165 replies to this topic

[pinkstarlett]

Hi everyone!

Today marks day 20 on accutane! Originally I was hesitant to make a log because I was unsure if i'd have the time to update. However, I realized I need a place to vent, support and offer help to others.
My background- I am 26 years old with persistant acne on/off for the last 10 years or so. I have tried EVERY product (over the counter topicals, ziana, epiduo, differing, duac, benzyclin, retin-a micro, plain old retin-a, tazorac, soldyn and even smooth beam laser treatments) so if any one needs some advice, I know every acne product inside and out Finally, I decided to go on accutane. Being in my 20s, acne is really lowering my self-esteem and confidence, more so than as a teen, as fewer and fewer of my peers are dealing with it.

First couple weeks-Had a few bad breakouts in week 1. A few cysts around my jawline and temples. Now on almost week 4 they are finally starting to fade. I've also really begun to see a dramatic decrease in oil production. It's nice not to wash my hair every day.

Other side effects:
Dry lips! Chapstick and aquaphor are my new best friends
Some joint pain in my lower claves while running/working out, but nothing to bothersome
Extreme fatigue at times? Has anyone else experienced this? One day last week I couldn't stay awake past 8pm!

Right now my main concern is i've entered the sandpaper, blackhead, a million clogged pores stage. It seems every inch of my forehead and t-zone has clogged comedones. Also I stupidly pulled a piece of dry skin off the top of my nose this morning, now I have a new angry red mark that looks like a big zit from far away. I'm so annoyed I did that to myself. It's so hard not to pick though! So far just slathering aquaphor on it and hoping it's less red before work tommorow!

Edited by pinkstarlett, 06 March 2011 - 02:58 PM.

[h0lis]

Heya pinkstarlett and first of all, good luck with accutane! Im on accutane too, 40mg and 4th day going.

We can make it !

[Copper]

I start 40mg of Claravis tonight. Are you able to apply makeup at all? If so, what do you use to remove the makeup?

[pinkstarlett]

Heya pinkstarlett and first of all, good luck with accutane! Im on accutane too, 40mg and 4th day going.

We can make it !

Thanks! Good luck on your course!

[pinkstarlett]

I start 40mg of Claravis tonight. Are you able to apply makeup at all? If so, what do you use to remove the makeup?

Hi Copper-
Yes i do wear make-up. I don't use liquid foundation (I just can't stand the feel and thought that i'm clogging my pores), but I do put on powder foundations almost everyday. Right now Ive been using revlon mineral wear. Occassionally, i'll put physcian's formula green powder on top (if i'm looking extra red). I also wear eye make-up on occassion, especially when I go out. I work with 4-5 yeat olds so don't really feel like I need it on a daily basis
I usually just wash my face with a gentle cleanser. I've found purpose to remove make-up fairly well. For eye make-up I do use eye-maker remover pads. I think I have neutrogena brand right now.
Hope this helped!

[pinkstarlett]

Day 20 update:

Ugh just needed a venting post. Still in the throes of the initial breakout! When did everyone's blackheads/comedones start to fall out? For some reason these are annoying me more than my typical inflammed acne.

The Trials of Acne in your 20s

So last night I was at a bar with some friends. A guy started talking to me, however instead of being flattered, I was too concerned with wondering If he could notice any redmarks under my make-up. So of course, with my low-acne self-condifence I made an excuse that I was actually on my way to the bathroom Although he was wearing a shirt that said It's T-Shirt Time so don't know how long I would have ended up talking to him anyways
Just wish I could flash forward several months and feel like a normal 26 year old!

Edited by pinkstarlett, 06 March 2011 - 06:48 PM.

[biggs881]

Day 20 update:

Ugh just needed a venting post. Still in the throes of the initial breakout! When did everyone's blackheads/comedones start to fall out? For some reason these are annoying me more than my typical inflammed acne.

The Trials of Acne in your 20s

So last night I was at a bar with some friends. A guy started talking to me, however instead of being flattered, I was too concerned with wondering If he could notice any redmarks under my make-up. So of course, with my low-acne self-condifence I made an excuse that I was actually on my way to the bathroom Although he was wearing a shirt that said It's T-Shirt Time so don't know how long I would have ended up talking to him anyways
Just wish I could flash forward several months and feel like a normal 26 year old!

If it was Brad Pitt who had starting talking to you, would you have made an excuse to leave?

[pinkstarlett]

Day 20 update:

Ugh just needed a venting post. Still in the throes of the initial breakout! When did everyone's blackheads/comedones start to fall out? For some reason these are annoying me more than my typical inflammed acne.

