Day 1:

Hiya,

Well to begin with I've had moderate acne/bacne since I was 14 - I'm turning 20 this September so I've been on this crazy acne experience for a while. I've tried almost everything to treat it (i.e. Mino, Doxy, Retin-A) and some worked but only initially. The acne always came back and when it did, even worse than before.

And so today my dermatologist finally prescribed Accutane for me. To be honest I was initially hesitant to go on it because I know for a fact that it's what people call "the last resort" and how many side effects there are that comes with taking the drug. But looking at the pros and cons of it I know that Accutane is the only drug that can cure my acne. And this time hopefully for good!

My derm has put me on Decutan (20mg pills) which is a generic brand of accutane. He's starting me out with a daily dosage of 40mg.

I don't really know what to expect. I'm scared because I don't think I can handle seeing my acne become worse than it already is. I do hope it controls my oil production. My face manages to look like an oil slick just 2 hours after washing my face. So it's pretty frustrating.

I've just had dinner and I have taken the 2nd pill of the day. So far I haven't experienced any side effects. I feel like I have a slight headache, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I'll update more as I go along, and I will post pictures too.

Wish me luck and I wish you all who is reading this the best with your acne as well.

Hey dude,
good luck for your treatment..hope accutane will work for you soon..
Keep us updated!

btw I think you can find many useful information here...

All the best! And thanks for your best wishes..
cj

Day 2:


Hmm, well I haven't experienced any side effects yet. Just took my 2nd pill of the day - I'm off to bed soon. I haven't seen any difference with my oil production. I think it's too early to notice anything. I'm still as oily as ever.

For some reason I take time to think what I have for lunch or dinner now. Moreso than before, I think. I actually had a salad for dinner! Haven't done that in ages!

I'm still kinda scared about experiencing the initial breakout. I don't think I can handle seeing my face in the mirror with my acne looking much more worse.

Anyways, does anyone recommend a really good toner for oily skin? I'm not using anything at the moment, but I thought using a toner after washing my face would be good? It could help minimize the oil production. Let me know guys! Thanks!

That's all from me right now. Am off to bed. I need to go to work early tomorrow. I've got to continue working on Nickelodeon for the 9th!

Bye





Hiya,

Thanks a lot! I hope you have great success combating your acne as well. Let me know how you get on!

Good luck!! I hope you get lucky and skip the nasty and dreadful IB!! Don't worry about the oil, it will go away soon and youll have the pleasure of experiencing dry skin lol. If your acne does get worse, try to hold your head up and be patient because this drug WILL clear you up in the end! Well just stopping by to say hi and wish ya the best of luck!

Good luck with your course of treatment:)
I wish you the best, and hope all goes well.

The toner I use, is Pure by Garnier. It seems
to work well. I have been using it for 4-5 months,
even before I started accutane. It also contains zinc,
which is very good for helping with healing active spots.

Day 3:

Hey,

I'm starting to break out in my forehead. I saw 3 new spots forming. And some whiteheads in my chin. I don't really know what else to do. I'm doing my best not to be down about it, but knowing I have a long journey ahead of is pretty depressing. But I know it's all for the best and that I will get clear skin at the end of this program.

My lips feel weird. They feel more sensitive. I have some vaseline in my cupboard - I should go use it. And I really wish my oil production would lessen. My face still looks extremely shiny.

Anyways, that's it for me right now. Nothing really exciting besides new zits! Haha.





Thanks a lot! That's very encouraging and I really hope I can experience dry skin. Even for a day. I bet it's amazing.



Thanks for the advice! I'm gonna go look for that toner. Thanks again!

Hey! Congrats on getting the tane! Try not to get discouraged! Like you said, ".....clear skin at the end of this program" Just remember it's only 5 months. In the grand scheme of things, it's only 5 months. That's what I tell myself. It's already been 20 years, what the hell is 5 months!!

Your going to be oily for about 2 weeks then you should dry out. I don't know that I'd spend money on toner now cause you won't need it when you hit the dry phase. Be patient. Just throwing out my 2 cents.

Good luck to you and feel free to ask questions if you like. Jules

Day 4:

Hiya,

Well I've fucked up today. Pardon my language, but I've forgotten to take my first pill during lunch. And so when I had dinner I took 2 instead of 1 to make up for the one earlier. Now I feel somewhat scared because I don't know if I should really be taking 2 at one time.

The spots on my forehead are more visible now. But besides that, nothing new to report. I wish I'd get the IB NOW, instead of later. I just wanna be clear ASAP. Haha. Wishful thinking, right?

I'm gonna get on to bed now. I am soooo exhausted. I really need to rest.

Take care and stay clear!

