31 replies to this topic

[cheeseblu]

hi!

so i just started accutane.. my acne was pretty severe.. but its really funny because after taking trivora for 2 months for my accutane birth control purpose (the iPledge system requirement) I my acne got a bit better

but i still have bad rolling scars and pits and every thing :[

anyway,
i JUST took my very first pill 2 hours ago

I am 22 years old, japanese (so asian skin typing), 102 pounds starting off with 60 mg (40 mg night and 20 mg) during the day

umm
and attached are some sad pictures of my skin :/

sigh.

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Edited by cheeseblu, 11 April 2011 - 05:52 PM.

[flyboykp]

Good luck! I am about one month in on my second course. Going for my blood work tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Stick with it, it was worth it for me

[cheeseblu]

woke up today with a little nausea.. i suppose it was also because I was already coming down with sickness.. feel asleep and woke up again around 10 AM.. nausea was definitely gone

instead i found a few new pimples.

wore contacts today and got a minor but persistent headache.. i dont think it had to do with the medicine as i usually get headaches after wearing contacts for a while.. but just thought i'd log it down.

today just wasn't a good day in general... and very tiring but i doubt any of it had to do with the accutane.

going to take the 40 mg pill in a few hours.

now let me give a little background about my dermatologist... i really don't think he cares that much, he always tries to usher me out the room asap.. the two times i had to check in and give them my blood work, i literally paid the copay, the dermatologist came in teh room said "hello" smiled, then told me to "go to the front desk to make an appointment"!! (didn't ask me if I had any questions etc) the first time I was shocked, and the second time, i armed myself with a bunch of questions.

when i asked him about possible aching bones.. he said that probably is impossible, and he didn't really know about the IB.. he seems like a well respected doctor in his 60's and he is definitely friendly, but I think im his 2nd patient using Accutane.. first female. but Im afraid if i switch doctors in so soon, i have to restart teh ipledge system. and also the 2 months of just taking the Pill (i am female) I just cannot waste any more time .. as I really hope to go through the whole accutane routine

does anyone have experience regarding switching dermatologists in the middle of the process?

Because I really dont think my doctor cares, he kept trying to usher me out the room. and when I asked him about scars, the first time he said I will probably have scaring, and last time I asked him again and he said I won't have scarring.... when I expressed concern that the IB may leave scarring.

and Im 5'6.5", 102 pounds (dancer) I eat healthy but I know I am light weight.. yet he prescribed 60 mg.... doesn't that seem kind of a high dosage?


-___-

sorry for the rant! just having a bad day

Edited by cheeseblu, 15 October 2010 - 08:28 PM.

[cheeseblu]

day 2

i think alot of the headache and the "tired"ness might have been psychological yesterday.. because I had a fairly good day today after hanging out with friends. I think my face is oddly red however, I dont know if this is due to accutane.. I havent really felt any side effects at all today.. but I found some minor pimples on teh side of my cheek. it is wayyyy to early to talk about side effects however yup thats about it! goign totake my 40mg tablet in a few hours

[AnonymourProblems]

Hi. I wish you the very best with your course .

It's never too early to talk of side effects. I had dry lips @ day 3 or 4.

[cheeseblu]

AnonymourProblem: You are Definitely right! I felt the effect of dry lips today'

Day 3

So basically I don't have any headaches anymore instead, my lips have been slightly peeling. I also started feeling itchy all over.. i'm assumign due to the dryness.. I never use to put on body lotion before.

In terms of my face.. even before starting accutane.. I was had Normal to Dry Skin (Yes.. dry skin WITH acne) that is why a lto of topical products would dry out my skin severly

So in terms of the accutane affecting my face's oil production.. I cannot tell that much yet.. because my skin was considered dry already. However.. I havae about 5 pimples erupt on teh right cheek... I didn't have any there since I started BCP for accutane 2 months ago (I only had scars)...

sigh.. I can't wait to fast forward a few weeks

Also my scalp has been getting itchy... and... my scalp RARELY itches.

since it seems like most of my problems have to do with itchiness now
maybe i need to focus on my water consumption.. perhaps that will help

[cheeseblu]

day 5

i wokeup today and it was so gross.. like i think at night i felt my eyes were suuper dry so when i woke up it was all crusty and S**t. excuse my language.. but it just felt REALLY gross.

