237 replies to this topic

[KL Merciless]

So KL Merciless. Just to clarify. Your whiteheads just sorta went away? Did they surface? Or did they just sort of become less visible then went away? And when exacactly did this happen?

1. They surfaced.
2. They were usually big, and they stayed the same size for me until they went.
3. It happened throughout my first and second months - it took anywhere from a couple of days to a week (or it could've been a wee bit longer than that)
4. However, sometimes I got impatient and got annoyed and picked. I don't get much whiteheads anymore, now, though, so I don't have to pick at them now.

Sorry if I'm not being too helpful.

[CoreyDB]

No it's fine, I just think you are thinking of something else, not closed comedones. I don't mean whiteheads as in pastules (pimples/zits) but I mean whiteheads as in closed comedones, small flesh coloured bumps barely visible but gives your face a very rough, bumpy, odd-looking texture.

[ciaobella]

hey there!
so i definitely asked my lab table about those nasty little things today (mine are starting to grow down from my forehead into my eyebrow zone...eww!)
and turns out the perfect-skin-barbie lab partner has taken the tane before!
i asked her advice and she recommended using an at-home peel so it wouldn't irritate the skin and potentially cause scarring
i think she said MD Skincare, and they have this alpha-beta hydroxy peel that you rub on your face for a while which is supposed to get rid of all bumps even closed ones
she also said that they'd stay dormant for a while and then randomly purge out at some point in the treatment but she recommended steaming the pores each night to encourage them to come out!

[ctshoes]

Hey CoreyDB!!

Sorry to hear those closed comedones are giving you grief. I just thought i'd throw in my experience of how i dealt with mine. My acne is comedonal/cystic but i had loads and i mean loads of closed comedones across my chin and cheeks. My derm basically told me that these comedones were inacctive acne that could inflame at any time so before she put me on accutane she did a procedure called 'hyfrecation'. It consists of a machine that used a current to cauterise the comedones (in simple terms if burnt them out of my skin) sounds awful but it was not painful and i just scabbed up for a couple of days then they all fell off and they havent come back!! I'm in the UK so i dont know if this treatment is available where you are or if it is it may be known under a different name? But it might be worth asking your derm about it?
Hope i may have been of help and feel free to ask me anything about it if you need anymore info.

Good Luck.

[CoreyDB]

bella and shoes - Yeah, I think I am going to first, try bella's at home remedy, which will consist of telling my mom to go to the pharmacy tommorow and getting the best peel for my face (I'll get her to see if they have MD skincare here in Canada). If that doesn't work I have my monthly derm app. on the 24th, so I'll ask her. I already asked her but she really didn't say much, the app. was kinda rushed actually. This time I'll grill her and get some answers outta her, or even an appointment to get them extracted/cotorized like shoes said.

Now just a question for Bella, did she say they all came out with the peel?

And Shoes, could you not get the extractions done during the 'Tane treatment?

Thanks alot

[ctshoes]

bella and shoes - Yeah, I think I am going to first, try bella's at home remedy, which will consist of telling my mom to go to the pharmacy tommorow and getting the best peel for my face (I'll get her to see if they have MD skincare here in Canada). If that doesn't work I have my monthly derm app. on the 24th, so I'll ask her. I already asked her but she really didn't say much, the app. was kinda rushed actually. This time I'll grill her and get some answers outta her, or even an appointment to get them extracted/cotorized like shoes said.

Now just a question for Bella, did she say they all came out with the peel?

And Shoes, could you not get the extractions done during the 'Tane treatment?

Thanks alot

Im not sure if you could get the procedure done whilst on accutane due to the fact that your skin goes hypersensitive during the months of the course but i'd still ask just incase. If not then i think the peel idea would be good especially an SA based one as that unplugs pores, however a peel from a pharmacy is only going to be a superficial peel so i doubt it would totally get rid of them but it would probably help smooth things out somewhat.

