No one should have to put their hand “subtly” at their face to hide it, dread nights out for fear of how their face looks, or have to plaster their face in make-up in an attempt to hide it, but when you’ve got adult acne, you feel like you don’t have a choice. Doing these things is far better than have people stare at your sore, infected face.
Having a spotty face as a teenager is expected, you’re not the only one as everyone in your year at school is in the same boat, but when you start to see everyone else growing out of it, it is easy to become extremely self-conscious. I’d always hear my friends moan about the “huge spot” they had on their chin - a tiny red pin prick compared to the sore lumps my face was covered with. I used to dread going to stay at friends’ houses because it meant having to take my make-up off and people would see what my face actually looked like. In some way I felt fortunate because, as a girl, I could use make-up to cover up my face, whereas for men, they don’t have that luxury.
Adult acne is something which is under-reported and under-estimated. According to acnetreatment.org.uk, 92% of people who suffer from acne have felt depressed - a staggering statistic which is alarming in our appearance-obsessed society. Mental health is a whole other issue in itself, but the fact that acne is a contributing factor to these horrible feelings is something which needs to be recognised.
Eventually after months of tears and self-conscious attempts to hide my face, I was referred to the dermatology department of the hospital to have a further insight into the cause of my acne, and potential treatment - something a bit more advanced which may actually make a difference. It was at this point I was told about Roaccutane - a miracle cure which was said to work wonders for acne sufferers - but at a cost.
Roaccutane has a 66% cure rate, it is a drug predicted to practically eliminate acne in most of its’ patients, permanently. This was music to my ears, the thought of having no acne ever again was an unbelievable thought for me, after all my years of suffering with it. After lots of blood tests, weight tests and pregnancy tests, I was prescribed a strong dose of Roaccutane in milligrams, in accordance with my weight - literally feeding my body with as much of the drug as my body could physically handle.
The medication works in a number of different ways - it reduces the production of oil in your skin (which causes your skin to be extremely dry), reduces inflammation, works to reduce bacteria and skin cell production. (See acne.org for further information).
I was on the medication for a period of six months, and watched my skin go from bad to worse ... to absolutely clear! I couldn't believe it. For the first month or two my skin got drastically worse - something I didn’t think was even possible. This was the medication's way of extracting all the infection from your skin and getting rid of it. The side effects of Roaccutane are very serious and you have to carefully consider this before speaking to the hospital. The drug is so powerful that it can cause birth defects in babies, severe mood swings and serious depression. I also experienced weak and sore joints, and couldn’t do any strenuous exercise or walk for any length of time. Sounds horrific? Yes! Sounds as if it isn’t worth the hassle? Yes! For an acne suffer? If it means a clear face, it is worth it!
I even found that the size and shape of my face reduced as the inflammation was so bad from the acne that my face shape had been distorted and swollen. My face is now the shape it should be, without any infectious lumps changing it or making it swollen!
I am not writing this article to scaremonger or put people off, nor am I writing it to convince anyone suffering from acne to try it, I am merely sharing my experience in the hope that some people suffering the way I did know that there is an option out there. Below, I have attached a photo I took from before and after my time on Roaccutane. This is a big step for me; looking back to my acne-ridden face is hard, but I wanted to share this to prove to people that there is a remedy that helps, despite the seriousness of the drug.
If you are thinking about Roacctuane, or have never heard of it before, do some research and ask your GP about it, as I would say it is a life-saver. It does come at a cost though, as I said above, serious side effects that are hard to deal with, and the time on the medication is hard going, but the end result is, to me, worth it. It is not hopeless for any of you suffering from acne and haven’t found a cure, this might be the one thing that finally helps, but please have a serious think about whether it is worth the turmoil and weigh up the pros and cons for you, not according to statistics or opinion.
