40 replies to this topic

[tigerlily86]

So I've had acne since I was about ten, and it got bad quick, especially the scarring. I've always had some form of it, and really I don't know what my face would look like clear so I'm really excited about the possibility Accutane will offer: clear skin. I've had my share of anti-biotic, topical, and over the counter treatments -- none of which, of course, worked. The anti-biotics I was on in my teens did pretty well, but never cleared me completely.

Anyway, I'm 21/F and I weigh 130lbs, I'm on 40mg twice daily, which would be 80mg per day. I've done a lot of reading in these logs, as well as research elsewhere, and to me, this is a pretty high dosage to start out with, but I suppose I'll just trust the P.A. who prescribed it. They also told me I don't need to get bloodwork done for my next visit, which also kind of alarmed me......however, my next appt. is with the doctor so I'll double check with him.

Wish me luck!

[tigerlily86]

Aww thanks so much I've been preparing myself for it to get much worse, but the hope for the future will be on my mind more than what I have to go through.

Before I go on, I have to say I'm really in tune with my body. Not only that, but my body is incredibly changeable, moreso than what is normal I think. I can go out in the sun for ten minutes and have tan lines (and I'm not that dark, I'm medium toned). I can lose a lot of weight in just one day if I want to, my arms and legs will show it (not that I starve myself, but if I watch what I eat & exercise). Maybe it has to do with being an Aquarius because other Aquarians have told me they have this same quality. So I think, even after just one day, Accutane is already taking effect and I can see it! Not to say I'm clear or anything, but I think I'm getting the beginning of the IB already. There are several very small whiteheads on my nose that weren't there when I went to sleep last night, and my forehead has already broken out a lot (which I don't mind, they aren't big).

So here's to hoping I get this IB over and done with and my body heals as quickly as it does other things!

One main side-effect I already noticed is that my mouth gets really, really dry about ten minutes after I take my pill. It was also really dry last night when I was trying to sleep.

[tigerlily86]

Well I read a few posts in the other tane section and I guess if you get the IB, you know you've got it. So maybe these new small ones on my nose and forehead are just purging *shrugs* I'm still stoked I saw a difference at all within a day!

[tigerlily86]

I'm extra, extra itchy right now and noticed it big time this afternoon, my chest, arms, and back are killing me itchy Any suggestions?

[ry-ry]

good luck on your accutane journey.... im about a month and half a head of you..... I had the Ib around day 15 or so, but it went away in like a week. Just get ready for the DRYNESS and happy times after accutane

[tigerlily86]

Oh I definitely will! Thanks for stopping by and the well wishes, same to you!

Day 3

It's still morning, but nothing new to report. I'm not itchy anymore, also I had a mild headache for the last three days (I think it started from stress) and I was worried it wasn't going away because of the tane, but it went away last night and I'm headache free today I'd say my face is the same as yesterday but it does appear as though I may be getting more of a breakout at least by tomorrow, I see some spots just beneath the skin waiting to surface...I'm also going to just take 40mg today instead of 80mg just in case my body needs time to adapt. Maybe I'll switch back and forth for a couple of days.

[tigerlily86]

Day 4, 5, 6

Everything was about the same for the past couple days, I have NOT experienced any new breakouts, and if anything, my scars are a little faded in some areas .... although I doubt the medicine is working that fast, it's still encouraging to see some difference on your face, especially a good one.

My headaches are manageable as long as I drink lots of water, and I've been using baby oil after my showers to keep my skin hydrated before the dryness really sets in. My mouth doesn't get dry after taking the pills anymore (yay!) and overall this is going great because I'm not feeling much of anything if this continues, I'll be one happy camper. However, I'm prepared for it not to, and I'm prepared for an IB if I get one

I'm just using Cetaphil face cleanser to wash and jojoba oil to moisturize in the evenings and my Alba moisturizer (in my sig) in the daytime.

I have been switching between 80mg and 40mg every day, and I've been doing fine on it so I'm going to continue for probably another ten days or so.

[tigerlily86]

Day 7 & 8

I'm noticing more joint aches, but nothing too extreme that I can't handle. I'm not on any supplement right now, just using what's in my sig.. I have felt a little bit of pressure in my..lungs? I guess that's where it is, it's mainly in my chest if I move a certain way, it's odd. I do have very minimal asthma (I never really get attacks and I don't have an inhaler -- it just gets bad if/when I get sick) and am wondering if it has something to do with that.

