196 replies to this topic

[kimberly_ann]

Hey!

I'm Kimberly, been looking at your log. Your skin is looking much better already! I've been on Accutane once and it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know how it feels to wake up and look in the mirror first thing and be so disgusted or sad because that's not you, that's not what you want to see.. But Just think, in a few more months, you're going to wake up one morning.. look in that mirror and see how beautiful your skin looks.. Hahah sorry that's a little cheesy..

But that's what I would do almost every morning after Accutane, I would wake up and go straight for the mirror because I just loved looking at how clear my skin was. I felt so good about myself!

Good luck on your course

[George's Sister]

It's only been a few days since my last update, but what the heck!

My forehead and the area around my nose are looking pretty clear, except for blackheads. This has really boosted my confidence, because now I don't feel so embarrassed when people look at me.

I still have cysts, but they are mostly around my jawline so they're not so noticeable. There are also some behind my ears - weird! Still breaking out on my chest, neck and back.

Yesterday the inside of my nose started feeling dry and irritated. No nosebleeds yet, but sometimes when I blow my nose there are little bloody spots in my Kleenex. My Dad told me that when I went on Accutane it would only be a matter of time before I "start shoving Vaseline up my nose," so maybe he's right...

I also notice pimples healing slower than they used to, pre-Tane. Definitely a discouragement from picking at my face too much.

Kimberly_ann, thank you for the sweet reply! You're right, it is wonderful to not have to wake up in the morning and dread The Mirror, even though I still have a long way to go. I'm so glad to hear that Accutane worked for you! I hope it does as much for me. Sometimes I get discouraged when I read about people who suffered serious side effects, or regressed as soon as they finished their course.

[iliketodrivefast]

Thanks for the comment, seems like your doing great =D. Best of luck with the rest of your course

[volcom3453]

Glad things are looking up for you! I'm hoping to start accutane in like 2 weeks so your progress gives me hope

[d0nn13]

Glad to hear things are going well for you. I know exactly what you mean about spots healing slowly compared to pre-tane. That really bothers me.

[lebeck]

Its great to hear how well you're doing, especially considering you've started out on a normal dose (none of that baby dose nonsense.)

Speaking of breaking out in strange places, I have one cyst in the exact same location behind each ear! All the others seem to be following a symmetrical pattern as well. Do you use coverup during the day, or are you among the courageous few who say screw it - and brave the world with naked skin? I certainly don't!

Best of luck it can only get better from here

[rede4bed]

Good to hear that you have some clearing. Before you know it, those cysts will follow suit!

[George's Sister]

Lebeck, no way! You have cysts behind your ears too? Our skin seems to be really in sync!

Now that my skin has cleared up a bit I just mix some foundation into my sunscreen and wear that. I don't wear any makeup around my chin, though, because it seems to highlight all the dry, flaky stuff.

Since I feel like my skin is on the mend, I'm not as ashamed of my face as I was before. The need to hide it under a decent layer of foundation and powder is less strong.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Rede4bed!

[kimberly_ann]

Lebeck, no way! You have cysts behind your ears too? Our skin seems to be really in sync!

Now that my skin has cleared up a bit I just mix some foundation into my sunscreen and wear that. I don't wear any makeup around my chin, though, because it seems to highlight all the dry, flaky stuff.

Since I feel like my skin is on the mend, I'm not as ashamed of my face as I was before. The need to hide it under a decent layer of foundation and powder is less strong.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Rede4bed!

Hello again : )

Just dropping by again, you should update us on how your skin is doing.. I know it's only been a few days. Just wanted to mention about the makeup, be careful with the sunscreen.. Unless it's meant to be for your face.. I'd be afraid that, that would clog pores like crazy!

Aww it's so good to hear you're happier with your skin! Don't you worry, I bet you that by the end of the course you wont have to be wearing any makeup at all! Towards the end of Accutane I wore a light tinted moisturizer, then after Accutane, Just a light, translucent powder over my moisturizer : )

Hoping for the best for you!

