Middle Age Acne. Help

[mommysboy]

Anybody know where to get the antibiotic minocycline (minocin) in Thailand? It's the only thing that has worked for me. Any other rec. treatments- please no dietary advice, krank postings, etc. Details about my condition below.

I'm 47. I've had mild to moderate pustular spots, sometimes in clusters on my face and shoulders since late teens. They seem to occur at specific sites, eg, behind the ear and are quite painful and large at times. I've tried various antibiotics over the years, but minocin is the only that worked- quite dramatically at that.

Failing this I'm really looking for an alternative antibiotic. I know I could try oral clindamycin and ro accutane, but I think these are too powerful for the condition I have.

I really don't think it's got anything to do with food, stress, etc.

[misterman21]

Anybody know where to get the antibiotic minocycline (minocin) in Thailand? It's the only thing that has worked for me. Any other rec. treatments- please no dietary advice, krank postings, etc. Details about my condition below.

I'm 47. I've had mild to moderate pustular spots, sometimes in clusters on my face and shoulders since late teens. They seem to occur at specific sites, eg, behind the ear and are quite painful and large at times. I've tried various antibiotics over the years, but minocin is the only that worked- quite dramatically at that.

Failing this I'm really looking for an alternative antibiotic. I know I could try oral clindamycin and ro accutane, but I think these are too powerful for the condition I have.

I really don't think it's got anything to do with food, stress, etc.

Roaccutane works - antibiotics dont

[mommysboy]

Anybody know where to get the antibiotic minocycline (minocin) in Thailand? It's the only thing that has worked for me. Any other rec. treatments- please no dietary advice, krank postings, etc. Details about my condition below.

I'm 47. I've had mild to moderate pustular spots, sometimes in clusters on my face and shoulders since late teens. They seem to occur at specific sites, eg, behind the ear and are quite painful and large at times. I've tried various antibiotics over the years, but minocin is the only that worked- quite dramatically at that.

Failing this I'm really looking for an alternative antibiotic. I know I could try oral clindamycin and ro accutane, but I think these are too powerful for the condition I have.

I really don't think it's got anything to do with food, stress, etc.

Roaccutane works - antibiotics dont

No that's honestly not true. As I said minocin works perfectly for me.

Although I do agree, most seem ineffective to me.

Isn't roaccutane a bit dangerous?

[girlx]

most adult onset acne is caused by a hormone imbalance. i suggest seeing an endocrinologist.

i have no idea where to get minocyclne, but i would think at a dermatologist. i recommend bangkok nursing hospital.

[misterman21]

Anybody know where to get the antibiotic minocycline (minocin) in Thailand? It's the only thing that has worked for me. Any other rec. treatments- please no dietary advice, krank postings, etc. Details about my condition below.

I'm 47. I've had mild to moderate pustular spots, sometimes in clusters on my face and shoulders since late teens. They seem to occur at specific sites, eg, behind the ear and are quite painful and large at times. I've tried various antibiotics over the years, but minocin is the only that worked- quite dramatically at that.

Failing this I'm really looking for an alternative antibiotic. I know I could try oral clindamycin and ro accutane, but I think these are too powerful for the condition I have.

I really don't think it's got anything to do with food, stress, etc.

Roaccutane works - antibiotics dont

No that's honestly not true. As I said minocin works perfectly for me.

Although I do agree, most seem ineffective to me.

Isn't roaccutane a bit dangerous?

I was like you - had troubling achne right upt to my forties - took roaccutane for 2 months - magic. Should have took it 40 years ago! It is dangerous for some but so is aspirin. Docs in the west avoid prescribing it due to cost. Better to give cheap antibiotics - as used for animals!

[misterman21]

most adult onset acne is caused by a hormone imbalance. i suggest seeing an endocrinologist.

i have no idea where to get minocyclne, but i would think at a dermatologist. i recommend bangkok nursing hospital.

Bangko nursing hospital!! The guy has spots not dementure! If you go down the dermatologoist route at clinics or hospitals they will prescribe half doses to keep you in the loop!

Rooccutane 10mgs per 20 kgs body weight per day. Google it. Dermatoligists will prescribe 10mg total - a bar of soap - a tube of cream - and a big bill!

