38 replies to this topic

[Brooke Reilly]

HELLLOOOO ACNE.ORG!
I recently started Clarvis, at 40 mg just two days ago! So far nothing has happened, but hopefully I will start to experience some kind of side effects or else this log will be really boring.
History:
I've had acne ever since about 6th grade, but at that point stuff like Proactiv was able to keep it under control. Since then I've tried about every OTC product, Monocycline, Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Differin, Benzaclin, Retin-a, blah, blah, blah. My acne is not terrible, it could definitely be a lot worse. It's just moderate and really persistent. It also has a tendency to fluctuate, like one month I'll be almost clear and the next month it will be really terrible again.
BUT enough of that. I am hoping accutane will allow me to live my last two years of High School way less self-conscious than I currently am. Not having to base my day off of what my skin is looking like in the morning would be really, really nice.
Products I've got so far include cerave for moisturizing purposes, cetaphil facewash, and aquaphor (of course) for future lip cracking extravaganzas. Does anybody have any opinions on which is better, cetaphil or cerave as a moisturizer? I just got cerave because I heard it was less greasy.
I am also taking flaxseed oil (I'm a vegetarian/sometimes vegan so I can't take fish oil), zinc, vitamin e, and my multivitamin. I am not sure if these will help all that much, but I hope the vitamin e will at least help with dryness and everything.

So farrrrr the side effects I've had include:
-Headache on the first day
-Backache
-Tinnny bit of dryness on face and lips
-Tiredness and a lack of focus that may or may not be related for accutane (there is a good chance I am just searching for symptoms).

Also, I am on clarvis but I will probably just say accutane as it is habitual.
And the title of my log is from an All Girl Summer Fun Band song, yeeee!

Here are some photos, some are of my face and others are just of me so that I do not feel TOO gross. Keep in mind these were taken on a macbook, which greatly diminishes blemishes.



Replies to this would be lovely, I'll try to keep up with updating. (:


ZOOOOOOOOM!

Edited by Brooke Reilly, 14 March 2011 - 11:46 PM.

[myresults_xnow]

I think you will be very happy with your results . I know I am!
Just presevere, and don't give up just because things get hard.

[jamuser304]

Good luck. You are a pretty girl, and Im sure you will see great results. I have a dermatologist appointment next week, and hope to be put on accutane for mild, but persistent acne. Thing is, I am 24 and have been battling acne for over 10 years. Im just tired of using products and seeing minimal results, and having to try something new all the time. But I agree on the macbook. I have one, and look great on it. If I get on accutane, Ill be sure to use my digital camera for clearer pictures.

[Brooke Reilly]

Thanks you guys! The best to both of you! And to Jamuser, I hope you are able to attain accutane!

Day Four:
No big changes yet. I am starting to break out, and in weird places! A few actives on my face are appearing though that seemed to be lurking before, and I got 2 on my neck!? I just hope it passes soon! Nothing is too detrimental yet though. I am still just as oily as ever too, but a tinnny bit of dryness has appeared on my face.
As far as other side effects go, I've been feeling REALLY unfocused lately and I'm going to try and start drinking more water. Also, muscle aches are no fun. ):

[jamuser304]

Thank you, and good luck! 6 more day until my derm appointment! I already have my facts and argument set. Like most acne sufferers, I do a lot of research on products, so Im ready. I would like to start this thing as fast as possible to get a good 3 months down before school starts again. That is my main reason of wanting to start now rather than later.

[HateANDLove]

I think you will have great results! You are very pretty btw; acne or not. Also, I really wish I would of gone on accutane when I was your age, I lost most of my highschool years due to acne and the like so I think it's really great that you are getting this out of the way now while you are still so young, best of luck to you in your course!!

[Brooke Reilly]

Days 5 and 6:

I take my 7th pill tonight! ONE WEEK. AHH!
STRANGE NEWS THOUGH. My mom has been giving me TWO 40mg pills every day when I should be taking ONE! GOODNESS MOTHER! I freaked out when I discovered this (from reading the box mind you) but I'm glad I found out sooner rather than later. ): So I guess I've been on 80 mg for six days? I hope this doesn't effect my course too much or something. This seems to explain my semi-extreme side effects though, like the back aches and nausea and really cloudy brain feeling that I wasn't expecting on the first few days at least.
sigh, so tonight I will take my REAL dosage for the first time.
So far though I've just broken out a bit as expected. My blackheads also look gross, probably because I'm not using my usual string of pore tightening washes. Or maybe accutane is just starting to work? My face is not too dry, only around certain spots, so I'm grateful for that!
Side effects, as mentioned, have been feeling really cloudy and kinda tired, headaches, muscle and back pains occasionally. I am hoping those will diminish a bit now that I'm on the proper dosage!

