36 replies to this topic

[kimminz]

Skin is looking great and you're a very pretty girl. I hope it continues to go well. Good luck with finding the job. I wish I could give you advice but every job (holiday) I've gotten so far was through contacts. Sorry Hope you find something soon though

[hopeinabottle23]

Dear kimminz,
Thank you very much
I'm following your log and your skin has had a great transformation. Have you heard anything about your cousin? Do you have anymore family out in Haiti? I truly hope you find out about their whereabouts. How many days do you have left of your course? Well about the job: I am going job hunting in my neighborhood today. This is going to be quite time consuming because my list is pretty big. Best of luck on the remaining days of your course kimminz!

[kimminz]

Hey Yes, as a matter of fact we got in contact with her today and she seems to be doing reasonably well. House is gone but she's alive and will be getting supplies pretty soon(hopefully...because we sent some stuff over there last night). I don't have anymore relatives there though, just her.

RE: Course.

I have 5 days left including this one, so I'll be done on Friday. Can't wait

Edited by kimminz, 18 January 2010 - 07:19 PM.

[hopeinabottle23]

Day 116:

Still on 20 mgs. Eh I'm not really complaining because the side effects are minimal.Here's the scoop:

Pros:
-I have not broke out in around 2 weeks! Veryyy happy about that.

- Hyperpigmentation is gradually fading.

- This week i was confident enough to let go of the heavy duty revlon colorstay foundation and just use nars concealer our three hyperpigmentation marks and some revlon powder to even me out a bit. My bff commented on how my skin looked without heavy make-up and that i've been looking great. She's actually one of the few who mention anything about my skin and i'm glad she has.

-My confidence has shot up through the roof. My skin was once a constant self-esteem killer and i would wear all sorts of foundations that would not match but provide the best coverage. Now i can use barely any make-up and go through life worrying about other things other than my face.

-Ha. I forgot about my back. Hyperpigmentation is still here and there but it's a verryyy light color. So happy about that because now tank tops are an option.

Cons:
-I'm sore more often now because of track and soccer. It's not as bad as it could be but still.

-Still red in the face but now it's not so bad. It's kinda cute without so much make-up because it shows through a bit now. Don't have to spend money on blush!

-Night Vision is horrible. Lol funny story: I was walking up the stairs to my school with my bf during school and someone suddenly turns off the lights. I almost trip because i can't see the next step and hold on to my bf for support lol. I kinda laugh at this side effect

I can't really think of anything else! Busy. Very busy. Sports, act classes, and school have kept me a great deal busy. Ouuu and i'd like to share the dress i want to make. This is my inspiration for my prom dress http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p15/poopoocachu23xx/.
Check out the rest of the album! i have pre accutane and pre bc pics there.
Tomorrow is valentines day! Can't wait for that. The bf and i are going to double date (both of our bffs) and go out to dinner and just have some fun in the snow.
Hope its a great valentines day for all!

[Mister M.]

Your skin is looking fantastic, I'm glad that you're seeing improvement! I wish you well on your journey, kick acne's butt!

[hopeinabottle23]

Thank you very much :] I'm half way through the course and i'm clear. The only pigmentation i have are three dark marks across my cheeks but concealer easily covers it.

[hopeinabottle23]

QUESTIONNNNNNNNN:

Can i get a microdermabrasion while on accutane? i would like to clear up some mild hyperpigmentation that is lingering!

[conspiracy83]

hey! just read some of your log! sounds like you're making amazing progress and I wish you luck with the rest of your course

to answer your question:
Who can be treated?
The Microdermabrasion is a safe, common, non-surgical procedure however there are people who should not have it. People with active herpes lesions, active acne or rosacea, open sores or lesions, dermatitis, psoriasis, people using Accutane within the last 6 months, eczema, and lupus should not have microdermabrasion

therefore, wait six months AFTER your accutane treatment, then you can do the microdermabrasion. it's actually the same if you even want to go waxing! anything that has even the slightest possiblity to damage your skin you can't do till 6 months after because your skin will still be very thin and can come off VERY easily.


anyways, hope i helped =)

[hopeinabottle23]

damn! lol i'm just using a toner of apple cider vinegar(helps with scars) mixed with green tea(calm down the skin). arghh. alright lol lets wait and see. Thank you very much for this info :]]

[hopeinabottle23]

Day 161:

It's been a month and a half since my last post. Like other bloggers at this point in their course, nothing has been changing. I am still on 20mgs and i believe this is my sixth month. Three more months down!!
I've entered that anxious phase in my course where i've become dependent on accutane. I'm afraid i'll go back to my old condition. If i don't take pills for a couple of days, i feel little bumps on my cheeks forming. I don't want to go back to the old me. This me is much more carefree.

-I barely wear any make-up now. I can now focus on other types of make-up instead of facial make-up. I've always had a thing for make-up.

