TWO YEARS post accutane and...

I know one of the most frustrating things for me as I went through my accutane experience was that I didn't ever hear of anyone after accutane. Anyone who DID come back to this site after accutane was angry because it didn't work, and so it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Well, I'm here to tell you that... I'm two years post (I finished in June of 2006) and I am completely acne free!! I have no skincare regimen (other than washing my face in the shower every other day). My skin is significantly drier than it used to be. I only shower every other day because the hot water dries my skin pretty badly, but because of the accutane I CAN shower only every other day because I don't get oily on my body or on my scalp. All of the side effects I experienced have completely subsided, and I am my happy, healthy, skinny self again - with self-confidence to boot! It's amazing.

I AM on birth control, though, and I know that is supposed to help with acne, and so that might make a difference. But I think if my acne wanted to come back, it would have by now!

So I hope this is encouraging to all of you... I'll try to post a picture soon to show you that I'm not kidding - my skin looks great.

Best of luck to all of you and LOTS of love!!! You'll make it through!

And I'm back and ready to answer questions if anyone needs to know anything! Just PM me and I'll get to you ASAP.

TG

Please help me find the right BCP for me!

I took Yasmin. It gave me wicked migraines daily around the 3rd month I took it.

I then tried Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo, which gave me HORRIBLE mood swings.

If anyone could give me a BCP that is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy (I'm getting married next year! Hooray!), as well as help control acne and NO side effects like that, I would be eternally indebted!!

Almost to my 1-year anniversary of finishing accutane!!

I know that a lot of people, once their acne clears, no longer come to the site because they don't need advice on acne anymore. I finished accutane on June 25th of last year, and I just wanted to update those of you who are ON accutane of how the past year has gone for me.

I had moderate-severe acne. I weigh 115 lbs and took 40 mgs a day for 5 months. I took Amnesteem for 2 months and Sotret for the other 3.

- I had a LOT of red marks, and I am actually still dealing with some of those going away. It is a very, verrrrrrrrrrrrry slow process.
- The 15 lbs I gained during the course, are now lost. Thank goodness!!!
- I have no post-accutane regimen. I just wash my face when I feel like it. Where I was extremely oily before, I am not any more. I can wear eye makeup!!!!! (That is SO exciting for me!!) I have had about 10 zits total, give or take, in the past year. No joke.
- My skin is infinitely drier than it used to be, but not unbearable and not peeling. I'm having to use lotion regularly, which was weird to get used to for sure.
- The depression went away rather quickly, and my self-esteem sky-rocketed. About 3 months after finishing, I found the love of my life, and we're getting married next summer!!!
- I was still very sensitive to the sun even 4 months after finishing. I went to the tanning bed and FRIED. I do mean I fried. I couldn't even wear tank tops because the elastic built-in bras hurt that badly. I am fine now though, I just wear regular SPF when I'm going to the pool, and if I go out after 3 pm I don't need sunscreen at all.
- All accutane side effects have cleared except a touch of ADD. It is harder to focus in school than it used to be. That could just be the fact that I am taking MUCH harder classes.. I wouldn't doubt it. But all the dry peeling skin, dry lips, headaches, insomnia, joint pains, depression, dry hair, and panic attacks ceased completely when I finished my course. Some took longer to go away than others but they have all gone. The lack of oil has stayed, however, and for that I am grateful.

While accutane was a difficult journey, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I am so happy and carefree, and I never have to worry about my skin any more. I don't worry that I will look a fright in my wedding photos. I don't have to worry about camping trips or letting someone see me with my makeup off.

SO - those of you who are in the midst of the rigorous journey we call ACCUTANE, please don't get discouraged, and please don't quit. While it gets so tough at times that you don't want to deal with it any more, the remission of acne is one of the most liberating experiences ever.

I wish all of you the best, I'm still very much around the site, and anyone who ever needs advice or encouragement, I'm here for you!

TG

Reminder about Signatures

When you are putting together your signature, bear in mind that if it is in any way inappropriate or does not follow board rules, your signature will be removed and you will get a warning for it. We have had several members lately toe the line with signatures, and it is beyond frustrating for mods to have to remove the signatures and raise warning levels. Please make our jobs easier, and keep your signatures clean!

PROACTIV COMMERCIALS PISS ME OFF.

I'm sorry for those who are seeing results with proactiv. I myself saw results for two years. I then developed cystic acne and had to take accutane to cure it. I'm now completely acne free, but those commercials just freaking PISS ME OFF!! They come up with people going "I would wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror and go, 'there's no WAY I can go outside today! If I can't stand looking at myself how could someone else stand to?!' " And show a picture of the "acne" and it's literally one or two zits across the chin. How is that supposed to make people with REAL acne problems feel about themselves?!?! And then you have Jessica Simpson (who took accutane by the way) going, "Oh my GOSH, having acne is just EMBARRASSING!" I don't even HAVE acne any more and I get so mad when I see them.

I just needed to rant.