182 replies to this topic

[adamm53]

I do not mean those borie strips or the creams or the washes.

I mean this metal thing that squzzes them out safely. (well if u do it safely) i was looking for a pic but i could not find one.

However even tho i reccomend this it is suppose to be used by professionals, so if u go this way learn as much as possible about them.

[adamm53]

i found one: http://www.classicshaving.citymax.com/cata...459.htm#image_1

[Dashooter911]

Hey Katie, you really shouldn't pop your pimples while on Accutane. I know you have probably heard this before, but if you keep doing it you will get a scar. Your skin is more fragile on Accutane. I am starting to get scars while on Accutane and I thnk it was because I pop one of the pimples.

[Number1nerd]

I know I really shouldn't squeeze or pick at my face, and I'm usually pretty good about not doing it but... well, last night I just had to do it. I was really stressed out and these blackheads were CALLING me! :-\ I was nervous too, because I thought once I woke up in the morning my nose would be all irritated and red, but it turned out to be fine.

As for that blackhead remover, I know what you're talking about. I saw one at linens and things a few months back (weird place to find it, i know!), and I was so tempted to get one, but my mom just said "oh that won't work", and I just dismissed it. How do you use one? Just by pressing down? Hmm.

- kt

[thebignosebandit]

hey katie ive been on accutane for about a month and a half now. So far so good. The only thing i can complain about are these dry, chapped lips. But its good to see you're ready for that cause aquaufor takes care of that problem. I'm almost positive 5 months from now your gonna look great, you acne is pretty mild and there's beautiful skin under there. believe me ive seen plenty of people go from mild to absolutely stunning skin after 1 course.

barkbat, i too have mild acne like katies. however, i have persistant acne. meaning ive gone through bp, all 3 antibiotics, retin a, clindomycin, benzacyclin, and the problem still remains, so for many, i think accutane is still a good option. yes the side effects are a possiblity, but for me the possibility of clear skin outweights them.

[Number1nerd]

DAY 24 : I had this weird bump on my cheek for the last week or so - and it had a little blackhead on top. Wasn't sure what it was, so I spent last night sqeezing at it until it became red... And when I woke up this morning, sure enough it became a PIMPLE! I must have squeezed something to the surface... But it was enough to end my week long no-pimple streak. Poo.

Anyways - nothing new today. I don't know if my gums got more sensitive or what, but i've had little cuts on them (near the roof of my mouth) for a few days now. I bought these Crest Whitestrips today, and needless to say the peroxide hurt like a BITCH when it touched the cuts.

Another thing i've noticed lately is that my eyes are somewhat blurry. I've always had HORRIBLE vision, and I wear contacts, but recently i've been having to sit very close to the tv because it seems sort of blury. Weird thing is, my eyes haven't changed in a good year or so - and I just had an eye exam in April. I'm a little concerned... Is that a normal side effect?

Oh here's another weird side effect - i washed the dishes tonight for about 10 minutes, and afterwards my hands were SOOOOO wrinkly!!! Never in my life have I ever had such pruney hands! haha I felt like a little old lady!

Nose iisn't as dry anymore so thats good. Eyes are a little more so. Lips are very.

Chow
-kt

[Number1nerd]

OH yeah. I've been really really pissed off today. I was freaking out all morning about my whole computer fiasco (its been freezing every minute or so, and now all the songs on my ipod were erased and i cant figure out how to get them back on via my backup cd) - and i spent the morning sobbing and screaming... It was quite a scene. I think it is just PMS, but it just sucks because every little thing is making me cry today. Aaaarghk - today is such a shitty day.

I figured I should record what i'm feeling just in case It's probably just PMS RAAAH!

[adamm53]

ahhhhhhh don't cry

remember one of life best sayings:

Don't worry be happy, LOL.



That thing with the little hole will work, my derm used it on me, and oh boy did she stand there for about 5-10 min squeezing out tons of crap. Well what happened was she had me on Vitamin A Acid. Which forces all the white and black heads underneath the skin to come to the surface, so that is why i had so many.

But still it is generally the same as squeezing them out, however u do not end up diging ur nail into you skin, so this method is safe.

and yes all u do is position the little hole over the blackhead and press. IF u have senstitive skin u can freez ur face first. My doc used dry ice (which is something u should not use because u can give your face frost bite, if you do not know what u are doing. So maybe stick your face in the freezer until it goes numb.

LOL, don't freez ur face i am just being

[Number1nerd]

DAY 25 : Back hurt a lot while I was doing Pilates this morning. Gah. Cheek pimple going away VERY fast (it's almost gone!), and the rest of the face is doing ok. No big zits or anything, but a lot of clogged pores/blackheads and stuff. Blech.

