Accutane/Ablative/Non-abaltive Lasers

[tryingtogetoverit]

Hi all!
Does anyone know how Accutane works to help rosacea? Why is such a low dose great, but such a high dose bad?

How long should someone wait to have laser (etc) treatments if they're taking Accutane? I've heard 6 months, but is that REALLY ok?

I know that ablative lasers produce a burn. Does this permanently worsen rosacea? Does it make it progress faster? What if I were to have IPL afterward? (As you can tell, I'm hellbent on getting Erbium for a few of my other problems other lasers are very, very unlikely to help with.)

I really don't know what to do, I just got accepted to the university I wanted...I'm not sure if I want to go to a new place with my skin like this and really need to get this figured out.

I have slight acne scarring and my skin texture is not smooth at all. I think that bothers me the most....are chemical peels an option, or is that just a lessen powerful laser in essence?

I'd appreciate any advice or comments.
Orion

[Bihbicat]

Please tell me you're not really considering passing up uni? I know some may scream that maybe my rosacea just isn't bad enough if I don't understand how someone could do that, but from my point of view the only thing worse than living with ugly skin because of this condition is handing all our power over to it and stopping living our lives. I know some people experience pain and have to limit what they do because of that but in regards to the appearance side of this I just feel that if I stop being willing to get out there and live my life because of it it's over. I can certainly understand you dreading dealing with new people and uni with the burden of rosacea on top but I really, really hope you don't let this determine your future. Some days when I'm finding it really hard to be less than lovely I remind myself that it's a challenge to value myself for who I am, for what I have to offer this world, and that anyone who can't see past my skin problems and see my value basically isn't worth the trouble. I do know it's not always easy to get to that place and I'm not there all the time either, but please think long and hard before you make big life decisions based on your emotions about this condition.

P.S. I think I recall hearing that chemical peels are never an option for us, but -- and I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong -- I seem to remember Dr Nase saying something about the N-Lite being good for that.

[tryingtogetoverit]

Bihibicat,
I'm really am considering it, unfortunately. Which makes me feel even worse, but I don't know how good of a student I could be under these circumstances. On some days, I feel fine. Like I could kick the doors open and be the most talkative, secure guy there. My skin seems to dictate my mood.
In the short time since I wrote that, I've learned so much from being here. I feel a lot better. Now I know I'm not crazy when I said fluorescent lights affected me! LOL!

Thanks so much for saying those things. I think right now I'm just frustrated. A few days ago I had no idea forums like this existed, and here I am. So I feel a lot better just with that.

I can't wait to have Dr. Nase's book!!
Orion

[Bihbicat]

Yeah, that's what I mean -- things are going to get better for you even if your skin takes a while to get under control, so you may as well charge ahead with your life plans and take this uni opportunity by the horns because I can promise you that if you let the feelings take over it will only get worse. Like I said before if you need to get help on that front please do. There's no shame in it. I see a therapist, not specificially for rosacea but it helps with that too.

Take care and best of luck with your treatments.