[mommysboy]

most adult onset acne is caused by a hormone imbalance. i suggest seeing an endocrinologist.

i have no idea where to get minocyclne, but i would think at a dermatologist. i recommend bangkok nursing hospital.

Bangko nursing hospital!! The guy has spots not dementure! If you go down the dermatologoist route at clinics or hospitals they will prescribe half doses to keep you in the loop!

Rooccutane 10mgs per 20 kgs body weight per day. Google it. Dermatoligists will prescribe 10mg total - a bar of soap - a tube of cream - and a big bill!

Back in the UK they would not prescribe it to me when I was 25. My case was classified as low to medium severity you see. My brother did have a course as his acne was far worse, it was successful and he was closely monitored for side effects.

The minocin really does work a treat for me. it's a very old cheap drug, which appears not to be available in Thai pharmacies. maybe I should try a main hospital, never ocurred to me that a hospital might have it.

[mhatami]

Anybody know where to get the antibiotic minocycline (minocin) in Thailand? It's the only thing that has worked for me. Any other rec. treatments- please no dietary advice, krank postings, etc. Details about my condition below.

I'm 47. I've had mild to moderate pustular spots, sometimes in clusters on my face and shoulders since late teens. They seem to occur at specific sites, eg, behind the ear and are quite painful and large at times. I've tried various antibiotics over the years, but minocin is the only that worked- quite dramatically at that.

Failing this I'm really looking for an alternative antibiotic. I know I could try oral clindamycin and ro accutane, but I think these are too powerful for the condition I have.

I really don't think it's got anything to do with food, stress, etc.

Hanako in MBK has an anti-spot treatment that works for me. I go there once a month and I have notices very noticeable reduction and control

[Sheryl]

Minocycline is a tetracycline (a class fo antibiotics that does indeed often resolve acne). Have you tried other tetracycline compunds that are available here, e.g. doxycycline, which like mino is a twice a day dosage? Available in inexpensive generic at any pharmacy.

Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) does have potentially serious side effects, inlcuding liver damage (and borth defects if taken by a woman during pregnancy) for which reason the systemic (tablet) form is available only from doctors in a hospital or clinic. If you want to go that route, I recommend a proper dermatologiost in a general hospital as opposed to one of the multiple stand alone skin clinics. If s/he is doing their job properly they will insist on a blood test first to checj your liver function and then again monthly while on it. Another problem with accutane is that it causes dry cracking lips in many people and several months of treatment are required. All that said, for really stubborn acne, it is highly effective provided you stick with the full course of treatment.

Topical forms of the same thing can be bought OTC e.g. retin-A, and are probably worth trying before resorting to systemic.

[mommysboy]

Minocycline is a tetracycline (a class fo antibiotics that does indeed often resolve acne). Have you tried other tetracycline compunds that are available here, e.g. doxycycline, which like mino is a twice a day dosage? Available in inexpensive generic at any pharmacy.

Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) does have potentially serious side effects, inlcuding liver damage (and borth defects if taken by a woman during pregnancy) for which reason the systemic (tablet) form is available only from doctors in a hospital or clinic. If you want to go that route, I recommend a proper dermatologiost in a general hospital as opposed to one of the multiple stand alone skin clinics. If s/he is doing their job properly they will insist on a blood test first to checj your liver function and then again monthly while on it. Another problem with accutane is that it causes dry cracking lips in many people and several months of treatment are required. All that said, for really stubborn acne, it is highly effective provided you stick with the full course of treatment.

Topical forms of the same thing can be bought OTC e.g. retin-A, and are probably worth trying before resorting to systemic.

Thanks. Minocin is so effective and i only need it for 2 weeks to get benefit for a few months, so much better than the thought of roaccutane. But I'm straight on to Doxycycline which I have taken b4 for a short time without problems. Worth a try I think.

Sheryl, you've been very helpful already, but if possible can you comment on oral clindamycin as an alternative ?.

[Sheryl]

Oral clindomycin carries some real risks including pseudomembranous colitis zand bone marrow depression. I have not heard of it being used to treat acne. Its use is generally restricted to serious conditions for which other drugs are not effective.

Topical clindo, on the other handm, is relatively safe and indeed used for acne. Works very well for some people, less so for others. Available in Thailand under brand names Acnegon Gel, Cedelin, Chinacin-T gel, Clindacne gel, clindamon gel-- all gels, obviously. In lotion form, Chinacin-T lotion.

