Worst acne ever

[Mr.X]

I'm already under treatment of a dermagologist for 2 months, so I'm not looking for possible cures. I'm sure the man is trying his best to help me.

However, I seem to have the worst acne ever, and was wondering if anyone on here experienced the same on T. After about 5/6 months on T, the acne came in and was a lot worse than any acne I had in my first puberty. The acne is the cystic kind, takes up all of my jawline. It consists of very large (a couple of cm) connected lumps, that fill up with fluid. This fluid seems to drain quite often, but they always fill back up again. This has been going on for 3 months now.

The derm has me on antibiotics for over 2 months now, and twice did he inject some Corticosteroids to help it. Those injections always help for a bit. The lumps are a lot smaller the day after, and remain drained for a week or so. After that, even though I am on anbitiotics, the lumps always return.

I'm really at my ends wit, because the acne is incredibly distasteful and ugly. I want to enjoy my incoming beard and facial changes, but all I see is the scabby, lumpy acne that covers my jawlines. It drains my confidence and my self esteem is very low because it is so gross, especially for a 26 year old. The derm mentioned accutane as a last resort, and it seems I'll have to take him up on that offer, because nothing seems to help. It's depressing, because accutane hasn't got the best of side effects.

Has anyone experienced acne this bad? I see a lot of transguys mention acne, but that's usually a couple of zits and that's it. Am I really that unlucky?

[dalebert]

Have you seen this video? Despite what the thumbnail implies, he's not selling anything. Just offering suggestions.

[androidnick]

I'm already under treatment of a dermagologist for 2 months, so I'm not looking for possible cures. I'm sure the man is trying his best to help me.

However, I seem to have the worst acne ever, and was wondering if anyone on here experienced the same on T. After about 5/6 months on T, the acne came in and was a lot worse than any acne I had in my first puberty. The acne is the cystic kind, takes up all of my jawline. It consists of very large (a couple of cm) connected lumps, that fill up with fluid. This fluid seems to drain quite often, but they always fill back up again. This has been going on for 3 months now.

The derm has me on antibiotics for over 2 months now, and twice did he inject some Corticosteroids to help it. Those injections always help for a bit. The lumps are a lot smaller the day after, and remain drained for a week or so. After that, even though I am on anbitiotics, the lumps always return.

I'm really at my ends wit, because the acne is incredibly distasteful and ugly. I want to enjoy my incoming beard and facial changes, but all I see is the scabby, lumpy acne that covers my jawlines. It drains my confidence and my self esteem is very low because it is so gross, especially for a 26 year old. The derm mentioned accutane as a last resort, and it seems I'll have to take him up on that offer, because nothing seems to help. It's depressing, because accutane hasn't got the best of side effects.

Has anyone experienced acne this bad? I see a lot of transguys mention acne, but that's usually a couple of zits and that's it. Am I really that unlucky?

No you aren't the only one. I have gotten them in basically the same spots. Where my sideburns are, and then on my chin. It's acne that won't pop and is EXTREMELY painful. I've never had acne this bad. I would give the link a try. I was actually going to do that a while ago but I just got cheap and didn't want to spend money on the oils. But honestly, don't sweat it. At the end of the day the acne should go away. And I saw a video of what the acutane would require and it's just terrible. So that's a warning in case no one knows.


And just so you guys know, this IS a trans guy. Which is why the video is relevant.

[randomdude5]

I've been on T for like 2 years now, but even before I had acne. Of course it didn't get BETTER on T lol. Doctors were telling me to do accutane for a while already, and I finally started it a month ago. I have already seen small improvements after trying literally every antibiotic, every OTC cream gel whatever, and nothing was helping. I too get those cysts all on my jaw and my cheeks. My only regret is not starting accutane like 2 years ago.

About the extra stuff required to go on accutane. I got lucky and I guess my derm didn't force me to do the required "extra" stuff because I am on T, and still on E blockers plus he took my word for the fact that 100% sure nothing is gonna be going on down there. lol. (Thank god)

[androidnick]

I've been on T for like 2 years now, but even before I had acne. Of course it didn't get BETTER on T lol. Doctors were telling me to do accutane for a while already, and I finally started it a month ago. I have already seen small improvements after trying literally every antibiotic, every OTC cream gel whatever, and nothing was helping. I too get those cysts all on my jaw and my cheeks. My only regret is not starting accutane like 2 years ago.

About the extra stuff required to go on accutane. I got lucky and I guess my derm didn't force me to do the required "extra" stuff because I am on T, and still on E blockers plus he took my word for the fact that 100% sure nothing is gonna be going on down there. lol. (Thank god)

On one hand that's cool of your doctor, but at the same time, it seems kind of irresponsible of him. I mean I'm not saying you are going to do anything dumb. But how can he know 100%? Like the reason they do this is for liability reasons. Seems unsafe that he wouldn't follow the EXTREMELY strict guidelines for it since it can have such bad consequences.

