Living with Follicle Disorders

Since I was 12 years old I suffered with moderate to severe acne. My family doctor prescribed me an extemely drastic antibiotic oral and topical regimen. All girls out there suffering from acne BEWARE: Doctors will often put females who need to be on Accutane on stong antibiotics because their are many risks associated with pregnancy and Accutane. Being on strong antibiotics has ruined my life.

I have had a systemic yeast infection caused by those antibiotics for nearly a decade now (since I was 17), which has caused me to suffer from relentless perioral and seborrheic dermatitis and sun sensitivity for more than 2 years. I have been to see five different dermatologists and three family physicians about my skin alone; just recently I went to a different dermatologist who another Dr. reccommended. My skin was relatively clear (but not close to clear for the average person) when i saw her compared to how it looked when I had gone in for visits at dermatologists in the past, but because of the persistent nature of my condition, she has agreed to put me on Accutane.

The bottom line is, do not let a doctor put you on antibiotics long-term for a skin condition that can be cleared up by any other means. The antibotics initially cleared my skin and made my teenage life more normal, but I would much rather have had acne as a teen that I would grow out of than severe dermatitis and photosensitivity due to a sytemic disease caused by medicines with many inherent risks. For all the doctors out there who may be reading this, do not give girls with severe acne antibiotics for years that will ruin their health, and possibly their adult lives. Explore the Accutane option first; I just don’t want other skin sufferers out there to be failed, ignored, and ultimately harmed by neglectful and careless practices as I have.