[simplicate]

hey there! just read your log and i wanted to say that i think you're absolutely beautiful, so smile (:

[George's Sister]

Kimberly_ann, the sunscreen is a Eucerin brand moisturizer-sunscreen sample that my dermatologist gave me. So it should be good.

Being able to wear just powder would be nice! Actually, just feeling less reliant on makeup in general would be nice.

Simplicate: aww, thank you so much! <3 Thanks for reading, too!

Brief 3-week update:

Geez, only 3 weeks? Man, five months is a really long time. Anyway, the center of my face is looking noticeably clearer and less oily. Meanwhile, other areas of my face and back are still growing pimples and cysts. The weird breakout on my chest seems to be fading, thankfully.

As for side effects, my nose is getting feeling increasingly irritated and dry inside, but no nosebleeds yet. Still dry and flaky around my chin. Lips are still dry and chapped, but the cracks in the corners of my mouth are healing.

So far I'd say that things are going smoothly and I'm grateful. I can't believe I was talked out of Accutane so many times, being led to believe that it was something like a 5-month nightmare.

I'll post pictures next week!

Thanks everyone for reading! Your comments make my day!

[P3dr0]

I was very scared when I started accutane, all the stories I read. I personally don't think its bad at all and I am on 100mg a day. I guess its different for everyone. Glad your face is doing a little better. Keep it up!

[kimberly_ann]

Believe me.. The 5 months flies by incredibly fast.. This whole course will be done before you know it! And finished course = clear, beautiful skin! : ) Ahh I can't wait. I'm very excited for you!

Anywho, don't worry, three weeks in.. Totally normal to still be breaking out. Goodness.. I wasn't noticing drastic improvements until the middle of my second month on Accutane. Of course, it is different for everyone; who knows, maybe you'll clear before then.

Oh baloney! I hate when there are those negative people out there Just preaching about how dangerous Accutane is! Pfft! Accutane is definately a serious drug.. But people who are on it should be aware of that.. But dangerous.. Please.

Well, thanks for the update! : ) I'll check in sometime later this week.

<3

[lebeck]

I agree w/ Kimberly_ann that there are people out there who make it their mission to put a bad name on the drug, all they want to do is scare the pants off of tane-virgins. But it's important to know that you can't take it lightly either, Accutane is powerful and not for everyone. I actually had to get off my course recently because of a potential serious side effect brewing. As long as you're honest with your derm and listen to your body you'll be fine. Good luck to all of you

[George's Sister]

Yeah, weirdly enough the one who kept telling me, "you don't want to go on Accutane" was my Dad, who went on Accutane himself. It must have traumatized him or something, because when he asks how I'm doing it's like he expects me to reply, "Oh, it's HORRIBLE! The humanity!!"

Anyway...

Lips are peeling badly and I don't know what to do. I drink lots of water and use Aquaphor constantly. Also, my eyes feel dry sometimes and look kind of red. Maybe I should invest in some saline. I feel like I need to carry around a small drugstore just to keep my body from falling apart.

I've found that as long as I moisturize 3-4 times a day, I can keep the facial dryness under control.

Breaking out pretty bad on my shoulders and a bit on my jawline, and the acne around my collarbone has returned. The crazy cyst behind my ear is still there, with no signs of shrinking.

I often feel really tired in the evenings, but I don't know if this is because of Accutane or because of life.

On the other hand, today I noticed something encouraging: smooth, blackhead-free areas around my nose. I've had blackheads and large pores around my nose for as long as I can remember, so long that it didn't even occur to me that Accutane might erase them. I keep leaning into the mirror and squinting at my nose, thinking, "can it be true?" I really hope this continues to improve and isn't just my skin playing games with me again!

Thanks everyone for reading!

