Doxycycline or Accutane? I'm 20 and have had mild to severe acne for almost 3 years.

Question

I am 20 and have mild to severe acne for almost 3 years. I have consulted two dermatologists. One prescribed Doxycycline and the other prescribed Accutane. The one who prescribed doxycycline said to continue it for 2 - 3 months and it will most likely reduce my acne. However he said if it doesn't work he will prescribe Accutane then. So should I directly go with Accutane or start with Doxycycline first. Which will be the more safe and effective method ?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

if you have bad acne just get rid of it with accutane. and during treatment do clear and brilliant, aerolase, and peels like enlighten (see link).

All of my accutane/isotretinoin/acne patients do our accutane protocol from emeragecosmetics (where we do free skincare consults daily) and peels like aerify/cosmelan/enlighten.

Acne requires a combination approach to get long term improvement.  For all patients on isotretinoin, we require them to be on skin care such as vitamin C (Skinceuticals Phloretin CF, EmerageSkin AOX-C), glycolic cream (jan Marini bioclear, EmerageSkin enzymatic polish) , kojic acid serums (Skinceuticals phytoplus) and hyaluronic acid serum (IS clinical hydra cool serum, Skinceuticals B5, EmerageSkin hyla B) in the morning and retinols  (reve skin 1.0 and sente biocomplete serum) and salicylic acid (reveskin acne purifying enhancer), growth factors and peptides (anetageMD, EmerageSkin Re-Fit Face/Eye) night.

All of our patients get clear+brilliant non ablative laser along with a microsecond YAG laser such as aerolase or laser genesis and microneedling with PRP or microneelding RF like intensif or fractora monthly to help improve breakouts, speed the healing process, and improve scarring and facial redness while on the isotretinoin/accutane.  LED light therapy, cosmelan/enlighten/AERIFY peels, salt facial or dermalinfusion can be done as well to speed up the improvement. I suggest tyou go to an expert who combines skin care, lasers, microneedling, PRP, and facials while on oral medications for acne.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Simon Zokaie, BSc, MBChB, MRCP · Answer

The treatment for acne is dependent on a number of factors including the type of acne, duration and severity. 
First line treatment can include topical retinoids and BPO and then tetracyclines. 
If severe acne or scarring acne or nodulocystic acne or have failed on previous treatments then accutane can be considered. 
Hope this helps.

Doxycycline or Accutane? I'm 20 and have had mild to severe acne for almost 3 years.

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Doxycycline or Accutane? I'm 20 and have had mild to severe acne for almost 3 years.

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Everything you need to know about Accutane

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