what would you call "success" on accutane?

I just finished 5 months of a 6 month course of accutane.

I started with severe nodular/cystic acne, as well as closed comedones on my chin (about 30) and blackheads on my nose. At this point I have no blackheads or closed comedones on my chin, and the rest of my acne from the beginning of my course has cleared up as well.

I'm still getting about 1 random whitehead per week, and 1 inflamed cyst either right before or after my period. This has been the pattern for the past 3 months or so.

My question is, is this as good as it gets? Can I expect to stop breaking out completely? Should I try to get a 7th month or do a 2nd course until I stop breaking out, or are these results acceptable?

Not sure what kind of feedback to expect, since a lot of people stop visiting these boards when they finish their courses, but we'll see what people have to say...

breakouts caused by yaz?

Just wondering if anyone has similar breakouts...

Since I started YAZ I get about one of these zits once a month, right before my inactive pills. An area on my cheeks will get extremely red/purple (looks like a bruise). The area gets tender and hurts. A few days later it will get a head and then it will take another couple of days for it to drain and for the swelling to go down (sorry if that's gross). I NEVER used to get acne like this before YAZ, so I'm wondering if YAZ could be causing these breakouts.

Thanks for any responses.

what happened when you stopped taking YAZ?

I have currently been on YAZ for 4 months. I have been taking accutane for 3 months. I feel the accutane is definitely working, but I still break out right before my period. Also, I noticed I get very depressed in the days before my period (I don't believe the depression is related to accutane, as I feel better as soon as I start my inactive YAZ pills).

I think I need to stop taking YAZ. I'm not sexually active, so I'm not worried about getting pregnant on accutane. But I am worried that stopping YAZ may make my face break out just due to the hormonal fluctuations.

So my real question is, have any of you ever quit taking YAZ? How did that work out for you? Did your breakouts get worse, or did your skin begin to improve?

Thanks for any answers. I'm cross-posting to the hormonal treatments board so hopefully I will get the most responses.

what happened when you stopped taking YAZ?

I have currently been on YAZ for 4 months. I have been taking accutane for 3 months. I feel the accutane is definitely working, but I still break out right before my period. Also, I noticed I get very depressed in the days before my period (I don't believe the depression is related to accutane, as I feel better as soon as I start my inactive YAZ pills).

I think I need to stop taking YAZ. I'm not sexually active, so I'm not worried about getting pregnant on accutane. But I am worried that stopping YAZ may make my face break out just due to the hormonal fluctuations.

So my real question is, have any of you ever quit taking YAZ? How did that work out for you? Did your breakouts get worse, or did your skin begin to improve?

Thanks for any answers. I'm cross-posting to the Accutane board so hopefully I will get the most responses.

help.

I'm getting close to the end of my 3rd pack of YAZ. I have 5 more active pills left. But my period started today?!?! I'm so confused.

My period has been completely unpredictable since February, which is also when my face started breaking out. My dr. checked my hormones and didn't find anything unusual. Also my weight is within healthy range and I don't have blood pressure problems, so I don't think I have PCOS.

I'm on accutane right now and I'm worried that if my acne is hormonal it will come back as soon as I finish my accutane course.

Can anyone offer insight? Is it unusual for me to get my period so early? Is there a hormonal problem other than PCOS that could be causing my acne? Up until this February my periods were as regular as clockwork, so I'm worried and frankly a bit scared.

Thanks for any input.