[CoreyDB]

Dear Corey: It is Day 41. I think your acne is on it's last leg. Hell, it's fighting back hard, leaving you discouraged and red marks all around your face, but I am sure it will be all over soon. Aren't you glad you talked to that special girl tonight? I hope everything works out in time, and I hope the face continues to improve. I know you are encouraged by the Youtube videos you watched, and saw everyone got worse again around Week 5-7 before they drastically improved. So it's all uphill from here. I am also sure those whiteheads will go away soon, they have become very visible so it must mean they are ready to go home. Please stay patient. Just one pill, one day, one moment at a time. You are so close, just a few more weeks bud and it's easy streak from there.

From - You

[nos86]

I like the little note from youself.

I am on day 40 so you and I are pretty close with our journey. I've found that it really helps to know that others are fighting the same battle. I sure hope that the next few weeks will begin the healing process. Good luck to you my friend....

[CoreyDB]

nos86 - I totally agree. I think if it weren't for some of the Youtube video logs (just type in Accutane Journal into the Youtube search... samismurfs is amazing) I would have broken down today. They all seem to get worse at the start (IB), then improve a bit, then get worse again around Weeks 5-7, then improve drastically after that. So yes, knowing other people have gone through it, and seeing their results is very helpful.

On that same token, I am in the gutter right now. My skin is getting worse by the day. These whiteheads are absolutely everywhere. I would take pictures but I am so disheartened and I think the camera wouldn't do my face due diligence. Life sucks right now. The Accutane is messing with my mind and body. I'm hoping this is it, I can't fight Acne much longer. I don't really have a choice though, everyday is another pill and closer to being clear. Freedom. God I can't wait. I can see it, and its so goddamned frustrating. Just the feeling of waking up every morning to clear beautiful skin. I wish I could just fast-forward my life 'till May or June. God help me.

Just keep on truckin... Keep on truckin..

[ciaobella]

hey corey!
to your question: i asked her about it again today lol. she said it made a significant change and made most of them go away and the rest just come to *squeezable* tips! they didn't scar unless she popped them before they were "ready"

and if you bought a peel test it on a small area of your face first to make sure you don't react badly to it! if you find one with lactic acid in it as well as the alpha/beta acids it'll help with exfoliation too.

aghh. fast forward-ing is exactly what i want to do too...and i'm only on day two! (ima wimp)
keep your head up!
you're amazing!

[CoreyDB]

Day *41*: So it seems I somehow got ahead of myself in my day numberings.. well TODAY is day 41 and tommorow is day 42 (Week 6). My breakout has finally stopped and is healing up. I am trying not to get too excited though because I am still half expecting a few more breakouts. I don't think my acne is completely done *yet*. My whiteheads on my forehead (closed comedones.. whatever) seem to be fading somewhat, but I am noticing more on other parts of my face. Maybe I am crazy and they have been here all along? Who knows. Me and the girl are good right now, but I am almost feeling like *I* don't like her anymore. The Teen years sure are confusing... Oh well.

PICTURE TIMEEE!!!

So here are some pictures.

Example A: When my Acne was at it's worse. Please keep in mind the camera does not do my face justice. This was from a year ago.



Example B: My face after I got serious. A.K.A Washing twice a day, Tetracycline, Medicated Topical etc.



Example C: Last Summer (6 months ago). Better, farther down the road of taking care of my face. (It looks like im clear but I assure you I am not).



Example D: Three weeks ago. Just got out of Accutane IB. Again, looks clear, I assure you I am covered in red marks.



P.S. That is not a beer, its a Redbull. Can't drink on the 'Tane.. ahaha

[CoreyDB]

Ciabella - Sooo. My Mom won't let me. She says I 'Care about my appearence too much' and that I'm 'Starting to go overboard and act like the homo's on TV'. Real nice eh?

I'll ask my derm when I see her on the 24th, maybe both of us can convince my mom. My forehead closed comedones do seem to be fading a bit though.

P.S. (To Everyone): I can't wait for my hair to grow back like the third picture. I cut it shorter at the start of 'Tane just to put emphasis on my face so I could really see the improvement. I like my hair in the third though. Actually my Mom was right, I do sound kinda gay..

[CoreyDB]

And THIRDLY, I am going to purchase a cheap little digital camera soon. That way I can do the progress shots like most of you. I would use my sisters but I don't know to and I would be very humiliated if I took the pictures and didn't know how to delete them off the camera after I uploaded them.

