43 replies to this topic

[Super sad]

Been reading many accutane log. Know that this is definitely worth hanging on.. And I am aware that it wil get worse before getting better.
Bt recently been feeling very horrible. I m currently on the 5th wks. On 20mg/ day.
I had gone through several cortisone shot because my cyst acne got so bad.
One week better while the other week gotten worse again. It's totally depressing.
I just can't help crying every night.

Can anyone let me know how long their initial Breakout last?
Did anyone experience the same situation as me?
I really need motivation to hang on.

Tomorrow going to get another shot because it getting bad again. This is disastrous.
Screwing my whole life.

Edited by Super sad, 05 September 2011 - 08:35 AM.

[Jamie Ann]

My initial only lasted about a week. But it's different for everyone.

Just know that Accutane is a huge step up in your journey of becoming acne-free. Just keep hope that it will happen. Because Accutane has really helped SO many people. Your cure is on the way. Keep your head up. <3

[Ohiosoccermom]

Hello. I just wanted to send a little prayer your way. I am just on my 4th week of accutane. I am 36 yr old female and have struggled with acne for 15+ years. I would talk
With your doctor about how you are feeling. I promise, acne isn't the end of the world even tho, there has been times I didn't want to leave my house, or even have my family see me. It seems to me that you are on a very low dose. It probably depends on your size, but I started out om the 40mg once a day. My 15 yr old son took accutane last year, and he started out on 40mg as well. It took him 3 months to start to clear up on his face and back. By the 4th month, the doc increased his dose to 60mg for the last two months of treatment. It takes time to work, but now over a year later his face is clear and oil free, except for that occasional pimple.
Don't get discouraged, as long as you can keep taking the medicine, our skin will look very nice by Christmas. It will probably be the best gift ever, to have a new face! Remember to talk to your doc about how you are feeling. Some of the side effects of accutane are very serious. I have had a little more tiredness and very chapped lips so far. My son experienced the achey muscles, stiffness in his back, nose bleeds, and very chapped lips.
Just remember, stay POSITIVE because each day is ONE step closer to CLEAR SKIN:-)
God bless and take care.

[averagejoe88]

I can't attest to your time frame yet, but I'm edging in on week three and my breakout have only been getting worse since week one so I know how you feel. Week five is really not too far into it, and results are known to start showing up in months 2-3 so you are totally normal. Just take these weeks as your grace period and do not even start to think its not working until at least week 12! Consider this your body purging out all the crap thats been under your skin for years, that's what I'm doing!

[captainawesome]

My "initial breakout" is still going on, and I'm just about done my 3rd month of accutane, bearing in mind that I had bad cystic acne when I started, and now all I'm really getting are tiny pimples and whiteheads, but I haven't had to get cortisone shots for any cysts, they sort of just went away on their own (I might have to get a couple soon though). You're only just over 1 month through, so you're still going through what I'd like to call the "hell phase" of accutane. If you follow the same pattern as me, then you'll experience results sometime during your 3rd box, but everybody's different.

[Super sad]

My initial only lasted about a week. But it's different for everyone.

Just know that Accutane is a huge step up in your journey of becoming acne-free. Just keep hope that it will happen. Because Accutane has really helped SO many people. Your cure is on the way. Keep your head up. <3

Thank you... ) yes.. Many people is cured. I am hopeful too. Just upset when it is a recurring cyst. Because I been through shots bt still so huge!!! You cnt imagine how terrible it looks. Dun even dare to take photo. Bt overall I am less oily too. and my pores seems to shrink too. Some parts getting btr just 4-5 big cysts.. Ard one inche big fr one. Bt I will be better I know. ) thanks.