Mark




Hey Jules,

Thanks for the advice. I've been put under a 6 months course, followed by another 2 months maintenance stage. But I think it's worth it in the end. If it means staying clear forever!

How's your acne? I really should take the time to look at all the other logs but I've rarely got any time. I will this weekend though. Hope your acne's gettin betta! Best of luck.

Mark

It's okay to take the both at the same time. In some people it upsets their stomachs when they take them together so they take 1 in the am and 1 in pm.

It's also better for absorption to take them twice a day... but Jules is right, it shouldn't be a big deal!

About your skin, your skin will probably get oilier before it gets drier - I was an oil slick for almost 2 weeks!

Good luck with everything! I hope you DON'T get an IB at all, but if you do, hopefully it will be soon! Chin up, you are on your way to clear skin!

I wouldn't use a toner whilst on roaccutane 8-) your skin will get dry enough, surely? Though I suppose during the early days you could use one...






I didn't know this; my pharmacist said that when I bump up my dosage I should take them both at once... :S should I do one in the morning and one in the afternoon instead (steals your thread! lol...)

Though I don't have to deal with oily skin as my skin is very dry generally perhaps you could use a toner lol... though I would defo stop when you're further into your treatment...

hey English. I did not say not to take the two pills at the same time. Like it says in my quote "In some people it upsets their stomaches when they take them together so they take 1 in the am and 1 in the pm." Hope that clarifies. Jules



Hello Mark! How is everything going? My acne is improving wonderfully thanks for asking. My back is my problem area and I've seen a marked improvement so far. My face wasn't really bad but I am having some flair ups. Oh well, it's all part of the tane experience. My derm is upping from 40mgs a day to 80mgs a day so we'll see what happens then. Hope to see you in my log. I'll be checking back to see how you're doing. Jules

Haha Mup I love you

Thanks for the best wishes. I also hope I don't get an IB as well!

Day 5 & 6:

Sorry for not updating yesterday. I was just too exhausted from work and from going to the gym. I hope things are going okay for you guys!

I haven't had any new breakouts from the ones I mentioned earlier. My skin is atarting to peel and it's kinda strange. I think my t-zone is still pretty oily, but my cheeks are somewhat drying up. My lips are also starting to dry up. They're pretty rough in the morning, especially. Anything you guys would recommend me using?

Just had lunch and took a pill. I feel somewhat weird because my manager saw me looking at this webpage reading all of your comments. So I confessed to her that I actually keep a log of my progress while I'm on accutane and she was actually very supportive. I'm so lucky to have her as a manager. Whoo!

Anyways, I have to go. But before I leave is there any good moisturizer that you recommend me using?


Thanks guys,

M x

this is the first thread focused on experience w/ isotretinoin that i've read. im a bit overwhelmed after learning that you guys were prescribed that much. i've been on 10mg isotretinoin per day (brand Acnetrex, generic i guess) for two weeks now. first side effect appeared on my 5th day - dry lips (they felt thicker each day until now). in the middle of my second week, my skin started to peel. the dosage is really low but im getting pretty good results. i believe you will too. hey, good luck to you appletime! good luck to all of us!

btw, im on topical meds too but in times when i feel that my skin is overdrying, i skip my topical medications (astringent, antibiotic, resorcin sulfur). big bumps don't get too big but they've been drying out quickly these past few days. dark spots are improving as well due to the peeling, very noticeable after washing/bath.

good luck to u

Day 7:

Hey,

Nothing much to say. I have a new zit in between my eyebrows, on top of my nose. It's annoying to see.

My lips are starting to dry out more. I'm using a lot of vaseline. Is this a good option? Is there a better product I could use? Especially about the moisturizer. I really do need one, but I'm clueless about which product to buy. Hope you guys can help.

Anyways, I'm going to bed. I have to get my bloodwork done tomorrow! Wish me luck! Aaagghhh.

M x







We have a lot in common! I'm surprised you're only on 10mg a day. My derm started me on 40 mg a day. I'm assuming you have mild/moderate acne? I hear you about the dry lips. I'm slathering vaseline all over mine. It's annoying, but it's also something I could live with. About the topical meds, I was prescribed an Erythromycin topical solution but I stopped using it on the 4th day seeing as how my face would start peeling and itching.

But it's really good to know you're getting good results. I hope I do as well. Let me know how your progress goes!




Thanks mate!

Hello!! I've used vaseline on my lips at night time. During the day I don't go anywhere with out my chapstick. I use the blue tube / vaseline moisturizer spf 15 / been using it for awhile now. Love it As far as moisturizer try Cetaphil moisturizer. It's got a clean smell.
Good luck with the blood work.

I LOVE Burt's Bees! It really is the best! That's my recommendation!

Sorry about the nose zit! Hopefully it will go away SOON! Yay accutane!