Saturday, March 25, 2006
High dose accutane for acne causing flushing and redness?
I've been skimming through some of the messages on the acne forums.
It is scary how many folks who are taking the high dose accutane for acne, are reporting redness and flushing both during and after their regime. They are then getting diagnosed with rosacea. Is no one putting 1-and-1 together to make 2?
Are there any studies on this yet?
Not that I have seen.
The more I have read on accutane the more I am convinced that in a decade's years time we will look back on high dose accutane as a misadventure. I cannot imagine swapping acne for rosacea is a long-term win.
As we've mentioned before on this blog, low dose accutane as prescribed for rosacea is a totally different ballgame to high dose accutane given to cystic acne patients (e.g. 10mg every other day compared to 80mg every day in acne regimes).
There is however a school of thought that ultra low dose accutane is also beneficial for acne patients, without so many side effects and without the possibility of causing the redness and flushing.
In summary:
Very low dose accutane is helpful for rosaceans.
High dose accutane may *cause* rosacea.
It is scary how many folks who are taking the high dose accutane for acne, are reporting redness and flushing both during and after their regime. They are then getting diagnosed with rosacea. Is no one putting 1-and-1 together to make 2?
Are there any studies on this yet?
Not that I have seen.
The more I have read on accutane the more I am convinced that in a decade's years time we will look back on high dose accutane as a misadventure. I cannot imagine swapping acne for rosacea is a long-term win.
As we've mentioned before on this blog, low dose accutane as prescribed for rosacea is a totally different ballgame to high dose accutane given to cystic acne patients (e.g. 10mg every other day compared to 80mg every day in acne regimes).
There is however a school of thought that ultra low dose accutane is also beneficial for acne patients, without so many side effects and without the possibility of causing the redness and flushing.
In summary:
Very low dose accutane is helpful for rosaceans.
High dose accutane may *cause* rosacea.
Monday, March 20, 2006
ETS (Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy) surgery dangers
(picture from http://www.truthaboutets.com)
A website, on ETS surgery (http://www.truthaboutets.com) has developed into an interesting resource for those considering ETS.
ETS has been widely publicised in the media as a simple, low risk solution for blushers and flushers and even touted by some doctors as a treatment for rosacea.
There are many scores of reports from people who feel they have been disabled by this surgery, without being made aware of the potential risks of what some have described as a "nervous system lobotomy".
The vast majority of people I read about who had this surgery to try and improve blushing related to their rosacea flushing disorder were unhappy with the results. The half dozen or so people I know personally who have had the procedure have either not been helped, or ended up with severe side effects from the physical (CS) to the emotional (lack of "feelings"). They all wish they had been made aware of the potential for serious side-effect before making the decision to proceed.
The page on "split body syndrome" where ETS patients have posted pictures of their damaged thermoregulatory systems, as shown up on thermal images, is fascinating and frightening.
Wikipedia also has an article on ETS
Forum on ETS surgery side-effects and reversals
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Accutane before and after pictures for rosacea
Kelli, a rosacea sufferer who keeps a diary on her rosacea treatments has posted a series of impressive photos before and after photos during her treatment with low-dose accutane, which she has kindly allowed me to reproduce here.
The pictures speak for themselves. Kelli has been taking 10mg a day. Worth noting that the most beneficial effects of accutane on rosacea are low-dose regimes. High doses, such as those taken for acne, can make rosacea worse. The "rosacea news" site has an excellent summary of articles on low dose accutane for rosacea.
Picture 1: 1st day of taking accutane (left), 1 month into accutane (right)
Picture 2: 3 months into accutane
Picture 3: 7 months into accutane (after shower, no makeup)
Thanks to Kelli for sharing her results.
In the USA, Accutane is increasingly difficult to get prescribed, especially for females, because of the risk of birth defects should the patient become pregnant. Because of this, new rules and procedures have been introduced... But has the pendulum swung too far? The iPledge programme is now under fire by dermatologists for being problematic and not ready for "prime-time".
Quote: "The net effect, say dermatologists, is a bottleneck in office operations, delays in patient care, and, ultimately, barriers to delivery of a drug that has proved the only effective therapy for many patients with severe, recalcitrant acne."
The pictures speak for themselves. Kelli has been taking 10mg a day. Worth noting that the most beneficial effects of accutane on rosacea are low-dose regimes. High doses, such as those taken for acne, can make rosacea worse. The "rosacea news" site has an excellent summary of articles on low dose accutane for rosacea.
Picture 1: 1st day of taking accutane (left), 1 month into accutane (right)
Picture 2: 3 months into accutane
Picture 3: 7 months into accutane (after shower, no makeup)
Thanks to Kelli for sharing her results.
In the USA, Accutane is increasingly difficult to get prescribed, especially for females, because of the risk of birth defects should the patient become pregnant. Because of this, new rules and procedures have been introduced... But has the pendulum swung too far? The iPledge programme is now under fire by dermatologists for being problematic and not ready for "prime-time".
Quote: "The net effect, say dermatologists, is a bottleneck in office operations, delays in patient care, and, ultimately, barriers to delivery of a drug that has proved the only effective therapy for many patients with severe, recalcitrant acne."
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
SansRosa, now aka COL-118
From a Collagenex press release:
"CollaGenex is also developing COL-118, utilizing the technology acquired in the SansRosa acquisition, as a preclinical topical compound for the treatment of redness associated with rosacea and other skin disorders. "
Under the 2006 financial guidance section:
"Research and development expenses: R&D expense is expected to be approximately $17 million and is expected to be invested primarily in the ongoing Phase II dose-ranging studies for incyclinide for the treatment of acne, various Phase II and Phase IV clinical trials for Oracea, continuing formulation development work for Restoraderm and formulation development work for COL-118, utilizing the technology acquired in the acquisition of SansRosa in 2005. "
So, still at the formulation stage and no mention of any clinical trials as of yet.
Previous SansRosa news:
Our first post on SansRosa Transcript of interview with founder Windhover SansRosa report snippets SansRosa patent details Collagenex purchases SansRosa
"CollaGenex is also developing COL-118, utilizing the technology acquired in the SansRosa acquisition, as a preclinical topical compound for the treatment of redness associated with rosacea and other skin disorders. "
Under the 2006 financial guidance section:
"Research and development expenses: R&D expense is expected to be approximately $17 million and is expected to be invested primarily in the ongoing Phase II dose-ranging studies for incyclinide for the treatment of acne, various Phase II and Phase IV clinical trials for Oracea, continuing formulation development work for Restoraderm and formulation development work for COL-118, utilizing the technology acquired in the acquisition of SansRosa in 2005. "
So, still at the formulation stage and no mention of any clinical trials as of yet.
Previous SansRosa news:
