Hi everyone,

Well, after a long journey of trial and error, my derm was just like "I'm putting you accutane." A few months ago I was like "oh heck no it's so bad and scary" but since then I've changed my mind and have reached my wit's end here. I eat healthy, tried several holistic remedies, prescriptions, blah blah blah. My acne is moderate. My skin isn't particularly oily either. Problem area is cheeks, which is not oily at all. Forehead is kind sort of oily sometimes but I don't really have acne there.I'm a 22 female. My wedding is in December.

Right now I'm taking fish oil (following NdnRomeo's regimen) which has kind of helped me that past couple of months but I'm going to stick with it until I start the Tane. That way, I gave it a good three months.

Anyways, I'm not starting until mid-August (ugh, so far away!) but any advice from accutane users would be greatly appreciated. Is there anything I can do from now to help with side effects? During the treatment? Thanks!

Females always have such a huge hassle getting on Accutane lol. A month before taking it you have to be on 2 contraceptives, and every visit you get tested, etc... Sucks for you guys

Something you'll notice on the pill packets is that there are 'No Pregnancy' warnings everywhere. Everything but hte pill itself has a pregnant woman with a red circle with a cross through it. There's also a disturbing diagram of what is likely to happen as birth defects (shows an elongated head, tons of internal organ problems, etc.)

I understand that there is a 95% chance of having birth defects (from wiki) if you do get pregnant but come on... It's quite disturbing lol

I've been on accutane for 1 week now and i just have the usual. Dry lips, dry face, initial breakout and a little dry eyes.

As for getting ready for hte side effects, stock up on moisturizer for later on in the course and, I use Aquaphor personally but i've heard Vaseline works too (however it's been known to clog poors on some people so..)

Also try to get in the habit of taking a multi-vitamin if you don't already. Anyone that doesn't have Vitamin A in it (Accutane is a variation of vitamin A (you could OD on Vitamin A and be on accutane but OD vitamin A has worse side effects then the variation Accutane)). I haven't been taking any all my life and now i decided to take one and i constantly forget I try but i just can't get in the habit of taking it.

Congrats about your wedding ^^ Unless you have severe, persistent acne you should be clear by December.

Congratulations on your wedding!

I've been on Accutane for 21 days so far. There's gonna be an IB within the first few days (at least thats how it was for me), which sucks, but it'll go away before you know it Right now I'm using Vaseline, which works wonders My lips were dry and the corners were cracking, but after one day of using Vaseline (I applied it once in the morning, 3 times throughout the day and then right before I went to bed), my lips started healing and now they're back to normal Be sure to get some moisturizer, as your skin does get dry. Use a mild face wash (I use Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser which I absolutely love!) and sunblock when going out. You might get headaches, too, though drinking a lot of water should help. If you get back pains, which I've gotten, exercising helps a lot as well.

Good luck on your course!

Hey guys and gals,

Thanks I really appreciate it! I guess I'm scared that I might get the more rare side effects. Plus my skin is actually not oily (my acne is probably more a result of exfoliation issues then oily skin I reckon) so I'm worried about how that my effect me. I will tell my derm at my next visit. It seems that most people just get the usual over drying symptoms, which is comforting. I can live with that for awhile if it means having clear skin

Don't worry about it too much. I would recommend you keep taking the fish oil and maybe some vitamin E. Since you're not that oily to begin with it might dry you out even more. As someone else said, Aquaphor will be your new best friend. It's good for lips and skin around a recently popped spot. I've also been veeeery sleepy lately (I take my pills with breakfast.) I think I'm on day 47. My skin looks really good except for these two spots on my cheek that are wicked hard and won't pop! I can't help it...I have a popping problem :/
Good luck to you with Accutane and your wedding. Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks Imnotcreative, and your log is pretty creative

I really appreciate everyone's support! I reckon the next 3.5 weeks will fly by as I will be rather busy between now and when I get my accutane. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks, going to visit my fiance for awhile, then I'm going to see my family, then before I know it, mid August will be here. Acne will put a damper on things because I'll always be worrying about my makeup and feeling self conscious, but I'm going to enjoy it anyway! I can't wait!

I just wanted to say I thoroughly hate iPledge. Look if you're dumb enough to get pregnant you'll get pregnant and if you're not, you won't.

Anyways, 3 weeks and 2 days until I get my prescription!!