[erikd0ubleE]

I went on Accutane around 3 years ago, so I know exactly how you feel. I had a REALLY bad reaction to it though, mine got a lot worse. But if yours is already going down, then from here out its just going to get better and better. Mine cleared up very well though, so I'm very thankful for that! Always keep a chapstick with you, that's what I did. My lips were so dry I remember. Anyways, stick with it... your skin will be clear in no time! Wish you all the best.

[operation_acne_free]

Man.. I'm on my 17th day, and I'm having these horrible break outs. My face is like a battlefield right now. It's really depressing. Glad to see that Accutane is working out faster for you! Keep it up.

[kimberly_ann]

Yeah, weirdly enough the one who kept telling me, "you don't want to go on Accutane" was my Dad, who went on Accutane himself. It must have traumatized him or something, because when he asks how I'm doing it's like he expects me to reply, "Oh, it's HORRIBLE! The humanity!!"

Anyway...

Lips are peeling badly and I don't know what to do. I drink lots of water and use Aquaphor constantly. Also, my eyes feel dry sometimes and look kind of red. Maybe I should invest in some saline. I feel like I need to carry around a small drugstore just to keep my body from falling apart.

I've found that as long as I moisturize 3-4 times a day, I can keep the facial dryness under control.

Breaking out pretty bad on my shoulders and a bit on my jawline, and the acne around my collarbone has returned. The crazy cyst behind my ear is still there, with no signs of shrinking.

I often feel really tired in the evenings, but I don't know if this is because of Accutane or because of life.

On the other hand, today I noticed something encouraging: smooth, blackhead-free areas around my nose. I've had blackheads and large pores around my nose for as long as I can remember, so long that it didn't even occur to me that Accutane might erase them. I keep leaning into the mirror and squinting at my nose, thinking, "can it be true?" I really hope this continues to improve and isn't just my skin playing games with me again!

Thanks everyone for reading!

Man I'm sorry about the dryness and the chapped lips : ( Aquaphor always kept mine so moist and they never chapped, burt's bee's honey chapstick also helped a lot too. It's really weird how I never remembered having really dry lips or dry, flaking skin.. All I remembered was how the oil from my skin was GONE : ) Which I loved, because I normally have oily skin, but I'm sorry you have to deal with the dryness : (

I used to break out on my collarbone too while on Accutane, I remember I had a pretty painful cyst there like right on the bone within the first few weeks! Boy was it painful..

I honestly think that Accutane does make you tired, so it might be it.

Glad to hear your nose is looking good, I think your skin is really clearing up!

Thank you for posting on my log : ) Yeah! My libido is sky high, which isn't beneficial to me at all.. My boyfriend is always way too tired from work and firefighting stuff.. So I get the "Noooo, not tonight babe" "No sexy time today ok?" "I'm not feelin' it today".. So I'm not going to lie.. I'm sexually frustrated.

Wow that was a long post, I'm sorry! Hope the rest of the course is going well : )

[George's Sister]

Hmm, Burt's Bees honey chapstick. That sounds lovely! I've been using Carmex chapstick but it has a very chemical smell and taste.

erikd0ubleE, thanks for the encouragement! I do keep chapstick with me all the time, but my lips are still peeling. I hope that Accutane works as well for me as it did for you.

Tomorrow I'm going to a friend's pool party. I'm really looking forward to it, but I wish my shoulders and neck weren't breaking out, because I can't hide them in a swimsuit. Also, last time I went swimming and then took a shower afterwards, my scalp was unbearably itchy the next day. I hope that doesn't happen again!

Lately I've been feeling strong urges to go shopping for cute clothes. Did anyone else experience this while on Accutane? Should I tell my derm?

[under the pink]

Are you experiencing any hair loss? If so, how much and where? I'm going back on Accutane after a blissful 9 years of clear skin. I went off the pill in Dec and it's been a NIGHTMARE ever since so I'm going to have to bite the bullet and do round 2 of Accutane. I'm scared this time! I was a teenager before.. I didn't know any better. But now I read about the side effects (even though I just just the dry skin) and I'm just like, "OH GOD!" so I'm interested in side effects in women 23+ (I'm 25).