[Enjibenji]

I won't tell my full story, but i'll tell you something about my time on roaccutane.

3 years ago, about 16 years old. Could put a ruler on my back, and couldn't find a clear piece of skin 5cm from another spot. I had loads - at least 80. Not small ones too, sometimes very, very big. My face? My face wasn't as bad, but still dam_n bad.

2/3 months on roaccutane. My back was CLEAR, beautiful skin, looked like 'normal' people. Not 1 scar in sight - if I didn't go on roaccutane, i'd have a serious, serious amount of scarring.. even the derm. said that i would be left with quite a bit of scarring after my roaccutane treatment. One major positive about roaccutane is it reduces the chance of scarring, a lot.

My side effects? It pretty much f***ed up that period of time. I was in high school too. My mum and bro were on that drug, they didn't have side effects like I did.

Am i glad i went on it? hel_l yeah. I didn't go on one antibiotic again for my acne (and before I tried pretty much everything available - everything).

It is a miracle drug.

[girlx]

curious, does it stay like that for life afterwards or do you have to do maintainence so to speak? i don't have acne anymore, went through a time where i did but was the result of a hormone imbalance, as i mentioned. just curious how accutane works!

[mommysboy]

curious, does it stay like that for life afterwards or do you have to do maintainence so to speak? i don't have acne anymore, went through a time where i did but was the result of a hormone imbalance, as i mentioned. just curious how accutane works!

From Wilki: Isotretinoin's exact mechanism of action is unknown. However it is known that, like other retinoids, the drug alters DNA transcription.^[4] This effect decreases the size and output of sebaceous glands, making the cells that are sloughed off into the sebaceous glands less sticky, and therefore less able to form comedones. Isotretinoin noticeably reduces the production of sebum and shrinks the sebaceous glands. It stabilizes keratinization and prevents comedones from forming. This combined impact on several of the contributory factors in acne distinguishes isotretinoin from alternative remedies such as antibiotics and accounts for its greater efficacy in severe, nodulocystic cases.

As far as I can tell then it actually changes the way sebum (grease/oil) is produced permanently by altering the instructions (DNA transcription). This is crucial because the build up of sebum is what clogs the pores, which then allows the bacteria to grow.

As far as the hormonal imbalance, well I guess this is what defines the teen years for sure. Also, when I go down the gym I certainly get more spots, and it is also a common feature of steroid abuse. I don't know about going so far as to say imbalance though. the problem really is that some people just produce more sebum than others, and possibly carry more natural bacteria in their skins.

[girlx]

As far as the hormonal imbalance, well I guess this is what defines the teen years for sure.

true but mine had nothing to do with teenage hormones, it was adult onset. i actually have to take a medication now to balance out my hormones. that is why i suggest to the OP to check that out as a possible cause.

[mommysboy]

As far as the hormonal imbalance, well I guess this is what defines the teen years for sure.

true but mine had nothing to do with teenage hormones, it was adult onset. i actually have to take a medication now to balance out my hormones. that is why i suggest to the OP to check that out as a possible cause.

It's a very interesting post and suggestion, and my inclination is to think there must be some truth in it. Can you write about your experience, you know when, where, diagnosis, medicine, etc. I don't understand what is meant by hormonal imbalance. Could it be an acne like condition? Also wouldn't a serious imbalance manifest in other ways, eg, masculisation of a woman, and vice-versa?

I suppose hormonal changes must play their part, but the official line is that acne has nothing to do with hormonal changes, diet, stress, cleanliness, or having naughty thoughts. But then why does it kick in during teenage years when hormones are raging ?(or is this a myth too).

[girlx]

i have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is basically a symptom of a larger problem, being that i produce more testosterone than the average woman. it causes a host of problems including acne, obesity, hirsutism (hairiness), and the multiple ovarian cysts, which in turn cause problems with the reproductive cycle and fertility. luckily i really only have the latter symptom. but when i was about 22 i started getting really bad skin. i used antibiotics which made it go away but cause other problems, and are not meant for long term use. my dermatologist was useless, so i started researching online other ways of treating it. i read in several places that adult onset acne is usually caused by some imbalance in the hormones. that made sense given my diagnosis of PCOS. i read that taking 25-50mg per day of an anti-androgen called spironolactone would block the effects of testosterone on my skin. i bought it here in thailand and started taking it, and my skin has been more or less perfect since. i take 25 mg per day. i have to get it at a hospital now because not many pharmacies carry it, but i swear by it, and i did see a doctor later on who confirmed that i was taking the right treatment for my situation.

anyway, not all others will have the same diagnosis, but if you are over 18 and still having problems with acne, you should suggest to your doctor to check out your hormones. and yes, teenage hormones do definitely play a part in acne as well, especially a surge in testosterone.

