55 replies to this topic

[goodz19]

Where ya been Fred? Hope all is going ok w/ your course

[Fred Q]

Hey all,
It's been a while since I've updated this log.

I've been so busy with school, and I found that spending too much time on this site played games with my mind in terms of thinking I had every single side effect.

I'm 2 weeks into month 4. I have been clear for 3 weeks, and the side effects are the same as they've always been. 2.5 months to go....

I usually go a week without pills between each month and in that time all the side effects go away. It's nice knowing that so far, none of these are permanent.

I hope I find everyone feeling well, and urge you to continue to look on the bright side of things, and to also enjoy the little things.

Of course, I hope everyone stays happy, because I am.

-Fred

PS...goodz...thanks for checking in man. How's everything going with you??

[Hoopsjunkie631]

Hey good luck on your regimen. I would like to hear more on the mechanisms in which it operates. I feel i can relate to a lot of what ur saying i was about right where u were when i was 19 background in biology and all hope to hear more. Best regards.

[Fred Q]

One week away from being done with month 5 out of 6.

My face looks excellent, and I feel excellent. I haven't has a single cyst for just under 2 months. I do get a couple regular pimples here and there, but who doesn't? The overall redness of my face has calmed down a lot and the redmarks from previous acne are still present but I can tell they're starting to fade.

The journey has been bittersweet to be honest. I went through an entire semester of college without drinking alcohol...for me personally, it hurt socially. It's not that I wasn't accepted by others but it was more of me not going places because I didn't like being surrounded by drunk people while I was still sober. The first couple months were also tough because my face was so red, and irritated.

Now, my self confidence has sky rocketed, and it can only go up from here.

I haven't had many side effects besides dry skin, lips and eyes. A little back pain but nothing I can't handle.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all,
Fred

P.S. Stay happy. You have incredible value.

[TylerSMW]

Best log so far imo even though you slacked a bit Lmao jking ! Im visiting my doctor on tuesday and hopefully he prescribes me it. Im exchanging Christmas presents for this BS! So it better work.. haha

[Fred Q]

Hey everybody...what's going on? I hope I find y'all feeling fine on this evening.

I'm officially done with accutane. I reached a cumulative dosage of 147 mg/kg after 6 months of not hell, but a large inconvenience.

The last month was awful because of the cold weather here in upstate NY. I got nosebleeds every night along with dry mouth because of not being able to breath well through my nose while sleeping. I don't recommend to anyone that he/she take accutane in a cold climate winter. I also got a bunch of unsightly red patches of dry skin on my neck and hands.

It's safe to say that for me, the first and last month of treatment were the worst.

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to keep this updated as much as I should have, but it was so hard with classes and everything.

So acne is virtually non-existent. I still get one or two tiny little pimples that are only visible in the mirror, but i can't complain. My face still has a lot of hyperpigmentation and a few scars from old acne. My face is far from perfect, but I don't care! I have NO acne! Don't be greedy now...

I've been off the medication for about a week. All my side effects have lessened a great amount. I bet they'll be gone in another week.

My doctor wants to see me in 3 weeks to start me on a topical retinoid. He said that he's seen a ~75% success rate with people my age if they use a topical retinoid after their course. What qualifies as success?? Staying clear for GOOD. I hope I'm not in that 25% who require another course or oral antibiotics. I could be though because my mom had acne until she was 30. That brings me to my next bit of scientific theory. Yes, what good is a Fred Q post without some scientific reasoning?

Overall, my doctor said that he has seen about 2/3 of his patients stay clear with use of a topical retinoid. The other 1/3 almost always go back on accutane for a 2nd course whether it be right away or after another failed course of oral antibiotics. He said that as one gets older (18+) then the success rate increases because these individuals are nearing the age in which they "grow out" of their acne. A common misconception is that accutane changes someone's body permanently and that's why he never gets acne again. That's not true at all. It basically buys you more time of being clear so you can be one step closer to that "time" when you "grow out" of your acne. So, by the time acctuane's effects, indirect or direct, wear off then you won't get acne because you will have grown out of it already.

Hopefully, I'll be successful, but I can't worry about it now.

I'll update this every chance I get regarding side effects and just how I'm doing. I also want to write a little bit more about my experience that can hopefully help people on the fence about taking accutane.

Until then, I'm just going to enjoy my clear skin.

Stay happy my friends,
Fred

[Fred Q]

One month post:

Some oil has returned, no severe acne, a few really small spots that go away quickly


No blackheads.

[Fred Q]

Side effects are mostly gone: lips chap a little bit easier.

Some oil has returned but nothing major.

I started using a topical retinoid called Atralin gel last night and will continue to apply every other night for a week or two and then use it every night.

My face was a little red this morning presumably due to the Atralin.

Still clear.

Until next time,
Fred

[cherington]

hey! awesome to know that you're clear and still are! it's really uplifting to see logs and stories of success and I think that's what mostly keeps me going..

Keep us posted of the continued good results =)

[Fred Q]

2 months post: still clear of any inflammatory acne or bad non-inflammatory acne.

Some blackheads on my nose have come back, but not nearly as many before the course.

My oil production increased after the course, but recently it has stayed steady at about 50-60% of what it was before accutane.

All side effects are gone- however, my face still looks mildy reddish and sunburned but this has DRAMATICALLY decreased from 1 month to 2 months. At this rate, it should be gone soon.

I stopped using atrilin because my face was just too sensitive. I've stayed clear despite not using anything but cetaphil gentle cleanser once a day!

Success. I consider accutane to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. Acne has never completely destroyed my self-esteem, but my confidence level has skyrocketed, and I feel weird saying this, but girls have started to take notice- yes.

Stay happy,
Fred

[Fred Q]

hey! awesome to know that you're clear and still are! it's really uplifting to see logs and stories of success and I think that's what mostly keeps me going..

Keep us posted of the continued good results =)

I'm glad you've been reading my log. Accutane is a long journey, but I can tell you that it is 100% worth it in the end.

The more confident you become, the more people who compliment you on your skin and the better you feel about going through your day because of clear skin is a tremendous feeling that only acne suffers can feel when they become clear.

[Fred Q]

Almost 6 months post.

Side effects are gone and normal amounts of oil have returned.

I'm currently using Retin-A as maintenance.

I get a few very small pimples every couple weeks that usually vanish within 2 days tops.

My pores are mostly clear, and my face looks great.

Loving life.

Be good to one another,
Fred

[Fred Q]

6 months post....clear.

[Lipslikesugar22]

Nice to hear yayay ;-)

[Fred Q]

1 year post treatment. Still clear. No side effects. Using Differin .1% cream nightly for maintenance.

When i say I'm clear, I still do break out every 3 weeks with a few pimples that go away in a day or two but its normal acne and it doesn't bother me at all. I know that this may be a disappointment to some but I will MOST CERTAINLY take it based on the way my face looked 1.5 years go.

Those breakouts haven't gotten worse or anymore frequent since they started occurring about 8 months ago.

Take care of yourselves,
Fred

[Fred Q]

1 year and 4 months post treatment. No changes...still clear. No side effects.


Stay happy,
Fred