32 replies to this topic

[beagle13]

Well, I've been hanging around these boards for awhile waiting to start my own log of my accutane journey.

Short history: Had clear skin all through high school, beautiful skin if i do say so myself Anyway, that was not to last very long. Moved out of parents house after graduating high school and WHAMMO! All of a sudden, one morning, woke up with 5-6 large cysts! No shit, that's really how it happened. Well of course i didn't know what the hell was going on so I picked and picked and of course ended up with scars.
For the last 17 years i have had an ongoing battle with acne, sometimes worse, sometimes better. Cysts, pustules, whiteheads,blackheads, you name it, it has taken up residence on my face at some time or another.So obviously now i have a face full of scars to prove it.

Like everyone else on here, I have been on every antibiotic and topical known to man. Didn't ever do much. Now that i think back on it, i think i may have had a short remission when i was about 25 for about a 1 1/2 years. I thought i had grown out of it, but no, the battle was far from over. My derm had tried to convince me to go on accutane several times, but i was so scared of the side effects, (especially the IB) that i kept putting it off until now.

Present day: I am now 34 years old, i look like shit (not just the acne, but the scars) and i could kick myself in the ass for not starting this sooner. I would have less scars. I have also been through many scar treaments (stupid I know...should have dealt with the acne first) which didn't do squat either. I have finally decided accutane is my only hope so i started on 60mg/day for 5 months approx 1 week ago.

So far, dry skin on my face (of course i still have pimples), very red face, especially nose, and my face is constantly itching. That's about it so far, but i know this is just the beginning and the worst is yet to come.

I have a question for any seasoned accutane users with scars. Could my skin already be thinning out? It seems like my scars look worse than they did a couple weeks ago, not necessarily more red, but the indentations look deeper or more noticeable or something. Not much i can do about it but i was just wondering. Well good luck to all those on accutane, and thanks for reading. It was a long post i know, but i had to share it with people who understand how psychologically devastating acne and acne scars can be.

c-ya
beagle

[Mrs. N]

Hey Beagle! Glad to see you logging! Hope things go well for you!!

[beagle13]

hey mrs n! thanks for checking out my log! Just hope this goes well.

[The Charmed 1]

Wow beagle, your story is just like mine. I myself am 34 and have been the same road you have.

I used to get cysts, but just this summer i dont know what happened... i had the worst 4 gigantic cysts in my life that needed to be lanced and drained!! Right away the derm said i needed accutane, i am so mad because these new cysts that i got during the summer gave me some scars.

I am so upset about having to deal with this once i am off accutane.

Also just like you, i am seeing old familiar scars in the areas that i know for a fact were not there and that i had worked so hard to make them less noticeable.

Good luck with your accutane course.

[beagle13]

Yeah, the scar thing really sucks I just hope that even if it appears worse during treatment, it will get better or at least return to pre-accutane scarring. That's been my biggest fear in starting this drug is that i will get many more scars from a big IB. All I can do is hope i guess.

I will try to post at least weekly to keep track of my progress both for myself and for any others who may be thinking about trying accutane.

The only good thing is mentally I feel better with the knowledge that at least this is almost guaranteed to work in the end. Getting there may be rough, but i hope it will all be worth it.

cya
beagle

[Platinum007]

Hi Beagle,

I know what you mean about waiting too long. I waited about 100 scars too long. I have only a few pock marks but the purple scars, which are now bright red, are numerous. My derm offered me accutane 3 years ago!!!! I was afraid it would kill me. I've been on it for 2 months now and hardly feel dead . I just got my dose upped from 40 to 60mg. I actually took 70mg today because I had a leftover 40mg pill since I had to skip a day or two because of that stupid iPledge thing.

Anyway, good luck. I'm sure you'll do great. My cysts pretty much stopped completely by week 3. I had one hanger-on for another week. Now I just get little pimples that go away pretty quickly. I pick, too. And constantly touch my face. I know I'm causing more scars but I know they will fade eventually.

