182 replies to this topic

[phil_b]

katie, you are really a quite stunning looking girl... specially with your hair down.... love it

as for barkbats comments. Accuntane is the only potentially perminant cure for acne. Whats best, to take it and have a good chance of barely ever getting a spot again, or go on a regimen for potentially many more years.
Looking at your face I can tell somehow you have battled acne for a long time, and to what ever degree, its a miserable battle.

barkbats. I went on accutane nearly three years ago. The acne problem on my face was nearly non-existent, I mean, I had a few spots and v little red marks, I was prob about 70% clearer than katie in her pics... But i had bad acne on my chest and shoulders, and it was for that. even still. having acne in those areas I was still very self concoius of the little acne I had on my face and was happy to take it even if it were just for that, so i could kill it off forever. I have suffered zero long term effects and my side effects while on the drug were minimal to the point of having none, no initial break out either. I averaged 60mg a day. In my case, all the pre-tane stories of side effects and damage etc was a load of BS (obviously not the same for everyone, but most).

Im nearly 100& clear now, though I have recently started getting some spots back and a rather nasty outbreak on my chest (which im gutted about) so have started the regimen to tackle that. I still have 50 x 20mg accutane pills left over (not expired yet) Ive decided to take one every 2-3 days till they run out. I know some ppl would shrug at that but i am very confident that such a low dosage wont hurt and if it alters my body chemistry in any minor way to help fight my problem its all good....

i wish you the best katie, with such minor active acne, the accutane will clear you 100% for a long long long time, that, I have absolutely no doubt.

phil

[Number1nerd]

I'm not... not really sure what to say. I'm in shock... Phil, your comment made me speechless. First off let me say thank you for the wonderful compliment It really means a lot to me, and that... that is such a sweet thing to say... I'm blushing!

And thank you SO much for your support, because I was really starting to doubt myself. I feel like because my acne isn't "as bad" as everyone elses, it's like people think i'm suppose to suffer through it for the rest of my life just because "it's not THAT bad". You saying all these positive things really REALLY gives me hope... I can't thank you enough.

Barkbat, I want you to know that I am really appreciative for your comments - it's nice to know people are so concerned... even if it is a "slightly annoying opinion" I'm fully in-tune with my skin, and although my skin is "clearer", i'm still battling horrid little blemishes every day, and by no means is it truely better. And in all honestly, i'm done with it.

I'm done with trying to hide my face while i'm in a pool, i'm done trying to desperately put on makeup in the mornings before I see anyone, and i'm done being ashamed and embarrassed about my skin. For this, i'm willing to go on Accutane. My skin has taken over my life for too long, and i'm ready to take control of it.

Thank you all for all this support... I'm ready to cry over here because you all are such a sweet and caring group of individuals. This is such a kick ass message board!

-kt

[cynic]

[Number1nerd]

GAAH! *blush blush* Thank you!! (why can't i find any nice guys like you around here?) hehe

[~TEPL0~]

Acne is always "that bad" when it's on your face. I used to have severe acne, and now it has dissapeared to the point where my friends are astonished to find out that I have to struggle with acne every day. But it's still as bad as it was before to me. I tried everything possible to avoid accutane. I'm scared to death of it. So Katie, seems like you know what you're dealing with, you know the potential side effects of accutane, your derm knows his/her shit (I hope), good luck. I double Phil's compliment; acne or no acne, you're a great looking girl.

[Number1nerd]

DAY 2 :

Hmmm. Not really much to report. Yesterday night my back was KILLING ME - but i'm not sure if it was really due solely on accutane. I do Pilates a lot, and sometimes when I do an exersize the wrong way, it will make my lower back a little sore. Plus, late at night i'm usually sitting on the computer seat in a weird twisted way, so that always makes my back hurt too. Maybe i'm just paranoid.

It's nice not to have to use topicals anymore! Ahhhh. I'm really missin' spot-treating my zits, though... I feel like they are just going to get HUGE before I know it. Blah.

Oh, I tried Cetaphil liquid cleanser for the first time today! It's not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm used to a non-foaming cleanser, so this stuff was really similar. It doesn't smell at all, and it goes on very smooth - but i just can't help thinking it will make me break out.

