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Scientists: Cure for acne found!

telegraph.co.uk — Scientists believe they have found a breakthrough treatment for acne. They claim that the drug, SMT D002, can reduce the flow of sebum - an oily substance produced by the skin and believed to be a significant cause - by 90 percent.

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  • Anglemona, on 04/18/2008, -26/+3However, Roaccutane, the most widely used formulation of retinoic acid, has been linked to suicides among acne sufferers.
    • DOCKAUF55, on 04/18/2008, -1/+19Awesome, thanks helpee helperton.
    • deanguitarplaya, on 04/18/2008, -1/+7The only case I know of that I'm assuming they're referring to is the kid who crashed his plane in downtown Tampa. He was on accutane and they freaked out about that, but its unlikely it caused it.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Tampa_plane_cras ...
    • kilgoretrout88, on 04/18/2008, -5/+27Roaccutane draws attention of the acne sufferer to their problem, and exacerbates the problem for a while by drying up areas of the face, causing pain, bleeding, constantly peeling skin. On top of this, they're reminded several times a day (when they take the medication) that the conformist, beauty-obsessed culture we live in considers them a freak. THIS can lead to suicide.

      Roaccutane does NOT contain a special chemical that makes you want to hang yourself.
      • guyinjapan, on 04/18/2008, -0/+7When I went in to get consulted for Accutane, they warned me that it might make me depressed. I just started laughing, because, hell, the whole reason I was there was because I was already depressed, because my face was covered in ***** acne. I figured that this medication couldn't really make me feel any worse, and you know what? I was right. Incidentally, I feel great now, and I didn't kill myself. Surprise, surprise.
      • springo, on 04/18/2008, -1/+2Hmm, it's not like they're saying: "So we have this cure for acne, but let's pack it with some other drug that will make people kill themselves."
        However, that MAY be a side effect of the drug. Anyway, who knows... nobody knows with 100% accuracy how our brain works, so you can't really tell. The thing is there's people saying that it lead them to depression, even after finishing the treatment, but depression may come from anything else in their lives. Or from Accutane. You choose what to believe. (I personally wouldn't mind being on Accutane if I had really bad acne)
    • interbeing, on 04/18/2008, -0/+3I'm not sure exactly what context your comment is in. The drug they are talking about in this article is something that would most likely replace Roaccutane, and wouldn't have such severe side effects.
    • guyinjapan, on 04/18/2008, -0/+14I turned out just fine. In fact, there's little or no real scientific evidence to support any "bad mental effects" of Accutane. As far as I'm concerned, it's the holy grail of acne medication. I took it, it cleared me up, and I haven't looked back. As a guy below me said too, it was the single greatest thing I've done for my happiness.
      • Tiak, on 04/18/2008, -11/+2Am I the only one who finds this a bit sad?...
        • subliminalurge, on 04/18/2008, -0/+5Somebody took an action that resulted in them having a happier life, and you find that sad?

          You've got some issues, huh?
    • senatorpjt, on 04/18/2008, -0/+8Acne has been linked to suicides among acne sufferers. I know I felt a lot less depressed towards the end of my treatment. However, I did develop chronic joint pain which still lingers more than 10 years after I stopped taking it. Beats having acne though. I already have enough scars from it, I only wish I had started taking it earlier (they were reluctant to give me Accutane, so wasted several years trying stuff that didn't work)
    • josak, on 04/19/2008, -0/+0Sorry to burst your bubbles, but Accutane does in fact affect the brain. It can affect your mood, concentration, memory and if bad enough, yes, it can make you depressed. It does this by affecting seratonin levels in your brain, among other things.

      As far as this "SMT D002" - this isn't an acne cure, no more than accutane is. Stopping oil production isn't getting to the root cause of acne. Plus there are a lot things currently available that you can take to help with your oil production, such as anti-androgen supplements/drugs. Excess androgens (type of hormone) are what leads to oily skin,. This is caused by genetics and diet. If you have problems with oily skin, there are several solutions: (1) Low dose accutane (2) Change your diet & (3) Take an anti-androgen supplement such as "DIM". The best solution, imo, is probably a combination of 2 & 3. Check out the holistic forums at acne.org if you any questions.
  • billllyboobs34, on 04/18/2008, -15/+235So wait, I can no longer tell my girlfriend that acne medication comes out of my penis?
    • voxtarri, on 04/18/2008, -4/+13then what is that stuff?
    • ColorBlind, on 04/18/2008, -3/+84That is correct, but seeing how this new drugs stops the flow of oil to the skin....she'll be needing some moisturizing lotion.
    • passedoutghost, on 04/18/2008, -12/+0If she's stupid enough to believe that, tell her it changed it's chemical properties and is now mayonnaise.
      • w00tdigg, on 04/18/2008, -0/+14Good thing it still enlarges breasts.
        • 4321234, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1But don't mention the side-effect of breast enlargement is pregnancy.
    • sealhands, on 04/18/2008, -3/+109lets be honest, you dont have a girlfriend
    • Akaricloud, on 04/18/2008, -14/+8I assume that only the 13 year olds here dugg that comment up?

      • RainNIU, on 04/18/2008, -0/+4I'll assume that you're a woman, lacking the "dick and fart" sense of humor.
    • TheSpook, on 04/18/2008, -12/+6Tasteless...
      • Shakermaker, on 04/18/2008, -2/+22Not really...I've heard that it's salty.

