Prednisone/Acne & Accutane

I've taken accutane treatments on two different occasions.

The first time around 1986. Got rid of my acne until around 1995. I took the accutane treatment again at that time.

Didn't work as well as the first time. My acne came back pretty quick.

I have since been able to get rid of my acne with vitamins.

Yes, Hobo please share, my younger sister did two rounds of accutane and is having acne problems again. 1st round she was 16, 2nd round 20, she is now 26.

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Beth, 31

UC Diagnosed March 2000

Lialda 2.4mg 1xday since 8/24/07 (prev. Asacol 4800mg day),Calcium and Vit D 500mg 2xday.

Minimal Change Disease (Kidney Disorder) Diagnosed Sept 2007

Prednisone 60mg 1xday, Simvastatin 20 mg 1xday

Diovan 80mg 1xday. Fosomax 1xweek 70mg. MCD may be from hypersensitivty to 5ASA drugs.

Predisone is a *****, it really is. When I was on my higher doses, it really kept the inflamation of the acne it was causing down. As soon as I came off the pred, I broke out in huge cysts all over my entire face. Of course the cysts were the most worrying and painful, some appearing in my ear lobes themselves, all over my forehead, very hard to sleep at night without lying on them. But I did also have the standard pustular type too. I'm talking worst end of the acne scale. After trying various antibiotics, I finally went onto accutane and it's cleared me up beautifully in just under 3 months. Only thing is, I'm left with terrible discolouration and permanent inconsistencies that will require laser surgery eventually.

So bottom line is, if you've had a slight problem with acne before pred, you should go on accutane straight away if you notice it worsening at all from the pred. If you don't do something about it quickly (and antibiotics or topical treatments almost never work), you'll be left in a bad situation.

I haven't had acne problems on my face when on pred, but I do get a bit on my back. either way, the good news is that the acne really will go away once off pred. I have been on/oiff pred twice in only 6 months (unfortunately) and both times the acne stopped once off the pred. My GI had told me it would go away, and I didn't believe him. turns out he was right. so, hang in there..... it will go away, like all the other lousy side effects of pred.

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29/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
*12 Asacol/day
*100mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent)
Various vitamins, probiotics, fish oil.
Engaged: June 1, 2007