I’m Chris a 25 year old male. I’ve never had spots at school. In fact I don’t remember having spots at college, well maybe a few but not bad enough to make me self conscious.
I started my current job in 2000 and it’s only in the last 4 or 5 years I’ve been getting spots all the time and I am now really self conscious – by not going out when I think I look bad, sometimes staying off work pretending I’m ill, I’ve never had a day of clear skin for nearly 10 years. I wouldn’t say I have severe acne like some pictures I’ve seen but I always seem to have 4 to 5 spots around my chin.
What have I tried?
I’ve tried Zineryt lotion, Oxytetracycline tablets, Retin A cream, but they don’t stop oil production and they don’t end the problem from what I can gather. I went back to my doctor requesting Roaccutane - stopping the oil production is the key from what I know about my own skin. The supermarket over the counter topical treatments is hopeless for anyone with really bad skin.
Recently I’ve used Vilantae which you can buy on the internet. It is supposed to be the most effective acne treatment behind Roaccutane - it controls your oil levels but doesn’t stop them like Roaccutane and apparently has no side effects. Recently, I mentioned Vilantae to the first dermatologist I saw and he had never heard of it. Vilantae is around £30 for 400 capsules, taking 20 a day, which is the max dosage. It didn’t do that much for my skin to warrant the cost. After a while you’re supposed to reduce the dose but even at a constant max dose I only achieved 40% of the result I want my skin to look like. I want 80 or 90% or even 100% results.
Starting Roaccutane!
None of my friends have spots and they eat and drink what they like. I try and eat healthy foods (thinking certain foods help or hinder acne). Now I have got fed up of all these acne treatments and new acne products. I have decided to give Roaccutane a go – fully aware of the possible serious side effects. I want the strongest acne treatment once and for all to finally try and clear up the problem for good. I’m 25, yet I feel like I’m 15, I see teenage school kids with better skin than me!
I can’t remember the last time I had clear skin and didn’t have to take ages in the bathroom, covering up my spots. In the future I want to jump out of shower, dress and be able to go out straight away - anyway enough waffling, on with the start of my diary.