        Oh wait....
        • TheSpook, on 04/18/2008, -6/+1I got dugg down for my pun and you got dugg up?? :P
        • renegadeafk, on 04/18/2008, -0/+5That's because your pun sucked
    • Jinekace, on 04/18/2008, -14/+0You pee on your gf? Do you sing R-Kelly's "pee on you" when you are doing it?
      • derek20cali, on 04/18/2008, -2/+8*Woosh*
        • Phanthom92, on 04/23/2008, -0/+0I dont think he understands the "*Whoosh*" thing either! xD
    • verkon, on 04/18/2008, -1/+36Dude, I wouldn't brag about my girlfriend having severe acne problems and low IQ.
    • Phanthom92, on 04/18/2008, -1/+3Since when does your hand count as your "girlfriend" ?
      • bot001220, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1Ever since your mom left him.
        • Phanthom92, on 04/23/2008, -0/+0A "mom" joke? Come now, we are on Digg not a Myspace forum.
    • themastersb, on 04/18/2008, -1/+2Good. So next up on the list of cures is Cancer, and AIDS right?
    • RainNIU, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2I took care of the acne on her ass for you.
    • dannyboy714, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1acne cure? digg users rejoice! now get out there, find a girl, and distance yourself from making misogynist jokes!
  • DeskFlyer, on 04/18/2008, -1/+114This would have came in handy about 15 years ago.
    • WayOfTheIronPaw, on 04/18/2008, -1/+325 years ago... and my skin is still too oily. (But a lot better than it was.) So sign me up.

      And reading between the lines, the drug on which this is based, and whose name they are suppressing... either it's really cheap and readily available (so customers might buy it instead if they knew about it), or it's not patented and they want to hit the market first before the other pharmaceuticals.
    • quelly, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2The pill form which IS used to treat acne has been out for a while and it's a myth that it's connected with suicide. Correlation of people with bad skin being depressed and using accutane. doesn't mean accutane was the cause.
  • bclinton, on 04/18/2008, -49/+8This is good news for the Obama Butt Boy crowd on here......
    • Myonosken, on 04/18/2008, -4/+11Just shut the ***** up and take your petty political stances elsewhere.
    • geoken, on 04/18/2008, -2/+13Scathing insult.

      I'm sure all Obama stories will be buried today as the 'butt boy crowd' members sit in their rooms sobbing over the emotionally crippling verbal attack you launched at them.
      • 1timeuser, on 04/18/2008, -0/+4Not anymore... now we have the cure for acne!
    • MOJIRA, on 05/17/2008, -1/+2I think that really is Bill Clinton.
  • p51d007, on 04/18/2008, -10/+43LOL......Geeks all over the world will rejoice!
    • gdehms, on 04/18/2008, -1/+24Yes, since geeks are the only ones who get acne..
    • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -2/+17Because we all know geeks are the only humans that have a skin type prone to acne ....?
      • surKaz, on 04/18/2008, -0/+9Yes, you should've figured that out by now...
    • SpykerSpeed, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1Actually Hispanics all over the world rejoice - Acne vulgaris was originally only in the "New World" and Hispanics tend to get it worse than most people.
    • TheUngod, on 04/18/2008, -1/+7It's not that only geeks have skin problems, it's just they tend to shower a little less than the rest of the world.
    • Scottamus, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1geeks are the only ones that have acne because acne causes one to turn into a geek due to peer ridicule and plummeting self esteem.

      /yes I know they aren't the only ones
      • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1No, geeks are geeks because they have an interest in technology. When someone turns 13 and starts getting acne, they don't go "Well, I guess I should start learning about those computers"
  • Berkana, on 04/18/2008, -6/+14Accutane already does this, doesn't it?

    Other acne cures have been around for a while already. Acne bacteria are anaerobic; anything that generates oxygen in the pores will kill them. Hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl peroxide have both proven to do this pretty well.
    • schnikies79, on 04/18/2008, -0/+26It's an excellent treatment but they won't prescribe it except under the worst circumstances.

      Accutane causes a huge amount of birth defects (while you are taking it and in almost all pregnancies), so there is the program you have to go through called iPledge which is a pain. Guys have to go though it too for some reason. Let's face it though, not all females are ready to get pregnant at any given time.

      I work in pharmacy btw.
      • freshyill, on 04/18/2008, -0/+12I love the no babies symbol that Accutane uses, like Ghostbusters, but with a baby.
      • SkittlesUSA, on 04/18/2008, -1/+6iPledge is *****, it caused so many problems for me in my treatment. Why the hell do I have to go through a program that exists to prevent birth defects when I can't even get pregnant? Just shows what happens when the government tries to step in to "solve" something.
        • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -1/+4Your body produces sperm you know, 50% of what makes up a human, so you have just as much ability causing a birth defect as a woman does
        • thesonofdarwin, on 04/18/2008, -2/+3ligyron, the birth defects caused by this drug are not the result of genetic manipulation before conception. The drug effects the development of the embyro; therefore, the only birth defects that could possibly arise from this drug being taken by a male that fertilized a female is the concentration of it in his fluids. I don't know, and I am absolutely sure you don't know at what rate this drug is metabolized. However, since every FDA and PubMed article I could find warns ONLY against females taking this drug, I have a suspicion the concentration in semen would be negligible.
        • thesonofdarwin, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2Citation: Rouche Laboratories

          "Accutane is found in male patients taking accutane, but the amount delivered to a female partner would be about one million times lower than an oral dose of 40mg."

