Day 25:
Today was a pretty good day skin-wise, crappy emotionally, but my skin seemed to be doing nicely at least. I have two gross actives underneath my bangs, but luckily those are hidden. The rest of my face isn't too devastating. I'm waiting for my blackheads to pop out soon too, since they still haven't done that to a great extent. MY CHEST IS STILL ALL BROKEN OUT! Worse than my face by far! ): I really hope it clears up soon.
Best thing so far: My skin is much less oily! Or rather it's just less oily, but it feels great either way. I love touching my face and feeling that the skin is just matte as my arm! Redmarks are annoying, they seem to be worse some days than others.
I have been getting headaches here and there, but mostly I have been battling DRY LIPS!!!!!!
In this regard accutane is like a group evil little Orcs, and I am Frodo being tangled in a spiderweb of cracked lips (this reference is actually quite inaccurate, but whatever I'm sleepy).

also important to note: school is out in a week, IDON'TTHINKICANTAKEMUCHMORE.

lastly, is anybody reading this? I am getting continuously discouraged from posting....

Hey Brooke, I'm reading!
And I love lord of the rings.

I'm on day eight and just starting to get the dry lips now. eck
Hope all goes well

Hey Brooke,

Keep posting, I am reading, even if nobody is reading you should post you are def. want to look back in see your progress. Dont forget to keep a picture journey, you dont have to share but you will want to see it. All this week I have been mesmerized by my face. Anyways, gotta go....Remember to SMILE it will get better!

Hey girl. I too have chest acne that has gotten worse over the past few months. It's almost worse than on the face because you can wear makeup but you can only wear so many shirts when it's on your chest. Hopefully that clears up for you soon, a month or so in means clear skin is just around the corner.

And I'm definitely reading! Keep posting, a lot of people who read are guests that are looking for advice, and those that don't leave comments are just not too chatty.

Hi girlie, I am also checking on you and reading your log. It's okay to definitely having your down days but don't you give up. Your in almost a month and you're already seeing the difference with your face! That is great!!! I also saw steady improvements after month one and this will work for your chest acne. I had bad backacne and my back is now completely clear of actives. It is now 80% clear of brown marks. Hang in there and keep posting.

hey girl, I'm reading...keep posting!! I just started accutane 5 days ago so im trying to find out when the ib usually comes and go's. Do you think yours is starting to clear up?

Day 30:

IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH! That is what my calendar says anyway.
I had my appointment though the other day and got my blood work and whatnot, and I discussed the dosage issue and now that is settled out (40 mg for another month!).
I am breaking out a bit more, it's not so bad but there's one that looks really gross I'm trying really hard not to pick so yeah. :/ My face is just kind of un-changing at this point. In the pictures it's not really shown, since they were taken a couple of days ago so harumph. My chest has gotten a bit better though! FINALLY. If it scars I'm going to be so mad. Also, I should note most nights I spot treat using the proactiv refining mask, or something to that effect. I think it's been helpful, even though most people say no other products while on accutane.
Side Effects:
-Occasional headache
-REALLY dry lips
-Dry skin on occasion

ALSO IN OTHER NEWS:
I AM GOING TO INDIA THIS SUMMER TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE! I guess in terms of accutane, lots of sunscreen?

Sorry it's taken so long to post but...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RESPONSES EVERYBODY. It made me quite joyous to know this is actually being read!

ALSO: I've discovered something that works better than aquaphor! It's this stuff called Lanolin. It's usually used for nursing women (haha) but my friend had it for dry lips and I tried some and it seemed to heal my lips a lot quicker and with less constant application as with aquaphor. So I'm going to go to Target or CVS and try to buy some.


anyway, to sweat pea- Try Lanolin! and also LOTR rulesss. This summer at the wolftrap they're playing the Two Towers with a live orchestra, I already saw Fellowship with the same setup and it was grand. I'm excited!

to cece- ahh thank you so much! You always make me feel better.

Miss Angie- I'm glad somebody else can empathize! I read so very few logs that mention chest acne and I'm wondering when it's going to get better. I hope yours clears up though too! Summer sucks when one can't wear a nice sundress. ):

carmelle- That's so good to hear about your back acne! Congrats! It gives me hopeeee!

shellbellx- Yeah mine is definitely starting to clear up. I mean, for some reason I think I got some weird chest IB and not a face one, but my chest is finally starting to get better. With my face clogged pores seem to just be unclogging so I'll have a few actives everyday (as usual). Good luck with your course!

I ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION:
Along with my skin being less oily, so is my hair!
Only it's kinda dry and bleh now, but at least I don't have to wash it every day if I don't want to. here are some photos, also!

Lol, that bloody one is fantastic. You look like a vampire.

