http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858-coloradosky55s-blog/ Thu, 16 May 2013 14:06:01 +0000 webmaster@acne.org (Acne.org Community) IP.Blog 60 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-26306-so-i-have-a-question-for-all-you-post-accutane-miracles/  
I just was wondering if anyone who has finished their accutane treatment... waited six months... and had chemical peels were successful in lightening the dark marks? Is it effective? ANY input is GREAT input haha whether you have had it done or not... I would love some insight.
 
XOXO]]> Tue, 07 May 2013 03:35:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-26306-so-i-have-a-question-for-all-you-post-accutane-miracles/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-26219-almost-to-month-4-crrrrazy/  
So I'm about five days away from going into my fourth month on Claravis. When I look at how my skin was when I started Claravis to where it is now... it's a definite improvement. I really only have two little pimples... but the left side of my cheek has this AWFUL DISGUSTING cluster of dark marks. Blahhhhhhhhhhh. So I guess my focus has changed to taking care of those... this is my body dysmorphic disorder being super perfectionistic about my skin. Really not fun.
 
Products I'm Using:
Biore skin balancing cleanser
Clarisonic
Cetaphil cream (in the jar)
Aquaphor
 
Make-Up
Almay cover-up
Neutrogena pressed powder
 
Anyways, things are still iimproving. I'm going to hope that by the end of the fourth month that I will be TOTALLY clear and that the marks will have faded some. I think I'm going to ask to go on 80 mg a day... we'll see! Good luck to everyone on this treatment! And you are beautiful no matter what. Honestly.
 
XoXo]]> Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:41:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-26219-almost-to-month-4-crrrrazy/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-26045-60-days-in-tres-months-to-go/  
So dang, it's been 60 days and let me tell you... things have gotten better. I currently just have... two-ish breakouts. Which is really amazing. I can't remember the last time I washed my face and felt smoothness. I do have some red marks, but those can be covered with make-up AND will go away with time. Plus, my dermatologist said that between the second and third months is when people REALLY start seeing a blessing in their skin. So yippee yeahhh that's really exciting.
 
Oh, but what's a total pain is having to switch dermatologists on Accutane. Holy hell it's like the worst. You have to go through iPledge and contact another dermo and have them accept you ya-da-ya-da-ya-da. And I have to switch since I'm coming home from college and going back to my home state. So, whoever is on Accutane... try your hardest to keep the same doctor haha
 
Much love everyone. If you're unsure about Accutane's effectiveness and you're only just starting... stick with it, okay? I know it's hard. But, it will pay off. Like all things good, it just takes time.
 
XOXO]]> Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:33:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-26045-60-days-in-tres-months-to-go/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25917-50-dayssss/  
So it's been fifty days on Claravis. Honestly cannot believe it's already been that long... but things seem to be halting. I have my next dermatologist appointment a week from today and am debating asking about being raised to 80 mg a day. My face has improved, don't get me wrong, but I am still getting a few break-outs that I don't think should be happening. I could just be impatient, though, not gonna lie and the Accutane may still be "working its way through my system".
 
Let's see, I have a baby cyst on my chin, a new cyst on my left cheek, and a few breakouts on the left side of my forehead. Plus, leftover red marks that will go away with time (but these are freaking annoying). So, I'm really leaning towards the 80 mg route haha. Anyways, that's 50 days in. Update in about a week.
 
Muah.]]> Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:33:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25917-50-dayssss/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25845-41-days-holy-wow/  
1) Claravis 30 mg 2x a day
2) Biore Skin Balancing Cleanser
3) Clarisonic
 
Done. Done. And done. The cleanser truly is wonderful. I honestly cannot praise it enough. I think that anyone on Accutane should give it a try. I truly adore it.
 
I could not be more pleased with how my skin has progressed on Claravis. And honestly, I barely had any side effects. Once you push through the "initial break-out/flakey" stage... you notice things changing. And you notice yourself changing as well. You're lighter, you smile more, you're a better you.
 
I know that things will get better and better. My skin looks near perfect with a few touches of concealer and powder. Crazy, huh?
 
To everyone considering going on Accutane... I'm only 41 days in... and well... read above and maybe you will STRONGLY consider it.
 
Much love,
ColoradoSky55]]> Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:29:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25845-41-days-holy-wow/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25782-32-days-in-really-want-to-flash-forward/  
I wish I had a button on a remote control... one where I could hit flash-forward and it would take me to the end of my treatment... so that I could see just how beautiful I could be. I'm not saying that in vain; I'm saying it because I feel beautiful when I feel like me. And having to battle acne... it doesn't make me feel like me.
 