          In the case of overdoses they warn:

          "Because an overdose would be expected to result in higher levels of isotretinoin in semen than found during a normal treatment course, male patients should use a condom or avoid sexual activity with a female patient who is or might become pregnant, for one month after the overdose."

          http://www.rocheusa.com/products/accutane/pi.pdf
      • thesonofdarwin, on 04/18/2008, -4/+1 Bury this
    • Coffeedemon, on 04/18/2008, -9/+1"Guys have to go though it too for some reason"
      Maybe its something to do with the biological contributions of both individuals creating the baby? Hence the potential transmission through the male may be as risky as the female contribution. I'd keep at the Biology if I were you... working in a pharmacy and all that.
      • Harabeck, on 04/18/2008, -1/+6Birth defects are usually only something the mother has to deal with as the infant is attached to them and shares in any chemicals they take in. Unless the chemicals cause harmful genetic mutations in the sperm(in which case why wouldnt it screw with the rest of the body?), the worst case for the guy would be that it cripples the sperm thus reducing the chance of creating a child in the first place.

        So schinikies is quite right to question it. Get off your damn high horse.
        • elint6, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1I think you are suggesting that accutane is mutagenic only to somatic cells, and therefore irrelevant to sperm/eggs. You may be right, but it's just a hypothesis. Many things in medicine are inexplicable, except with trials and reports that schnikies79 mentions below your comment. Most medicines are backed by 95% statistics (through clinical trials) and 5% known science.
          • Tiak, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1The problem isn't that it's a mutagen though, it's that it interferes with developmental signalling. The kids aren't born with genetic defects, they're born genetically normal with deformed skulls.
          • elint6, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1@ Tiak: Post-conception genetic defects usually refer to mutations in some of the embryonic cells. Even, say, one mutated cell within a conglomerate of 64 cells, for example, can have drastic effects as the fetus develops (1/64th of a billion cells is a lot). Accutane is a mutagen: http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:rJ6JHCMNnLwJ: ...
        • SteelFrog, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1I like turtles.
      • schnikies79, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2There are no reports of this in any case what-so-ever.

        If you really look at the iPledge program, it's because of politics. It's well known and accepted that the reason guys have to go through it too is to make it fair.
    • gak001, on 04/18/2008, -1/+5Except that both benzoyl and hydrogen peroxide are a bitch to your skin and the side effects of Accutane, well they were worth it, but let's say that was a very taxing year of my life. This drug claims not to have any significant side effects. The whole suicide thing is bunk though - if you have acne bad enough that you're on Accutane, chances are good that you might be a depressed, angst-ridden teen too.
    • shredswithpiks, on 04/18/2008, -3/+8accutane works to kill acne but has this giant list of side effects that leads me to recommend nobody ever take it ever. I was on it like 8 years ago and still have dry skin and photo sensitivity problems.
      • Eddiecoaster, on 04/18/2008, -1/+6that drug ***** you up. ive been off it for 5 years. my skin still doesnt heal the same way it used to after I get a cut. my lips are always dry (winter dry) even in the summer or when in hawaii. all that aside, it does work miracles.
        • freshyill, on 04/18/2008, -1/+3My ex girlfriend was on it, and she became a chapstick addict.
        • Stuntaneous, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1the clear skin is Not worth it.
      • Stuntaneous, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2already replied to a post somewhere else, but this seems more apt. as i mentioned there - its been a good five years since i went on a course and i still have an extremely debilitating severe dry eye condition to this day with no end in sight. i barely finished high school and ive had all but the most minimal of success at university due to not being able to make attendance or even get the work done. then theres not being able to go out regularly.. roaccutane shouldn't be available.
      • threepio, on 04/18/2008, -1/+2What a bunch of ***** nonsense. I did one course of accutane. I had dry skin and lips during the course, but after it was over I've been bloody fine. The only side effect was a sudden surge in self confidence. I'd rather live with a little dry skin than looking like a diseased pus factory.
    • senatorpjt, on 04/18/2008, -1/+10if Benzoyl Peroxide/Retin-A/Differin/etc worked in anything other than the most mild cases, nobody would ever take Accutane.
    • cobrapeed, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1I'm on accutane and haven't had any side effects besides obvious dryness, but no more than any topical treatment such as any OTC. Works great. Almost off my 1st 6 month treatment and clearer now than ever. My acne wasn't bad, just wouldn't go away 100% and at 23 years old was getting old.
  • moosepants, on 04/18/2008, -21/+51It's not a cure if 30% of patients don't respond to the treatment.
    • MikeSD34, on 04/18/2008, -1/+20Acne is a very generic term, there are several forms of it, and several things that cause those forms. There's also the fact that not everybody responds to drugs in the same way, we're not all 100% the same. 70% is a damned good result, even if it's not perfection.
      • freshyill, on 04/18/2008, -3/+1Still, not a cure. I'd call it more of a "70% effective treatment"... if you want to get technical.
        • jwolcott, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2Retards, the 30% refers to Retinoic Acid, not this new drug. Learn to ***** read.
        • Tiak, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1If you want to get technical you're right, it isn't a cure. This is because you have to continue taking it for continued effects. A cure removes a condition, a treatment leaves the condition in place but manages symptoms. So you're correct in saying that this is a "treatment", but for the wrong reason. As for how "effective" it is, the article doesn't specify.
    • jazboy, on 04/18/2008, -0/+22The article said 30% don't respond to retinoic acid which is better known as accutane. That statistic doesn't reflect the effectiveness of the new drug.
    • roxycat, on 04/18/2008, -1/+6reread it. that is referring to an older treatment, not the new cure they are talking about.
    • Scottamus, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1This cancer treatment is bunk, it only cures 70% of the patients. Toss out that crap.
      Idiot.
      /70% is really ***** good.
    • Brettus, on 04/18/2008, -1/+2MOOSEPANTS YOU ***** IDIOT! READ THE GAL'DARN ARTICLE THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU RESPOND WITH YOUR DUMB ***** COMMENTS! JESUS ***** *****! ....... breathe......ok, I am good.
  • shadowspawn, on 04/18/2008, -2/+10Dugg because for some reason I'm getting acne again. Only during the summer, tho.
  • tattertech, on 04/18/2008, -1/+21This study was solely done as digg bait.
    • sealhands, on 04/18/2008, -3/+14if that were true ron paul would have tested the medication while rick rolling the RIAA, guy
    • vypergts, on 04/18/2008, -0/+6Hey, I'm all for it if it means I have to watch less commercials for Proactiv.
  • JayG25, on 04/18/2008, -0/+42Damn it, Why does all the good stuff get invented after I dont need it anymore!
    • Jwoey, on 04/18/2008, -0/+11Yea like the drug that turns infants into superheroes.
    • priestess355, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1Its for people like me that would have acne FOREVER without it! I want it NOOOWWWW... NOOOOOOWWW!!!!
    • sstidman, on 04/18/2008, -0/+6Yeah, kids today have it WAY better than we did when I was a kid in the 80s. Remember how hard it was to get a hold of porn back then? Now it's easy. Getting access to a large choice of alternative music was extremely difficult, today it's trivial. We used to have to go to the library and use ***** old encyclopedias to write our reports, now you have better access to information in your bedroom then you ever had at the library. Not to mention that you can just download a report off the Internet. Cellphones, texting, e-mail, instant messaging, GPS, digital cameras, MP3 players....none of this stuff was accessible to kids when I was a growing up (and some of those things didn't even exist).

