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Welcome, Claravis

Posted by ColoradoSky55, 11 February 2013 · 444 views

Hi everybody!

So, I've been checking out this site for an obnoxiously long time. I think I first stumbled upon it last August when I started college. And now, walla! I am going to do a blog about my experience with acne and now Accutane.

Let me start by saying that I am doing this because I know what it feels like. I know what it feels like to consciously be aware of every blemish and red mark on your face, whether they are gigantic or microscopic. It consumes you like a sickness. And I know what it's like to feel helpless and to look around you and think... nobody knows what I'm going through... nobody fears the dreaded mirror every day like I do... nobody understands the silent suffering...

So, I want to share my story. Hopefully, it will be a story of success. Because every single person on this planet deserves to wake up every morning and say, damn, I am beautiful. We should all be able to say that and I'm hoping that by the time my Accutane experience is over, I will be able to not just say, "damn, I'm beautiful" but I'll be able to scream it.

I am now 8 days into my accutane treatment. I am on 60 mg a day of Claravis. To be honest, I do not have severe acne. It is moderate, but extremely persistent. I have tried every antibiotic known to mankind and every drugstore cleanser, lotion, and toner out there. It kills me to think of the money that I have spent on trying to cure this disease. But, I would spend $10,000 easily if I could be guaranteed to not have to worry about looking in the mirror and being disgusted at what I see.

So, 60 mg a day along with Beyaz birth control. Oh, by the way, I'm a 19 year old girl who loves country music, plays college soccer, and cannot wait for the day that her five month Accutane course is over and I can BEAM at the mirror.

As far as side effects go... just some dry lips. I'm currently using Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Cleanser. Once I run out of that, then I will switch to Cerave's foaming cleanser. I use Aquaphor and Blistex for my lips and I also use my Clarisonic when I feel like I need some extra cleaning. I am sure that once the dryness of my face increases, then I will have to stop using the Clarisonic because it will be too harsh on my skin.

I have one red mark and a few small bumps on my right cheek, two scabs from old zits on my chin, two cysts on my left cheek with a few red marks, and three moderate pimples on my forehead. I think the Accutane is helping a bit.

If any of you guys have suggestions about what to do about red marks during and post Accutane... please let me know! And I'd love to hear your stories about when your Accutane really started to make a difference in your skin!

Muah!
-ColoradoSky55

ls206816

Feb 11 2013 06:48 PM

I still use my clarisonic but I have the delicate brush head and I use it on the lowest speed. I like to use mine everyone in a while when I feel like I can tolerate it and when my skin gets dull and extremly flakey. A lot of people like to use BioOil while on Accutane as their mosturizer and it also help with red marks, scars and everything else. Also after Accutane your dermatologist will probably prescribe you Retin-A to help with pigmentation and scarring and then maybe even laser treatment after 6 months off Accutane. If you have any questions feel free to message me! Good luck!

ColoradoSky55

Feb 11 2013 06:58 PM

So, did you take accutane or are you still on it currently? Your advice helped a ton! Thank you so much for commenting. It seriously means a lot to me.

ls206816

Feb 11 2013 07:36 PM

I'm curently on day 24 of Claravis. So I don't have loads of advice but I've done a lot of research and talked to a lot of people who have been on it. This website helps so much with advice and just relating to people who are going through the same thing. Also I'm on 10mg which is super low but in a few days I go to the dermatologist to get a higher dose for my second month. So I'm excited for that. But I got side effects and the initial breakout on the third day. Which I though was crazy but it does happen! I also have really dry skin, lips, eyes, and all that already so I'm definitely afraid of how dry my skin will get once on a higher dose!

Also I'm just going to tell you the products I use in case they might help you. Sorry for leaving such a long comment!
But I use Cetaphil mosturizing cream because very one on here says its better than the lotion and better then CeraVe because its more thick like an overnight cream.
Also for lips everyone says Aquaphor is better than vasaline. Which I agree on. And also I use eye drops because I'm a contact wearer and my eyes get dry!
Also I completely had to change my makeup and face wash routine. And it's super difficult because all my life I've had oily shiny acne prone skin and now I need all new stuff for dry skin!

So I use the CeraVe mosturizing lotion on my face then apply liquid foundation (I got one from the drugstore idek what brand it is and I didn't want to spend a ton of money because I didn't know how it would work) I know I got it in combination oily. Also I don't suggest using a powder! It just gets caked throught the day! But I like setting sprays! And cream blushes are better! I don't even know if you use makeup! But if you do then there you go!

And then I just bought Burt's bees mosturizing cream cleanser! And I love it! It has more of a natural smell. And then I bought the simple mosturing facial wash and its okay but it's a citrus smell and I jait don't like that smell and the Burt's bees just does a better job. And I bought both because I had no clue what to buy!

So sorry for this long comment! I don't even know if this stuff applies to you! But it's stuff that I had to figure out and still am! So maybe this will help you! And I'm glad to help!

ColoradoSky55

Feb 12 2013 07:19 PM

As far as make-up goes... I honestly just wear concealer and it's from Almay that I'm absolutely in love with. Almay truly has the best concealer out there. I just think it covers so well.

I'll definitely look into Burt's Bees cream cleanser! I feel like Burt's Bees usually has really good stuff and I can feel my face getting PRETTTTYYYYY DRRRRRYYYYY haha so it might be really good to get something a little moisturizing.

Will the Bio-Oil break you out more? Anything that has the word "oil" in it frightens me hahaha.

Thanks again for all your help! I hope everything goes well for you with your accutane experience. You definitely deserve it to!