Accutane

[Guest guest]

Dear :

I don't doubt that the Isotretinoin itself causes some people problems. But

I strongly feel that accepting that at face value leads to false security.

You need to understand my interest on this subject to see my point. My acne

rosacea is a DIRECT RESULT of artificial colors/flavors/chemicals/fluoride.

For me, consumption or contact with some of these have caused papules and

pustules that manifested immediately.

Unfortunately, the web page I found for Accutane was not the PDR and I did

not bother to research Isotretinoin further. You're right in that Accutane

is highly drying, as stated in the FDA page I originally quoted for

ingredients (here's another exerpt):

>> The common less serious side effects of Accutane are dry skin, chapped

lips, dry

>> eyes, and dry nose that may lead to nosebleeds. People who wear contact

>> lenses may have trouble wearing them while taking Accutane and after

therapy.

>> Sometimes, people's acne may get worse for a while. They should continue

>> taking Accutane unless told to stop by their provider.

I've brought my acne-rosacea (I had severe papules in my chin/cheekbone

region -- some these horrible things were the size of baby lima beans, very

inflamed, painful and even itched -- plus a constantly blotchy complexion)

under control and I've done it totally naturally. My results have been,

judging by the posts on the board, nearly as good as most derms and done

without antibiotics. One of the things I'm trying to get across to people is

the need to look at diet/lifestyle as potentially contributing factors for

cause, control or even potential cure. To look at the actual components of

things, the ingredients of shampoo, the additives to foods, as possible links

to their skin problems.

This isn't the case for everyone and it's not going to work for everyone.

But for some people who aren't responding to anything the doctors have to

offer, or perhaps they even get worse with professional treatment, who knows?

Natural medicine has long held that our skin is a reflection of inner health.

I strongly believe that the modern, petrochemically drenched society is what

could be a major contributing factor to not only certain cases/types of

rosacea but perhaps a host of " no known cause " illnesses. Although our

species has been around for thousands of years, we have only had reliance on

petroleum and coal products for the past 200 years. Our immune systems and

" built in " detoxifiers have no way of dealing with this chemical onslaught.

It's in our food, water, air, soaps, shampoos, perfumes and even the

containers in which we store and cook our food. Case in point, the CDC

performed a nationwide study on environmental pollutants on over 3,500

volunteers, studying chemical levels in both blood and urine. I don't

remember the exact numbers but second-hand smoke and lead levels have

decreased quite dramatically, while, surprisingly, chemicals used in soaps,

shampoos and perfumes were found to have increased sharply over the last

study. Obviously people are not taking these products internally! Our skin

is absorbing chemicals from our soaps and perfumes and our bodies are forced

to deal with them! This is not a natural state of affairs and I don't

believe we actually have the mechanisms in place handle these chemcals

efficiently. " Non-organic " chemicals are building up in our bodies because

our systems have no way to eliminate them.

My entire point with the FD&C colors is that people CAN react to " inactive

ingredients. " In fact, ANYTHING with FD&C #5 (tartrazine, a coal tar

derivative) as an ingredient MUST list it on the label because it can

actually cause severe reactions in susceptible people.

Human beings were never meant to consume petroleum products. There is NO

reason for a medication, especially a prescription drug, to contain

artificial colors! If your doctor gives you a pill to clear an infection do

you care if it's the color of wallpaper paste or looks like a Jolly Rancher?

How, exactly, will that influence your taking the prescribed dose? It's bad

enough that our foods are laced with this utter garbage, but PRESCRIPTION

MEDICATION! Am I the only one who thinks this is insane?!

Second point, there is no way of telling if long term reactions are caused by

the Isotretinoin or the FD&C colors. Science, for the most part, denies that

chemical sensitivity even exists. Nobody has devised a test for it (I called

two allergists looking for this and they both did everything but laugh me off

the phone). To admit the existence of chemical allergies means you admit

that certain chemicals that were considered GRAS (generally recognized as

safe) are potentially harmful, then many industries have potentially opened

themselves to lawsuits (just look at the tobacco industry).

Could you imagine if there were suddenly an undeniable test for allergy to a

chemical or colorant that falls under the vague food label category of

" artificial flavors and colors. " Could you imagine what would happen?

Personal injury attorneys would have a field day!

and group, I'm sorry I've gone on a total rant. One of the nicest

things about this forum is that it allows each of us to occasionally get up

on our soapboxes. I look at it this way, if even one person gets a glimmer,

a hope, an idea, then it's a good thing.

Light & Laughter,

Harriet

[Guest guest]

I took Accutane years ago for cystic acne (even then, I think the acne

was misdiagnosed and I had rosacea papules). I can't remember the

dosage. It worked wonders for me, and I wish I had gone back to it when

my rosacea started really acting up about five years ago with monster

cystic-like papules on my chin. My derm currently doesn't recommend it

for people after their late 30s since it does tend to dry the skin out

and I'm at the age when some oil is a good thing for fighting wrinkles.

I don't think the accutane led to my rosacea, and I would recommend it

100% to young people with bad papules or the acne component. After all,

it might work and you can always stop if it makes things worse. (Just

don't forget the lip meds.) My husband also took it and it was a

godsend for him and " cured " his terrible acne problems. Having said

that, I think that Harriet has a point about artificial colors and I try

to avoid artificial colors, flavors and preservatives for general health

reasons. I've no doubt that all those kind of things, along with the

hormones and antibiotics in our food, just isn't good for us. Or perhaps

it is just that natural, wholesome foods are better for us.

Message: 12

Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 11:07:48 EDT

From: OneGreyOwl

Subject: Accutane

Dear :

My acne

rosacea is a DIRECT RESULT of artificial

colors/flavors/chemicals/fluoride.

For me, consumption or contact with some of these have caused papules

and

pustules that manifested immediately....My entire point with the FD&C

colors is that people CAN react to " inactive

ingredients. " In fact, ANYTHING with FD&C #5 (tartrazine, a coal tar

derivative) as an ingredient MUST list it on the label because it can

actually cause severe reactions in susceptible people.

Harriet