      Kids have it so much better today. I sometimes wonder if they understand just how good they have it.
      • flashingcurser, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2In 20 years they will be saying something very similar about an up and coming generation.
    • Brettus, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2I know - I totally could have used masterbatory diapers!
  • punchingjudy, on 04/18/2008, -16/+9Um, but sebum has other functions in the human body? It keeps your skin from cracking and your hair from being a crow's nest. It has a function. Try not eating pizza & hamburgers for a few weeks instead of taking a goddamn pill.
    • AlbinoRaven, on 04/18/2008, -5/+5I was just about to ask why acne happens. It can just NOT happen for some reason after thousands of generations getting it as a human condition.

      Exercises helps too in clearing it up along with a good diet...
      • blackhaze, on 04/18/2008, -0/+6First you ask why it happens then you list advice how to fix it.. awesome.

        The reality according to the clinical studies I've read is that excercise does not help, in fact it can make it worse by increasing secretion. Diet has proven not to be a factor either. Even by just skimming Wikipedia you get this "A 2005 systematic review found "surprisingly little evidence exists for the efficacy or lack of efficacy of dietary factors, face-washing and sunlight exposure in the management of acne.". Acne is unfortunately genetic and if you suffer from it severly or into adulthood you should contact a real doctor. The only known treatments as far as I know is benzoyl peroxide, cortisone, antibiotics and vitamin A based products. There is no cure, nor will there likely be within our lifetime if it's really genetic. So go to your parents and ask them for some money or you'll sue them for disfiguring you.
        • AlbinoRaven, on 04/18/2008, -2/+1Again, ask Why and more information comes. Didn't know about the genetic variant. I'm going from a position that as i kid I had acne, I started soccer and the acne disappeared, on the off season from sports it would come back. i would start hockey, the acne would disappear again. Although it's ancedotal, I suppose it's fairly dogmatic of me to assume it was the sports and diet that cured the acne.