[mommysboy]

i have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is basically a symptom of a larger problem, being that i produce more testosterone than the average woman. it causes a host of problems including acne, obesity, hirsutism (hairiness), and the multiple ovarian cysts, which in turn cause problems with the reproductive cycle and fertility. luckily i really only have the latter symptom. but when i was about 22 i started getting really bad skin. i used antibiotics which made it go away but cause other problems, and are not meant for long term use. my dermatologist was useless, so i started researching online other ways of treating it. i read in several places that adult onset acne is usually caused by some imbalance in the hormones. that made sense given my diagnosis of PCOS. i read that taking 25-50mg per day of an anti-androgen called spironolactone would block the effects of testosterone on my skin. i bought it here in thailand and started taking it, and my skin has been more or less perfect since. i take 25 mg per day. i have to get it at a hospital now because not many pharmacies carry it, but i swear by it, and i did see a doctor later on who confirmed that i was taking the right treatment for my situation.

anyway, not all others will have the same diagnosis, but if you are over 18 and still having problems with acne, you should suggest to your doctor to check out your hormones. and yes, teenage hormones do definitely play a part in acne as well, especially a surge in testosterone.

I can definitely relate to testosterone causing spots. Luckily I can still build muscle at age 47, the by product is more spots for sure.

Thanks for comprehensive answer.

[mommysboy]

WOW !!!

I'm taking doxycycline and it's working a treat. It's still early days and it could be co-incidence but the effect is profound.

What's more my skin has a very healthy sheen and the pitted areas on my cheeks seem far less dense- as if the pores are smaller.

Early days so I'm not getting too carried away.

Funnily enough back in the dawn of time I took this drug for quite rampant acne and it had no effect, perhaps it's a question of degree, or my adult acne being caused by another bacteria.

[edwardandtubs]

Medical studies consistently show that topical benzoyl peroxide is more effective than antibiotics (oral or topical). Panoxyl 2.5 or Brevoxyl 4 (both available in Thailand) twice a day after washing would clear most people up.

[mommysboy]

Medical studies consistently show that topical benzoyl peroxide is more effective than antibiotics (oral or topical). Panoxyl 2.5 or Brevoxyl 4 (both available in Thailand) twice a day after washing would clear most people up.

I can't agree with that at all since it's been expressed as strong fact, either that it is more effective than oral antibiotics or that it would clear most people up. What studies?

As an opinion it might stand good I guess, but from my own experience topical solutions did nothing whatsover.

I tried benzoyl peroxide for ages. All it seemed to do was flake my skin. But I agree that topical antibiotic solutions may be ineffective, having had no success with clindamycin and erythromicin in liquid form.

There is no definitive cure save perhaps roaccutaine already discussed at length. And only this can combat severe, stubborn symptoms.

The trouble with antibiotics is that they are hit and miss, and have to be taken for a couple of months, ideally with a maintenance dose. But if you find the right one, no doubt of the results as far as light to moderate acne is concerned.

But once I'm off the pills I'll try the wash one more time. Who knows, might work now my symptoms are not so marked.

[mommysboy]

No coincidence I'm happy to report. The doxy works as well as the minocin did.

Does anyone know if I can reduce dosage to say 1 a day as I did with the minocin?

[Enjibenji]

No coincidence I'm happy to report. The doxy works as well as the minocin did.

Does anyone know if I can reduce dosage to say 1 a day as I did with the minocin?

when i went to the pharmacist here for oxytetracycline, i got given doxy instead. The tetracyclines fight bacteria. In the UK I was taking oxytetracycline every day, for about 2 months, for my rosacea (the oxytetracycline stopped me flaring up). The pharmacist here said that if i took it every day for a long period of time, it would kill the good bacteria in my body too.

is this true? if sheryl or someone could answer that would be great.