19/M/40MG/68KG(150lbs)

So, I am on Accutane. Wow!

It's been 9 days, and I will say now: This won't be kept up to date every day like my previous log.

So far in my limited exposure to this Rx I can say, i've felt a little like a snake. My neck quickly broke out quite severely, then sort of dried out and scabbed over, then pretty much peeled and then... No spots underneath! Just a few red marks. I really wasn't expecting that so quickly, but I'm not complaining! I've gotten a few spots pop up near my hair line, but they quickly shrink and disappear: not really amounting to anything.

I believe my back has dried out a bit, but I am still getting actives pop up there. It does seem a bit less inflamed however.

As for my chest, well... that's a weird one! I'm getting a few actives pop up on the sides, but my main problem area - bang in the middle - is clear spare for the red marks left. Also, i've had lots of little red dots pop up; similar to my experience with Vitamin A + D. I can't however, be entirely sure that it is the Accutane, since I used depilatory cream on there roughly 1month ago and since the turnover of skin is 28 days give or take: it could be that! I'm leaning toward the depilatory cream, since I have the dots on my abs too - and I never get acne there, but I used the cream there too.

Also, quite cool I think: Those of you which have been Accutane i'm sure will know that certain moisturisers begin to sting a bit. Well, I just moisturised and as for the last few days it has stung and felt a little warm on my face. Now, the cool part: I came back into my room and put some music on, and I could literally feel the music through my skin with subtle pulses of warmth for a few minutes!

It's weird having to moisturise so much. Having oily skin, I used to occassionally moisturise after cleansing if I could be bothered (my face is pretty much clear anyway and I don't have to do a strict regimen) and it would be quite a task to get my skin to absorb the moisturiser. Now however is an entirely different story, I slop the stuff on, and within 15mins it's all gone and my skin begins feeling tight again, arghh!

My lips were originally flaking and getting very chapped too, but I soon discovered Blistex Intensive Moisture. It contains Lanolin Alcohols, but it doesn't seem to be breaking me out around my lips (I had one very tiny white-head this morning, but I get them occassionally anyway) so I don't care too much. I don't really like the menthol feel of it though, but it works wonders so I'm not complaining. The skin around my lips still flakes a little though even though I slather moisturiser around them frequently.

Anyway that's it for today I think, I don't have a digicam currently, but i'll try and get hold of one and get some pictures up for you all (maybe!) .

Oh but before I forget, I was at work today, and one of the first things anyone said to me was "Have you been out in the sun? Your skin is looking really healthy!" so bit of a confidence boost there! I do have a bit of a tan though, as I work outside at my other job. But I think i've only gotten more red, rather than tanned since going on Accutane - so it must be the now more smooth appearance of my skin she was commenting on .

I'm looking forward to going to the sports centre and having a swim once my body is clear, heh! Not done that for probably 8years now!

Tea Tree idea... Has anyone tried this?

So I know Tea Tree oil is an awesome anti-septic, but I haven't really ever used it that much.

I recently got a zit on coming up on the middle of my nose and panicked, squeezing it probably too much, and then applying tea tree to it. But the next day, the skin was a bit rough where i'd agitated it, but the zit... was gone! All the inflammation (only really noticeable to me close up) was completely gone. Thank goodness - so no one ever noticed.

So now I come to my point!

Has anyone tried adding a little tea tree oil to their clothes wash? Or perhaps a combination of the natural Soap Nuts and tea tree?

I'm intrigued as to the results, since a lot of washing powder can be quite irritating for the skin.

I know I pretty much have OCD about washing my bed sheets and clothes very frequently! But so far it has just been with normal washing powder.

Or how about adding tea tree to your bath? It never occurred to me before, but surely this would be massively beneficial to those with body acne?

Here's one for you...

Okay, I just randomly remembered this, and my memory for this is somewhat lacking. HOWEVER! When I was living with my mum (about 6years+ ago), my back acne (and if I remember correct, acne pretty much everywhere else too) almost entirely cleared up. Living at my dad's place it goes crazy.

Now I can't re-in-act this as my mum has moved house now, so it wouldn't be objective to past experience - plus it would be inconvenient due to work and other things.

I'm just wondering what your opinions are on this, what could cause this behavior?

My dad's house is much, much older (like 300yrs old or something), could it be due to amount of dust accumulated in the house over all this time, and other particles?

