Severe Acne Advice

Severe Acne Advice From Dr.Hanish Babu, MD, Dermatologist and Acne Physician. Acne Queries from sufferers will be answered on these pages of acne query answer. Please note that any advice given on these acne query answer pages are given only as an educational service and does not constitute attempts at acne treatment, which is not possible without direct physical examination of the patient. Any decision regarding treatment should be taken or finalized only after consulting a dermatologist in your area. Also see the Disclaimer.

Severe Acne Advice: Cystic Acne: How to Manage?

Q: Dear Dr. Babu, My name is T.B and I am writing on behalf of my friend who suffers from cystic acne. He is 28 years old and has had this condition for the past 14 years. He is currently on Roaccutane, which he has been taking for the past 9 months. Although there has been a decrease in the number of outbreaks it has not cleared up the problem and he continues to suffer from outbreaks on a regular basis.

We are at a lost as to how to proceed, as there doesn't seem to be anything else to do. I sincerely hope that you can help as the emotional suffering he experiences is unbearable and I do think that the drug has added to his emotional well-being as he suffers from constant depression.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance you can render.

Yours sincerely, T.B

P.S. We live in the Caribbean but he also works in the UK so it would be impossible to visit you, but i still hope that you can help even if you can refer the name of a specialist. Thank you.

Dr.Hanish Babu, MD: Dear Ms.T.B, Sorry to hear about your friend's plight. I can indeed empathize with his emotional suffering at this stage. This is a serious situation and he requires immediate attention from a dermatologist at the earliest.

The following require urgent attention:

If he is suffering from constant depression, it is time to stop Roaccutane! Systemic Retinoids have been shown to cause even suicidal tendencies. Read more on Systemic Retinoids and the precautions to be exercised while taking these drugs by visiting this page on accutane acne treatment.
Also it is not advisable to continue Roaccutane at a stretch for longer than 12-16 weeks without constant monitoring of blood parameters. See the above link for details.
Your friend must have realized by now that treatment of acne is not limited to acne medications only. It involves drastic revision of lifestyle and food habits. Let him go through these Acne Best Treatment General Advices and Acne Best Treatment Principles.
Let him also review the information on the Best Treatment for Very Severe Acne page on my site.
To try a holistic approach on acne I always advice my patients to go through the excellent holistic acne e-Book "Acne No More" by Mike Walden. This is one among very few ethical books available on optimum management of acne in all its severities and complications and is highly recommended. Before purchasing, though, please read my review on 'Acne No More'.
A stress management program is also advisable for your friend. He may join the newsletter on stress management at Lesstress.net to receive regular stress management tips.

Hope this severe acne advice will be useful for your friend. Please advice him to stop Roaccutane and immediately consult a dermatologist in your area to plan further treatment of his severe cystic acne problem.

Special Disclaimer on Severe Acne Advice provided on this acne query answer pages: This severe acne advice page is intended only as an educational and informational guidance service. Dr.Hanish Babu, MD shall not be held responsible for any treatment decision taken by the patient without consulting a dermatologist in person.The acne advice provided here on this acne query answer page and elsewhere on this web site is designed to help each and every acne sufferer take informed decision on the therapeutic options available for them.