Hello everyone. I'm actually on the board looking up accutane because my daughter is about to undergo treatment. I am 45 and since age 11 have suffered through cystic acne. I've tried everything but accutane-EVERYTHING. I did antibiotics, creams, gels, 6 different birth conrol pills, even yasmin BC that made my acne worse and my blood pressure soar. I decided to try Spiroaldactone (aldactone) one more time and really stick with it. I have been on 200 mgs. a day for 2 years. This drug, in my opinion, needs to be taken at that dose to work. Ladies, it's a miracle for me. My face is perfectly clear and has been for a year or more. The hair on my face and I have DARK hair is much thinner and I have no new growth. I must tell you that to see the true effects, you've got to be committed to this drug for a long time 6-8 months. I don't have oily skin anymore. I can now apply sunscreen, which use to make my acne worse and wear makeup all day. I would not post on this board if I did not have these results and felt it was not valuable information. I wanted my daughter to try it, but the doctor wants her to use accutane. Another point I have to add is this is a long term drug. The effects go away if you stop taking it. I have had no side effects from it either. Good luck to you all!

hi Dannaboo...
I totally agree with your post. I have been on it for almost 2 months and have seen a slight difference in my complexion. My face is not as oily and I am not getting the constant pimples. But, my doc told me I would need to take Aldactone long term. I've 31 years old and so far so good. However, you need to watch your potassium intake...like the doc told me to stop eating so many bananas and prunes.

I am so relieved to find people with the same problem, and in the same age group.... Up until now, I have only been able to find teens and up to mid 20's with this problem.

Okay.. I will warn you before I start my ranting b*tch... I have a really huge bad cyst on my chin right now. It hurts like hell and looks just as bad. I cant even cover this one up at all.
I have decided to become a hermit. I have had this damn thing for 11 days now, and its not even close to diminishing. Actually I had it longer, and the derm injected it with cortizone and it was getting smaller and barely noticeable. And then bam! it came back with a vengeance!
Its actually making me seriously depressed right now. Its bad enough to deal with aging/wrinkles, body not healing quickly any more, let alone a huge cyst or two, or three every few months, isn't it?
I am 43 and I am tired of it. My face is a mess with scarring. Nothing has worked thus far....
The entire cycline family of antibiotics, topical ointments, everything I have read about to treat cystic acne in terms of dr. recommendations, diet changes, more exercise, less exercise, huge amounts of water, fish omega 3 oil pills, more vit.c, less vitamin c... all of it. More recently, Aldactone... which only worked sometimes... still got cysts once every couple of months.
I appologize for the negative attitude, but I am tired of it.

I am on day 8 now of accutane. Am I feeling the side effect of depression of the accutane? Possibly, but I am not really feeling much different about the cyst that I have in the past when I wasnt on accutane.
I am almost wishing for the flaky dry skin now... as for some weird reason, I am oily than I have ever been! It feels like when you first enter a steam room and you can feel the moisture stick to your skin. Why is that? Is this going to be another drug that will not work for me?
Thanks for reading this if you got this far. I just feel like taking a razor and cutting the cyst out... dont worry, I havent lost all common sense, but I wish I could! Gawd I hate it!!!!!!