I know this is kinda random but would be interesting to get some ideas on this .

My Vitamin A & D Log (now with pic!)

Hello all, today i'm starting a log with Vitamin A and D.

So... let's begin!

Week 1

Day 1:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 IU @ 1400Hrs

Vitamin D:

• 5,850 IU @ 1400Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Supplements arrived around 10am. Today i'm taking all in one go at 1400hrs. I'm currently using a Tea Tree and Peppermint facial wash and no moisturiser, as I have oily skin - I'll keep you posted how this changes.

End of day 1, now I may just be imagining this - but my skin does seem slightly less oily already.

Day 2:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 30,000 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 30,000 IU @ 1630Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 2100Hrs

Total = 120,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,425 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 3,425 IU @ 1630Hrs
• 4,850 IU @ 2100Hrs

Total = 10,700 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Taken half of vitamins at 10am with glass of milk. Skin seems slightly drier, but not sure, it's usually quite dry in mornings anyway.

Took rest of vitamins at 16:30. No more changes so far.

Just [1700Hrs] had a bath, the usual routine, which is: Bit of Sanex Dermo Protector in the bath, wash face gently with the bath water, followed by rest of body. After that wash hair with Head & Shoulders for men. Finally, wash chest, shoulders and face with Superdrug Tea Tree & Peppermint. Leave it on for about 2minutes before washing off with clean warm (not hot, not cold) water from shower head. Oh and then pat (not rub!) dry with towel.

Noticed that my face is still quite dry now [1900Hrs] (2hours later), still feeling that 'tight' feeling, usually it would be more oily and tightness completely gone by now.

Been having a breakout anyway, so i've gone to a higher initial dose - don't really care if I have an initial breakout now; since i'm having one anyway! Had another 60,000 IU A; and 4,850 IU D with some full cream milk and a ham and cheese roll. Putting it to 120,000 IU A and 10,700 IU D for today. Going to continue on this dose tomorrow.

Also get paid tomorrow, so going to buy some Zinc, Magnesium and Calcium tablets + B-complex.

Day 3:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 1400Hrs

Vitamin D:

• 10,700 IU @ 1400Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Woke up pretty late today, so took all the vitamins in one go at 1400hrs with glass of milk and a sandwich. Still breaking out, especially on my chest and back, lots of little whiteheads. I guess it's working then - the increased skin renewal bringing everything to the top at the same time >.<. Pity it has to look so bad!

My face isn't too bad - but that hasn't been my focus for a while now. Just a few little whiteheads there today, few more than usual but again I guess that's down to the increased renewal. Skin isn't 'dry' but it's definitely not so oily - it's just a little glossy, rather than visibly greasy.

Had bath at 1800hrs, just using Tea Tree & Peppermint wash on my nose now. Dries me out too much if I use it like I was. Nose was sooo soft after bath today, I had to really resist touching it xD! I'm curious to whether the breakout on my chest and back is P.Folliculitis or not, H&S didn't seem to make any difference to spots there when I used it for a few weeks a while ago. Some nodules on back though so I doubt it's PF, just the initial breakout I guess.

As I said above, just using TT+P on my nose. It's getting hard to balance the moisture of my face now. T-zone is usually a little bit oily now - but no where near what it was. However cheeks are getting pretty dry, a little oily still, but the oily-flakey way! Btw - cheaper than sebutape - push your mobile phone to your cheek and then look at screen for dots!

Day 4:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 1300Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 1730Hrs

Total = 180,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 10,700 IU @ 1300Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Woke up, face isn't very visibly oily, but it never really is in the mornings. Tis my birthday today! So i'm pretty happy - that's got to help ! Took both vitamins at 1300hrs, might take some more later; but i'm planning to stay under 200,000 IU for at least this first week. I'm real tired though, so i'm going back to bed! I'm allowed to be lazy today, lol!

Been real tired most of the day, i'm hoping it's just a small B-vitamin or mineral deficiency, as that'll be cured when I start taking those supplements next week . Visibly my face has a few more pimples than normal, but they're only tiny ones and there isn't many. Usually i'd have 1-2 active ones on my face, now it's about 3, but as I said they're really tiny. Overall I think my face looks better due to the reduction in oil. Everywhere else is worse though, my neck is broken out pretty bad - and the tea tree doesn't seem to have much effect on tiny pimples - only the bigger ones. But it has to get worse before it gets better, huh!