1.Use sunscreen! No excuses *glare*
2. Eat really healthy...like really really healthy...with tons of water
3. If you need to exfoliate you can look up "baby brush method" on the forums,it's supposed to be uber gentle. I use an extra soft cotton myself
4. Eucerin Red Relief moisturizer- feels like thick pudding and is very soothing, a lot of people also praise Aquaphor
5.I LOVE aquafina chapstick! it's actually lip oil...
6.Neosporin on broken pimples helps them heal faster
7. icing inflamed pimples helps reduce swelling
8.ibu profin (advil) for when joint pain is a pain.

oh yeah, and good luck!

Thanks missyjean!

I had the STRANGEST dream and it seemed so real too I was even somewhat disappointed to wake up.

I had a dream that I had gotten my accutane and I was all excited and super ready and then so quickly, my face was TRANSFORMED (like a in matter of days) and it got all clear and I had a yes, NORMAL face! I was looking in the mirror and actually SMILING and I had my hands on my face and feeling how smooth it was and acne free. I also had no side effects or initial breakout! Wow, I hope it's a sign from God! It's getting my hopes up there....

ok, that is all.

God willing, that's exactly what will happen!

Day One

Yesterday I got my accutane and went to the pharm (well, I went to 3, long story) but finally found what I needed. I took my first pill last night.

It's weird as the derm did not even ask for my body weight or weigh me. She just gave me a dose and did not want to give me too much "for the little acne" I had. Actually my face has improved in the past few weeks, I don't have huge red cysts anymore (they're kind of underground though) but I have less big pimples and it's mostly red spots that I have. Anyways, she gave me 30 mg and was even hesitant for that because she was afraid I would flare too much. Finally she gave me 20mg and 10mg and said to take the 30mg and if I find the flaring too much, to only take the 20 mg pills. I hope there is no flare though!

Anyways, I don't feel anything, of course. Maybe in a few days. My face has been a bit more oily than usual lately anyway.

Ok sooo...

Status: Same
Side effects: excitement? slightly scared...

Day Two

I totally feel like updating even though I only popped in the third pill.

I'm making sure I get my omega-3's (either fish oil or flaxseed), I stocked up on aquaphor. I'm using cetaphil wash right now (forgot my alpha hydrox cleanser at my parents' home, will go home next week and get it). I'm also taking a b-complex, vitamin c, and vitamin e. Am also drinking plenty of water. As a moisturizer, I am using triderma healing cream. I looowe it! It's not greasy at all but leaves my skin soft and smooth. I think it's healing but I've hardly used it a few days so I can't say for sure. It has some antibacterial stuff in it so I think that should help.

I started school on Wednesday. I feel like I'm in such a daze. I need a firmer schedule. First week of classes I'm always a bit disoriented.

Otherwise not much going on. Skin is pretty much the same. No side effects (and I hope it stays that way!)

Ok, I'll report when something exciting happens.

good luck, hope things go well!

Day Four

Status: Face seems to be less oily, pimples drying up

Side effects: None

I just finished day 4 ! Oh yeah and Do you happen to live in florida? lol cause i started school wensday too. just wondering

Sweet! We can be buddies. Yes, I do live in Florida. Supposed to start Monday but we started late because of Fay

Good luck! It must feel good to finally be on tane after all that jumping through hoops. They made it hard enough for me to get tane and I'm a guy! I'm two weeks into my course and doin' well. Godspeed.

Hey Girl I'm 22 also and I just started my course on the 22nd and I'm also soon to be married! I dread getting married with pimply skin because I want to enjoy my wedding and not stress over my skin and go on my honeymoon without always having to make sure my pimples are covered!... Hope you have good luck!

P.S. I also live in Florida and just started school....more stress now haha

Thanks everyone for the support.

Day Five

Almost a week, hurrah!

Ok, I'm not sure if it's just sortret but good God how frustrating it is to get these pills out of their little pockets. I have to get a knife and pry into it. Oh how you taunt me...

Anyways, I think I am getting my first side effect: dry eyes (with headache). I totally expected this since I did LASIK in May and since then, my eyes have not returned to normal (not bad or anything, but just, not the way it was). They said it could take up to 6 months for eyes to completely normalize. Anyways, my skin is looking a bit better. Red marks are moving along. Pimples drying up. My skin is still oily at times though. So far though, no complaints.