Hey, check out my log, if you have some spare reading time......

Platinum (40yo married mom)

[beagle13]

hey platinum,

thanks for visiting my log. Actually, i have been reading your log...sounds like things are going good. Right now i can't really tell if i'm going to get a big breakout or what. It's hard to remember what was there before i started and what is new.

I'm on day 10 at 60 mg and I'm not really that dry yet. My skin is still oily as is my hair. Maybe i will be one of those that never really dries out? (I hope i don't regret saying that ).

[beagle13]

Ok...anyone else have really bad temper tantrums on this stuff? This morning i woke up and was in the worst mood and unfortunately took it out on everyone in my house!!! I was throwing things, yelling...not pretty. I wonder, is it the accutane or am i just getting bitchy in my old age?

Might as well update while I'm here:

Day 11

Dry skin...mostly on chin area, but not really anywhere else; very itchy though
BAD MOOD
Noticed some peeling of my lips by late afternoon but no big deal........YET
Still a few lingering pimples

that's it for now

cya
beagle

[jenny17]

Hey there! I hear these mood swings happen- hell I havent started accutane yet, and I have em already! Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day- I plan to start my treatment tomorrow- I'll keep you posted as to what side effects I experience. Take a hot bath and realx!!

Jenny17

[Mrs. N]

Ok...anyone else have really bad temper tantrums on this stuff? This morning i woke up and was in the worst mood and unfortunately took it out on everyone in my house!!! I was throwing things, yelling...not pretty. I wonder, is it the accutane or am i just getting bitchy in my old age?

No, because I'm drugged out of my ever-lovin' gourd! I was edgy at first, and weepy, but that was all, and nothing much of anything since the increased dose of Klonopin and Wellbutrin, but to tell the truth, I feel too drugged out now. I just want to sleep all day. Maybe it's the Accutane, too--- does it make anyone sleepy?

In any case, I'm sure it's the Accutane, becuase you are NOT old!

[Roxy@22]

Hi Beagle,

I saw your question about accutane making your scars more noticeable. My personal experience is yes. I only had two visible scars before starting accutane. Within the first few months of my course, I noticed that I could see a half dozen shallow scars. I've been told that once my course is through, the scars will be much less noticeable. I have less than a month to go, so I'll find out soon! I saw that you have tried several scar treatments, but were unsatisfied with the results? What have you tried? I'm creating a Plan B just in case these suckers dont away. Have you ever tried IPL?

I wish you much success with your course.

Roxy

[beagle13]

Roxy,

Thanks for visiting my log!!! I'm pretty worried about my scarring looking worse throughout my course but what can I do?

In answer to your question, yes I have tried IPL in conjunction with cool touch laser. Didn't do much at all (either one). IPL is for redness not skin texture changes so keep that in mind. I've also tried microderm, glycolic peels, and finally CO2 laser, all with very limited success if any at all.

Are you happy with your accutane results so far?

beagle

[Roxy@22]

Beagle,

I'm very happy with the results I have gotten from accutane. My skin showed signs of improvement within the first few months with the most dramatic improvement at the end of my third month. In the past month, I occasionaly get a very small mark that goes away within a day, but thats about it. This stuff works, so keep you head up! I'm sorry to hear that you spent all that money on scar treatment and you werent happy with results. Did you feel the IPL helped with hyperpigmentation/redness? Since I'm so fair, hyperpigmentation is problem for me. too

Hang in there girl, time is on your side.

Roxy

[beagle13]

roxy,

it's really hard to tell if the IPL helped much so I guess the answer is no...it didn't really help. There are a lot of other promising scar treatments out there. I guess I'll leave that for the scar forums though.

Update:

Day 17

Lips/face drier
Joint pain
BAD lower back pain...will fish oil capsules help? I heard they might cause breakouts?
A few pimples still hanging around, couple newbies today



beagle

[Roxy@22]

I'm checking on you again.

