I have suffered a similar adult acne story as Sean who posted 7th Sept 1999. I am 25 years old Female. I had typical acne from an early age (11 years old) and received Roacutane (same as Accutane I think) when I was 15 years old. It worked a treat but 9months after I had finished treatment the acne returned. Over the years I have been on 3 treatments of Roacutane for about 18months each with the same result about 9 months later. At the age of 23 I went to a new dermatologist who suggested trialing a 4th treatment of Roacutane, I refused not knowing the permanent damage it might have on my body especially considered I'd like to have children one day and Roacutane causes birth deformities. So he suggested I get a blood test to check for hormone imbalance. Turns out I my androgen levels are outside the normal female range. Not much I can do about that I guess.
Before my blood test results were known he prescribed two tubes of stuff to apply to my acne that have work reasonably well. Eryacne to apply in the morning which I think is a topical antibiotic and Differin at night. Since finding out that my androgen levels are high, my GP has put me on a contraceptive pill that contains anti-androgens. This has worked wonders! But I suspected that the pill causing some nasty mood swings and PMS so I switch to another contraceptive pill that contains a similar level of estrogene but surprise surprise, I acne has returned.
The one thing that no treatment has made a difference to is multiple lumps on my chest. Which I think are called papule cysts. They're not inflamed and no pressure. Squeezing them sometimes releases the contents which is not pus, but fat perhaps? Its sometimes yellow, sometimes white, sometimes like an oversize blackhead. Some are big and some are small. Some look dark like they contain an ingrown hair. They cover my chest, breasts, and lately I've noticed them below my chest, on my sides and a few on my lower back. In the past I've had them on my elbows and one very big but deep one on my neck.
All the three dermatologists and two GPs I have present these papules problem to have all said they're nothing to worry about and there isn't a solution. But to me they are hideous, embarrassing, unsightly, and most importantly a sexual turn-off. I have turned to squeezing them regularly to get rid of them. Unfortunately this causes bruising, red marks and eventually pit scars. I'm not sure what is worse, lumps or pits.
Does anyone have a solution? What causes them? Are they blocked pores? Are their vitamins or treatments that I could take to prevent them from occuring?
This discussion is related to
Anything after ACCUTANE???.