accutane

[BSB]

I wrote here a few weeks ago about my accutane treatement. I just finsihed my 6th month yesterday and i am now done. I am gettin sore like spots on my chin underneath my lip where i ahve lot of hair growing in.my doctor said it was becuase my skin was getting so irritated.!)is this true could my skin be so dry that my skin is gettin irritated and my hair follicles are getting very irritated ftrom shaving or something?2)he gave me erithromycin for it whichi dont understand because they dont look like pimples but mroe like sores to me? 3)does your skin heal slower while on accutane? 4)i get these red marks on my face that look liek extremely cracked skin, they are not liek zits or pimples 5)what perecntage of people dont respond to treatment and do lot of people see major improvement after they stop taking the drug? ^)how long will ti take my red marks from old spots and minor scars take to fadde? Please write as much as you can to help me.i am happier about everything but am still not 100 % there...Please all the help you can give
Thanks Doc, BSB

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Are you plucking or picking at the hairs?  If so, please stop.

The truth is that what you describe (irritated follicles, "extermely cracked skin" , eetc.) don't sound like they have anything to do with Accuatne or acne.  The dryness from Accutane usually doesn't affect the skin (as oppsed to the lips) even while people take it, certainly not afterward.

In my experience, close to 100% of people respond to Accutane, at least for several months after treatment.  And yes, many continue to improve even after they stop it.

My advice: just leave your face alone, put some vitamin E crwam on the red spots, and wait patiently for 3-4 more months while the red spots fade away.  They will, if you let them.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[jannov]

Dear,
I

[BSB]

your'e the man for replying to all my questions...thank you very much..i hope i dont have folliculitis but i guess i will get it checked out
thanks brian

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If your face is crusty and dry all over, you must be talking about something other than Accutane-related changes--Accutane does not cause this, certainly not after you stop.  You really need to discuss this with your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Rockoff

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I've treated Accuatne patients for over 20 years--they get dry lips, rarely dry skin.

I'm sure your doctor is credible.  That's exactly why you should be directing your questions to him.

Dr. Rockoff

[BSB]

the day after I stopped the accutane i went back to him to show him how my face looked.my face looks good.i ahve old red marks which i know will fade...i have gotten a couple new blemishes sicne stoppin though which is odd.the only place that is crusty and dry now is really underneath my bottom lip.....he assured me that I would be fine, that i just had to get off the medication...i have read evrywhere that dry skin is huge prob with the accutane so im surprised that you dont agree with this..could it be follicultitis or something?my doctor is apart of advanced dermatology in offices on Long Island and in Manhattan so I tend to think he is reputable and credible.maybe you can tell me something after reading this
Thank you very much....I really really apprecitae it

[BSB]

thanks for the reply...i got them right at the end of treatment not after i stopped.i shaved the area today and they ddint appear...the area was very crusty and extremely dry like the rest of my face.i thought it might be folliculitis

[BSB]

Please Respond
What do u think is going on with the area on my chin that is so dry and cracking by the hair area?
BSB

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I think yiu are rubbing or picking it.  Acne doesn't crack by itself, and neither does chin skin after you stop Accutane.

Dr. Rockoff