I realized something that was reallyl helpful for my peeling and also LIPS is
CICAPLAST by La Roche-Posay

it is made in france,

its suppose to be for helping flaking chapped skin after post-cosmetic peels ... but hey.. if it works for accutane dryness and chapped lips.. i'm alll for it


I dont know if this board allows links, but for yall beauty blog addicts out there (like me) if you search on MUA you'll see high ratings for it as well!

in terms of my skin.. hrmmm lets see..

i have this really gross row of 4 pimples on my left temple which is precisely under the band of my glasses... other then those new ones and the ones that suddenly erupted on day 2.. nothing more to surprise me when I woke up this morning

although i I really am breaking out the most I have been since I started taking BCP.
blahh

I watched "I have acne" on MTV.com's True Life Series yesterday and totally cried. haha how sappy. But I feel that its one of those things only ppl who have acne can empathize. ANyway, I kinda hope I have as good results as the girl on the show who took accutane.. but please not that long to get results.. ahh ::cross fingers::

alrighty im out

oh PS. My body is partched.. i actually drank like 3 whole water bbottles yesterday. And I wasn't as limber as I usually am in yoga. .. yup... i blame the 'tane... not my lack of excersize

[cheeseblu]

day 7

weeekkk 1 OVER!

ok yes..

lets just say everything is gonig O.K. my eyes are dry my lips are dry my skin is dry my body is dry my scalp is itchy (dry?) ... but im managing by gunking chapstick and moisturizer like no other.

blahhhhh

In one way I'm glad I didnt do this a year ago.. or when I was still at school... because I dont know if I could have walked around ooking so gross and oily as I do now... esp since I was dating someone then... but then... I think of the scars that have accumulated since then and i wanna slap myself (not literally)

anyway... is it suppose to last like this throughout the whollleeeee routine? or do the dryness subside somewhat..

or maybe because I started off with 60mg and im like 105 pounds .. that I feel the effects so fast

in terms of skin-pimple... other than that initial breakout.. 5 on the right of my face and the three really gross ones on teh left side of my face all in a straight ****ing row... the rest of my skin is just smooth and dry.
cross my finger though...


oh ya. my scalp is REALLYY REALLY bothering me. sooooo itchy
With that said.. here are pics!

Edited by cheeseblu, 03 February 2011 - 08:51 PM.

[longboardbarbie]

Heyya! Sorry, the side effects dont cease, Especially not the dryness ! ! For my hair, I Wash it, leave it for four or five days (I use to wash my hair like twice a day before this stuff!) and the night before im due to wash it again I just massage straight extra virgin olive oil though my scalp and hair, then french plait it and leave it in for the night. I genreally wash it out the next day with neutrogena anti dandruff stuff (When I wash it out clumps of hair fall out, but I think thats just normal now) and my hair feels soft and no itchy scalp! sometimes though, i leave it in for two days and just add some more oil. this makes it even smother, but does look pretty gross during the day and stuff, so wear a hat. This will keep the moisture locked in too!
Looking forward to following your log!
If you have any other questions feel free to ask
Hope all goes well!

[dorismarilyn]

My side effects subsided through my treatment as my body got used to the medication. All except for dry lips.
For your scalp, I recommend not washing your hair every day and when you condition your hair rub/massage directly onto the scalp.
Things get better, promise!
I'm on day 134

[bobbyholb]

hey cheese I just started accutane too and just checking in. as for your 60mg that seems like a boatload to me.. I'm 133ish and my doctor only prescribed me 40mg/day to start with.

i have somewhat similar side effects as you. dry scalp, eyes, skin. but i supposed most people do too. i recommend drinking more water. I noticed my skin getting completely owned and dried out so i started literally drinking 2.4L of water a day (since i have a 800mL bottle). I think its helping but not sure yet, we'll see.

anyways gl and hopefully ill see u on the other side

[cheeseblu]

Week 2


this week has been pretty good actually because for some reason, ifeel accutane helped me IMMENSELY with my horrible hyperpigmentation

i've honestly NEVER seen my skin this "clear" as in such minimal hyperpigmented ever since..... high school... so almost a decade ago.. It's to the point where I'm in awe and I cannot stop looking at my skin.

it might just be me.. but I also think accutane helped me somewhat with the dented spots.

it's so weird because hyperpigmentation scars was one of my main concerns.. if you look at my initial picture,,, dark scars > active acne

but i HAVE to say in terms of acne/ pimples... IB is not going well.. i have exactly 32 pimples/bumps on my skin (lol.. i counted when i was washing my face)
so now i am acne > dark scars lolol

but I really am just SOO amazed at how it helped lighten my scars

anyway, side effects... just dryyy i had really really really itchy scalp a few days ago to the point i couldnt sleep. then it got to the point i like rubbed LOTION into my scalp.. lolol and it actually worked!

and my lips.. were dyyying. I realized how useless some chapsticks are... :: toss in trash::

unti lnext week

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Edited by cheeseblu, 26 December 2010 - 02:13 AM.

