16 replies to this topic

[derrrrrrrrrp]

Hi all.

I've tried almost everything you can put on your skin, with little to no effect, so one month ago I started taking the infamous accutane. I'm 19, my weight is 60 kg (I know I know) and I take 40 mg a day.

I rinse my face gently with some Eucerin mild face soap thing every morning and evening, and then apply some oil-free moisturizer.

I have cystic acne, deep down all over my cheeks, and sometimes, my face just... bleeds in multiple places. I'm hardly touching my face, but it's like my face is so filled with bad stuff that just wants to get out. Will all this stuff "go away" by itself, like being carried away by the body, or will it all have to surface in such an unpleasant, bloody way?
After a month my cheeks are sore and the skin feels tight. It's not as mega-swollen as it used to be when I first started taking accutane (a few days ago I couldn't even feel the right side of my face). But after a month things should surely start turning around, no? I know I've got the next 6 months to care about progress, so patience is a virtue I guess.

Luckily, side effects have been pretty minimal so far; very dry lips, mildly dry skin and sometimes mildly irritated eyes. It's nothing severe though.

Am I on the right course? I know there's pretty much nothing the internet can do to help me. Only time will show what happens next. I guess I just need to know from first-hand experienced "you're not completely lost".

So yeah.

By the way, accutane costs me the equivalent of $20 a month. Why do I read about people going bankrupt on this?

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Edited by derrrrrrrrrp, 30 October 2011 - 08:05 AM.

[notanoutsider]

Be patient, it's still too early to notice the real power of Accutane (can tell by experience). You'll definitely clear up in time!

Where I live, Accutane costs about U$S110 a month. Definitely an expensive treatment for me!

[Wynne]

Accutane requires patience. You're still likely experiencing the initial breakout. Accutane costs vary WIDELY according to insurance.....or lack thereof. If you have good insurance, it's a small co pay. If you have bad insurance that won't cover isotretinoin, or no insurance whatsoever, you pay the whole cost yourself and that can be hundreds a month.

[itsjames1991]

That's completely normal. I was on 80mg of accutane and I broke out really bad in the first 3 months. Just don't pick your face and let it have it's course. If necessary maybe request an increase to 80mg.

[derrrrrrrrrp]

Oh, thank god. There's a slip of paper in my packet that says "you may experience outbreak the first 7-10 days", and I was like >_>

By the way, I've got some flower extract someone in my family recommended. The flower is called Calendulae Anthodii. Really waxy stuff. I've found out that if you apply it to your face and let it sit for just 1-2 hours (really powerful I tell ya) it starts itching a bit, and it's as if this stuff "pulls" all the infection out of the skin, and can even kill a cyst in the early stages. Does anyone know anything about this, or similar stuff? It seems really helpful for cleaning the skin for good, when used with a mild cleansing soap afterwards. Sounds like possible cure along with accutane?

Some stuff can be read about it here:
http://www.sigmaaldr...fficinalis.html

Seems legit to me. They even show sources.

[brian2422]

initial break outs last 2 to 3 months but my derm told me to take a topical steriod which you apply to the face for 2 weeks while on accutane and it helps bring down the redness of the acne, also i went on predinsone for 5 days which dramatically stopped the flare ups for about 2 weeks but than they came back up. Ask your derm about one of those two things they will really help, i have just as bad acne as you and even though the accutane is causing a lot of break outs these things help reduce the flaring without effecting the accutane. Im just hoping accutane really works for me like everyone says it does.

[davidtheskinking]

If you aren't seeing results, I would get off it.
It's not natural and it's full of liver damaging chemicals.
Personally... If I were you... I would get off it and drink a lot of water for the next 2-3 weeks (only water)

While eating a lot of vegetables and fruits to heal and cleanse the body.

I would get off it and do a cleanse for a few days to detox your body.

Take it from me, my mom took accutane when she was a teenager and she regrets it.

There are so many other safer, more natural and less harmful solutions out there.


Let me know if I can help,


David

[derrrrrrrrrp]

The modern trend of detoxifying your body by drinking crazy amounts of water has been proven not to help. Acne is caused by infection, and cannot simply be washed away by water. Water is good for when you need it, but it is not an antioxidant, antibacterial, miracle cure or anything else. Drinking more than what your body requires does not help.

/my stance

[Chrisg133]

Stick with it by the end of your course there be little to no acne, you will have normal skin and it will change your life!!!!

[derrrrrrrrrp]

I hope so

Currently, my cheeks are like giant scars that leak if I yawn.

I'm wondering if I should keep washing my face (gently, with some mild cleansing soap stuff), or stop doing that, because it makes me bleed? I have like 50 white heads on each cheek.

[RipTheJacker]

Accutane can take a while to work. I was on it 2 years ago and got real lucky. It started working within the first month. By the end of month 2, my face was 90% cleared.

I think it was during month 3 that my skin 'purged' and everything that was in my pores just fell out.

$20 is exactly what I paid. However, this was NOT how much it cost. Have the policy holder of your insurance company call and see how much they picked up. Health insurance is a luxury not everyone has. I am sure at some point you will find this out.

[derrrrrrrrrp]

It's getting better now, though. I hope.

The worst outbreaks stopped, and the spots seem to dry out and flake off one by one. My face is still very red, however it doesn't seem as inflamed as it did a couple of weeks ago. I actually have a few spots that are starting to return to human-skin texture, from what it used to be.

Still plenty of pills to go.

[mancow]

After a month I've seen the same results. Hopefully u got improvement soon

[ymcmb]

How's it going now? i think everyone just reacts differently ive been on 40mg for 6 weeks. Didn't have a single what i consider bad breakout till a few days ago. Sucks so bad. Just got to stick with it and trust in it

[drago fire]

hey man i think i have same acne as u i finished my 2nd month on this wednesday i have big cysts on my left face and also a big one on my right. these cysts always start bleeding when i wash my face so i washed my face once a day. i m on tane 20mg per day.but i dont seen much improvement.i 17 years old. so dont worry about this. i think this will work for both of us because its a long way to complete the 6 months and i heard that accutane shows its effect on 3rd month. so please keep posted.

[Alexis Little]

Sorry my post is so late, I was just scrolling through topics and saw this.

My face did all that gross stuff when I was on some antibiotic that made my skin worse. I wouldn't even have to touch my face and a cyst would rupture and puss would be streaming down my face. My fiance had to tell me one time! So embarrassing. It finally passed though.

Accutane is breaking my bank. No insurance. The drug for me is 400 a month (with a self-pay discount) and my blood tests are 90 a month. This doesn't include the few hundred I've spent on all the other meds they made me try before finally resorting to Accutane...

Edited by Alexis Little, 13 January 2012 - 10:21 PM.

[lightersUP]

I know that Accutane is supposed to dry up your oil glands, but is it okay to use a natural oil as a moisturizer? I just cringe at the thought of a super dry face.. Good luck with your Accutane journey.