          It's interesting stuff though. Thank the all mighty Dog I didn't end up like some of my buddies, they ended up looking like they took a shotgun to the face for years. It all fixed itself though, they ended up using Retin A and by 20 most were clear faced.
        • masterofshadows, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2Okay lets assume your right and its genetic. That doesn't mean we will need genetic modifications to cure it. Treating the symptom is just as much a cure as anything else if it makes the acne disappear. Also we know its caused by a bacteria, kill the bacteria and the problem goes away. If genetics play any role in this its making the environment more hospitable for the bacteria.
    • tobsterius, on 04/18/2008, -1/+8diet can only help so much. Some people just have excessively oily skin. Accutane was the only thing that really cleared up my acne when I was a teen.
      • masterofshadows, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2Accutane is one option, but its not really a good option. I went on it for a time in my youth, it nearly killed my liver in the process. For me i had to wait it out, it eventually cleared up on its own in my early 20's
  • jimbruno, on 04/18/2008, -5/+4Am I the only one who is a little concerned about people stopping a bodily function? Usually the body creates things for a reason.
    • guyinjapan, on 04/18/2008, -1/+3Uh, I had awful acne as a teenager and all it did was make me miserable. If you consider that a bodily function, then sure, be my guest, be miserable. Acne has no bodily use that I can see. I went on Accutane and got rid of it and haven't had any problems since. By the way - this medication is all unnecessary hype. From what I know, Accutane works just as well. There's no reason why anyone should have to deal with bad acne, because the cure does exist. It just so happens that Accutane got politicized because of the suicide of some Senator's son or something, and with little or no scientific evidence, people started pointing the finger at the medication, and legislation was passed that makes it nearly impossible to get now. It's a shame.
    • Svamp, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2The body's systems can get out of whack or are sometimes out of whack from the very first day. The human body is not perfect, even if it works well for the most part. Take allergies for one common example, it's the immune system attacking harmless matter that comes into contact with the body. My personal demon is a variant of IBS. It's a bitch.
    • Tiak, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2It's adjusting a bodily function that is hyperactive in some individuals, not removing it.
  • BryanG412, on 04/18/2008, -3/+21If you have really bad acne go to your dermo and get Accutane...I had really bad acne and nothing worked for me until this...I mean it's a little extreme you have to get blood tested once a month but it cleared me up and four years later it's still gone!
    • cryptomystic, on 04/18/2008, -13/+1It took 4 years to clear up? this accutane doesn't sound so great.
      • AussieFox, on 04/18/2008, -0/+7He said four years later it's still gone.

        Meaning he hasn't had it since he took it.
      • senatorpjt, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2Accutane is one of those things that drug companies supposedly hate - a cure. It works like an antibiotic - the acne doesn't come back after you finish taking it. (usually). I had to take two courses, you take it for a few weeks, then you stop
    • VyRuZ, on 04/18/2008, -0/+11He said he hasn't seen acne for 4 years now. It takes half a year, most. :)
    • smoothdogg00, on 04/18/2008, -2/+12Accutane has gotten a bad reputation, but I'm not sure why. I took it for like 6 months and have never had acne since. Probably the single best thing that I've ever done in my life for my happiness and I think anyone with serious acne problems should go get it!
      • guyinjapan, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1Amen.
      • masterofshadows, on 04/18/2008, -2/+4Its gotten a bad rep because it is dangerous. It increases the risk of suicidal tendencies and can cause liver failure.
      • priestess355, on 04/18/2008, -0/+3Because it doesn't work for 30% of people (including me) and if you get the side effects it sucks like nothing else (well, chemo I'm sure takes the cake for nasty meds, but you know what I mean)
    • Findeton, on 04/18/2008, -0/+3Man, you are right, i also had a very bad acne and now i'm clean (it's been 2 years since i finnished the treatment and i'm still clean). I have to say that it doesn't work that well for ALL the people, acne can return, but it's rare and normally if it's not the first time, the second is normally definitive.
      Give it a try, you will be satisfied!
    • SpykerSpeed, on 04/18/2008, -2/+2I was on one round of accutane two years ago. I'm getting acne again, just not as bad as before and not in the same places. The accutane treatment itself wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be - my skin never got too dry and generally the worse side effect for me was some dehydration and lower back pain. But that's it. I've heard that child stars in Hollywood take one accutane pill a week and that keeps their skin looking perfect at all times - this wouldn't surprise me at all, because hours after taking a pill I noticed a positive difference in my skin tone, making me look healthier and younger.
      • DarkDx, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1The last part of your comment sounded totally like an ad lol.
        • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -1/+3That is common for acne sufferers. They take so many products, spend hours researching and reading ads and reviews, that they start to talk like advertisers
        • SpykerSpeed, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2I was actually being absolutely serious, lol. I actually run a business though, and I've been having to come up with some ads so it makes sense I was in that frame of mind.
    • athenius22, on 04/18/2008, -0/+3I took Accutane too, and it worked (for pretty serious acne). It's been about 3 years since then, and now I just have to apply Retin-A Micro at night. Works great.
    • carrtoonist, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1Accutane doesn't work for everyone. I had bad side-effects with it and it did nothing for the acne on my back. It worked great on my face but the acne returned as soon (really soon) as I stopped taking it.
    • HouseFan, on 04/18/2008, -2/+1Yeah, who needs a liver anyway, right?
  • Irfit, on 04/18/2008, -7/+2Diggers, rejoice!
  • kamau84, on 04/18/2008, -1/+9This is not a cure. This is what happens when copy editors choose the headlines.
    • chrishiggins, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1It sounded like an Onion article at first to me.
  • iknowbob, on 04/18/2008, -1/+7i have a feeling that this "Major Drug" they are keeping a secret is viagra...
  • w00tdigg, on 04/18/2008, -0/+14Quick, somebody get Jessica Simpson on the line, I smell an endorsement deal.
  • Frostek, on 04/18/2008, -8/+6I'm thinking we should think very carefully about releasing this for general usage. Back in the day, it was a simple matter to reply "Shut your face, spotty!" when you walked past a group of kids on a corner and got some mouthy comment. If they all have flawless skin what are we supposed to do?