Taken 60,000 IU retinol at 1730Hrs. Putting it up to 180,000 / 10,700 IU Retinol / Cholecalciferol. No symptoms have arrisen yet, lips are still moist etc.

Here is what has popped up on my chest, lots of tiny red dots! PF or Acne I wonder?
 pforacne.jpg ( 40.56K ) Number of downloads: 96

I've had a few of these before, but now since starting the Vitamin A & D lots more have popped up - I wonder if it is due to this, from the increased epidermal turnover. Or, I wonder if it's due to using Tea Tree + Peppermint wash on my chest - an anti-bacterial, thus letting the P.Folliculitis flourish? Of course it's early yet, so will have to see how it turns out!

Alcohol is quite an interesting drug! Got totally smaaaaaashed! Let's see how this goes. Got a date tomorrow for a belated bday drink ^^. I hope i'm pretty clear tomorrow since it's first time i'll be meeting this beautiful girl . Gnite acne.org community xx.

^^^
Don't remember typing that, lol!

Day 5:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 1600Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 2100Hrs

Total = 180,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 10,700 IU @ 1600Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well, my skin looked pretty bad when I woke up; a few big whiteheads on my neck - punishment for partying, but it was worth it! After a relaxing bath and a few hours it's looking much better.

Skin was a bit more oily today than past few days - i'm guessing due to drinking so much, and the alcohols competing for the saturated fats! Face is still pretty clear, neck is proving troublesome as always and body continuing to be a nightmare .

Found cure to skin remaining tight for so long, a tiny bit of moisturiser just on the line where skin changes from ehm... 'face skin' to 'around eyes skin'. If only all my skin was like the 'around eyes skin' so soft and even . Does it even have pores?

Day 6:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 0800Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 1800Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 2300Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 2,850 IU @ 0800Hrs
• 2,850 IU @ 1000Hrs
• 850 IU @ 1800Hrs
• 850 IU @ 2300Hrs

Total = 10,250 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Having to to exfoliate every day now or I get visible dead flakey skin! No side effects yet.

Day 7:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 120,000 IU @ 1600Hrs
• 120,000 IU @ 2200Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 IU @ 0600Hrs
• 5,700 IU @ 1600Hrs
• 3,700 IU @ 2200Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Nothing special happening yet. Skin perhaps isn't so oily as expected, but it's not exceptionally dry either - and not experiencing any dry lips yet.

Day 8:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 IU @ 0400Hrs
• 60,000 IU @ 0930Hrs
• 120,000 IU @ 2000Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 5,700 @ 0400Hrs
• 850 IU @ 0930Hrs
• 5,700 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

My day/progress/retardation:

Skin quite oily today - mind you I missed a bath - only had one yesterday morning, and just now this morning. Face quite itchy too - no signs of any irritation or anything, just itchy! Hard to resist touching it.

Expecting dry skin to come soon, as i'm up to 300,000 IU / day now for past 3 days inc. today. It's kinda hard getting the saturated fats intake without binging on rubbish, so suggestions for meals much appreciated! At the moment i'm going crazy on the full english breakfasts, and pizzas when i'm feeling peckish . Such a devil! Surprising how little saturated fats is in a three-cheese pizza though, 82% of daily saturates RDA in a whole one. I was expecting over the RDA by a crazy amount! It was very nice though, so i'm not gonna complain. Bacon sarnies are very much on the menu as well - fried in lard haha. Funnily though with all this rubbish (tasty rubbish might I add) i'm not breaking out any more than usual .

Day 9:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0420Hrs
• 120,000 @ 0930Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1700Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0420Hrs
• 3,700 @ 0930Hrs
• 5,700 @ 1700Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1200Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1200Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Been strangely hungry a lot more than usual the last two days. Skin so far is 'meh' no dryness yet. Definitely been oilier these past two days, and exfoliating with baking soda is a must (or exfoliating any how, but baking soda seems least irritating way).

Over exfoliated a bit I think this morning, felt a bit sensitive for a while (peppermint amplified the sensation). Went a bit red but a few hours later it was completely fine. I *think* the issue is that i'm using Baking Powder and not Soda (I put it in an unlabeled pot aggeeees ago and just started using it again recently, don't remember which it was), so it has some Tartaric acid in it as well as the Bi-carb. But it seems ok - saves me using ACV to neutralise! Though when i've used all which i've got i'll be using Bi-carb + ACV. Going to try the egg white and lemon mask in evenings too.

