10 replies to this topic

[mancow]

Hello I am 20 days into Accutane and I have to say i'm really discouraged. My face is far worse then before. My face is a little less oily but I'm real stunned by how bad my cystic acne is on my chin. I take 20 mg twice a day. I weigh 130 pounds and am a female.

Is this normal? How long till results?

( I am also on progesterone cream 80 mg a day to calm down my estrogen levels)

thanks!

[Nelo18]

yes its normal. results vary by person. some see results in the 1st month, others in the last month.

just hang in there and make sure ur not using anything irritating that is making ur acne worse.

[mancow]

I have been using spot treatment of clearsil, wonder if that's making it worse??? my dermo is uppping my accutane to probably 80mg daily in two weeks. I hope that helps??

[Renn17]

mancow, on 28 November 2011 - 10:42 AM, said:

I have been using spot treatment of clearsil, wonder if that's making it worse??? my dermo is uppping my accutane to probably 80mg daily in two weeks. I hope that helps??

I sure you're not supposed to use any other spot treatments while on accutane-it's too severe on the skin. Stop using the clearsil and see if it calms down. If not it should calm down on its own soon, your skin's just reacting to the drug like it should, don't worry

[sunandsnow5]

I went through a pretty bad breakout starting the third week on accutane. Being discouraged I did my usual thing of looking up everything accutane related. A good amount of dermatologists said that the usual time for a good amount of clearing on the skin is at the end of 2 months. Everyone varies but that is the general time. It really sucks- my acne is mostly anywhere near my cheeks- upper, lower, apple- usually noticeable. Mine has calmed down a bit. It takes patience, which really sucks when it is bad, but it will be worth it (: I am right in the same boat as you. 40 mg first month, maybe 60 mg for the next four. I tell myself when it is bad that a few months longer will be hard but it is preferable to maybe even years longer.

[mancow]

Thanks for the replies

I got some cortisone injections today from the dermo. That should help it calm down but I've had them before and they only last about 7 days of bliss. She said I could do this injections weekly until i start getting better results.

I do pray this accutane kicks in more soon. My dermo in convinced I'm not on a strong enough amount. I've tried the diet change with only minor improvement.

[mancow]

I wonder if the initial breakout is because we are asked to stop using other products we've used in the past. Not using anything I think is making my skin worse. I'm not that dry either.

sunandsnow5, on 28 November 2011 - 01:35 PM, said:

I went through a pretty bad breakout starting the third week on accutane. Being discouraged I did my usual thing of looking up everything accutane related. A good amount of dermatologists said that the usual time for a good amount of clearing on the skin is at the end of 2 months. Everyone varies but that is the general time. It really sucks- my acne is mostly anywhere near my cheeks- upper, lower, apple- usually noticeable. Mine has calmed down a bit. It takes patience, which really sucks when it is bad, but it will be worth it (: I am right in the same boat as you. 40 mg first month, maybe 60 mg for the next four. I tell myself when it is bad that a few months longer will be hard but it is preferable to maybe even years longer.

[sunandsnow5]

I do not use duac gel anymore, it never really worked for me in the first place. I did put salcylic acid on the spots. I have found it helps my dry out spots quicker usually. But it is getting less necessary as my skin is finally drying out and definitely won't be doing it anymore I can see it really drying out now so it is better to not further irritate it. when my skin wasn't dry I did it as only on the spots and very minimal. Since this weekend my skin is starting to flake and dry out. You don't really want to use anymore products on it.

[mancow]

That's interesting as my face is just now starting to dry too. 40 mg a day. Up'ing it next week. What are you using for moisturizer? I have been spotting treating with Finacea. Do you think your done with your intial breakout?

[zozozie]

I was on Accutane twice. Wait for it.. it will work! One major downside is the dryness. Your face may literally peel right off. I was prescribed a hydrocortisone moisturizer for my face and a special one for my lips as well, that's how drying the accutane was. Gotta say, it cleared my skin completely after the second round. 7-8 years later now the acne is back. It's never been as bad as it was before the accutane though, but I have resorted to more prescriptions unfortunately.

[SavedByGrace1]

I bought everything I need to combat dryness. I was on accutane in the summer last time, this time might be a wake up call for me.

Moisturizer, vaseline, aquaphor, chapstick.chapstick and more chapstick, head and shoulders, moisturizing body wash and lotion!