-My skin is pretty much one of the last things on my mind. I'm 100% clear. COMPLETELY. NOTHING AT ALL. I hate it when people say you're clear.. yet they still have a few bumps, even if they are tiny. This has been one of the best decisions of my life.

-Very few hyperpigmentation marks left. I'm only red on my cheeks because of flushing and i can count on one hand how many hyperpigmentation marks i have.

-Very few breakouts. I believe i've had 4 since my 3th month. My fourth month is when things started to clear up dramatically and stay that way. By breakouts , i mean one small red pimple. Thats it. I swear.

Cons:
-Joints still hurt after workouts.
-I get tired more easily on the track and the soccer field
-You get weaker. I have never sprained, strained, stressed anything in my life. I stressed the ligaments in my knee at a soccer game. Eat well. Take care of your body!!!
-Either its accutane or the bc i'm taking but i have gained 10 lbs. since starting accutane. I have never gained weight since i was 13. It's new to me. Along with that comes stretch marks :[ oh well. I can stand to gain some weight ( i used to weigh 100 and now 110 lbs. lol hush i know you're scoffing at me).

I look forward to the end of my course. i want to see my outcome. I swear if the acne comes back, i am immediately starting myself up on accutane again. I would do it again in a heart beat.
Dont be afraid to try it. It'll most likely be life changing.
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p15/poopoocachu23xx/

Edited by hopeinabottle23, 27 March 2010 - 05:29 PM.

[BigBuck]

QUESTIONNNNNNNNN:

Can i get a microdermabrasion while on accutane? i would like to clear up some mild hyperpigmentation that is lingering!

No you can´t do it while on accutane and you CAN´T do it before 6 months off accutane , because you will damage your skin , you have to wait 6 months after accutane (:

AND WoW your skin is lookin pretty , at your 161 day

Edited by BigBuck, 27 March 2010 - 10:11 PM.

[hopeinabottle23]

Thank you BigBuck! I can't wait till that time is up! I love love love getting microdermabrasions. It gives a person a nice glow :]

[faithinhim]

Your skin is looking so beautiful!

[hopeinabottle23]

THE END!!!

So i ended my course a few weeks ago. Early june? Reason: I was soooo wrapped up in the end of school year that i forgot to schedule another appointment with my derm. I took my blood tests and then i get a call from my derm's office saying that its been over 30 days and that i have to wait another 30 days to get another prescription. screwwwww that because by that time i would be gone on vacation for about a month. So i decided with my parents to stop my accutane course.

I was on accutane for 7 months on one 20mg capsule of Claravis daily.
I could not be happier with the results.
Seriously. It feels weird to have even the slightest pimple.
I've only gotten tinnyyy whiteheads in random areas of my face that i never got before (hairline?near my lips?) but they usually go away within the day.
Oil= its back but its decreased a bit.
My nose still shines like the sun though :/
Lasting Side Effects: I believe none. I hope none. Well except the extra crackly joints.
My lips feel normal again!!! No more slathering the heavy duty aquaphor. Back to my burts bees!
Hyperpigmentation= GONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I no longer have to wear concealer on my cheeks. I just cover my dark circles and the sides of my nose.
I loveee not wearing heavy facial make-up. I feel free from my former insecurities.
This has been one of the best decisions of my life.
My skin is no longer something i worry about.
The chains are gone :]
Oh and i will update at the end of the summer.
And if anything suddenly erupts, i'm going back on accutane in a heartbeat.
Here are some final pictures:
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p15/poopoocachu23xx/

[faithinhim]

Congrats on finishing! Your skin is looking perfect!

[hopeinabottle23]

So its been roughly around two years since i last posted anything about my skin. How about a little update:
After accutane, my breakouts were mild if anything.To keep my skin bright and clear, I now use greek as an exfoliant, cleanser, and mask at night, every night. The key with this mask/cleanser/exfoliant is consistency. I slather fago plain greek yogurt on my face and let it dry and sleep with the mask. It definitely keeps everything at bay for my skin including any hyperpigmentation left by past breakouts. My skin routine consists of the greek yogurt mask, spf every morning, and my olay moisturizer with spf. I haven't been self-conscious about my skin since accutane.
Once again i must reiterate that accutane was one of the best decisions i have ever made.
Two years later and still in the clear!

http://i124.photobuc...01-26at1757.jpg

Two years and skin still clear

[NoTanSuperman]

hopeinabottle23, on 26 January 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:

Once again i must reiterate that accutane was one of the best decisions i have ever made.
Two years later and still in the clear!

Super happy for you. Even with all the dryness I have to agree that accutane is awesome. Your skin looks great too! I hope your joints are back to normal. I remember having to stop working out all together on my second course. Curious question: where did you spend your vacation in June? Congrats & Cuídate