Started on the B-Complex and Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc today. I'm not gonna type out all those things included in them! So just click them for a link to the label.


Day 10:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0700Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1630Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1815Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0700Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1630Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1815Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 1630Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Neck is breaking out *majorly*. Never had an issue with it before, really. Hopefully it'll clear up soon. Seems something i've started doing recently (most likely the vitamins but it could be something else i'm overlooking) is breaking me out in places I don't normally break out, and quite severely. I'll reserve judgement till when the A starts poisoning me! (dryness).

Mentally i'm really happy and full of energy lately, which is nice. I can tell when i'm full of energy even if i'm not mentally feeling it, from how I tap my foot all the time ! My short term memory seems improved too (I have to use it at work, so changes are noticable ). All-in-all since starting this regimen the outcome is positive so far, imo. Even if the breakout on neck is annoying as hell - since can't really treat with anything since the neck skin is so sensitive - it'd just break out more! I guess just waiting it out is best.

Oh and before I forget, I started Dead Sea Salt today. In my bath that is. Not every one of course, but in my morning one today, and I plan to do it say... twice a week. Right now it's only 250G / bath, but i'm probably going to buy some in larger quantities (using Edom 250G packets atm) and put 500g to 1kg in - most likely nearer to the 500g, since our bath is quite small.

Day 11:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0700Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1100Hrs
• 120,000 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0700Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1100Hrs
• 4,700 @ 2000Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0700Hrs
• 1x @ 2000Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Work today - 7:30 -> 5pm - what a drag! Working in a hot shop, getting sweaty/oily and not being able to do anything about it, urgh! I most definitely enjoy my relaxing bath after work, oh yes . After my bath today skin was flakey, that never usually happens - i'm usually only flaky after a bath in the mornings. Another thing i've noticed - my nose is getting flakey - the entrance to nostrils that is. Lips aren't getting flakey yet and skin is still pretty oily as per norm.

Going out tonight so alcohol gonna be fighting those vitamins for the fat to dissolve in , so I expect a little set-back from that, but I refuse to let any thing stop me from having a fun saturday night so meh to it! Maybe y'all will get another drunken message haha.

On note of the Dead Sea Salt bathes; i'm really liking them. Placebo or otherwise, but I really do feel quite relaxed and just generally good after lazing about in the bath for 30mins with not a care in the world - whilst genuinely having faith in them - so no one have me think otherwise or they might stop working, lol!

Day 12:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 60,000 @ 0530Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1845Hrs
• 120,000 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 2,850 @ 0530Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1845Hrs
• 4,700 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0530Hrs
• 1x @ 1845Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0530Hrs
• 1x @ 1845Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Lips bit dried out today, not sure if it's alcohol or the vitamin A causing it. Nothing else notable has happened. Bit of a sore throat, don't know if it's due to a cold coming on or the vitamins - it's probably the latter, since high dose vitamin A reportedly makes you pretty much immune to colds for the duration.

Day 13:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 0945Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1700Hrs
• 60,000 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 0945Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1700Hrs
• 2,850 @ 2130Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 0945Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 0945Hrs
• 1x @ 1700Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well, I woke up and went to pee. Flourescent pee, wahey! B-Vitamins are fun. Lips today were quite dry and flakey, lots of dead skin i been biting at all day. Cannibalism, rwaaagh! Face was pretty flakey too (but not dry), nothing a bit of bicarb in the morning didn't solve . Sore throat turned out to be a cold for sure - I got runny nose today. Well, that sucks - Vitamin A is meant to make me immune!! Random-internet-blog-1001312342345 lied to me!!! Oh well... let's just hope it makes the duration really short... or something nice at least. I hate colds.

Oh and I should mention how my pimples are getting on, seeing how this is a blog about that, shouldn't I! Well... neck is clearing up on left side, right side still a little crazy but I think it's withdrawing (DIE DIE DIE! helped?). Face is pretty much nearly clear as normal, few whiteheads and hyperpigmentation on my cheeks plus a few red marks where I erm... 'nailed' tiny whiteheads too vigorously (no, i'll never give that up!). I've stopped biting my nails though. They're getting long (eek!).

Chest is so-so, I don't know if it's getting better or not. The tiny red spots have definitely reduced, but overall I think there's not much improvement, maybe i'll take a photo somewhen and let you all decide.