The Trials of Acne in your 20s

So last night I was at a bar with some friends. A guy started talking to me, however instead of being flattered, I was too concerned with wondering If he could notice any redmarks under my make-up. So of course, with my low-acne self-condifence I made an excuse that I was actually on my way to the bathroom Although he was wearing a shirt that said It's T-Shirt Time so don't know how long I would have ended up talking to him anyways
Just wish I could flash forward several months and feel like a normal 26 year old!

If it was Brad Pitt who had starting talking to you, would you have made an excuse to leave?

Haha, Probably not, but more so to tell everyone I met a celebrity! I know it was a dumb thing to do, but my face just is really affecting my self-confidence right now.

[cheeseblu]

ahh i totally knw what you mean!!!

everytime i talk to a cute guy theres a voice in the back of my head saying "hes looking at your skin... hesss loookiinggg at your gross skinnn"

-____- it suckssss


and I don't care to dress too pretty or soemthing because I feel people will be thinking in their head "whats that girl to do.. shes trying to dress fashionably but it doesnt hide the fact that her skin is crappy"

I know.. this is horrible thinking -__- but yeah, I REALLY need to alter my mindset

i think its something only acne suffer-ers really can relate to because when I told my best friend they looked at me like i was crazy haha

Edited by cheeseblu, 06 March 2011 - 11:15 PM.

[pinkstarlett]

ahh i totally knw what you mean!!!

everytime i talk to a cute guy theres a voice in the back of my head saying "hes looking at your skin... hesss loookiinggg at your gross skinnn"

-____- it suckssss


and I don't care to dress too pretty or soemthing because I feel people will be thinking in their head "whats that girl to do.. shes trying to dress fashionably but it doesnt hide the fact that her skin is crappy"

I know.. this is horrible thinking -__- but yeah, I REALLY need to alter my mindset

i think its something only acne suffer-ers really can relate to because when I told my best friend they looked at me like i was crazy haha

It's so nice to find other people that can relate! Hopefully we'll be able to put that all behind us soon!

[pinkstarlett]

Day 21:

Blah! Still in the throes of the initial breakout, and also some ugly redmarks from picking. It's so hard not to touch, Has anyone found any successful ways to help them stop picking? It really does look awful on accutane.
My skin is also in this wierd dry but still kind of oily stage. It's flaking off alot but also looks shiny.
No side effect problems besides continued dry lips. I forgot to bring my chapstick to work today and it was torture! My lips were white and peeling by the time I got home.

Getting my next blood test Thursday morning Not only do I hate needles, but I get so nervous that some random thing will show up that will make my Derm take me off Accutane. Hopefully all goes well!

[pinkstarlett]

Day 22

Not much change in my skin, although my clogged pores seem slightly less noticeable. My skin also appears to be getting less oily every day. Let's hope this trend continues
My main issue right now is still some ugly red marks I created from picking I've been slathering aquaphor, vitamin E oil and polysporin on them, but the skin keeps peeling back off everytime I wash. Hopefully I've learned my lesson!

Side effects:
Lips continue to be dry and painful. Constant peeling all day long.
The inside of my ears have also begun peeling, not attractive!
I had a pretty bad headache this afternoon, possibly caused by accutane?

[pinkstarlett]

Day 25

Not much change for the better.....feeling pretty depressed about my skin, several large red spots have popped up in the last few days, most likley a combination of the IB and monthly hormones. Hoping to be much happier with my appearance a month from now.
Getting my second perscription on Monday as long as all goes well with bloodwork!

[jackiemarebear]

Hi pinkstarlett...so glad you are doing a log now! You cracked me up about the "It's T-shirt Time" thing. Hahaha...hilarious. I know what you mean about having low self-confidence when talking face to face with people. I still feel the need to back away from them and direct attention away from my face. It is so frustrating!

Did you experience any IB or breaking out in the second or third week? I am in my third week (Day 19 right now) and I think I am toward the end of my IB...but maybe I am wrong. I had it pretty bad last week and I am still getting new ones here and there, but they aren't as bad.

I know exactly what you mean about picking/peeling off the skin. For me it seems like any time I pick or pop (yuck, I know), the next day I have scabbing and little pieces of skin that start to flake off. They are so easy to peel off, but then they leave a big red spot! Ugh.

Try to stay optimistic, and I will too!

[Sherbear]

ahh i totally knw what you mean!!!

everytime i talk to a cute guy theres a voice in the back of my head saying "hes looking at your skin... hesss loookiinggg at your gross skinnn"

-____- it suckssss


and I don't care to dress too pretty or soemthing because I feel people will be thinking in their head "whats that girl to do.. shes trying to dress fashionably but it doesnt hide the fact that her skin is crappy"

I know.. this is horrible thinking -__- but yeah, I REALLY need to alter my mindset

i think its something only acne suffer-ers really can relate to because when I told my best friend they looked at me like i was crazy haha

Thats why I love this website. People who know and understand. When I tried to talk to my fiance/ parents about my social anxiety they just didn't get it. I hate that stupid voice in my head that talks about my skin and won't let me listen to the conversation I'm supposed to be having. Hopefully accutane will kill the zits and that effing voice too!

