Well... I decided to create a log for african americans out there... we seem to be under represented on the board.

I'm currently on my third month of treatment... my skin is still purging and that sucks!!!!!!! My skin looks way worse than when I started. I'm just praying things get better! I'm currently taking 40mgs of Sotret once a day. I thought about switching to Claravis, but I'm not sure how it will affect my body.
The side effects of Sotret have been pretty cool... joint pain on the left side of my jaw that I got rid of by taking Osteo Bi-Flex (Walmart)... eyelashes were falling out, took care of that with Kerastase tablets. I'm happy to report I haven't experienced vaginal dryness or depression. Kind of scared Claravis may cause these things...so I'm gonna stick it out with Sotret....

i love black chicks.

good luck on your course. i'm on 40mg week 6 and my skin also looks much worse than when I started.

Day 78

Okay... so I need to offer some background info...

I've had acne since 6th grade... 11! I'm 25 now... I figured the madness needed to stop... like most of you I've tried everything under the sun AND moon lol... If another idiot asked me if I've tried proactive...i think i would've went insane...

I have extremely oily skin...or at least I use to. The sotret stopped that in week two
I work in a coroporate environment..soo just imagine the embarrassment having make-up on to hide the blemishes, but yet skin is oily as hell... not a good look lol

I promise to document my experience at least twice a week... My goal is to give hope to the hopeless... This board has been an extreme blessing to me...hope I can do the same for some one else...

Hey hugrad!

I'm so glad that you've decided to log your experience. I'm a 30 yr old Black woman and have had acne for like 8 years now. Ugh, it's been sickening . I currently use Tazorac to control it, but my skin still looks like crap. I mean don't get me wrong, it has been a lot worse in the past, but it's still not where I'd like it to be. Sometimes I'm virtually clear but with dark marks from past breakouts, while other times my face is just a broken out MESS !!

I got a dermatologist to prescribe Accutane for me about 3 years ago, but I didn't have health insurance at the time so it was going to be waaaay too expensive. Now I have health insurance again , but for the past year and a half I've been too scared to take the Accutane plunge. Lately my skin has been on my nerves, so I've decided to grow some balls and just do it! I'm thinking about calling my Dr. next week to get a referral to a good Derm.

Are there differences between Sotret and Claravis? I thought they were all supposed to be the same.

P.S. I have hella oily skin too and I hate people that recommend Proactiv! Down with Proactiv!!!!

Nay I don't think there is a difference...it's just that my derm specifically told me to use Claravis...but the the cvs where I get my perscription filled doesn't have it. I read the side effects differ amongst brands...since Sotret has overall been good to me, I think I'm gonna stick with it.
I've tried Tazorac when I was in college... I'm pretty impatient, maybe if I had stuck it out I would've noticed a difference... I wish u the very best if u decide to take the accutane plunge.

Day 83

No new breakouts this week. Still have existing whiteheads and a ton of black heads. My next derm visit is next thursday. I'll be going into my fourth month. I will post pics of before accutane and my three month mark. Hopefully i'll get clear the fourth month. No noticeable side effects. Still taking Osteo bi-flex and a kerastase tablet. My face is dry as hell!! I've been wearing Mac make-up, but it does not look good. Gonna try to pick up some bare minerals this weekend at the mall.

Well until next time...

It's good to hear that you have no new break outs! Can't wait to see pics. What do you moisturize with?

Ok so...Day 90

Went to the derm today... my skin isnt improving as it should, so he suggested seeing how I do the fourth month, and maybe extending my treatment...he initially said 6 months...surely I don't want to be on this more than 6 months.

He had his assistant perform some extractions! I thought that was forbidden while on accutane...my pores were extremely clogged though...I do feel like my skin can breathe now. Hmm... I sure hope I see a lot of improvement this month.

I've been a recluse... I've decided not let my acne keep me from living.... My Mac make-up ran out. I'm seriously thinking about getting Bare Minerals... I may go in for a consultation Saturday and see how it looks and if its easy to apply.




I moisturize with Cerave on my face... and Aquaphor on my arms...i get dry patches on my arms. Aquaphor works miracles

Hello and welcome to the boards!

Please consider some other makeup than Bare Minerals. Many persons with acne prone skin find that Bare Minerals (and some also think MAC) will break them out. BM has bismuth oxychloride in it; that causes the shine of BM and also the irritation that many acne-prone persons experience.

For me, I can't use MAC Skin Finishes, but I can use the Physician's Formula shimmer strips without a problem. There are some lovely colors in their makeup that would work for African American skin. The Physician's Formula liquid mineral wear makeup is great, too. I also really like Everyday Minerals (inexpensive AND great without the bismuth oxychloride!) Most acne sufferers choose the intensive but if your skin is dry right now from the isotretinoin, you might prefer their other formulas.

Thanks for the advice Wynne! I did some research on bismuth...you were absolutely right. Thanks!

DAY 96

Finally no break-outs! I've had 5 soda's this week so far... with no breakouts! Usually if I drink a soda on a Monday...I would definitely have a sore huge pimple by Tuesday. Whew!
Also, because of the extractions my derm performed, my skin feels smoother. I have a great deal of discoloration. Surely that will fade in time... Well that's pretty much all there is to report.

Day 115

My face looks great! It feels so smooth. For the longest I've had blackheads and white heads that made my skin feel bumpy. I have another derm appt in five days. So it looks like for me I didn't start seeing results until the fourth month. I think the extractions they gave me last derm visit helped a lot. I still wear make-up because of hyperpigmentation. I'm thinking maybe after the fifth month I wont need to wear it anymore. Well that's all for now...

Yay! I'm glad to hear it's working out well for you!