin out - so I end up with dry, peeling skin, AND acne.  I want to try accutane, but I'm concerned about hair loss (does this occur in women as well as men?) and I read that it can cause permanent vision damage and changes in bone structure.  I'm very scared and very confused, even though my dermatologist has advised this medication before.  PLEASE give me some advice on what I should do and what the side effects REALLY are....

Thanks,
Elena.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Elena:

Like most dermatologists, I prescribe Accutane practically every day.  Patients get dry lips, some get dry skin and the forearms, and about 1 in 8 get mild aches and pains in the muscles, not enough to come close to slowing them down.  These go away after stopping the drug.  Night vision problems can happen, but I have seen this once in 18 years.  Bone changes are not an issue.  I have never seen meaningful or permanent hair loss.

Accutane is a marvelous drug.  Of course it is not for everyone, it requires prudence and precautions.  But if you've failed on other medications and your dermatologist recommends it, I think you should give it serious thought.  After years of testing, the drug was approved, after all, in 1982.

Good luck.

Dr. Rockoff

[Peter]

Hey I had a question about itchy skin. Ever since my freshman year of highschool I have had an itchy skin condition. After football practice when i had a damp shirt on i tried to get out of it as quick as possible. Soon thereafter an intense itching would start all over my torso and back. It can last anywhere  from 10 minutes to 2 hours. The only way I have found to stop it is to wait it out. There doesn't seem to be any sort of way to help it. Shortly after in my freshman year, after any shower I would get the same problem. The itching is so intense it makes me compulsively jerk to itch them and it is a major battle not to. Now 3 years later, it still happens VERY often, almost ever shower. I don't think it's scabies, but maybe dry skin? I have tried applying lotion to my back but it doesn't seem to help. There isn't really any visible symptom except sometimes I will get goosebumps and that leads me to believe that maybe it's the drastic temperature change or something of the sort? In college this problem is more serious that ever because I don't have the time to "wait it out" and it happens more frequently than I'd like. My father is a diabetic, and has high blood pressure, but other than that there isn't medical history in my family like this. What is this, how do I cure it, and how do I get it to stop ;(

An EXTREMELY itchy at the moment
Pete