27 replies to this topic

[JeffyD]

Day 1 - Month 1, Week 1, Day 1

I took my first Accuntane pill this morning. I'm nervous after reading some horror stories at the "action group" but I'm hopeful that this will be the right decision. I have moderate acne. My history is:

As of age 14 I had irritating levels of acne and used Benzoyl Peroxide in various forms up until age 18. The summer before college, I started Retin A micro. That was a mistake - after 6 months my skin was impossibly screwed up (I guess I reacted bad to it) and really really dry. I had to use oily moisturizers...which made things terrible, and I ended up with severe acne.

In February I was put on Tetracycline, which helped. In April I was moved to Minocycline, and was prescribed lower dose tretinoin cream, but I felt my face disliking it, so I didn't use it as much as he wanted me (every other day at most). I came in a few days ago for a check up, and he said I could do accutane since things weren't working out THAT great (improved, but by no means gone or even close). I again have moderate acne, as I said.

So, this will be my five month, weekly log on progress with the drug. As of now, no ill effects (naturally). I bought some Eucerin 30 SPF Moisturizing Lotion (Non-comengenic of course) as well as some strong chap stick and some Neutrigina overnight lip gloss. Hoping for the best, and the end up this 5 year self conciousness issue!

Psychologically, I'm very strong willed, and the acne doesn't hold me back much...but honestly, it pisses me off. I look at myself as perfect except for it, hah. So...I hope in the two months I have left of vacation things improve, and I go back to college a new man!

I run 3 miles everyday, and work out regularly.

I'm only putting this allll down so people in similar situations can hopefully look at this and know somewhat what to expect! I know it's a lot of info! So...let us begin!

[Cheesy]

GOOD LUCK!

[DMBsDreamGrl]

Hey Jeff, Congrats & Good luck!

[cj83]

Hey good luck man!
And don't worry! I'm sure in the end you'll see that it was the right decision! You've only to be patient and let the accutane do its job..

All the Best!
cj

[Kirstin]

Hi Jeff! Welcome to the forum!

[JeffyD]

Thanks for your kind words folks. I've been ghosting here a long time!

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 8

Well, hello folks. I just took my 8th dose of our beloved friend. Here's how things are going!

Emotionally No issues here besides self concioussness about my face! I can't say I've experienced any of the downness or "mood swings" I've heard people mention about accutane. Yay!

Vision No loss of night vision or effect on it

Headaches Have had none

Joint/Muscle pains Have had none, even with my normal running/working out

Lips Burt's Bees and Neutrogena overnight lip balm have been being used since I started treatment. As of now, no negativenss on the lips - they just feel better than normal because of the stuff, hah.

Skin Ohhh, here's the climax. In terms of acne, I don't think I've experienced an IB yet, save for the result of stopping my antibiotic (minocycline). I do have one horrid zit which I thought I could pop and get rid of...and it didn't work and ahhhhh it's the most horrid blemish ever to exist now (huuuuge, painful, GIANT RED TOP). BUT, I can hardly blame Accutane for that.

In terms of dryness, it really is horrid. My skins flaking off alll over my face like there's no tomorrow. I got this uber Eucerin "Extra Protective Moisture Lotion" that's SPF30 and the works, but damn man, it practically seems like it does no good! Does this shit last through treatment? Because I hardly want to head off to school looking like this...

And speaking of which, a bunch of friends from college surprise visited me, and I was like "OH DEAR GOD, MY FACE!" I didn't let it stand in the way of having a grand time, but I felt pretty aware of how it must have looked. Siiigggghhhhhh

Ah well, cheers folks,
-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 15

Mixed bag this week. Dryness is wayy more severe, lips finally starting to give my trouble despite the nightly overnight cream and constant application.

Dry skin is actually a little bit better, but the moutstache area is still bad...I've started using oily moisturizers there just to get it under control...hopefully it won't cause a break out, but that'd be ok since...

I'm overall very happy with my face! Acne is way better, red marks from the Minocycline are gone, and things have improved. I'm getting a few big zits on my neck and jawline, but I only really have 1 cyst on my face that's been on my cheek for more than a month...otherwise I'm pretty damn clear, just a few small pimples! As long as the dryness doesn't get worse, I love accutane! Just kill that cyst!

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 22

Neck is breaking out like crazy, and the cyst remains firmly embedded in my cheek. A few whiteheads appearing. Not too satisfied...but certainly better than it was.

Dryness has become tolerable, again, though, so I guess I'm no worse for the wear.

Having some trouble avoiding alcohol consumption. A lot of mocking from the friends because I don't have any "valid" reasons, but I don't want to concede to being so concerned with my apparance as to use Accutane either...I only told one collegiate friend of mine. So I've missed two grand party nights because of this damn stuff!

Joints/eyes/whatnot still fine, but a littttle back pain when I go to bed now.

-Jeff

[SweetAsCanBe]

you started about a week before me.. i take 40 mg a day right now too. are you going to stay on that dosage for the remainder of your course?