Oh ya... Your initial breakout last only a wk! That's really lucky! So how do you feel now?? )

[Super sad]

Hello. I just wanted to send a little prayer your way. I am just on my 4th week of accutane. I am 36 yr old female and have struggled with acne for 15+ years. I would talk
With your doctor about how you are feeling. I promise, acne isn't the end of the world even tho, there has been times I didn't want to leave my house, or even have my family see me. It seems to me that you are on a very low dose. It probably depends on your size, but I started out om the 40mg once a day. My 15 yr old son took accutane last year, and he started out on 40mg as well. It took him 3 months to start to clear up on his face and back. By the 4th month, the doc increased his dose to 60mg for the last two months of treatment. It takes time to work, but now over a year later his face is clear and oil free, except for that occasional pimple.
Don't get discouraged, as long as you can keep taking the medicine, our skin will look very nice by Christmas. It will probably be the best gift ever, to have a new face! Remember to talk to your doc about how you are feeling. Some of the side effects of accutane are very serious. I have had a little more tiredness and very chapped lips so far. My son experienced the achey muscles, stiffness in his back, nose bleeds, and very chapped lips.
Just remember, stay POSITIVE because each day is ONE step closer to CLEAR SKIN:-)
God bless and take care.

Really nice of you. Thanks fr ur encouragement and for typing such a long post to motivate me. )
My derm never intend to up my dose. He told me that he will even remove me antibiotic if I am better. Guess maybe he feels that I might not require such high dose.
Anyw may God bless you too. I will hang on. )) hope you initial breakout will stop soon too! )

[Super sad]

I can't attest to your time frame yet, but I'm edging in on week three and my breakout have only been getting worse since week one so I know how you feel. Week five is really not too far into it, and results are known to start showing up in months 2-3 so you are totally normal. Just take these weeks as your grace period and do not even start to think its not working until at least week 12! Consider this your body purging out all the crap thats been under your skin for years, that's what I'm doing!

You are so optimistic! maybe I too impatient.. Perhaps few more week I will get better. Duno why when you have breakout it seem likes years when it is just days. Just wish month 3 cn be much faster!!! I just can't help hiding at home these days.

But thank you so much. Mayb in few wks time, we bth will be better and tell others that we are one of the successful cases.

[Super sad]

My "initial breakout" is still going on, and I'm just about done my 3rd month of accutane, bearing in mind that I had bad cystic acne when I started, and now all I'm really getting are tiny pimples and whiteheads, but I haven't had to get cortisone shots for any cysts, they sort of just went away on their own (I might have to get a couple soon though). You're only just over 1 month through, so you're still going through what I'd like to call the "hell phase" of accutane. If you follow the same pattern as me, then you'll experience results sometime during your 3rd box, but everybody's different.

It must be tough for you too. But happy that you have passed the first two months!
The cortisone shot really will reduce the size of the acne tremendously. My stubborn acne is too monstrous. That why the derm decide to inject for me to prevent it from spreading further.
It is kind of painful but it is more of the swelling that make you feel painful and not the injection.

It's is funny that you named it as hell phase. But I totally agreed with this term. Really feel so lousy and like living in hell. But since it is a phase. We will get through it I guess. you will be better soon. Thank you for your reply.

[Super sad]

Week 5 day two.

Just had my cortisone shot for the terrible stubborn acne.
Even my derm felt sad for me. He prescribed two weeks prednisone for me so to prevent new cysts to develope. I hope this will really help me. He never intend to up my dosage. Hopefully I will be better and the stubborn cysts can go away. Wil update again.

[Jamie Ann]

My initial only lasted about a week. But it's different for everyone.

Just know that Accutane is a huge step up in your journey of becoming acne-free. Just keep hope that it will happen. Because Accutane has really helped SO many people. Your cure is on the way. Keep your head up. <3

Thank you... ) yes.. Many people is cured. I am hopeful too. Just upset when it is a recurring cyst. Because I been through shots bt still so huge!!! You cnt imagine how terrible it looks. Dun even dare to take photo. Bt overall I am less oily too. and my pores seems to shrink too. Some parts getting btr just 4-5 big cysts.. Ard one inche big fr one. Bt I will be better I know. ) thanks.

Oh ya... Your initial breakout last only a wk! That's really lucky! So how do you feel now?? )

I feel really great now and you will too!

[Super sad]

My initial only lasted about a week. But it's different for everyone.