Yesterday I went to Kings Dominion with some friends! I am so happy accutane did not bring me down too much. I just put on a LOT of sunscreen. I might have gotten burned on my nose a bit but nothing too bad. I had a really fun time though! We rode every rollercoaster I think.

to jamuser- I know EXACTLY what you mean! I really wanted to get started in April so I would have clearer skin by the time school started, but May will have to work! You should talk to your doctor, it would be really nice to get all the gross IB's and stuff over with when you don't have to worry about being self conscious. I wish my school ended earlier, ha. Hopefully things won't get too bad for me until after June 17th!

to hate&love- Thanks so much! I am hoping for the best.

[jamuser304]

LOL @ the dosage. Im sure it wont effect your dosage, but you might not have enough pills to finish the month. However, from what I read, accutane stays in your system pretty long. You should be fine. How is the oil on your face? That is my biggest problem. Any dryness yet? And 3 more days! I am definitely talking to my derm about it on Wednesday.

[XuAcne]

Good luck. You are a pretty girl, and Im sure you will see great results. I have a dermatologist appointment next week, and hope to be put on accutane for mild, but persistent acne. Thing is, I am 24 and have been battling acne for over 10 years. Im just tired of using products and seeing minimal results, and having to try something new all the time. But I agree on the macbook. I have one, and look great on it. If I get on accutane, Ill be sure to use my digital camera for clearer pictures.

hey bro im in the same boat as you. i have mild acne its hella persistent. i myself suffer from acne since middle school. now 23. i want to get on accutane, but my derm told me he would never prescribe it for me since i have mild acne. its really bullshit in my eyes. im currently on Doxy and its not giving me the results i want. accutane only for severe acne he said. im jsut gonna finish up my current treatment and if things doesnt get any better, im going to demand accutane and refuse to try anything else. goodluck getting accutane. i believe accutane will clear people like us up like a dream.

[daxxx]

Very pretty pictures, i am excited to see your final results!
As far as the moisturizer, i just go with cetaphil over cerave...IF i had totally clear skin i would go with cerave, but cetaphil goes on ten times smoother, and i prefer the greasy look...especially in the summer time, people mistake it for sweat, and blemishes are much less noticible.
If i were you i would drop the zinc while on Tane, because the combination of both is very taxing on your liver. Accutane will be much more draumatic than the zinc anyways.

[carmelle]

Hi,
I think you will fine about the dosage thing but I would get an earlier appointment with your derm so you don't miss a week of treatment so early on. I have missed a few days before and honestly nothing horrible happened so don't worry if you can't get a refill before the month is up. Good luck and can't wait to see your improvements. Keep posting!

[Brooke Reilly]

Days 8 and 9:

Eeep well! Yesterday I seemed to be a lot drier than I was today! I think maybe I was coming off of my accidental dosage still? But for the first time I woke up and actually NEEDED aquaphor really badly, it wasn't me taking it just in case! And I kept having to re-apply it! Today I wasn't very dry though (I moisturized well last night) and I didn't need to use as much aquaphor. My skin is doing well at the moment! It seems clearer, if that makes sense. Not necessarily less breakouts, but it's like a fog has lifted! Haha that makes no sense. Only a few actives, too many of redmarks though. And there are marks that look like acne but are not raised at all and might be scars? I sure hope not! Also my blackheads look gross! Things seem to be going much too well though, so I will brace for an IB. ):
I'm also waiting not to be oily anymoreee! Blah.

jamuser-
Haha yeah I hope so! I am still as oily as I was before, but from what I've seen that lessens most after about two or three weeks? Only a bit of dryness, I have been able to keep it under control with moisturizer. Good luck at your appointment tomorrow!!
XuAcne- Good luck with your treatments!
daxxx- Thanks so much for all of the advice! I had hoped somebody would provide advice. I think once I start to get more dry, I will definitely go buy some cetaphil!
carmelle- Thankyou very much! I follow your log and am honored you stopped by mine!

