Chopsaver-New lip balm great for accutane lips

I am on my second month of Accutane (Claravis). First month at 40mg, second month at 80mg. I've been using Aquaphor, Dr Dans cortibalm and sometimes Nivea Kiss of Moisture. Those worked fine up until like week 7 when my lips got ridiculously dry and had a layer of white dead skin on them, were peely and rough, and no amount of the lip balms I was using was helping. They were reddish and sometimes burned when I put those balms on.

My derm had given me a tube of this stuff called Chopsaver a few weeks ago, and I forgot I even had it until I was digging around in my purse. I've been using it for 3-4 days now and am loving it. The dead skin is gone, my lips are basically smooth again. And it also doesn't look all greasy like aquaphor. stays on for a long time and has a nice smell to it. I don't think I'm supposed to put any links in here, but you can just do a search on Chopsaver if interested.....

Just wanted to share a product tip for those that are suffering with dry lips, I was seriously starting to think the next three months were going to be pretty miserable lip wise.

Who spot treats pimples while on Accutane?

I know you're not supposed to use irritating products and to stop using OTC/prescription topicals while on Accutane. But it's going to be hard to get used to going from the morning/evening regimens using topicals, to nothing but moisturizer, especially when new pimples are popping up.

While I know you should just let Accutane do it's job, does anyone use anything to just spot treat pimples like BP or anything? I have a Thermaclear (similar to a Zeno) but I think I'll be afraid to use that on fragile skin, I don't want burn marks!! Even my derm said it would be OK to dab a tiny bit of BP or other topical right on a pimple (not slathering all over face), depending on how you can tolerate it/how drying it is. Just wondering if others do this? Thanks.

Will anything ever work???

This is more of a rant than anything, but I'm also curious whether anyone is in a similar situation or has opinions. I'm a 37 year old female and have had acne since I was about 15, in varying degrees of severity through the years, mild to moderately severe. I have tried EVERYTHING! OTC at first (BP, SA, acne washes, etc), then prescription topicals and antibiotics (more topicals than I can even remember and all the "cycline" and other antibiotics for probably too many years). Also BCP, which I haven't taken for years now so no sudden change of that, and spironolactone. Enormous amount of money on chemical peels, microdermabrasion, IPL, Isolaz, thermaclear.....I also took a round of Accutane at age 26 after every other unsuccessful treatment. That worked for a very short time, and the oil and acne came back.
I am now getting ready to go on a second round of Accutane at age 37, as I am having more and more severe outbreaks, and new ones on pretty much a daily basis. I recently started using Ziana gel about a 3-4 weeks ago, which I know can cause an initial outbreak, but this is ridiculous (also started Doxycycline again, haven't used this one for several years, I just came off Solodyn).
The acne is pretty much isolated to my lower face (mostly chin, lower cheeks, jawline, no body acne). It's not hereditary, no one in my family ever had more than the random teenage minor breakouts. It's not a hormonal or PCOS, I've been tested twice in the last few years for both...hormones are normal and I don't have PCOS. I use non-comedogenic, oil free products, wash with mild cleanser twice a day, keep my pillowcases clean, drink a lot of water and have a somewhat healthy diet (and have tried cutting out dairy and sugar at one point with no changes). I am guilty of sometimes popping or picking, but even then, I don't touch my face with my fingers and only extract those that are white and to the suface that you can't stand to leave the house with on your face!! I know this is still a bad habit, but I don't think I've met anyone with acne that hasn't popped pimples here and there either
I am hoping the Accutane will work again, but also afraid it will come back. If you don't know what causes your acne, how can you eliminate it when nothing has ever worked? I do have oily skin and tend to stress out a lot (most of which is due to my skin though LOL).
Whew, sorry that was long and I'm just feeling sorry for myself I would just love to spend part of my adult life with clear skin......and not have to be dependent on medicines and skin care regimens, that don't work. It affects me a great deal socially and emotionally, I constantly think about it and activities that I avoid because of it. I know there are people on this site can understand my frustration.....
I am thankful every day I have a wonderful husband who is very supportive and tries to keep me positive. I am also thankful, even though I do get cysts and have some red marks, I don't have any deep scars and the red marks fade eventually.

Lower face acne and Accutane? Adult female....

Hey all.....just wondering if anyone has a similar type of acne as mine that Accutane worked for. I'lll be starting a second round in a couple of weeks (first round was about 10-11 years ago). My acne is worst on both sides of my chin, below the corners of my lips. Then some along the surrounding areas (lower half of cheeks and along jaw). Cysts, whiteheads and closed comedones.
I have some blackheads on my nose but rarely get anything at all on my forehead or the upper/outer cheeks (no body acne either). I know a lot of times this indicates hormonal acne, and that hormonal acne often comes back after tane. But I've been on spiro and BCP with no success and I've had hormone levels and PCOS tests twice in the last two years and my everything is perfectly normal, not even on the high side of the "normal" range.
Accutane cleared me the first time, but it started coming back pretty quickly afterward and gets more and more severe over the years. Topicals, antibiotics, etc, aren't doing anything anymore. I am just wondering if anyone has had success with this type of acne on Accutane. My derm seems to think it's just a combination of oily skin and my first round wasn't a high enough dose for a long enough time.
A lot of the before/after pics I see are for different types of acne than I have, so just looking for some reassurance I guess!

Starting soon....looking for some feedback please

F/late 30's/5'9"/130lbs. I'll be starting a second course of Accutane in the next few weeks. I took my first course about 11 years ago, and slowly but surely, the acne is back and worsening despite various topicals/antibiotics, etc.
1) I'll be starting out at 40mg per day for the first month, maybe two, then going to 80mg. For those that have gradually increased dosage, have you noticed side effects worsening when increasing or does easing in help?
2) For the ladies ....if you used mineral makeup before Accutane, were you able to continue with it during the course? I'm wondering with the dry skin and mineral makeup being powder if it just made dryness worse?
3) Any recommendations on dry scalp/dandruff shampoo, treatments? I remember the first round getting really dry scalp and then flakes. This time I want to start doing "preventative" measures and wonder what people have had good results with. I've already started using Aquafor on my lips and CeraVe on my skin to "moisten up" now LOL (paranoia will destroy ya)
4) My derm said it's OK to continue taking a multivitamin as long as the Vitamin A doesn't exceed the RDA. I've read varying opinions on this and just wondering if others took regular multivitamins with no issues? He also said it's OK to have alcohol in moderation, and just be sure to drink lots of water. I know a lot of people cut out alcohol altogether, but my husband and I don't have kids and are "social" drinkers. Anyone else have drinks now and then without issues?
Sorry for all the questions!! Just looking for some opinions and getting ready.....Thanks!