    Besides, it's not like you see many people with the kind of complexions we had back then. Some kid's faces looked like a bowl of rhubarb and custard! ;-)
    • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -3/+1;-) were you raped as a child?
    • threepio, on 04/18/2008, -0/+4Friend, your british humour just won't fly on Digg. They don't get it.
  • CookieCutter, on 04/18/2008, -2/+1benzol peroxide worked wonders for me. 3 months later my skin was clear as anything. haven't had a zit since. acne dot org or something has some videos on how to do it right.
  • kinerry, on 04/18/2008, -0/+7this is also the same fluid that lubricates the vagina

    women that take this will have to take lube, and no I'm not kidding
  • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -5/+3Teenage girls around the world rejoice!
    Male acne sufferers rejoice!
    Adult acne sufferers rejoice!
    Mothers that are tried of buying products for their kids rejoice!
    The point is, people are rejoicing, we get it
  • jferrari, on 04/18/2008, -0/+17"It is a major drug, but we cannot reveal its name or the condition it currently treats."

    From oxfordshirebioscience: "its an off-patent small molecule drug that has a long, established history of safe use. The Company has a strong patent position to protect the use of SMT D002 in these new indications"

    So its something that is already available and cheap - they just need to get a patent for its new usage and charge 10x more?
    • AlKo, on 04/18/2008, -0/+3Yup... they'll patent a specific method of delivery and then buy out doctors and hospitals to use their product. Then the insurance company pays extra and then you pay an increased premium/cost.
    • SpykerSpeed, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1That's extremely interesting - that they can patent the drug's new USE. Once we find out what the original drug is, everyone will just go out and buy the off-patent generic.
  • kilgoretrout88, on 04/18/2008, -0/+8Yes, because being a 'geek' and having a medical condition are mutually exclusive.
  • cquilliam, on 04/18/2008, -6/+1dupe.

    i mean, my comment was a dupe, so it has been erased
  • Steven8890, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1Wont this make you so dry that your skin will crumble?
    • BuryIt, on 04/18/2008, -2/+0Not with the disgusting amount of fat that a normal American eats. This would just get it back down to "normal" levels.
  • gen2ux, on 04/18/2008, -3/+3Why does that title say "Scientists: Cure for acne found!" when clearly it should be" Scientists: Cure for acne believed to be found!"
  • brutalsponge, on 04/18/2008, -9/+5BACON IS NOT A PILLOW.
    • 1timeuser, on 04/18/2008, -0/+4Hmmm. is that what i've been doing wrong?
    • SteelFrog, on 04/18/2008, -0/+5WELL IT DAMN WELL SHOULD BE!
  • SirDomino, on 04/18/2008, -5/+2I bet it causes cancer...
    • Melancholiatic, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2According to the media, everything causes cancer.
      You might wanna stop breathing. You could get cancer.
  • jyrus, on 04/18/2008, -7/+0From what I've read, acne is caused by normal skin bacteria getting blocked in your pores and growing out of control. I used to have acne but I started using the 2.5% concentration benzoyl peroxide that is produced by dan kern for acne.org. It worked wonders for me and a lot of other people. I highly recommend anyone with acne try it out.
    • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1You sound just like an email I got
      • jyrus, on 04/18/2008, -1/+0Yea, well I'm not a spammer..I'm trying to help people out based on my own experience. Sue me
  • zjbird, on 04/18/2008, -5/+3and you can kill aids by putting bleach in your bloodstream..doesn't make me want to try it
  • Yage2006, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2So they say they cant reveal what other condition it was used to treat a quick google however shows this in results the drug was previously used to treat seborrheic dermatitis in Parkinson's patients
    • snek, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0Just like a certain anti-hairloss product is also used to decrease prostate enlargement ;)
      And Viagra was used as bloodpressure & angina pectoris medication.
      Not to mention all the drugs on the street..
  • offthewagon, on 04/18/2008, -4/+3wonderful. now if they can turn their attention to cancer that would be super.
    • MuletTheGreat, on 04/18/2008, -2/+1What the *****? There are hoardes of charities raising funds for hoardes of cancer research facilities!!! Should we direct everything we have to cancer leaveing nothing else?

      there is a lot of science to be done. just because you dont have acne and fear cancer doesnt mean it should be the core of all research right now. We should research as much as we can, as thoroughly as we can as accidental discoveries may be made.