[jamuser304]

Thank you. And just like normal, my face is clearing up right before my appointment. Just last week I had two cysts come in that swelled up to the size of marbles. One went away completely, and the other went down and is just a small, hard lump. Aside from that, I have blemishes and a few actives scattered. My doctor is going to think Im crazy asking for accutane, but Im going to give it a shot. It may be mild, but at this time in my life, enough is enough. Im sure to have a log if I do get on it.

[Brooke Reilly]

Day 14:
It's been so long since I've posted!
But that's mostly because not TOOOO much has changed.
My face has cleared up! It's been really manageable, not too many actives, nothing too annoying anyway! And my blackheads in recent days (well, today) seem to be coming up. My face has also gotten slightly less oily; YESSSSSSSSSSSS. However, the acne on my chest/back (but mostly chest) has gotten a lot worse! It's really weird, it's like I'm getting an IB on my chest...but not on my face. This limits my shirt wearing quite a bit ): but I guess it's preferable to being broken out all over my face! My face hasn't been too dry yet, I even forgot to moisturizer last night and was fine today. Aquaphor however has become a lifeline! I get the occasional headache, but other than that I've been fine.
ALSO I'm reallyyyy confused about my dosage. Because my mom checked the prescription again and it says take two pills, but on the box it says each capsule contains 40mg and that's what I'm supposed to be on! So we're calling my derm tomorrow to clear that up.

Jamuser- I HATE when my face clears up right before! BUTTT did you have any luck getting accutane?

[cece3679]

Hey girl, thanks for reading my log. You should def call your doctor to see what is going on, Dr. Mom could be wrong because that is a strong dosage. Anyways, I will continue to read your log and I wish you luck on your course. Remember to SMILE!!!!

[jamuser304]

Unfortunately, my derm. is not licensed to prescribe accutane. She said its definitely an option, and wants me to meet with the head dermatologist who specializes in accutane and everything else. The bad news, I cant meet him until September because he is booked full. I am on a waiting list, so if someone cancels, I might get in earlier. In the mean time, Im still on solodyn, differin .3, and some cream during the day. The cream is new, which is supposedly supposed to help with my oil, which is probably the biggest problem before acne.

[cece3679]

Hey Jamuser, have you thought about going to a different derm?

[Brooke Reilly]

Days 15 and 16:

Well I have to say, yesterday was definitely better than today because today I am experiencing a breakout on my face at long last. It's not so bad, but it's all around my lips (from the aquaphor maybe?) and they hurt! But it could be a LOT worse so I am counting my blessings. The acne on my chest is getting worse too, UGH. I am really worried about how bad it's getting, I still think it's weird my face isn't half as bad as the acne there!
On the bright side, my oil does seem to have decreased. It still feels a little weird with mouisterizer, but I've noticed a difference and that has made me happy. Also my blackheads are starting to come out, huzzah!
Side effects:
-Skin a little dry
-Chapped, chapped lips
-the occasional headache

I ONLY HAVE 12 MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL. YESYESYES! I'm going to be babysitting a few times a week but aside from that I have no summer plans other than my regular volunteer work! It will actually be nice to sit around and watch my favorite TV on DVD and do crafts and go to D.C with my friends and whatnot. Anybody have any big summer plans they want to share?


cece- Sure! I enjoy your log. Thanks for the advice on smiling, I'll do my best!
jamuser- That's too bad! ): I guess see how the cream works, but I too would recommend searching for another derm if there is one that accepts your insurance.

[Brooke Reilly]

Day 18 (well technically 19, but it is too early in the morning to rightfully say this):
I am pretty sure I'm experiencing an IB. After my little "clearness spell" this is quite depressing. ): Also the skin on my chest is a mess! What?!?!
What can I do to avoid scarring there? I really do not want to have scars whenever I wear a tank top or something.
Lips really dry, confidence tanking a bit. Motivation would be lovely.

[Brooke Reilly]

Day 21:

My face is sortof getting better! There are two actives in particular that look really gross, but it's been better since my last post! Also, my face has gotten less oily for real this time! Finally!