[ford]

I had terrible cystic acne taking up my whole back - that stuff hurts! Plus, my hair was falling out by (what felt like) the handful.

In the end, turned out my T dose was too high for me. My doc told me to cut it in half. 6 weeks later, the hair was staying put and my skin was clearing. Still getting all the desired changes though - facial hair, muscles, etc. Now I'm more or less acne-free (or at least, back to pre-T levels).

Something to think about.

[randomdude5]

On one hand that's cool of your doctor, but at the same time, it seems kind of irresponsible of him. I mean I'm not saying you are going to do anything dumb. But how can he know 100%? Like the reason they do this is for liability reasons. Seems unsafe that he wouldn't follow the EXTREMELY strict guidelines for it since it can have such bad consequences.

I get what you are saying lol. I told him I was on E blockers on top of the testosterone. Which I am lol. So I guess he was satisfied with that as two methods of birth control probably. Also I don't know if you are in the states or where but here we don't have to do iPledge as far as I know.

To be honest my derm is not super educated in trans stuff. I might have taken a bit advantage of that. Heh.

[Mr.X]

Thanks for those vids, android. I watched them with interest, and was like 'what the hell?!'. There are some crazy requirements to start that stuff. Also, the acne the guy in the vid has is peanuts compared to what I have...So I wonder if accutane will even help.

A few points, though. I assume that those are the requirments in the US, and I have no clue how strict my country is about this. I'm hoping it won't be that bad. Also, I'm listed as male in my hospital, so they may not care about pregnancy tests for me. On top of that, I haven't had sex in five years after a few failed tries that flared up my dysphoria something fierce, so I'm cool with complete celibacy if that's what is needed.

About the high T levels, yes, I had them checked. They were indeed high and my dose has been lowered weeks ago. No effects as of yet, though.

Randomdude, may I ask your experiences with accutane? Is it really as bad as they say? Do you feel more depressed or do you not have side effects at all?

Thanks for your replies, ya'all! It does help to know I'm not the only one struggling with this.

[randomdude5]

Randomdude, may I ask your experiences with accutane? Is it really as bad as they say? Do you feel more depressed or do you not have side effects at all?

Thanks for your replies, ya'all! It does help to know I'm not the only one struggling with this.

Well, I have only been on it for a month but I haven't experienced any horrible side effects from the Accutane YET lol. What I've experienced is dryness. Dry lips, dry face, dry mouth, dry nose, (No nose bleeds yet), dry hands, lol. I also got a sort of initial breakout all around my mouth and nose within the first 2 weeks. That really sucked and was painful honestly. Recently I got a random breakout on my neck like 2 cysts popped outta nowhere. One of them right on my adam's apple! Now it hurts everytime I swallow.

On the bright side of things, my face (Not counting neck and under the jaw) is almost all clear. Of course I still have redness left from before I even started accutane, but I saw some decent improvement within even 1 month. Blackheads on my nose seem to be disappearing also.

In my opinion, up until now it has been worth it for me. The dryness takes some getting used to but using things like moisturiser and lip balm makes it much more bearable.

[BrotherBen]

I was on accutane in high school, and I don't think I was really self-aware enough to assess my depression or lack thereof at the time I started, but I certainly didn't THINK I was depressed, or ever had been, at the time, and I have certainly struggled with depression on and off in the many years since then. And yeah, the dryness is insane and flaky and gross.

Random, about the "extra stuff" required- are you still getting bloodwork done monthly? I don't think being trans could safely exempt you from that.

[Mr.X]

Good to know accutance isn't always having the worst side effects.
As an update, I went back to my derm. He gave me accutane without those crazy requirements. He knew about my trans status, and just informed me about the pregnancy stuff because he had to, but that was it. No need to sign anything, no need to take birth control things. My dyshporia flared up a little as he informed me because it made me very aware I still have those cursed parts hidden in me somewhere. I was about to tell him "Well, only one way to be sure: Have them removed. When can we schedule the surgery?" But apparently having not touched anyone for over five years did the trick too, on top of being on T for 9 months now.

In any case, maybe America makes people who have female parts jump through hoops, but my country doesn't seem to do that. I will have my blood drawn in five weeks to check liver functions and such, so they do keep a good eye on me.

[mythy]

Hey!

I have been on T for almost 3 years and I had horrible facial and back acne for the first year and a half or so. I decided to just stick it out and not go to a dermatologist but I wish I had because it would have helped. One of the things that did eventually help was using a good cleanser and moisturizer twice a day. I use Kiels ultra facial cleanser and ultra facial moisturizer with SPF 30. I still get zits from time to time but it's nothing like the beginning of being on T. It is pricey but it is so worth it, better than anything I ever tried over-the-counter.

Anyway, you probably already know this stuff already if you are going to a dermatologist but if you moisturize the hell out of your skin the oils will not build up as much.