[JeffyD]

I'm not sure, but I see my derm on Thursday, so I'll ask then.

Good luck

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 32

Well, face is seeming better, dryness is better, BUT this crazy cyst on my cheek is driving me nuts. A lot of redness to contend with, and the cyst is going nuts, but besides that the accutane seems to be doing the job. Probably still the best I've been in a few months. Doc told me to stay on 40 mg for now, and gave me some predisone for the inflammation, but I've stopped taking it after a few days due to a cost benefit consideration on my part...hardly worth it for one, bothersome, cyst!

Yay!

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 37

After litereally months of suffering, my large cyst on my cheek has subsided into a flesh colored flatness which just feels a little funny and is nearly impossible to see! I am sooo happy...

I've been getting a lot of persistant whiteheads...a lot meaning around 8. They're annoying because when they leave, they stick around for awhile in the form of a pinkish spot. But, I know that my face looks a lot better than it did pre-Accutane.

It's been realllly humid, so I've only had to moisturize like once a day. I also think my body's getting used to the 'tane amounts in my system, so I assume my derm will be bumping me up the next time I see him. In fact, I haven't had to use any moisturizer today! Which is awesome. Lips are still chapped a lot, though.

No other side effects, and I've been drinking a beer or two every once in awhile without any issues. I asked my derm about drinking and he said "One or two at a party is fine, but no binge drinking." Sweet.

No back pain or anything. My pores seem big though...I hope I look smashing come one month from now...AKA college return! I'd love to come back clear! OH! And on my nose all my black heads became like, white dry stalks...looked like dry skin. Really weird, but now I have pores on my nose! Crazy!

-Jeff

[Dyne]

Having some trouble avoiding alcohol consumption. A lot of mocking from the friends because I don't have any "valid" reasons, but I don't want to concede to being so concerned with my apparance as to use Accutane either...I only told one collegiate friend of mine. So I've missed two grand party nights because of this damn stuff!

Yeah I hear you on this one. The past two nights I have just gone to the parties and drank 'cautiously'. Usually I'll just have 4-5 drinks over the course of the night which usually lasts about 5-6 hours. I can barely feel the alcohol but at least it will keep my friends from going to insane about being a 'pussy'.

[JeffyD]

Yeah man, I know it. It's probably the worst part of being on Accutane. I don't care about the lack of alcohol itself, but the social flak is incredibly intense. Makes me admire the guts of those who don't drink!

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 43

Dryness has been more tolerable, but my face has been getting rather red. I'm not a big fan of it...pores look huge. Acne is still coming up, a few new zits a week, but the cyst is now healing, and no new ones are forming.

I have lost hope generally for looking sharp come the first day of school, but it's better than I looked with horrid acne and minocycline derived super-redness when I left. Things are better than they were, but I wish I'd started doing this right when summer started so that I'd be further along. I was oohhhh soo hopeful I'd come back to school with nice skin!

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 48

Ahhh, the acne on my right cheek is going nuts where the cyst used to be! It's like two uberzits and 5 whiteheads rolled into one! ACH!

ACCUTANE, WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO SERVE ME!?! p

-Jeff

[00Cardinal]

Hey Jeff, I know what you mean, I'm going into my junior year and no one at college knows I have acne as I've kept under pretty good control for the past two years. I was hoping Accutane would at least start to work by the time I'm back, but I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that my face will look pretty bad for at least a few months. But, look at it this way, by the end of the semester we'll be good to go for good!

~Matt

[JeffyD]

Day 50

Yeah man, don't I know it. Good luck to you...we still have a bit of time, right?

I'm breaking out pretty bad these days. My crazy cyst has become a war zone, and I have numerous white heads. My jaw line and towards my neck is really really really bad. I had a crazy reaction with Blistex too, and my lip swelled, which was incredibly frustrating. I'm starting to get snide comments about how often I apply chapstick, which is a pain...

Last night I partied harder than I ever had before on Accutane. Still nothing crazy, but probably about four drinks cumulatively over a couple hours, which hit me harder than such an amount ever had before. But, it was the last get together of my home friends before we headed out, so I haddd to! And still, my derm said 1 or 2 is fine...3 or 4 is pretty close to that.

I just did math on my next derm visit, and I'll have a one day gap with no Tane! Maybe more depending on if I need to have blood test results before he wants me to go for it. Gahh. Irritating, aint it?!

16 days until school...fingers oh-so-crossed!! I'm starting to get more self concious as it gets worse...

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 57

Face is breaking out pretty bad, and getting dryer again. Seems like I'm going to have worse acne when I get back to college than before I started 'tane. Simply great. Also my super cyst is coming back full strength, and with wingmen. Goddamn.

I got poison ivy on my left arm too, and it's itchy as shit. Gahhh.

Hopefully things improve dramatically in 9 days...or else my life will be signifigantly agonous.

Going up to Canada for a few with fam now. Perhaps the trip will do me good.

-Jeff