I haven't heard of fish oil causing breakouts. I have used them througout my entire course. I think its worth a try to see if it helps with your joint and back pain. Plus its great for your heart.

R xy

[beagle13]

roxy: thanks for checking in on me! My log is kind of boring but i guess that's a good thing right?

I will try the fish oil capsules, even if they do contribute to breakouts, maybe it won't matter because of the accutane.

Update Day 20

dry lips (of course)
joint pain
no need to wash hair very frequently (nice)
dry skin on face (oil just disappeared!) (NICE)
Few new pimples...in wierd places I never breakout, like my forehead I now have two...not huge but there anyway
VERY TIRED...especially in the afternoon.
One very irritating thing...everything takes FOREVER to heal
scarring looks worse

That's it for now...hope everyone else's course is going well. Good luck everyone.

[Mrs. N]

Hey, Beagle! Checking in again! Yay for boring log! They're the best! It means nothing horrible is happening. I am getting some weird little breakouts in places I never break out (on my neck, my temples? Strange.) but I guess it's good---- everything's flushing out. I can deal with it. As long as they're the little ones.

I'm sorry you're so tired, but boy, am I glad to read everyone else is tired. I thought it was just me. Take a nap when you can. (Yeah, easier said than done.)

Hang in there! And yes, try the Fish Oil!

[beagle13]

Hey everyone! Well I haven't been on here in a while...partly because of the holidays and my new job (so busy!) and partly because I was having problems with my user id and password and couldn't post! Anyway, things are so so right now. My skin is somewhat broken out right now with about 5-6 pimples Lips are ok if i keep stuff on them constantly. One good thing i have noticed. At least if I get a pimple it does go away faster than before. Skin is still not oily which is great. I'm about 5 weeks in now so I hope this breakout improves soon.

Here's something wierd. You know how you wake up with sleep lines on your face from the pillow? When i wake up with this, it takes forever for them to fade. I went to work this morning and after being out of bed for about 2 hours, they were still there! Coincidence? I don't know.

I hardly look in the mirror anymore. I can just about do my makeup without looking. Talk about paranoid. I just can't do it. I feel like it doesn't matter anyway. I don't want to pick and I know if I look, I will.

Well I hope everyone has a very merry christmas and here's to clear skin in the new year!

[beagle13]

Hey everyone! Merry Christmas!

Well, I am still noticing some pimples forming! When will this end? My face was clearing up pretty nicely and now I'm not sure. It's very depressing. I was hoping to be semi clear for christmas. Could this be the IB at 5 weeks? It figures. I went back to the derm for my monthly checkup and bloodwork last week and she commented on how good my skin looked. It's almost like if someone says that, I'm destined to experience a breakout shortly after. What the heck?

Sorry for the depressing post. I hope everyone else is doing well. I guess I'll just wait and see what happens. I just hope it doesn't get any worse. Oops! Probably shouldn't have said that, just jinxed myself

[beagle13]

Getting ready for Month 3!!!

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great and relaxing holiday season. Just stopping by to update my log with my progress so far:

Pimples on and off. I thought by now I would be totally clear but apparently that is not the case. Sometimes I can't believe how agressive acne is...my lips and skin are so damn dry but yet I still continue to break out...not terribly bad but still; COME ON ALREADY!!!

Another new thing I noticed yesterday was excema on my upper arms and left hand. I'm almost scared to say something to my derm. She'll probably give me another script that costs a hundred bucks or some crazy amount like that. I'm already going broke paying for all the meds (including birth control @ 40.00 month!), lab work, dr visits, yadda yadda... AHH, the price I'm willing to pay for clear skin.

I go back to the derm next week for my script for month 3...I kinda wish she would up my dosage but she won't. She says 1mg/kg/day for the entire time is how it's done. Whatever, I guess she knows best.

You know, my acne is alot better than it was before accutane, and for that I'm thankful. But am I asking too much to be totally clear most of the time? I still have not had one day where I have NO pimples.

Sorry about venting so much...take care everyone

beagle