Just know that Accutane is a huge step up in your journey of becoming acne-free. Just keep hope that it will happen. Because Accutane has really helped SO many people. Your cure is on the way. Keep your head up. <3

Thank you... ) yes.. Many people is cured. I am hopeful too. Just upset when it is a recurring cyst. Because I been through shots bt still so huge!!! You cnt imagine how terrible it looks. Dun even dare to take photo. Bt overall I am less oily too. and my pores seems to shrink too. Some parts getting btr just 4-5 big cysts.. Ard one inche big fr one. Bt I will be better I know. ) thanks.

Oh ya... Your initial breakout last only a wk! That's really lucky! So how do you feel now?? )

Thank you! Will keep everyone update. Hope will be ok soon! By the way Jamie, did your derm prescribe antibiotics with accutane? Did you apply any topical gel?
I feel that applying seem to make my cyst acne worse.

I feel really great now and you will too!

[cheerios]

I wish u luck and one day u'll think back and say damn, that was so worth it Time passes quickly, even if we dont notice it in tough times.

Btw I will start my accutane course in late september, dont know dosages. Can't wait!

[Super sad]

I wish u luck and one day u'll think back and say damn, that was so worth it Time passes quickly, even if we dont notice it in tough times.

Btw I will start my accutane course in late september, dont know dosages. Can't wait!

Thank you very much. true. If this works smoothly. I will be super happy to have even btr complexion than before. I am pretty acne prone due to oily skin. Tink this treatment will at least make my skin less oily and better. mayb few more wks times I will be better too.

Wish you all the best too. And pray fr u that you will not experience initial breakout and things are smoothly for you too!

[Super sad]

Feeling sad again because my bf told me that I had been so sad recently and he is feeling very tired and sad too because I am hiding away and he feels that he like no gf at all.

This is really so sad. But I am just hope to hide at hm to let the acne heals before going out. But yet it brought so much sadness not only to me but to people around me too.
I wouldn't do anytin for the time being though. Just count down to the days that I will be better. Just wish that my bf can hang on with me too. This is screwing my life indeed. :'(

Guess I can only be patience and stay positive. I need to hang on there.

[pokemonster]

have u ever been as depressed as now or simply depressed, before acutane too or just now? just wondering

[Super sad]

have u ever been as depressed as now or simply depressed, before acutane too or just now? just wondering

More emotional now perhaps.. The cyst acne is killing my self esteem. Because I am hiding away. but guess things will be better soon. I cannot do anything at this moment too. Just have to be patience.

[Super sad]

I just realized. This week is suppose to be week 6 if I start on 1 august. So guess reaching month 3 will be much sooner..

Week 6 Day 3.

After the cortisone shot. Feel much better. Everything started to form scab. I am trying hard nt to pick at it. Believe will fall off soon. my lips has been v dry. So flaky. The area around my nose seem to b very dry and peeling. Guess maybe things started to work. I still have alot of dark scars frm the shots and also the breakout. Hope it will get better. Eating vit c supplement and plenty of waters. Hope it helps.

But recently I seem to feel very tired in the evening but the moment I am on the bed I wouldn't slp until 3-4am. Wonder anyone having insomnia like me? This is bad! I need sleeps to recover faster.

Edited by Super sad, 07 September 2011 - 12:02 PM.

[Super sad]

Week 6 day 4.

Woke up and found that the blackheads and whiteheads seems to come to surface and fall off. Scabs also dried up and ready to fall off too. Hopefully it is a good sign. But all the dark purplish scars are so awful!!! Dont know how to heal these scars fast. Dislike to cover it with concealer and foundation!

[Super sad]

Week 6 day 6.

Things seem to get much better. All dry up left with scars. Argh..
But I am amazed by how fast accutane helps to dry up the acne and I swore it really should never ever be PICKED!!! It will really speed up the process much much faster.
Hopefully this can mark the end of my IB.. Pray for the best...

Concealer and foundation seem to have problem covering the dry scars, flakey and crack easily! Wonder what should I do?