Lips still dry - but i'm starting not to pay attention anymore. I've gotten used to putting stuff on my lips (gloss, balm, lipstick, whatever), and that's kept them pretty tame. Eyes aren't too bad, but they are still somewhat blurry or something. I can't quite describe it... it's like, I can't concentrate on the tv because too many things are moving too fast on the screen and I can't... ahhh. It's very hard to explain, but it's definitely weird. I mean, it isn't bad at all. I go hours without noticing anything, but then i'll realize that something is slightly different and I can't see the tv properly. It's such a slight difference (in what my vision was before accutane) that I think that is the reason I can't explain it very well. I have a derm appointment tomorrow but i'm debating whether or not i should tell him about it... I KNOW I should, but I desperately don't want to be taken off accutane!!!

Non-accutane related, my teeth are just KILLING me! I've been using these Crest whitestrips for the past two days and, having sensitive teeth already, my teeth are SUPER sensitive now. They hurt just sitting here. Oww!

Other than that, routine is still the same and no major side effects besides impaired vision and dry lips. Routine is: Wash with Neutrogena Acne wash, klaron lotion morning and night, and every other day or so exfoliate with St. Ives Sensitive Skin Apricot Scrub. Also, i've been using this Clean & Clear Salyctic acid moisturizer on my nose every night to help clear up the blackheads.

Leave one!
- kt

[Number1nerd]

DAY 26 : I saw the derm today! Not my normal one though, she is out on maternity leave. Anyway - I told him about my back aches, but he didn't seem too concerned (he uh, didn't really say anything so I assume that means its ok). He said my cholestoral was up a bit from my last bloodtest, but apparently that is normal too. Other than that, everything is peachy!

And yes, I failed to mention my vision weird-ness... I'm hoping it just isn't accutane-related and will go away on it's own! If it isn't better by next month, i'll tell them.

Here's to almost four weeks on the 'tane! WOOOO!
- kt

[Mr. Jay]

ROFL. It's like reading a diary.

--jay

[adamm53]

you should tell him about your eyes, what if this is side effect that never goes away. or at least look around on the net abt it.

[matuke182]

heya
i just stopped roaccutane a few days ago after 6 months

good luck with it

katie you are so pretty!!!

i got a few backaches too but i guess its all just part of the process

ill come back and visit u again

rock on!

paige, aus

[princessfiona]

Hi Katie! I've been using Crest Whitestrips too! Teeth are slightly more sensitive than before but I'm going to continue with it. Oh and I noticed my cholesterol is higher too... did your derm say it was because of the Accutane?

[Number1nerd]

***JOURNAL PICS HAVE BEEN UPDATED!!!***

DAY 28 (week 4) : My skin is looking pretty good so far! The pictures don't really do me any justice... Because they make me look like shit - but i swear my skin has gotten better! It's the clearest it has been in a LONG time - the only pimple I have is a dying one that is BARELY there on my cheek, and a little one that sprouted yesterday above my right eyebrow. Other than that... things are lookin' up!

Back aches and dry nose are still present, but i've learned to deal. The dry eyes are getting more persistant, especially at night. Lips are just whatever - I can slather on some aquaphor or gloss and be done with it. The blurry vision is either gone or i've gotten used to it... It may just be that my contacts prescription needs to be updated.

Off-topic, I GO TO COLLEGE in about two weeks! WHEEEEEE! Hahah all my friends have already been in it for a good month now. I hate being on trimesters.

Peace!
- kt

[ungj85]

Wow I just got done with my 4th week too! Seems like we're on the same time period, just different brand isotretinoin! Good luck!

[Mr. Jay]

Heh, looks alot better ... grats.

--jay

[Number1nerd]

I forgot to knock on wood after I said "my skin is looking great! blah blah blah!" ~ because the pimple above my right eyebrow got bigger, and I sprouted a little one on my forehead... DAG! I HATE forehead pimples because they stand out on mine for some reason. POO!

Back didn't hurt that much today! I didn't even notice it... and that's a first! Nose still dry, eyes only at night, and lips are managable. I have this Mary Kay lip mask that i've been using when I need some extra exfoliation, and it works AMAZINGLY. If I forget to put on chapstick/gloss, and my lips get peely, I just slather on the mask for 1-2 minutes and rub off with a warm washcloth... and they feel SO SOFT and smooth! Other than that, everything is workin' great!

Until next time!
- kt

[Number1nerd]

Heh, looks alot better ... grats. 

--jay

Yes, and my skin may look mild, but it hasn't always been that way. Throughout the past year, my skin erupted and I had awful acne (especially around august 2003). Anyway, I've had horrible acne since I was 14, and it's been persistant. I had one year where it was totally clear, when I was a sophomore and taking minocycline, but after a year of that it went downhill.

It is very persistent, and i've been on all sorts of antibiotics and topicals since I was a freshmen in highschool. Tetra, Mino, Keflex, Septra, Erythro, Benzyclin, Retina, Differin, Tazorac, Klaron, and MORE. I was done, and it was time to take control. So I started accutane. And it's the only thing that has worked so far.

[Number1nerd]

OOPS!!! Sorry, the above quote was suppose to be from ELSA, not jay. :-\ My bad!