On day 7 my nose was flaking a little bit, and now my t-zone is starting I suppose I'll just use more moisturizer. As for my face, WOW! It's just been getting progressively better and better, my scars are fading a tiny bit and I've only got one little whitehead on my chin this whole time (except for the 2nd day when I had a lot of little itty bitty ones, that went away quick anyway) and it went away in a day. This is great, as every day passes I'm more and more confident that I won't get an IB *crosses fingers*

[Molapro Andrew]

Woo, we're on the same day and my nose just started flaking too. We are practically flake twins. Doesn't that just sound lovely?

[tigerlily86]

Woo, we're on the same day and my nose just started flaking too. We are practically flake twins. Doesn't that just sound lovely?

Yes, very lovely! I loves me some flakes

[tigerlily86]

Will post pics after treatment is done or near done to show overall improvement.


Day 9

Really, not much to report. My eyes get kind of blurry, but not really dry..I'm still itchy, but not as bad as I initially was. My scars look improved every day so far and I've had a couple blemishes pop up, but not like my usual breakouts before tane. Overall this is going great

[Skurten]

Well, I decided to post a picture to show what my acne is like when it's worse.....the pic on the left was only a few months ago and was when I realized I needed to be doing more for my skin other than washing every day the pic on the right is me a week into tane.

[attachment=7312:beforetane.jpg]


Day 9

Really, not much to report. My eyes get kind of blurry, but not really dry..I'm still itchy, but not as bad as I initially was. My scars look improved every day so far and I've had a couple blemishes pop up, but not like my usual breakouts before tane. Overall this is going great

whoa, looks like improvements already. mostly red marks there huh?
good luck

[10YrsNCountin]

Yeah thats what I was thinking too

[tigerlily86]

whoa, looks like improvements already. mostly red marks there huh?
good luck

Yep! I've had a couple small whiteheads and the beggining of a deep zit that never surfaced and is just fading now, that's it! I've a lot of scarring, as you can see, so I hope it continues to fade the way it is, thanks for the well wishes Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek 10yrs.

Day 10

Only thing to report is I got really thirsty today, all day, so I just kept drinking water. Still got some itchies, not much else. I've noticed the days after I take my 80mg my scars are faded even more kinda crazy, but true, sometimes I'm not believing my eyes at how good my skin looks already (as compared to what I've dealt with my whole life).

[tigerlily86]

Day 11

More news today than I'd like to report, the corners of my mouth are finally starting to feel the tane and no matter what they end up peeling and gross...I have a feeling that's not going to go away anytime soon either. Also, my improving skin may be starting to break out, all along the bottom of my eyes are small red bumps that could or could not turn into something bigger and worse. I can't tell yet. My scalp still itches like mad. My scars still look faded though, thank God.

[Foomph]

Hi there! It might get a bit worse, but not to worry-it'll heal up fast and then it'll be over!!! I got my first canker sore today (not the same as the lip cracking but still annoying). I am so prone to them and accutane makes it worse. Have you got aquaphor? That'll work well in the cracks, and pile it on at night!

[tigerlily86]

Ah, I hope so I hate canker sores! I've got them on and off all my life (mine are the ones inside the mouth), ouch they hurt! Hope yours heals fast, I'm sure they're no fun especially being on tane. Right now I'm using this vitamin C lip balm that really does a good job moisturizing, it's just that my lips dry out faster than normal and I haven't gotten accustomed to that yet, hah.


Day 12

Well, the little bumps under my eyes turned out to be nothing, they're mostly gone today and didn't get any bigger, thank goodness. However I have two new whiteheads (one was huuuuge, but popped on its own) and a couple small red bumps here and there. My forehead cleared the fastest and there's nothing there -- yay! Who knows, that might change though.

My face stung and burned when I put on my moisturizer today I'm starting to really see the dryness and feel it too, I guess they call it the tane burn? Yep, got it.

My scalp itched so bad this morning I couldn't stop itching it!!!! Finally I had to just rub it with my fingers because I was going to itch it raw, but DAMN! -- anyone else have this? What did you do?

[Foomph]

Glad those bumps went away!

I got icthy scalp the first time around, hell I developed BAD dandruff in month 4 or 5 (that went away after about a month or so after it developed but I was SOOOOOOOOOOO upset by it-I cried and everything...couldn't handle anymore side effect but so far this time I haven't experienced it. Although my hair is just starting to dry up now.

I went through the face-sting thing as well...it should go away in a few days.

[Molapro Andrew]

I have the scalp itching, it sucks and I don't really know what to do about it. x_x

[eff acne]

how are you not red!?