25 replies to this topic

[rockchild]

good luck megan..soon it will be better. Try the cetaphil lotion, you can also leave a light film of the cetaphil cleanser on your face as well..read the back it says you can the accutane forces all the hiding pimples out and than starts to clear so its a good thing! Im sure soon things will be much better..keep me posted. Good luck...and soon things will be better! Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day and a full glass with the tane

[Nymue]

Hi Megan,

I've been on the acne.org boards for a few years but haven't posted in a long time. I think that you and a lot of the people that posted in your journal are all in the same boat as I am! I took Accutane 2 years ago, when I was 24. I was clear for about 6 months after, and it has slowly gotten worse and worse. Having already tried everything before the first round of Accutane, I wasn't about to spend all of that time and money again just to be disappointed. I'm going to a new derm now and he put me back on Accutane with no resistance (not what I'm used to!).
I started my second course 4 days ago. I'd been on 40mg/day the entire first course, which I didn't think was enough, and my derm agreed. He's starting me off on 60mg/day (40 one day, 80 the next) and will most likely bump me up to 80 soon (I'm 120lbs). I think the reason mine came back so soon was because my dosage wasn't high enough the first time.
Since that appointment, I've been in such a different state of mind! I have a renewed sense of hope, and I feel so much more optimistic, and I've stopped stressing about my skin as much.

I so understand how you feel, that we are just too old for this shit! I'm 26 years old out in the business world and I am trying to hide behind my hair! I can't tell you how many mornings I had to choke back tears while I was doing my make-up, and just wishing that I could just call out and be a hermit all day. I was like, "Can't I just call out ugly?!" I know all about the painful pimples around the mouth area - mine have been camping out there for the past few months. It's almost impossible to treat with topicals there because the skin is so sensitive! You either have pimples, or you have pimples and really flaky skin that is impossible to hide!

As crazy as this may sound, I'm really happy to be back on Accutane! I didn't think the first course was that bad, my side effects were pretty normal, nothing I couldn't handle. I remember being a little disappointed when my derm told me I was done, as I thought I should have done another month. I'm sure the side effects will be worse this time because of the higher dosage, but I'll gladly go through it if I can have my life back!

Best of luck! Just try to stay focused on the outcome. At least now you are on something that you know will work, you just have to give it time. Don't forget that pretty soon you WILL be looking back on these rough times as nothing but a memory. And until then, you've got a lot of support here!

-Beth

[MeganP]

Day 36:
Progress! I do not have one single active pimple on my face right now. When I wash my face, it feels almost entirely smooth. It doesn't LOOK clear, though, because I have lots of angry red spots/scars from that nasty initial breakout. But progress is progress...I'll take it!

My skin is very sensitive. I still have to treat it very gently; ie, cetaphil wash, pat dry, oil-free neutrogena moisturizer for sensitive skin. I flush VERY easily, to the point where my face is almost always beet red. It's a little embarrassing, but this time of year, I think people assume that I have a sunburn...

My lips are still very dry. They are constantly peeling and are definitely at their worst first thing in the morning.

No other side effects!

Thanks, Rock & Nymue, it is such a great help to have this site.

[CTMommy]

Hi there!

I am 35 and on week 6 of 60mg of Accutane. What a nightmare! I went on Acctane to battle having about 4 cysts that switched locations on my jawline and chin and cheeks. My skin is going crazy from this stuff! Does it really get better?!

I too am WAY to old for this shit! For some unknown reason I have only told a few people that I am on it. So now when I bump into people I know they think that something major is wrong w/ me!

I am super outgoing and fun and for the past months I want to pull a Howard Hughes and not take visitors.

When oh when does this crap clear? Also, can you exfoliate or spot treat?

[MeganP]

Hi there!

I am 35 and on week 6 of 60mg of Accutane. What a nightmare! I went on Acctane to battle having about 4 cysts that switched locations on my jawline and chin and cheeks. My skin is going crazy from this stuff! Does it really get better?!

I too am WAY to old for this shit! For some unknown reason I have only told a few people that I am on it. So now when I bump into people I know they think that something major is wrong w/ me!

I am super outgoing and fun and for the past months I want to pull a Howard Hughes and not take visitors.

When oh when does this crap clear? Also, can you exfoliate or spot treat?

It does get better, but it is such a painful, bumpy road to get there. I'm on day 40 now, and yesterday, 2 new cysts popped up: one on my chin, one up between my eyebrows. It's so frustrating. And my scars from the initial breakout are an ugly, angry red. So, even though most of the cysts are gone, my skin still looks like it's totally broken out because of all the scarring.

I don't look in the mirror much these days. I feel better about myself when I don't.

I spot treat with 2.5% benzoil peroxide at night only. I don't know that it really makes any difference, though. It just makes me feel better.

Exfoliating...no way. My skin is way too sensitive. Even rubbing my face on the towel is a no no.

[CTMommy]

Hi there!

I am 35 and on week 6 of 60mg of Accutane. What a nightmare! I went on Acctane to battle having about 4 cysts that switched locations on my jawline and chin and cheeks. My skin is going crazy from this stuff! Does it really get better?!

I too am WAY to old for this shit! For some unknown reason I have only told a few people that I am on it. So now when I bump into people I know they think that something major is wrong w/ me!

I am super outgoing and fun and for the past months I want to pull a Howard Hughes and not take visitors.

When oh when does this crap clear? Also, can you exfoliate or spot treat?

It does get better, but it is such a painful, bumpy road to get there. I'm on day 40 now, and yesterday, 2 new cysts popped up: one on my chin, one up between my eyebrows. It's so frustrating. And my scars from the initial breakout are an ugly, angry red. So, even though most of the cysts are gone, my skin still looks like it's totally broken out because of all the scarring.

I don't look in the mirror much these days. I feel better about myself when I don't.

I spot treat with 2.5% benzoil peroxide at night only. I don't know that it really makes any difference, though. It just makes me feel better.

Exfoliating...no way. My skin is way too sensitive. Even rubbing my face on the towel is a no no.

That is true! I am much happier when I am not near a mirror. I'm on day 45. I can still exfoliate. By sensitive do you mean it hurts, or that you break out more? God I never realized how vain I was until I went on this crap! I keep thinking, it's not terminal! I guess I am just impatient! Happy 4th!