So far so good!

[phil_b]

hey

I cant imagine accutane doing anything to your back on day 2. My body didnt even acknowledge the stuff till about a week in. Prob the comp seat, deff... Im 6 foot and use a shitty 'junior' seat cause im tight and wont buy anything else. Ill probably have chronic problems by the time im 30 at this rate! time to invest in an all singin all dancin lazy boy recliner methinks

I know what you mean about missin spot treatin routines. Somehow, not putting anything on them anymore makes you feel like you arnt attacking them in anyway, and feel paranoid about waking up the next day with a mass breakout cos of it. But it is awesome not to have to do anything anymore but moisturize here and there!

phil

p.s, whenever you feel like updating with more pics of yer beautiful little self, we wont mind

[Number1nerd]

DAY FOUR : I'm visiting my friends at Fredonia college right now - so can't update any pics right now. Tee hee! So heres the scoop: Lips are a tad drier, but nothing really noticable. It goes away after I apply lip gloss. Been using the Cetaphil cleanser lately, and i'm also still using Klaron lotion. My face isn't dry at all - it's more or less the same. I don't think the lotion will dry me out at all on accutane, but we'll see... until then, i'll be using it in the mornings.

As for the way my face looks, I definitely had a few zits pop up. Nothing major though, only about 4 or 5 little ones that only only a tad pink - so I can deal with that. I think they are from stopping to tazorac spot-treatment. Oh well. As long as I dont get big red inflamed zits ill be fine!

So I was definitely out drinking last night - I know i'm not going to be able to stop for accutane. I'm in college, it's like near-impossible. Anyhoo, hopefully it won't destroy my liver too much with the addition of 'tane.

I've been doing really good with drinking my water though!

-KT

[mightymiff]

Katie....uh, you should go out with me.

[Vince Is A Stud Muffin]

Don't worry Katie I have fucking drank for 5 days out of 7 while on vacation and my liver is fucking fine. There is other shit in me that was a little low, but the doc said I'm fine while on tane. He told me not to drink also, but it's hard to go out and not drink. Plus it makes you completely forget how you look so I love it. Good luck

[Number1nerd]

Oh good - glad to hear about the whole drinking thing. Actually, my derm didn't even mention the no drinking part... But i've just heard everyone seems to think it's just SO BAD to do while on 'tane. Heh heh, all the more reason to do it, right? J/k

- kt

[tp414]

hey Katie,

i'm a 16 year old girl who has been on accutane for 4 months. my acne was exactly like yours. i have very delicate skin that scars easily with red marks. i never had the initial breakout or any side affects. my skin started to clear in the 2nd week and has been getting better each week! the only thing are my lips, but i use an amazing lip balm called cortibalm that has hdrocortisone in it. my lips are so soft and normal looking. i also drink tons of water about 96ozs per day, i don't drink alcohol so that's not an issue for me. i have a couple of friends who took accutane and drank, they have had some issues since so you might want to reconsider. i'm not trying to bring doom and gloom, but this is very powerful stuff in your body. if you don't want to be one of the ones that suffers long term side affects (hair loss, bone problems, vision, liver) you might want to reconsider. i'm not sure if drinking affects the results but i wouldn't risk it.


Good luck and God Bless, I hope your treatment goes as smoothly as mine has.

[Number1nerd]

Oooh thanks for letting me know about your friends drinking on accutane... I'll have to really be careful about what i'm doing the next few months.

I heard about that cortibalm stuff!!! I should go and buy some because... RAAAAAAAH all of a sudden, tonight my lips started getting really bad! They aren't dry, and they actually feel very smooth but... oh man, they HURT a lot. It's sort of like a burning sensation almost, and it only goes away if i put the burts bees cooling balm on it (but I have this weird feeling that IT is the problem).

Ahhh... anyone else have this kind of trouble on only your 4th day?? Poo.

