Alright, I am a 22 year old guy and started Accutane for a third time on August 21, 2008. With that I believe that I am on day 17.

I took accutane at age 17, 19, and now that I am 22 I am hoping that this is the last time that I will have to do this. The first time I took it I had bad acne and it took all 5 months to finally clear. The second time I took it I was a sophomore in college with mild acne that hadn't responded to anti biotics, topicals, and various washes so I tried the Tane again. It surprisingly worked in about 2 months and I was clear for about 2 and half years. This time it has come back again and really fast for some reason too. My derm put me on accutane again hoping that it would knock it out since I am in my twenties and also remembering how fast I cleared last time I took it with minimal side effects.

So I started with 40 mgs a day for two weeks to get reacquainted with my old friend and now I am up to 60 mgs per day.

So this is where I stand:

Day 17

Right side is almost completely clear with the exception of one ingrown hair but that was from shaving
Left side is a much different story, I have 5 BIG pimples on that side and they look awful but I think it might just be from the IB
Forehead, chin and upper lip area are all clear
My chest and back have a few but nothing that ever really bothers me too much


So this is where I stand a little after two weeks. My side effects are chapped lips and tight skin so I moisturize a little but not too much. I can't remember from last time, is this about the right time to be feeling these side effects? Any comments much appreciated, Thanks Everyone!

Day 18

Well everything that was there yesterday is still here today and I am still pretty discouraged Everything leaves these red marks behind that never seem to fade.

I was wondering, has anyone else gotten these red marks after pimples on accutane and realized that they look different than before you were on accutane? It just seems like right now in the initial stages things are not healing very well.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone.

Day 19

Got a little sun today even though I know I am not really supposed to. Hopefully it will help some of the marks to fade.

My lips are really dry but don't normally crack I can kind of just peel the skin off (sounds gross I know). Unless I moisturize my face it is pretty dry and tight which I actually like even though it looks a little flaky.

Keep on keeping on. With the results I had in my second course I am hoping to see some results by the middle of October. Lets just hope for the best!

Day 20

Alright! Almost 3 weeks in and I really think this is working. Even though I still have a few zits my skin is really drying out and I know that will eventually lead to my skin clearing up.

A few red marks still remain but nothing too terrible. Looking and hoping for clearer days.

Day 25

I'm still getting a few white heads but that is to be expected as I am only about a month into this treatment.

My skin is really dry and my lips are chapped, that seems to be the only side effects.

Its really weird that since I started I havent gotten any new zits on the right side but my left side is broken out constantly. I just wish it was both sides that was clear.

I always have one cheek thats worse than the other...there's no reason for it either lol.

Good luck 22 yr old guy! Hope you knock it out forever this time =)

Thanks Missyhean! Its nice to know that someone else in the world gets the same things...

Day 27

I'm feeling pretty down today as I seem to be getting more and more acne on my face. I know that all the deep tissue stuff needs to rise to the surface but sometimes its a little bit discouraging because my face looks worse now then when I started.

My neck broke out a little in the past few days and my left side continues to be terrible as usual. The days seem to go by so slow sometimes.


I'll update more later when I have time, seeya

If I cant get a new RX immediately since my derm is so busy how long is it okay to be off accutane and then continue. I might not get the second months supply for 6 days after I run out of the first month.

Day 31

Well everything was going alright and then BAAAAM!

My right side has been clear for so long and I was being stupid after I shaved and started fooling with something that was really small. Since accutane has made my skin so weak and brittle I woke up to a scab sort of thing the size of a dime. I have no idea how it got that big because it was nothing when I saw it last night, stupid accutane!

Other than that I am getting things here and there but I am hanging in there somehow. I didnt get my prescription till 4 days after the other one ran out so my side effects are still there but my lips arent as dry and I didnt need to put moisturizer on today.

Anyone else ever have that happen where you had to go a few days without and side effects went away for a little? I hope this doesnt set me back any.

Has anyone out there gone a few days without and then side effects really went down a lot?

I went four days wihtout my RX and started again and have been on for it for 4 days but I don't feel the severity in my side effects.

Please, I am really freaking out. Has anyone experienced this?

Day 34
Right side has one HUGE red spot from me picking too much
Left side has three spots, two form extra picking and one pimple I recently popped
Neck has two scabs from something like dryness but I'm not overly dry

I guess I am the only one who is reading this and I want to use this to compare to my last experience. This really sucks and everything is so red right now and I don't feel like its getting any better. UGH!! I am really discouraged right now and don't know what to do to make myself feel any better. Hope for clearer days...

Day 38

Well, things might be looking up but I really don't want to jinx myself
I have 2 on my right side
2 noticeable marks on my left side


That seems to be it right now but accutane makes the leftover marks very red and they are not fading. I am hoping that it fades soon....

Good luck to everyone out there!