Not to mention, I've heard that an oral acne medication like isostretinion is really expensive, which rules it out even more for me. I just don't have the money.
It's the medication of last resort. It has a lot of side effects that can damage the liver, the bones and interfere with reproduction. There are topical retinols like Retin-A that they will try before this.
They really try to use every other option before they go to Accutane or Roactane.
I've been using a salicylic acid solution (specifically Clean & Clear advantage fast clearing spot treatment). It does not really seem to work much. I've been using it at night for several nights and my acne has not changed. That is why I've been wanting to try benzoyl peroxide instead.
I could try that Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3 in 1 and see if it works any better though. Maybe the change in pH or concentration will make a difference.
It sometimes takes a couple of weeks to see a difference. As Phoenix mentioned, these drugs work by sloughing the skin to open up the pores. Each drug has a slightly different action- some are more drying, others peel the skin in layers, other cause the skin to flake off and some have an added anti-bacterial action.
It's taxing and irritating but you sometimes have to do a trial and error until you find what works for you. That might be one product or it might be a combination of products. One of the reasons that people report that Pro-activ works for them is that it contains several different medications and at least one of them usually works.
You may need to do a course of antibiotics to get things under control first. The sloughing process actual can make acne
worse for a short period when the pores begin to open. The antibiotics help with flareups until the pores are cleared.
I would LOVE to go see a dermatologist... but I have no health insurance, and can't afford to slap down $300-400 on a doctor visit.
So, any other advice for someone who can't afford a dermatologist?
If you're a student, then try your student health center. If you live near one of the larger cities like Portland, you can try being seen at the Unversity clinic where they will often to a sliding scale payment. I've been hearing that more and more uninsured people are using nurse practitioners that are setting up shop in Targets and Urgent Care centers.
And if you do end up going to a dermatologist, call first and talk to the insurance person. Tell them that you can pay cash. Often, they will be more than happy to give you the insurance rate (often under $100 for a first visit) because it's easier to get $100 in cash today than to deal with all the paperwork that comes with filing an insurance claim. The same is true of hospitals, by the way- they will provide cash discounts to the uninsured- but you have to pay before the time of service.