[tp414]

I doubt you will find it in any store. I got the sample from my derm. I love it so much, because that very day I saw immediate results. So I ordered several more, so I would always have no matter where I was. I'm not kidding when I say this stuff is amazing. If you have a bf, he will appreciate it too As kissing with rough lips is no fun. here is the link to buy it online http://www.drdanslipbalm.com/order.html

I don't mean to scare you with the drinking, but if you go to some of these anti accutane message boards you can read some pretty scary stuff regarding the long term effects of accutane. I firmly believe that alot of it has to do with how well you follow the instructions and whether you abuse your body while on this powerful drug. I don't find it just a coincidence that some of these people drank and took drugs while on the meds, and now have long term problems. Just be careful is all I'm saying

[somehopeleft]

First off - you go Katie. I have very mild/moderate acne like yourself and I don't care what anyone says... I want it gone, and if accutane is what it will take - I will do it... and I am! I'm on week three.

I wholeheartedly agree with tp - CortiBalm ROCKS! But don't order it online! If you have insurance go to your pharmacy and tell them your doctor wanted you to try it and they will order it for you! It's expensive online plus you have to pay for shipping... They order it at Walgreens for me and I only have to pay $3.00 per tube. Not too bad! I ordered five! Haha.

Looking forward to reading about your experiences. Best of luck to you!

[Number1nerd]

Ah yes, the cortibalm... My derm mentioned something to me that if my lips got too dry, they could order me a prescription for a good lip cream. I'll cross my fingers that it will be cortibalm!

Today is the beginning of day 5... lips are still pretty funky feeling, but still no actual dryness. The rest of the bod is doing alright too! I'll post an offical "day 5" log tonight.

[phil_b]

bah, i washed the stuff down with alchohol..

[Chloe646]

Hi katie,

I have to say i do support your decison although i think maybe the accutane dose is a bit high, my skin was much worse (due to temporary thyroid hormonal crap which resolved by itself, well itb was due to soy) and i got 40 mg, but my weight is pretty low.

Anyway, you definitely shouldn't have to be on mino, a topical, spot treatments, everything but the kitchen sink to have clear skin>better to just stop the craziness and get a more permanent solution! Eat healthy, drink lots of water and don't drink alcohol accutane is a major strain on the liver, you're setting yourself up for a disaster if you don't take that part of it seriously...the liver is important in skin health too and you don't want to counteract your accutane results and then have breakouts again because your liver was overly strained>i wish i'd done accutane when my acne was very mild because that med was powerful enough to stop acne after my hormones went haywire which left me with dreaded scars : (

Good luck!

[Number1nerd]

DAY FIVE : (techinically since it's 2am, it's day 6... right?) So anyhoo... No side effects yet, just the weird feeling lips. I had to work at American Eagle tonight from 5-10, and my lips were definitely hurting. I had to keep sneaking off in the backroom to put on some more lip gloss - that would tide me over for a few hours. Surprisingly, the gloss i'm using is doing wonders to my lips - it makes them feel so much better than using just a regular lip balm (burts bees or oral lab). I first put on burts bees, so I get this great cooling feel, then I slather on the gloss - works like a charm!

Lips dont hurt as bad as the day 4, so thats good.

Got two new pimples today, both are a little bit more red than usual. One is on my chin and it just sprouted about an hour ago (i swear it wasn't there before then!) and I think it's going to get big. I can just tell. I just loaded up on klaron lotion tonight, so hopefully that will calm things a bit by morning.

Blaaah stress level was really high tonight - I was having the worst day. Let's hope this doesn't affect my skin within the next few days... HEY maybe thats where the chin pimple came from? Ha ha!

Until next time...
- kt

[Number1nerd]

DAY SIX : Lips are fairly dry. Started to actually look dry today, but not too bad. Blah - I don't know if I can handle it for 5 months. I'm a big baby!

The pimple on my chin stayed small, but sprouted a little white tip today... Gross. Anyways - everything else is pretty much normal. My face is just as oily as it was before the 'tane, nothing else different. No back pains, hair loss, etc. (knock on wood!)

So far the 'tane has just got me annoyed with my lips. Off to a good start!
- kt

p.s.
i'm going to post some official "week one" pictures tomorrow. I can't believe I got my first week over with!!! YAAAY!