Skin is looking good! Yes, chest acne sucks, especially for girls. You know, with the boobs and all.

Congrats on India, how long will you be there???

You and I have like the SAME acne history!
And we're on the same dose!

I'm sorry that the chest acne is bad, but like my grandma says, "everything gets worse before it gets better". And I'm so jealous about you not having to wash your hair as often! As soon as I work out, I HAVE to wash my hair or a basically look like a muppet.

Keep your head up! PS - I'm SO SO SO jealous that you're going to India! You're going to have an amazing time... and eat some great food. (:

Hi Brooke,

My story is similar to yours. I’ve been breaking out since I was in 6th grade, but I wasn't as lucky as you are to have a chance at clear skin before high school ends. It was hardest in High School. So I know what you’re going thru... BEST of luck to you!! &Have fu in India!! Remember LOTS of H20 & Sun Block... (:

xoxo -S

DAY 47:

It really does not feel like it's been 47 days! But I don't think my calendar is jesting me, so I guess that is how long it has been. I apologize for the lack of updates, but I doubt there's been any suffering for anybody as a result so whatever. My skin is doing...alright? I feel like lately my redmarks have been a lot more pronounced, and I'm kind of annoyed that my blackheads aren't all out and everything since everybody else seems to report them gone by this time. I'd say I still have 2 or 3 big actives at time, and various smaller ones. I haven't been spot treating as much, although things clear up/are prevented a lot better when I do. Let's see...I've been dryer more often, either because I don't moisturize (haha obvious I guess? But I stopped after the first week or so because I just haven't needed to) or because I've been forgetting to take my vitamin E which is supposed to help with that. I'm hoping for some more noticeable changes though soon. The acne on my chest is finally getting a bit better, not by a lot but a bit. It's getting worse on my back though...as;dlfkjasldfj RIDICULOUS. But whatever I'm not a big pool person anyway. Also I got in this stupid bike accident so I've been stuck inside the past few days.
CONCLUSION THUS FAR: Summer sucks. I don't miss school, but I've been terribly gloomy.
Also, I might not be going to India. I mean, I hope I do, but we have to wait to hear back from the bank.
IF I DON'T THAT MEANS I WILL BE STUCK HERE (NORTHERN VIRGINIA) ALL SUMMER GETTING NOTHING DONE AND I MIGHT HAVE TO DROWN MYSELF IN THE POTOMAC. (You can tell I really know how to put things in perspective too, right? Starving children Brooke! Goodness.)

ANNNNNNNYWAY SIDE EFFECTS:
LIP CHAPPING BIG TIME.
Dry dry hair. (dry dry ruins, mario kart, anyone?)
Less oily skin.
I expect to see far more side effects once I start 60mg here soon.

Also happy july 4th I guess. The patriotic spirit isn't really raging inside of me but whatever.

Miss Angie- Ha, thanks! I am quite a fan of vampires. I just started watching True Blood, it's great. Any old vampire film (Bela Lugosi!) is grand too. BUT chest acne is terrible! ): I hate it. And if I get to go 4 weeks!
loveske- It's always nice to meet somebody who's gone through the same business! Ha your grandma sounds a lot like my dermatologist! And don't worry, if you're on tane you'll have some really really dry hair soon! It's quite charming at first, but after a while...eh. Thank you though! you're very kind.
stevie- I'm sorry to hear you had acne for so long and even through high school! ): But I see you're on tane, so you won't have to worry soon!! thanks!



Picture of my leg post bike accident. my calves look huge! it's the angle I swear. the rest of the photos are self explanatory. Most of the marks on the sides of my face aren't actives, but redmarks. Totally lame.

P.S thank you so much for the replies to everybody who has done so, it's quite a nice thing to come back to!

u know,i can picture you looking really georgeous when ur acne has healed up. =) good luck girl, and may u have clear and perfect skin a couple of months from now.

Wowwwww that bike accident must have hurt that looks so painful.

I feel ya on that summer thing, I don't miss school but I am always pissed off that it's summer and I don't want to do anything because of my skin. ;/ whatever

Good luck.

Brooke, I can tell from your writing that you're very bright, and funny too. Your remark about drowning yourself in the Potomac cracked me up.

I'm more than twice your age, and at 33, am just about to go back on Accutane. I take my second blood test on 7/31. I had my first course at age 22, and it worked miracles. And it kept my skin clear up until the point when I became pregnant with my first daughter at 26.

I'll be following your progress, and hopefully you'll follow mine. My acne right now isn't severe, but it's mild/moderate and persistent. Nothing helps. I've been on every topical under the sun. It's also extremely oily, so as my derm said, any acne battle is uphill. So time to bring out the big guns and cross my fingers.

Peace!