Back is muchos crazy, as always! Well, to be honest I think it's mostly red marks opposed to lots of actives. I've got a few little scars on my shoulders and back from when I had it at it's worst, I don't think any of what I get now leaves scars, but if they did I wouldn't really notice anyway! My dad still has some scars from when he had backne in his teens-early twenties. And he's 76 (next week)! I'm hoping the combination of the vitamins and the dead sea salt will send the backne fleeing for the hills, we shall see . I don't care if it doesn't though, it's not like it affects my life much. Chest and neck are highest priority .

Day 14:

Vitamin toll:

Vitamin A:

• 120,000 @ 1100Hrs
• 120,000 @ 1500Hrs
• 60,000 @ 1845Hrs

Total = 300,000 IU

Vitamin D:

• 4,700 @ 1100Hrs
• 4,700 @ 1500Hrs
• 2,850 @ 1845Hrs

Total = 12,250 IU

B-Complex:

• 1x @ 1100Hrs
• 1x @ 1500Hrs

Chelated Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc:

• 1x @ 1100Hrs
• 1x @ 1500Hrs

My day/progress/retardation:

Well, it's now the two week mark! Has flown by. Cold is manifesting itself a little more, nothing serious (it's only a cold!) but still annoying. Drinking lots of orange juice to try and scare it away, hopefully it'll work.

So my skin is kinda well... normal now. My face that is - it's evenly 'oiled' - no oily shiny tzone, yay. Lips getting drier it seems, not as bad (flake wise) as on monday though - but they were exposed to the elements that day with my job.

Nostrils a little flakey today, seems to build-up flakes of dead skin every few days. Note to self: exfoliate nostrils each day! The entrance to them that is, I don't fancy bicarb up my nose.

Inflammation on my neck is dying down, but I put this down to me not poking and prodding it. There's a new spot on left side, but otherwise that side is pretty much clear now. I'm going to keep up this willpower until it is totally gone! Besides, with no work midweek I can stay in and not worry about whiteheads. This convenience helps for my back too!

So... my back then. Well, I haven't looked at it much today really! Yesterday I went crazy and clawed at all the big white heads. Not smart! I could feel afterward as I was having a bath that i'd created a lot of inflammation from doing that... It was a mountain range! Fortunately this morning it felt smooth with just a few bumps. So i'm going to resist doing anything to it. The only real problem area seems to be the backs of the shoulders, the rest is minor in comparison. There is a cyst right smack bang in the middle of my back though, luckily it's dead-on in the middle, if it was to the sides a little i'm sure it'd hurt when I move my shoulder blades. I'm not touching it, it doesn't exist (repeats to self.. "it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist")! Really, I don't notice my back at all apart from when I have a bath, so i'm going to refrain from looking in the mirror when I do - then i'll get a nice surprise (or I better do) when I look in a month or something.

I'm gonna start posting in a new post, since i've run out of smilies for this one!! Say, a week/post, with links to them in this first one.

Superdrug's Teatree & Peppermint Facial Wash

Ok, so it's a little early to tell - but i've been using this for about a week now, and loving it! I got a big inflammed spot on the back of my neck, but it has pretty much disappeared over the space of today already. Ok, well - not disappeared, but it's just a normal red dot now, it's not inflammed hardly at all . I'm really liking the combination - the Teatree is (iirc) anti-inflamitary and anti-bacterial, and the peppermint is refreshing and aparently reduces oil production.

Now the great part - they're really cheap .

For £6, you get 450ml of the stuff - ain't half bad huh?

http://www.superdrug.com/invt/81140 is the exact one I use - there is also another which is a liquid but the pump thing turns it into a foam as you pump it. I think I prefer the gel though.

The great thing is, you buy 3 and get cheapest free - and there is a whole range of the Teatree and Peppermint products. I think I will get some of the gel moisturiser, and perhaps the nose strips - I tend to get blackheads there quite frequently.

I did one of the peel of masks today as well. They're 99p a pop, not so bad I guess. They're real strange though! Goes on as a gel, comes off as a thin latex-like layer when it's dry. Was surprising how much oil and gunk was on the film of the stuff, even after i'd bathed and cleansed!

Would be nice to hear anyone elses' experiences with these products . So far, I think they're fab. The only problem is finding someone to give the free perfume samples to that come with each order .