So I'm 16 years old and have had acne since 6th grade (11ish years old). I've tried Proactiv (three times), Retin A, which made my skin extremely red while I was using it and I've gotten all these small bumps on my entire face due to it, though I've stopped using it and my skin has improved. And I used these Asian creams that my dad got from Vietnam.. which didn't work.

So back in January I went up to visit my aunt and uncle and their new house, and my aunt, who's a dermatologist, recommended I go on Accutane. She told my mom and everything, but my mom didn't do anything about it But I guess I'm glad I didn't start it then since I had school and my exams and finals, but now that I'm on summer break the side effects won't affect me as much (hopefully!)

I reallyy hope my skin will completely clear up by the time school starts I'm currently on 40mg, one pill a day. I just took mine about an hour ago and yeah I bought the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser earlier, as I figured my St. Ives Scrubs would be too harsh on my skin once Accutane kicks in. I've got my Burts Bees lip balm (my favorite must-have thing ) andNeutrogena sunblock and Clean & Clear Moisturizer The pharmacist told me about Cerave, which I read about on this site and might consider buying if my current moisturizer doesn't work

Soo as I'm typing this up I'm eating an avocado smoothie (avocados, condensed milk, sugar, ice all mixed up) since avocados are high in fat (yeah?) and Accutane absorbs well with fat

I wonder if anyone is going to read this haha I'll try and update every week or if I get some side effects, but I have lots of summer assignemnts (all these AP classes ) so I might not be able to. But I'll try!

Here are some pictures of my skin right now:




Really hoping Accutane works for me! The pharmacist told me it's "a miracle" and wished me luck

Good luck to everyone else too!!

You're so pretty!! Best of luck on Accutane, Christy... I'm starting it soon and am hoping for good skin for the autumn-time... we'll see. ;] I get clogged pores and papules/pustules like you, so I suppose our cases are pretty similar.

All the best, I'll be keeping up with your log!
- Lauren

Thank you Hopefully it'll go well for the both of us I'd really like to hear how Accutane is going for you once you start it

Good luck!

So it's Day 2 of Accutane

Obviously nothing has changed since I've only taken one pill. But I took pictures of my skin in natural light, as opposed to my last ones which were in my bathroom (the lights in there makes my skin look better )






^ sorry for the little stray hairs. I have side bangs and had to hold them back

Hey Christy,
I'm glad there aren't any side effects yet. It doesn't look like you have many red marks or anything, so that's good! I hope you have a speedy improvement!!

you're pretty, i hope everything works out for you.

Thank you


Okay so I'm about to take my second pill. I'm excited haha I never thought I'd actually look forward to taking any type of medication lol

As for side effects, earlier today I experienced minor back pain, though it might've been due to the fact that I've been sitting here at my desk in front of my computer doing homework all day Right now my back is fine, so yeah, I'm pretty sure it isn't due to Accutane

In the case of my skin, two pustules just came up (that word sounds gross lol pusstule )I've noticed them under my skin though for the past day or so, so maybe the Accutane just made them come to the surface? But I've also noticed a slight decrease in oil production! That's always good news Of course the oil hasn't stopped completely, but compared to before it has gone down. And it's only been one day!

I'll definetely keep updating whenever I can

Day 3


So I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror, and three new actives popped up, though they're somewhat small. Other then that, my face isn't as oily as it usually is, so that's good My face is a bit red though, but not extremely red or anything.

And no side effects so far No dryness or change of mood, no headaches like my derm said I might get (hopefully I won't get any!) so I'm happy about that

I've been drinking lots and lots of water and being sure to put on my Burts Bees every night before I go to bed to fight off the dryness before it comes haha

Umm I'll probably post up pictures sometime next week so yeah

Hey, ChristyV, I wish you best of luck with Accutane. Don't get discouraged by breatouts over the first month. You're not sufferiing from scarring and much of the acne seems relatively fresh, which is a good sign. I think and hope you make a complete recovery. Better sooner than later, I guess (whatever works). Good luck!

Regimen: Accutane (31 days in)

hey christyv! thanks for stopping by my log =D

yeah..my IB was shockingly really bad compared to what i usually get but like you, i'd rather get it over with in the early stages than later in the course. i'm just praying that i dont get another big breakout like some people do x_x.

good idea you took accutane after exams...i took it a month before mine and it was HORRIBLE. my concentration completely died but i still managed to do well with A LOT of hard work and effort haha.

how is the aveeno cleanser working for you? i have the same line for my moisturizers both the SPF and night cream one and they're working really well. except for the fact they're REALLY expensive =(.

anyways, i dont want to post up a whole essay haha so good luck on your course! you're already pretty as is =P

Wow.. if I'd have taken Accutane before my finals I would've failed them all lol Not that I'm having any concentration problems or anything, but ya never know, I might get them later

I like the cleanser a lot I've only used it once though lol I figured since I was breaking out, I should stop using my facial scrub since it was harsh on my skin kinda, but yeah the aveeno one isn't harsh at all and works really well I might get the moisturizer if my skin becomes dry, but yeah its expensive :[

Day 4


Woo Day 4! lol yeah I still have a long way to go >_> Anywayss, my skin is pretty much the same, except for two small actives on my chin, but they're really small.

So far no side effects! I had some minor back pain yesterday, but it went away after 10 minutes or so. Oh, and does Accutane make it difficult for anyone to sleep? Ever since taking my first pill, I've had trouble going to sleep Usually I'd lie in bed for 15 or 20 minutes thinking about things, but now I lie there for what feels like an hour x_x I could usually force myself to stop thinking and sleep, but now it's as if I drank Red Bull right before or something lol

Day 5

Nothing has changed much in my skin, except for four really small spots but you can barely see them. I'm using the Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer as my skin is starting to get a little dry. I really like the moisturizer It's not thick or heavy and leaves a cool, almost minty feeling behind haha

Oh and I figured that my trouble going to sleep wasn't caused by Accutane, as last night I fell asleep within 10 minutes of lying down lol I guess those other nights I just wasn't particularly tired, while last night I was, so yeah.

Hmm my updates are pretty boring.. lol There's never much change to my skin except a few small spots here and there

hey Just wanted to say good luck on tane! I'm only a week and a bit ahead of you! Can't wait until 2 months time!!

Thank you And good luck to you too!

Day 7

finished week 1


Yeah so time is going by reeeally slow -_- I'm a pretty impatient person lol I just hope my skin clears up by the time I go back to school

So right now my skin is.. well it isn't where I want it to be. It's not really really bad or anything, but I'm not happy with it :[ But when am I ever lol >_> My forehead has gotten a few spots, which is a place I usually never have problems with. My skin is still kinda oily too :/ Maybe it'll go away within the week?

Other then my skin, there's no dryness or joint pain or anything, so no side effects. I do get a little bit of flakiness, but only around my pimples. Maybe its the 3 to 4 liters of water I drink everyday lol

And I'm trying not to pick at my face >< I'll just be watching tv or whatever and I catch myself doing that without even knowing I'm doing it lol It's like a habit. A really bad one And my red marks are becoming more prominent :[

Well I'll post pics tmrw, since I'm too lazy to take pics right now lol

Day 8


Here are pictures :]