I have had consistent, moderate acne since I was 12. I am now 18. This includes not only my face but on my back as well. I have been on [what seems like] every cream, gel, wash, or pill that's out there. I went back to my dermatologist in august, & basically spilled my heart out to her, because I wanted so badly for her to put me on accutane. I have a history of depression [back when I was 13-14] but i'm fine now. Therefore, she said she absolutely could not & would not ever put me on accutane due to the chance that it could come back. I've had acne for 6 years now, not just a spot or 2 every now and then but moderate - severe acne. It is so painful emotionally & i'm at a breaking point. I honestly don't know what to do anymore. This is affecting my ability to function in everyday life because I used to be a really pretty girl and many people know me for that. It's affecting the way I live my life in a very negative way.

So instead of putting me on accutane like I wanted, she prescribed me minocycline 100mg twice a day [the only one of the -cycline drugs I haven't been on.] as well as brevoxyl wash morning & night - & differin gel at night time. Last week my face was the best it has been in about 3 years. I really saw a huge difference and was so excited because I thought maybe it was finally clearing up. My back on the other hand never cleared any at all and only got worse from what i've seen. But now my face is back to the breakouts again, my left cheek inparticular is broken out terribly. My back of course is horrible.

I don't know what to do. I feel in my heart that accutane would be the only thing to ever clear my skin up. My brother is 21 now, he took it when he was 18 and it cleared him up so well and he hasn't relapsed at all. My skin is driving me crazy literally.

Might I add that I am also on birth control, oral. The minocycline makes my bc less effective, and the minocycline obviously isn't clearing me up therefore making it really a nuisance. I thought maybe the birth control would help my skin a little but it hasn't.

Do you have any suggestions at all? Is it really impossible for my dermatologist to ever prescribe me accutane due to my history of depression?

I'm so frustrated. I want my life back. I've spent all of my teenage years battling this.