[cheeseblu]

Week 3

progress skin wise, you can look at these attached photos

anyway.. my skin has been ok.. i'm still breaking out but its manageable especially since the hyperpigmentation has in general decrease ALOT so that makes me feel so much better.

I was actually extremely surprised when that happened (like... accutane helped my hyperpigmentation) because i've Never seen anyone say that before! Has anyone else had that experience at all?


i was going to take the mcat exam which is HOURS long and basically you get one longer break in between.. oh gosh, during that break.. the first thing i did was NOT go to teh bathroom, get out my snack or anything like regular people would do.. but I just went straight to my bag, pulled out my lipbalm and caked that thing on my lips... Hours in that air conditioned room was quite torturous with chapped lips. I think the proctor lady looked at me funny.

head has been less- itchy now that I rub lotion direction on my scalp (lol)

PONDS dry skin cream has been on my Accutane HG list lately.. I realized all the fancy smanshy Gorgeous smelling Bath and Body work lotions were not doing the trick... and realized ill just go with the good ole classic moisture cream.

as far as stuff on my facee i use ALOTTTT of stuff
meaning i switch everything up daily depending on my mood

and i read that eating fatty food is good for accutane absorption.. sooo.. been sorta following that :/ but kind of guilty.

oh and body very dry. basically dryness is the main side effect

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Edited by cheeseblu, 03 February 2011 - 08:53 PM.

[cheeseblu]

WEEK 4

so i just came back from the dermo. and because i pulled mymom there this time he seemed more patient. anyway.

im gonna go on another 60 mg for the next month apparently. He says mytreatment might last 4-5 months.

i would update more except i have a huge examination now.. so i guess Ill just let my weekly progress pictures do the talking!

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Edited by cheeseblu, 26 December 2010 - 02:15 AM.

[cheeseblu]

Week 5

I've been able to sleep alot, I get tired pretty easily however, can't completely attribute to this.
the dermo actually told me if i get too dry and red i can skip a pill or so. which I thought was cool/novel.
I only skipped 1 day last week however only because I was at a friends place and didn't have it with me.
my hair rarely gets oily now.
i feel a lot better going out without makeup. (haven't really done that since 4 years ago) I use to feel like a monster if i went out with a naked face

I think it's because I care less now too.
dented parts kind of annoying, i wish my whole skin's face was as smooth as my nose and forehead... because the dents make my skin look really uneven and icky... but theres nothing i can do
i'm still really happy with accutane so far

i have some actives but I really don't care that much as long as they are not overwhelming.
attached are my update pics

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Edited by cheeseblu, 26 December 2010 - 02:17 AM.

[(-_-)]

Hi cheeseblu! Thanks for dropping by and commenting on my log. yup...aquaphor on my nose helps a lot...thx for your advice.

omg..my scalp is so itchy too! I've been using dandruff shampoo and loads of conditioner...haven't tried using lotion like you do hehehe...someone suggested using tea tree shampoo or jojoba oil for my hair, but I haven't tried it out yet..might go get some this week if I keep having an itchy scalp...driving me nutso

[cheeseblu]

Week 6

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Gobble Gobble

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Edited by cheeseblu, 25 November 2010 - 09:48 PM.

[BorntoRun]

You're definitely making progress!

[(-_-)]

Week 6

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

I'm really thankful that I'm finally on accutane and that there are things like aquaphor to help soothe my ever peeling lips.

Looks like there has been quite a bit of progress during your first 6 weeks! Congrats!

[cheeseblu]

week 9

hey guys here is week 9's updates
i had a bit of a breakout last week so got some new cystics on one side, but they are calming down now

on a side note... is it just my thread or did acne.org decrease their picture upload size recently? I've been having a hard time uploading my pictures and it keeps saying that my file is way too big (even though in the pics of my previous few weeks, the pics I uploaded were all over that and completely fine) I just wanted to share my progress with the accutane, so thats why i had hoped they would allow bigger file sizes for images... cuz as u see the picture I uploaded today were kinda blurry (had to compress it to that) .. so its not as good as a comparison :/

ahhah but its okay

anyway
@ Borntorun @ (-___-): aww thank you for the encouragement!!! it's been a bit rough at the beginnign with the dryness but I think im starting to get use to it much more hehhe HappY HOLIDAAYS! can you believe it is already december?


umm so i havent really had too much "weird" side affects.. just still dry.. my scalp doesnt get oily for 1 week which is crazy cuz i use to have to wash my hair every other if not every day. eyes sorta dry so i've been wearing glasses more.

thats about it... It's great to feel a "bit" more normal walking out without makeup... although the scars (indented ones) still bother me alot.. oh well. so I have some activs on my face but its not too bad I guess

maybe I'll have more to update next time

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