3 replies to this topic

[BabsDancer]

So here's the deal: I don't understand how accutane is supposed to push all of the crap out of our skin without us helping it! We aren't supposed to pick at all while on tane...but what if the bump is clearly at a head? For instance, once I did not pick and then the bumb just faded back into my face (it took forever, but it happened). But stuff never came out of the bump, so doesn't that mean it's still stuck in my face?? I feel like I have to pop everything to help out the accutane. It's frustrating, and I don't know what to do...

Without my help, it feels like all this crap will just stay in my skin. Especially all those blackheads on my nose!

Any advice? grrrr

[sarahsarah]

i really dont have an answer but i know exactly where you are coming from! I have found the skin is thinner so sometimes it just bursts on its own!

but picking could lead to more scarring

[Azrael]

So here's the deal: I don't understand how accutane is supposed to push all of the crap out of our skin without us helping it! We aren't supposed to pick at all while on tane...but what if the bump is clearly at a head? For instance, once I did not pick and then the bumb just faded back into my face (it took forever, but it happened). But stuff never came out of the bump, so doesn't that mean it's still stuck in my face?? I feel like I have to pop everything to help out the accutane. It's frustrating, and I don't know what to do...
Without my help, it feels like all this crap will just stay in my skin. Especially all those blackheads on my nose!

I HAVE to prick the top of a yellow spot with a pin and gently squeeze the pus out.
But,
the yellow top of the spot is a combination of white blood cells (the good guys) and bacteria (the bad guys)
look here for good pictures http://www.acne.org/whatisacne.html
there is a battle going on between them.

Whenever a germ or infection enters the body, the white blood cells snap to attention and race toward the scene of the crime. The white blood cells are continually on the lookout for signs of disease. When a germ does appear, the white blood cells have a variety of ways by which they can attack. Some will produce protective antibodies that will overpower the germ. Others will surround and devour the bacteria.

If you leave the spot alone, the white blood cells will eventually win the battle and kill the bacteria. Once the bacteria is dead, they get broken down and your blood carries them away to your kidneys and they're removed from your body in your urine.

So, yes the 'yellow pus' doesnt just stay in your face. The bacteria is killed and removed in your blood stream, and then the bump reduces and disappears.

I can never wait for my body to fight it on its own, so i always gently pop them. I feel that if i can get some of that bacteria / white blood cell pus out of my face, then my body has less bacteria to fight. But then by popping the spot you open up that wound to more outside infection.

As far as my understanding of how Isotretinoin (accutane) works. It reduces the size of oil glands in the skin, which then reduces the oil production, which mean your pores dont get blocked, which means you dont get acne, which reduces your pore size. I didnt think Isotretinoin actively pushes acne out. I think it just halts the oil production, and the time it takes for an improvement to be seen on your face, is the time it takes for oil production to slow down, and the remaining underlying spots to emmerge and heal.
Because my derm told me the spots on my face are from pore blockages that happened 3 weeks ago!!!

[BabsDancer]

ok, that makes so much sense...thank you!!