[KL Merciless]

And THIRDLY, I am going to purchase a cheap little digital camera soon. That way I can do the progress shots like most of you. I would use my sisters but I don't know to and I would be very humiliated if I took the pictures and didn't know how to delete them off the camera after I uploaded them.

Very cute! Looks like you are clearing up.

[CoreyDB]

Day 42: (Week 6!) Finally here! Month and a half down. Three and a half left. So I gotta tell you guys something... I sorta haven't been going to school... just for the first bit of 'Tane... My Mother and I kind of decided that it was best I take some time off while I start 'Tane and so I have. Today was my first day back. Let me tell you, whoever said people don't treat people with Acne different is lying. My face is starting to clear up alot, and it is much better then the last time anyone saw me, and by-golly did I ever have a good day today. All the girls where different, the guys, the teachers. Sure I am happy I had a good day, but wtf!? These people are monsters. Going to treat someone based on their looks?! Hrm. Shame on the world.

Thanks for listening guys.

[KL Merciless]

Day 42: (Week 6!) Finally here! Month and a half down. Three and a half left. So I gotta tell you guys something... I sorta haven't been going to school... just for the first bit of 'Tane... My Mother and I kind of decided that it was best I take some time off while I start 'Tane and so I have. Today was my first day back. Let me tell you, whoever said people don't treat people with Acne different is lying. My face is starting to clear up alot, and it is much better then the last time anyone saw me, and by-golly did I ever have a good day today. All the girls where different, the guys, the teachers. Sure I am happy I had a good day, but wtf!? These people are monsters. Going to treat someone based on their looks?! Hrm. Shame on the world.

Thanks for listening guys.

Yeah, people can be really retarded + shallow.

[jimmyjammy]

hey corey, thanks for the comment. Sounds like things are looking up for you, school must be a nasty environment to go on the tane hope it all goes good. Not long to go!

[*MEaGAiN*]

HEY! so yea my lil closed comedones are coming out slowly...and some seem to be disapearing, altho a lot still remain. on my left cheek i got 2 bigger inflamed whiteheads from a cluster of the closed comedones. and on my chin, some of the closed comedones are just coming out so that i can pop them easily then the little scab goes away in 2-3 days. so hopefully this will keep happening. Also look into Green cream, to use on red marks and teh closed comedones, it helps speed everything up. You can buy samples on the internet, on ebay...There are 3 "levels" by how strong the ceram is. I use level 6. but u prob want to start with level 3 then 6.

[CoreyDB]

Thanks for the replies Jimmy, KL, and Mego!

Day 43: Face is clearing up nicely. Only thing to report is it feels like I have been hit by a bus today. I heard about 'joint soreness' and 'muscle soreness' but thought it was just all-bogus. Well I guess not. Frig I am sore. Oh well.

Girl: Hung out at school today. Not bad. Going to the movies on Sunday night. Things are looking great on this front also.

Meg: My Comedones are also fading. Some came to the surface (formed one or two zits, some washed off like the blackheads, some just need a little push but didn't create a mark). I think I am safe! I will invest in that 'light' green cream though, just to get the baby soft skin I want. Now I'm nowhere near completely rid of these Comedones but I have seen a difference. Be patient I guess!? Mail me some!! . Jk bud.

[White Fox]

Day 42: (Week 6!) Finally here! Month and a half down. Three and a half left. So I gotta tell you guys something... I sorta haven't been going to school... just for the first bit of 'Tane... My Mother and I kind of decided that it was best I take some time off while I start 'Tane and so I have. Today was my first day back. Let me tell you, whoever said people don't treat people with Acne different is lying. My face is starting to clear up alot, and it is much better then the last time anyone saw me, and by-golly did I ever have a good day today. All the girls where different, the guys, the teachers. Sure I am happy I had a good day, but wtf!? These people are monsters. Going to treat someone based on their looks?! Hrm. Shame on the world.

Thanks for listening guys.

To be honest it was probably 90% you and 10% them. You probably just had a great day and offcourse your state will be higher when your skin is clearer and your feeling good about yourself. People naturally want to hang out/talk to others with a high state.