      Like penacilin.
  • FISHLEGBOOTS, on 04/18/2008, -3/+4I can take my shirt off at the beach now! My ex-girlfriend said running her hand over my back was like reading ***** braille.
    • snek, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0Sun can also help against acne.. Who knows, if she would have let you take off your shirt it might have fixed the problem :P
      • GhostRidr, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1Actually dermatologists will tell you the sun can make it worse, by drying out out, and tightening your pores, closing them up, letting the bacteria fester. One solution that worked for me--salt water, in the sense of swimming in the ocean. It dried up the acne. Of course, two weeks back from vacation and it would start returning.
  • britblogger, on 04/18/2008, -2/+2in other news, shares of Trojan and Durex sky rocket as teenaged boys rush to their local drug stores and chemists.
  • jayscot, on 04/18/2008, -6/+1Well...this should come as good news for the vast majority of you guys here on digg.
  • AlKo, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1When I read the article and it mentioned roaccutane caused suicide in some patient, I was imagine a typical "happyhappy" drug commercial where they rattle off the side effects really quickly.
    "Roaccutane is not for people suffering from depression or taking anti-depressants as SUICIDE may occur. Side effects include blahblahblah, SUICIDE, blahblah."
    That's one of the worst side effects ever for an ACNE medicine.
    • oldtactics, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1The whole having-babies-with-no-bones is kind of a deterrent for me. Seems to me that maybe that's not something I want to put in my body?
    • AbleZebra, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2I've read that statistics indicate the suicide rate to be lower among accutane users than in the general teenage population. Sure, people on accutane have committed suicide, but based on the stats, you could actually argue that the drug prevents suicides.
    • Stuntaneous, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1the alleged suicide connection is only the tip of the iceberg. roaccutane is infamous for causing all sorts of debilitating problems. after i went on a course i was left with a severe dry eye condition that still manages to impede every aspect of my life to this day, with no end in sight. going on my fifth year now.
  • mrzack, on 04/18/2008, -10/+3*****. synthetic pharmaceuticals are a fraud. Take melatonin, eat plenty of zinc, magnesium, vitamin A rich foods, and stay away from all oily greasy processed foods. Once the body detoxes, then the face clears up. Go raw with vegatables and fruits.
    • cgoff, on 04/18/2008, -4/+2+1 from me. I would like to add drinking around a gallon of water a day if possible. This will help flush the oils out of your system.
      • DarkDx, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1I drink a LOT more water than other people in my house, we also eat healthy (most of the times) but sometimes I like to eat in the street and it's not even everyday, most 2 days in a week and I still have a grassy skin (and acne) :( I guess I'l try to eat zero oily greasy food.
        • ligyron, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1Also helps to bathe regularly...
        • urinalpoop, on 04/18/2008, -1/+0Don't bother. The only ***** in this thread is coming from mrzack and cgoff. Thousands of people with a genetically oily skin are reading their comments and chuckling with derision. If it were as easy as eating vegetables and drinking water, everyone would be doing it, but it doesn't work that way. There is no Big Pharma/Big Dermatology conspiracy to prevent you from learning about cheap, easy cures. The only way to control sebum production with diet is to starve yourself (become anorexic).
          • DarkDx, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1That is, I'm becoming anorexic! Seriously tough, thanks for the reply. Now I wont be doing an unnecesary diet.
          • urinalpoop, on 04/18/2008, -1/+1There may be certain things you can do in your diet to reduce acne. Excessive milk consumption has been shown to increase acne. Note that this has nothing to do with sebum production. Milk is believed to contain compounds that cause hyperkeratinization, which is one of the other of the big three factors in acne (sebum, hyperkeratinization, bacterial colonization).
          • mrzack, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1These acned people have never tried the Raw Food diet before. You is WRONG darkox. so ignorant.
        • priestess355, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1nope! I've had anorexia too... I got really sick and thin and the acne stayed - double :(
        • cgoff, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2DarkDX, it might be something in particular that sets it off for you. For me, when I was younger it was soda and foods like pizza or tacos (bummer because I really like greasy foods). Best bet is just to find out what really causes a reaction, then stay away from it and see if it helps. For me, as I stated, it was drinking water and trying to eat foods that weren't highly processed and high in fats.

          I have no idea why all this is being modded down. I don't feel there is a huge conspiracy in pharmaceuticals HOWEVER I do feel a lot of your problems can be fixed by diet changes. It might not happen overnight for you, but over time it WILL make a difference. I would just assume try natural alternatives before dumping man-made chemicals (with side affects both known and unknown) into my body. Apparently I'm the minority.
    • priestess355, on 04/18/2008, -0/+7Yeah, unless you have a MEDICAL condition that causes you to produce too much oil... like genetic adolescent oily skin... or like me, polycystic ovaries. Don't you think that if it were as easy as washing our faces and eating zinc we wouldn't have acne! Bloody hell, by the time I'm up to trying acid peels, dermabrasion and accutane (which was a fun trip through the list of possible side effects, of which I unluckily got a handful) I sure as hell had tried something and moronically easy as cutting out greasy food...
      • DarkDx, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1I have "genetic adolescent oily skin", does that mean that what they said would work for me?=
    • BuryIt, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1I agree that the solution is to just treat your body right, but this is not a reality. I've completely lost hope in my fellow man to make proper judgments. Why do you think that more than half the American population is overweight or obese? We live in a society that hates fat people. None of them want to be obese, but they are too weak or too stupid to take care of themselves.
  • orlyfactor, on 04/18/2008, -1/+2Now someone go back in time and give this ***** to Edward James Olmos!!
  • robbiev80, on 04/18/2008, -2/+1I guess I'll have to make the mandatory "the side effect is they all turn into zombies"
    digg comment. :p
    • mcdropkicker, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1Here's an idea: don't tell people to digg your comment.
  • Wilsomatic, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1Quick, we need Diddy to endorse it! Ready his sexy!
  • rblancarte, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2I'm in pizza faced paradise!
  • priestess355, on 04/18/2008, -0/+9I found accutane so awful I had to stop. I had mood swings, couldn't sleep (dry eye so bad my eyes would be stuck OPEN when I woke up), my mouth and nose would constantly cut and bleed... lets just say no, never again. Plus, despite all that, my doctors are now convinced that even a full course of it wouldn't cure my acne due to my underlying conditions. I'm nearly 25! Anything that I can put on my face to control my acne safely would be a blessing from GOD (yes, it would encourage me to believe it GOD, thats how badly I want this medicine... NOW NOW NOW)
    • iansmith6, on 04/18/2008, -0/+3I was on accutane for 6 months. I had seriously painfull acne. Just a few of them here and there, but they liked to form on the inside of my nose, and the worse, on my EYELID. Ow. That hurts like hell for about a week and you are reduced to looking out of one eye.

