subject: Depression Caused By Acne Treatment Information [print this page] It really is no secret that psychological and emotional problems can stem from a bad case of acne. As a teenager, for example, the social implications of having acne can sometimes lead to being ostracized or ridiculed by your peers. As an adult, social situations have a tendency to become awkward affairs if you've got either acne or scars leftover from it. You may not realize it, but the mind is just as affected by acne as the skin is. What can you do to avoid depression caused by acne treatments?
Most acne sufferers are aware that using a prescription acne treatment can cause side-effects: minor things like redness, swelling, irritation, dryness, or a combination of these. You could also experience even more problems if you use more than one treatment at the same time. (There is a perfectly good reason for professionals telling folks not to mix their acne medications: there's no telling how the compounds in them will react when they come into contact with one another, let alone your skin.)
One particular component, isotretinoin, is being blamed for acne treatments causing depression. The chemical is sometimes prescribed in the event antibiotics fail to reduce particularly problematic acne. While the drug shows itself to be a good means to treat severe cases, recent studies discovered that it can sometimes cause unwanted side effects. Thus, products containing isotretinoin are alleged to cause depression. Keep in mind, however, that just how much of the compound is needed to make someone depressed is something that isn't fully known yet. The amount might turn out to be much higher than the concentrations given in an acne medication.
You might want to be made aware that there is currently no concrete evidence that isotretinoin is causing the depression, aside from a few lab tests on mice. So, remember, acne itself may cause a whole host of psychological problems for someone who suffers from it, and the condition (not the treatment) could be to blame.
As a side note, Zoloft and acne have been linked together, though in a different manner. Zoloft is a drug prescribed to treat cases such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, zoloft and acne have been linked because some reports have stated that zoloft may actually cause acne. Zoloft causing acne, however, is reported to be an infrequent incident. It's typically the other way around--if you experience acne-related depression, your psychologist may prescribe Zoloft or a similar drug to battle the blues.
You might find that your wisest course of action would be to consult a professional about your problem. If an over-the-counter treatment fails, consult a professional on what would be the ideal way to treat your acne since they may also be able to answer your questions on acne treatments causing depression in detail.
