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Email a friendDermatologist Disputes Acne Remedy
Newspaper Columns, Pharmacy Q&A May 12, 2008
Q. As a dermatologist, I am dismayed by your article suggesting that milk of magnesia could treat cystic nodular acne. This is not a recommended treatment, and the false belief that it might be helpful could cause great harm by delaying proper treatment.Accutane will cure all acne when used properly for eight to ten months. Keeping the dose low can prevent side effects.
I am willing to bet that the person who said milk of magnesia worked better than prescribed treatment was making this up or did not see a dermatologist for appropriate care.
A. The mother who contacted us said that her son had been under a dermatologist’s care for many years and the thousands they had spent had not cleared his condition. She was pleased that milk of magnesia applied to his face at bedtime had been helpful.
This home remedy has not been tested for acne and might not help other people. Nevertheless, it is inexpensive and accessible.
Accutane has been a revolutionary treatment for cystic acne. It is, however, quite expensive (a five-month’s supply could cost over $5,000) and highly controversial.
Some side effects listed in the prescribing information include depression, suicidal thoughts, aggressive behavior, inflammation of the pancreas, hearing loss, inflammatory bowel disease, high triglycerides, hair loss, dry lips and itching.
Physicians are specifically warned not to prescribe Accutane for more than 5 months at any one time: “Long-term use of Accutane, even in low doses, has not been studied, and is not recommended.”
Tags: Accutane, Acne, Cystic Nodular Acne, Depression, Milk of Magnesia, Suicidal Ideation
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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2008 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
Might this work on rosacea? Everything I've tried is too drying.
Posted by: SWM | May 12, 2008 10:37 AM
Is anyone surprised this so-called "dermatologist" is unaware of the strong recommendation that an Accutane regimen not be extended past 5 months? And he reccomends 8-10 months? I realize, some of the prohibition is due to liability concerns, but as it says, long-term studies have not been conducted, and this is a heavy decision to make.
Posted by: RES | May 12, 2008 11:06 AM
Accutane certainly did not "cure" my acne. What does the dermatologist mean by "when used properly"?
I swallowed a pill, as directed, for nearly a year. It did clear up my acne for awhile, but the bump on my chin today is proof it is not a cure and I would never take it again.
Posted by: s.y. | May 13, 2008 10:58 AM
Well, all I have to say is the Milk of Magnesia is working for my daughter. We had run through the RetinA, Tynorak (sp?), Ziana and one other that I no longer remember and NONE OF THEM worked as well or as fast as the Milk of Magnesia. I have not let her quit taking the antibiotics yet but I think she can back off over the summer. BTW Our dermatologist didn't flat out refuse an Acutane prescription but he did describe the constant, necessary blood work required in such an unpleasant way -- we decided to pass.
Posted by: lak | May 16, 2008 6:54 AM
Hi, I am the Mother that wrote originally about my son who almost died back in Oct 2007. He was seen by a Dermatologist, he was on Accutane and taken off after 1 week for aggression and depression. He had vitamin A poisoning. The long term use of Antibiotics caused gastric bleeding. After using the Milk of Magnesia for months now only at bedtime topically, our Pediatric Specialist ran his Magnesium level to make sure it wasnt effected... We also re-ran the Vitamin A level to see if it has returned to normal.
Happy News My Son Looks Great - Feels Great - And Magnesium Levels and Vitamin A Levels are NORMAL! No thanks to the Dermatologists who never checked the levels for over a year that he was on the Vitamin A sauves... I'm sorry but I truly believe that all drugs are not the answer and we need to look at a more natural way of resolving health issues. I have since been reading, "The Best Choices" the Peoples Pharmacy and I have tested some remedies... I must say they tell you the good and the possible side effects from natural remedies...The Doctors today only tell you one side... what it will fix, not what it can do. Then a person gets more problems from the side effects of a drug and they prescribe another drug...and so on...
I have been of 2 statins, zocor and tri-chor since Oct 2007.. I was also on Zetia which i weaned off.... and Zoloft weaned off. I have since lost 28.8 pounds, I have stopped sleeping 18 hrs a day. I CAN WALK again, THINK again, REMEMBER again. I have been on statins since I was 23 - High Cholestrol is Hereditary in my family and at 50 with 2 heart attacks and now rising cholesterol - I realize with Coronary Artery Disease already for the last 5 years I can at least LIVE what is left of my life... not be drugged and still get the same results... I LOVE THE PEOPLES PHARMACY! Thank you for giving me a life back....
Posted by: JGBigMo | July 7, 2008 12:39 AM