[Sherbear]

Day 21:

Blah! Still in the throes of the initial breakout, and also some ugly redmarks from picking. It's so hard not to touch, Has anyone found any successful ways to help them stop picking? It really does look awful on accutane.
My skin is also in this wierd dry but still kind of oily stage. It's flaking off alot but also looks shiny.
No side effect problems besides continued dry lips. I forgot to bring my chapstick to work today and it was torture! My lips were white and peeling by the time I got home.

Getting my next blood test Thursday morning Not only do I hate needles, but I get so nervous that some random thing will show up that will make my Derm take me off Accutane. Hopefully all goes well!

Hey girl, I cut all my nails off so I wouldn't pick. It's been working for me!

[Sherbear]

Oh btw I saw on Jackie's log you said you taught preschool. Get out! I teach kindergarten! Definitely love teaching the little ones because they are way more forgiving and less judgmental of my bad skin. Although they are naturally inquisitive, I once had a student ask me while on a field trip why I had "mosquito bites" on my face in front of a group of chaperones. TALK ABOUT EMBARASSING!!!

[pinkstarlett]

Day 26

My skin seems a little better today. Oil is defintley still decreasing and the red marks are fading a little. I still have a lot of clogged pores and black heads, I do not think I am quite out of the brunt of the IB just yet. Actually if I could just leave my skin alone i'm sure it would look a whole lot better

The last few days my other side effects have been minimal. Dry lips as usual. My calves are a little sore but i'm a runner so I can't really tell if it's from accutane or running. I'm used to living with sore legs and feet from time to time so I don't think i'll be able to tell which is which.
It's beem getting warmer and sunnier so i've started to use sunscreen everyday before I go running. I really like the Neutrogena dry touch, although I worry it's coming off when I sweat. I don't trust waterproof suncreens made for sports and athletes. I've never found one that saids non-comedegenic. I'm so glad I started accutane in Feburary and won't have to be on it for long in the summer!

Dermatologist appointment tommorow....Here I come month 2

[pinkstarlett]

Day 21:

Blah! Still in the throes of the initial breakout, and also some ugly redmarks from picking. It's so hard not to touch, Has anyone found any successful ways to help them stop picking? It really does look awful on accutane.
My skin is also in this wierd dry but still kind of oily stage. It's flaking off alot but also looks shiny.
No side effect problems besides continued dry lips. I forgot to bring my chapstick to work today and it was torture! My lips were white and peeling by the time I got home.

Getting my next blood test Thursday morning Not only do I hate needles, but I get so nervous that some random thing will show up that will make my Derm take me off Accutane. Hopefully all goes well!

Hey girl, I cut all my nails off so I wouldn't pick. It's been working for me!

I'm seriously considering doing this tonight. I love my long nails, but having no pick marks, I can live with out them for awhile. At least I can grow them back when my skin clears!

I love teaching the Preschool Kindergarten age too! It's so funny i've met so many other teachers on this site. What a coincidence we all picked jobs where we have to face people all day long and can't hide our skin away in a cubicle!

Edited by pinkstarlett, 13 March 2011 - 07:59 PM.

[pinkstarlett]

Hi pinkstarlett...so glad you are doing a log now! You cracked me up about the "It's T-shirt Time" thing. Hahaha...hilarious. I know what you mean about having low self-confidence when talking face to face with people. I still feel the need to back away from them and direct attention away from my face. It is so frustrating!

Did you experience any IB or breaking out in the second or third week? I am in my third week (Day 19 right now) and I think I am toward the end of my IB...but maybe I am wrong. I had it pretty bad last week and I am still getting new ones here and there, but they aren't as bad.

I know exactly what you mean about picking/peeling off the skin. For me it seems like any time I pick or pop (yuck, I know), the next day I have scabbing and little pieces of skin that start to flake off. They are so easy to peel off, but then they leave a big red spot! Ugh.

Try to stay optimistic, and I will too!

Thanks! I am trying to stay optimistic right now and just imagining what my skin will/should look like come summer!
Yeah not only do I pop, lately i'm obsessed with pulling dry skin off my face. It's just as bad as picking pimples, since the accutane is making my skin so sensitive. Every time I do it my face starts to bleed. I need to stop! I think it has come down to cutting my nails off for the next few months

I'm not sure if my IB is winding down or not. I still have some large red marks, but most are from picking. I got a few new ones around my mouth but it is also that time of the month. Hopefully in the next couple weeks it will really begin to subside.