      The accutane cleared it up, but yea, it's awful. Wake up in the morning with a bloody pillow because your lips are all dried out and craked, throat hurts, flaking skin all over. It was worth it to get rid of the acne, but calling accutane a cure is like saying the cure for athletes foot is amputation.
  • slimshady, on 04/18/2008, -3/+1Just go and get proactive. I use to use it about 10 years ago, about 90% of my acne disappeared, now I only get pimples.
  • frosted, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0There are effective treatments for acne, but there is NO CURE. This means that people can suffer the effects of less money and bigger drug companies.
    • oneoverzero, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1well, I'm not saying this is a cure, but...

      Generally there's no cure for anything... until there's a cure.
  • Strunt, on 04/18/2008, -3/+1Smoking weed sorted my acne out :) oh no I just didn't care...
  • Iamthechamp, on 04/18/2008, -0/+1I probably know what this is. I had absolutely terrible acne, then I went to get my wisdom teeth pulled and they put me on some pre-surgery drugs. My face cleared up COMPLETELY, I looked like I never had acne. I stayed clear for about 2 weeks after the surgery, then it came back. I went to the dermatologist and showed him the drugs I took. He said he couldn't subscribe it. I was depressed for about 6 months knowing I had found the cure but couldn't get it.

    This has to be that drug, I could have made millions if I had patented it...

    Everyone was shocked when they saw me for those two weeks, everyone wanted to know what I had taken.
    • priestess355, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2sounds more like really potent antibiotics... and no, your doc was right. you can't go on broad spectrum antibiotics for the rest of your life.
  • jus10k, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0Accutane did the trick for me. 2 and a half years later Im still 100% clear after suffering for 8 years with bad acne. Accutane SUCKS while your on it but its well worth it in the end.
    • furatail, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0I had horrible acne that stopped around age 20, and I do mean horrible. I am 24 now but have maybe a rare pimple every few months. It's tiny and barely noticeable. You should consider that you may have naturally grew out of it. I was little lucky though, no one ever made fun of my skin.
  • seks03, on 04/18/2008, -1/+2Geeks around the world rejoice !
  • Roybertito, on 04/18/2008, -8/+1Of course all the ugly lifeless geeks on Digg love this story. Get jobs.
    • WayOfTheIronPaw, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0Got a job. Got a life. Not so ugly. Card carrying geek. Love the story.

      Get a clue, bitch.
  • masisso, on 04/18/2008, -3/+0Most acne is caused because of poor hygiene. People simply don't clean their face properly, you might think you are but you're not. If you properly clean your face you won't get acne, plain and simple.

    Ever since I've been using this ( years now ) I never get pimples
    http://www.clinique.com/templates/products/3step_l ...
    • carrtoonist, on 04/18/2008, -0/+2That is such a load of BS.
      • masisso, on 05/02/2008, -0/+0I said "MOST". You have the tools to keep your face acne free. You just have to take responsibility and stop thinking some medication is going to solve all your skin problems. Eat right and respect your skin. But if you think its BS then fine, you'll regret it in your later years.
    • silentnight913, on 04/18/2008, -0/+0This is not true for people who suffer from scarring, cystic acne. The pimples are deep within the skin, are painful, and are not significantly effected by washing your face. I know this, because I suffered from this type of acne since middle school.
      I'm now 25, and finished taking a 5 month course of accutane in February. Though I have scarring, I have not had a single pimple since the 3rd month of treatment. It is difficult for people who suffer from severe acne to be told it's because of their hygiene, when they are spending so much time and money trying different products. If a simple over the counter facial wash solves your problem, you are lucky to not have severe acne.
      • masisso, on 05/02/2008, -0/+0That's why I said "Most acne". Cystic / Severe Acne doesn't affect everyone but everyone can do their part in treating common acne ( which is what most people have ). Have you ever seen a womans face without makeup? Most have terrible skin, you know why? It's because they don't properly remove it before going to bed? Do you know what happens next? Their pores get clogged up which results in acne. Over time, this builds up and eventually looks like severe acne but in actuality it's just poor hygiene. Same thing goes for everyone else, do you know how dirty your face gets throughout the day? If you don't clean it properly on a daily basis, dirt,oil and dead skin builds up causing a lot of
        irritation to your pores..eventually enlarging them. It's disgusting, trust me.
        How do you clean your face by the way? Do you use regular soap? Do you every bother removing the layer of dead skin that builds up on your face? On a daily basis; do you moisture your face, do you use sunblock? If you don't your face is going to age a lot quicker than it should.
        As well, everyday soaps do more harm than good, they dry up your skin or they irritate your pores ( causing in more acne ).
        I'm trying to give you good sound advice but If you want to dismiss the effectiveness of proper hygiene then so be it. Remember, it's your skin you'll have to live with it for the rest of your life. Treat it well.
    • cbeach, on 04/22/2008, -0/+1Masisso you are a troll. Do you think people with serious, confidence-debilitating acne just neglect to wash? I had acne and tried SO MANY ways of washing to get rid of it. Roaccutane worked for me in the end.

      You think a simple cosmetic cleaning product will work for serious acne sufferers? You are an idiot
      • masisso, on 05/02/2008, -1/+0Shut up crater face. That's why I said "Most acne", I didn't say "All Acne" or "Acne". Maybe you should read before you call people names.
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