Update on oily skin

Okay, so I had an earlier post, but I wanted to update again given that it's been a few days.

I usually have to blot once an hour, especially in the summer.

Yesterday, I didn't blot once. Not once!

I'm using the Clenia wash and emollient cream. I'm finding them drying, do last night I skipped the cream and did a BP spot treatment only on my biggest pimple.

I washed my face at 7:30am, and just did a finger sweep of my nose. Nothing.

I don't know the mechanism for why it affects oil production, and I always though topical meds couldn't help oily skin.

I'll update again in a few days. So far though, so good!

Clenia for Oil Control?

Okay folks. I had to recently stop a course of Accutane due to stomach pain. I had only taken 7 pills, but the abdominal pain was too much and freaking me out. (And yes, I took it with a big meal). Anyway, after my derm told me to stop taking that Accutane, I asked her to call me in Clenia wash and cream, which is a sulfur-based product.

I cannot believe, in the amount of time that I've been using it, how much it is controlling my oil. And I have OILY skin.

I highly doubt it's leftover accutane in my system, but I'll give this regimen another few weeks before I can say that definitely.

I had heard that Clenia helps control oil, but to this extent?

I just wanted to put my experience. I've only been using it for 6 days, but I'm astonished at how non-greasy my face is. Yesterday, I didn't blot one single time, and I usually blot every hour.

Also, my skin looks pretty decent as well, breakout-wise.

I'll update in a few days to see if this has continued to work. I'm just surprised, because I've heard that topicals can't do anything for sebum production.

Wouldn't it be nice if that wasn't the case?

Sorry, yucky question here about Accutane

Hi everyone,

I've taken only two pills thus far, and this morning have had two yellow bowel movements.

Yellow isn't that much of a cause for alarm, but I wondered since the Claravis capsule is actually orange (I don't know what color the medicine is inside), if this could discolor feces?

Anyone have this experience? Sorry this is so nasty, but I'd much prefer things...um...brown and normal.

Please God, don't let this drug eff me up!

Okay....here goes.

Despite the run-around that is iPledge, I managed to get everything in order and have my pills sitting downstairs on the counter.

To say I'm frightened is a complete and total understatement. I'm scared shitless.

I've posted my stats before on this site, but since this is my actual log, let me post them again:

I'm 33, and have had acne and VERY oily skin since I was 11. It's bad enough having acne. Add skin so oily you can actually see it beading up out of your enlarged nose pores? Totally not fair.

Retin-A and antibiotics kept me fairly clear in high school. My skin started getting cystic acne in my early 20s, and didn't respond to traditional treatments. Retin-A, Differin, Benzaclin, Clindamycin, Azelic Acid, yada yada yada. Tried them all. Then one day, when I was 22, I went to my dermatologist...again...in tears. She was merciful and I walked out of her office that day with samples of accutane. In fact, since I didn't have full medical at that point, she gave me an entire 5-month supply, free. I just had to take the blood tests.

At the time, I didn't give a shit about side effects. I just wanted clear skin.

After three horrid weeks of still having breakouts and then hideously peeling skin on top of it, I woke up one morning to find my skin completely free of oil. Eureka!

From then on it was smooth sailing. No more breakouts, save a minor pimple or two.

Accutane kept me clear until I got pregnant 4 years later. Post childbirth and breastfeeding, I tried pro-activ, which worked well. After giving birth to my second daughter, and weaning her 18 months later, my skin kind of went crazy. Back to cysts.

Dan's BP regimen worked great for a while, and then those pesky cysts and closed comedones started making a comeback.

I tried Philosophy's acne kit for a while, and my skin went from bad to I-can't-look-in-the-mirror bad.

A trip to the derm sent me home with Aczone and Ziana, which DID work, for about 8 weeks. And then nothing. I tried them for 3 more months, to no avail, and to my surprise, my derm suggested Accutane.

I sit here, at the PC, with only about 6 pimples on my face. I feel terrible, knowing that my acne isn't severe. Clearly topicals aren't working, and I'm unfortunately allergic to spironolactone!

I have two darling children, and a great husband, and I wonder if I'm making a mistake. I sincerely hope not. I took it before without incident....only dry skin and lips. No other side effects.

So my fingers are crossed. I'll have to see if there is a patron saint of acne! Ha! Or a patron saint of drug side effects. Because I truly hope to have none of the serious ones.

I'll take my first pill tonight! And I'll officially start my log!

Accutane - blood work question

Hi everyone,

I just finished my 30-day waiting period, and had my second blood test this am to check for both pregnancy and triglycerides, liver function, etc.

Of course, I have to wait until my doctor actually gets the results and enters them in the iPledge system before I can answer those questions online and then fill the prescription. Phew!

Question, though: any idea how long it takes for the bloodwork to get done? Will having it done on Friday delay anything? My doctor actually said she anticipated having it by the end of the day today, but I was thinking that sounded like a really quick turnaround!

Thanks anyone for your help. I just feel like the 7-day countdown has started and I'm anxious to fill this thing or else be blocked out for 19 days!