It's day 32 of my Claravis journey. It's getting better, slowly but surely. I actually have a strange feeling that at the end of this second month, my skin will look a lot better. But, as of right now... it's just a waiting game and I am probably one of the most impatient people on this planet.
 
To tell you the truth... I don't really look into mirrors... which is extremely sad considering that I maybe have four pimples total on my face. I'm pretty sure I have some type of body/acne dysmorphia or whatever it's called. I'm hoping that at the end of treatment... I won't have this anymore.
 
Well, sorry for the sob-like story hahaha update more in about a week!
 
Much love,
ColoradoSky55]]> Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:04:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25782-32-days-in-really-want-to-flash-forward/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25730-get-at-me-day-26/  
Hi you guys! Just wanted to give you an update! Today is day 26 of my Claravis journey. I am still taking 60 mg a day. My one month is this Monday, March 4th when I will have my dermatologist appointment and then go into month two. I'm pretty sure I'll be staying on 60 mg a day for a total of five months. PRETTTTTY EXCITING STUFF!!!!!!!!!
 
Here is a little update about my face! I switched cleansers haha and I FREAKING LOVE WHAT I'M USING. It's called "Biore Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser". I have been using this for two days and already my skin feels way better. My face feels smoother, not so dry, but still super clean. I'm in love. I'll definitely continue using this throughout my treatment and will keep using it after Accutane as well. For a moisturizer, I use Cetaphil moisturizing cream and for make-up I just use Almay spot treatment concealer and the Neutrogena pressed powder. I really hate foundation, so the concealer with light powder is perfect!
 
I currently have nothing active on my right cheek. It's actually really smooth with just a few little marks. My chin has some scabs that are still drying up. My left cheek has one cyst and one tiny pimple with red marks. And my forehead is relatively smooth with some leftover red marks. So, I think I'm now in the healing process which is actually SUPER SWELL.
 
I did develop some eczema haha that's for sure. It's on my neck, the tops of my hands, and on one arm. It's not horrible; it's not like oh dear God what happened to her. It's just red and itchy. But, that's just a sign the Claravis is kicking in! So, I'll take it. I think in the next month my skin will be doing really well. So, I'm stoked for that. It's kind of crazy to see the effects of Accutane actually showing. I guess I'm a nerd like that. I get PUMPED.
 
Stay beautiful (:
 
Muah,
ColoradoSky55]]> Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:53:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25730-get-at-me-day-26/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25664-clarvis-day-16/  
So I totally lied about getting over an initial breakout. My face decided "haha, fooled her" and decided that I should break out just a little bit more. My cheeks are about 95% clear, but my chin has a little cyst and a whitehead and my forehead has like... three little bumps near my hairline and a couple whiteheads. Not horrible, but PLEASE CLARAVIS KICK IN BABY.
 
Still using Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Cleanser, Clarisonic, and Cetaphil Moisturizer (just around my nose). I've also added Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser at night which is really refreshing. Me gusta mucho!
 
Not much else to report... I'm not really dry haha my lips are a little, but if I have chapstick then I'm golden. If any of you have an idea about when your initial breakout stopped... I'd love to hear for some motivation haha.
 
Muah!
ColoradoSky55]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:58:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25664-clarvis-day-16/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25630-day-11-and-12/  
What up everyone! So everything is going grand with the Claravis. I honestly don't have dry skin... which is really weird... haha I was kind of expecting to be like the Sahara. I'm totally good with not flaking all over, though. But, I am pretty oily so maybe by the end of month 1... then I'll be a little drier. I'm expecting that to happen.
 
I think I'm just getting over my beautiful, fantastic, wonderful initial breakout. It's so lovely. So my entire forehead was CRYSTAL clear then BABOOM WAMPOW... three new little whiteheads popped up. I woke up and was like "NOOOOOO" haha but they're going away now. And I also got a small one above my lip and a few on my chin that are now scabs. But, I think the Claravis is going bueno. I'm sure by the end of month 2... I'll be able to really tell.
 
Not much else to report on... I'm debating using a sulfur mask as a spot treatment overnight to help with drying out the random ones that pop up. Might be too much on Accutane, though. Oh decisions, decisions haha.
 
Muah!
ColoradoSky55]]> Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:47:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25630-day-11-and-12/ http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25612-welcome-claravis/  
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]]> Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:27:00 +0000 http://www.acne.org/messageboard/blog/6858/entry-25612-welcome-claravis/