His Dr. told us not to go home and research it because it would scare us to death. Well I didnt listen and have researched until my eyes are crossed. This just doesnt seem like the right thing to be giving a teen. He has some acne on his face but the worst of it is on his back and arms. Does anyone have any advise for body acne? He has tried Doxycycline 100 mg twice a day and clindamycin topical lotion but it has not helped at all so now they want him to try accutane. Please if anyone has any advise im listening!!
My son is 15 and is being put on accutane for his acne, any advice?
Question posted by thauver68 on 14 May 2012
Last updated on 29 April 2022 by nurselizzy
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11 Answers

Acne can be effectively treated, although response may sometimes be slow.
Accutane is reserved for people who have severe nodular acne that has not responded well to other acne treatments. It is extremely effective but not without risks and side effects.
Acne can have profound social and psychological effects especially in adolescents at a time they are developing their personalities. Peer acceptance is very important to the teenager and unfortunately it has been found that physical appearance and attractiveness is highly linked with peer status.
It is worth considering Accutane if your son shows signs of low self esteem, is socially withdrawn, depressed or does not want to go to school.
For more information visit: https://www.drugs.com/condition/acne.html
Thanks for responding. I have read that its used mostly for nodular acne and thats why i didnt understand why he put him on it. My sons acne looks like a rash on his back and arms but by no means are large and cystic looking. I just feel that just because the first round of things we tried didnt work, that maybe there might be something with less side effects to try before using this drug. Felt as if we are being rushed into this with no other choice and im not one for that kind of doctoring. Getting a second opinion there soon. He can cover it with clothing that helps when being around peers, but will not take shirt off when swimming, etc. I hope we can straighten it out soon. Thanks again!
Please do not put your son on Accutane. I am 51 years old and a nurse. In my early 20's I went on Accutane and it did clear my skin after the dry peeling purging phase everyone goes through with all retinoids. Retinoids work! Topical retinoids do wonders!!! Why I say no to Accutane is because when I completed the medication (with clear skin) within one year I became severely depressed. The depression literally destroyed my life. It went on for years with episodes of ups and downs. I attempted suicide at one point. Please do not put your son on this medication, if I could go back and do it over knowing what I know now I would never have chosen that Med. Next: I'm not sure what type of acne your son has but I found retin a, oral antibiotic, using medical grade skin care products (unfortunately are pricey), find an experienced Esthetician especially if comedones, blackheads etc.
I am so glad this has already been asked .
My son is 16 and is suffering terribly from the acne.
He has been on roac since Nov 21 but had to come of it as the acne on his chest went into overdrive with painful lumps and cysts
Can you please tell me what treatment you ended up using for your son? My son is 15 and is currently in the same position as your son was. He is on the same meds as your son was and it didn’t clear it up. They want him to start isotretinoin, but I’m worried about all the side affect. He plays spring and summer sports and will be outside constantly, wondering if I should postpone till fall if we decide to go this route.
Hi, I just found out my nephew is on Roaccutane and very shock by it!! I know how bad this is for him and did a little research for myself and your story came up. I actually have a solution that really work to help my nephew's severe acne and was wondering if I can help your boy as well. If you are still looking for a solution that is safe, works naturally and no painful please let me know and I can show you how. Best wishes
I’m interested in your solution if you would mind sharing.
Hi, my son is 14 and also began accutane treatment yesterday. I agree that the internet can scare you to death, but from experience - (I took accutane as a teen myself) there were no side effects other than dry skin and lips. And like your son, mine also suffers from acne on his back and chest not on his face. The Dr. said this will clear it up and never come back. Again, from my own experience I know this to be true. And by the way, I had only one suicidal urge... just kidding! Good luck!
Did your son experience any deficiency in his growth?
Thanks!
I am on my 13th week of Accutane now and I wish I had started it earlier. Your doctor obviously thinks it's the right call to put him on the drug or else he wouldn't of prescribed it. I also read some stuff on the internet before i began treatment and i was skeptical at first but I'm glad i went on it. Even if he has mild acne now Accutane will more than likely prevent him from getting worse acne in the future. Nowadays Accutane isn't as scary as it was in the 90s, he'll get monthly blood tests and professionals will be monitoring him. Just tell him not get worried if his skin gets worse for the first month or two, as almost everyones does, and for him to buy some chap stick and he'll be fine.
When my son was 17 he starting getting acne very badly also, & our doctor put him on tetracycline. It really helped him. It's another antibiotic, & is used quite extensively for acne. The biggest problem he had was you are not suppose to eat 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking it, & he was on it (if memory seves me correctly 4 to 6 times a day. Mad it awfully hard for him to find a good time to eat, but it sure cleared up his skin problems. Just my thoughts... Mary
thank you for your answer back. Getting a second opinion soon.
You are very welcome... Mary
Hi:
I had severe cystic acne on my face, chest and back for over 25 years. I was finally put on Accutane in my mid-30s and it was a wonder drug for me!
I have heard about the alleged suicides in teens however, and would get a second and maybe even a third opinion from other dermatologists before starting it. You MUST stay out of the sun--- so this is really the wrong time of year to start it, as you need to be totally covered up and not get sunburned!
I also had to have a monthly lipids panel done, as your levels go sky high while on Accutane. Your skin gets extremely dry and your lips crack and bleed--- but ALL of this was worth it for me! I took it in the mid-80s, so don't know is any of the above 'rules' have changed or not...
Best of luck to you and your son,
Mary, the madhatter.
We are getting a second opinion here soon, until then we are trying other suggestions. Thanks for your response
You are very welcome--good luck to you both.
I was put on tetracycline in my teens, but it didn't help at all.
Everyone is different...
Mary, madhatter.
Dont put your child on accutane unless he has cystic scarring acne so bad and you have tried everything else! I had two cousins who commited suicide at age 17 while on accutane back in the late 70's to early 80's and they now know that accutane is linked to teen suicide. That stuff is not good unless it is just a last ditch effort and even then I would think twice! My son uses Doryx (which is the doxycycline abx) and clindimycin/benzoyl peroxide topical (Acanya) and he uses Atralin (trentinoin) which is the peeling agent-oh and he uses a sulfer wash called Sumadan. My son takes growth hormone and his face has just exploded from the hormones!! We pretty much have it under control with this treatment though.
Im very sorry to hear about your cousins. Very sad! We are getting a second opinion soon and trying some other suggestions also. Thanks for responding.
hello, yes, there a things he can do to treat his back. If this is the only solution the dermatologist suggest, at least consider another dermatologists opinion and care. He is going to have to keep his back really clean, with whatever he is using to clean his face, keep his hair off of his back, if it is long. Believe it or not, the extra oil he is producing due to going through puberty, can get on the back and thqt is coming from his hair. Please have him shampoo his hair a few times a week with PRELL shampoo, it really gets tht oils off the hair, because as your son sweats, the oil and sweat qre getting on his back making the back acne worse. Antibiotics kills the germs in the bumps, HR probably needs a good cleanser for his face and back, they do have some rx cleansers, a medicated skin scrub and possibly a peeling agent that will help.
getting a second opinion here soon and trying some of the other suggestions until then. Thanks for your comment.
Related topics
Further information
- Accutane uses and safety info
- Accutane prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Accutane (detailed)
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