95 replies to this topic

[esa]

Thanks Peck.


Day 102
No improvement. Still breaking out, quite badly. Depressing.

[sd85]

Thanks Peck.


Day 102
No improvement. Still breaking out, quite badly. Depressing.

Man, I can't believe you're still breaking out. I really thought you'd have seen some good progress by now. What did your derm think at your last visit?

[sd85]

Any update????????

[esa]

Day 165 (I think)

Sorry it's been so long since I updated, been very busy, and had some worries about blood tests etc and I just didn't want to come on here or write about it.

I've had basically no new spots for what seems like ages now (two that I can think of, a tiny whitehead that lasted a day and one on my neck which has left a small lump/mark). I see that my last update was the start of June where I was still breaking out. I don't even remember when my skin cleared up but it did. I had so many red marks etc at first that it only felt slightly better than having acne, but they are very slowly starting to fade and I think about them less.

I'm starting to feel a lot more confident and I think that a large part of it is down to my skin. I can't remember what the derm said last time but I think he said one or two months more after my next appointment, which is coming up soon. Can't wait to be done because I live in a place with lots of drinking and parties and find it hard not to join in (and usually I give in and end up drinking, but I'm starting to become more disciplined). Here is a photo update, as you can see it still doesn't look great but I can't tell you how much better I feel.



Hope everything is going well for everyone.

Edited by esa, 06 August 2012 - 07:44 AM.

[CaliKisses]

Your skin is looking much better! Best of luck to you on the rest of your journey.

[lionfish]

Hi,

Day 165 (I think)
......

Hi, just wanted to say best of luck going forward with things. In your latest pictures there is certainly a big improvement and I'm guessing you will see further results over the next little while.

I'm kinda shocked at how long / frustrating the journey on Accutane appears to be............................I'm also in the UK and just started on this low 20mg dose (8th day of treatment so LONG way to go it appears).....

Is there a reason why you have been held on such a low dose? My understanding was that it needed to be given at 0.5 to 1mg per KG of body weight to be effective... I'm very tall and approx 120kg, so if my dermatologist keeps me on 20/40mg as long as yours has I think I will be waiting forever for results!

[esa]

Hi,

Day 165 (I think)
......

Hi, just wanted to say best of luck going forward with things. In your latest pictures there is certainly a big improvement and I'm guessing you will see further results over the next little while.

I'm kinda shocked at how long / frustrating the journey on Accutane appears to be............................I'm also in the UK and just started on this low 20mg dose (8th day of treatment so LONG way to go it appears).....

Is there a reason why you have been held on such a low dose? My understanding was that it needed to be given at 0.5 to 1mg per KG of body weight to be effective... I'm very tall and approx 120kg, so if my dermatologist keeps me on 20/40mg as long as yours has I think I will be waiting forever for results!

Thanks lionfish. I have no idea why I'm being kept on a low dose, probably should have asked but I forgot. I think some derms just prefer it because then you don't get the side effects very bad? Not sure.

Day 174
Had my appointment the other day. 2 months ago at my last appointment he said that this would probably be my last appointment because I'd only need a month or two. I was really stoked to be finishing but he said this time that I will have to do 7-10 months, which seems absolutely ridiculous to me. Not happy because I just want to be off of it, but at least I'm not getting spots. He said I'd have to stay on longer because I have a lot of marks still, although I thought the marks would heal quicker once I'm off it, seeing as it weakens your skin. Kind of feel like I should go to another dermatologist to be honest.

[ClearDreaming]

Your skin actually looks amazing now!

People say that about the healing, and I feel like my actually acne heals slower, but I've had this acne scar for like a year, and I swear it's getting better on accutane. After all it renews your skin loads right? So I think it will help the red marks particularly. Also maybe check where you are on your cumulative dosage? That might be a factor.

[esa]

Thanks ClearDreaming that's really nice of you to say, although I think there's still quite a way to go yet! Three separate people recently have said that my skin is looking loads better, it was really nice to hear . I think you're probably right about the accutane helping with the marks.

I forgot to add before that my lips have been loads worse recently. Not sure why as I haven't changed anything. I've been putting Carmex on so much more often but my lip keeps splitting when I laugh/sneeze/go to eat something. Pretty annoying but it's tolerable.

Yesterday I had a quick flick through all the pictures I've taken (I took loads more near the start and gradually less and less often) and I can't believe the progress, it's unbelievable really.

[esa]

Day 216
I don't have much to report right now. I had to take a job washing dishes a couple of months ago (yay for having a degree). With the Accutane and the physical job I get so so tired, it really sucks. I was worried that working in a kitchen would make my skin worse though but I haven't seen any adverse effects. I think my skin continues to get slowly better.

I had one spot on my chin/cheek a couple of weeks ago, I think it was the first for a couple of months. Kind of sucked but was gone in a few days. Hard to feel self-conscious about one spot when you've gone out in the middle of a terrible Accutane breakout.

Here is a photo update from September (Day 191) that I forgot to add here. I'm going to add the one posted earlier in the thread to show the difference. It's been such a long, hard, crazy journey, but hopefully nearing the end now. My next appointment is a couple of weeks so will find out what the deal is then.

Day 11


Day 191


Wow. I just wanted to check I had the days right and I used an online thing, apparently it has been 225 days, or 7 months and 12 days. I should surely be taken off Accutane at my next appointment.

Edited by esa, 06 October 2012 - 08:01 AM.

[Quiescence]

amazing results man! well done!! x x

[esa]

Thanks! I just really hope the scars fade, and that it doesn't come back. Were you worried when you finished your course?

[Quiescence]

sure... but they do fade in time, mine are nearly gone now 6 months later!! x x

[maria11]

nice improvement!! do you have any spots left?

[gecko333]

Congrats Your skin is looking so much better, give it a few more months and all that redness'll go, the scars'll fade and you'll have perfect skin that everyone's jealous of.

[The Outfield]

Wow, great improvements man! I am happy that you stayed in there and that it started working for you. As the others say, the scars will continue to fade. Mine have continued to fade and are barely noticeable anymore.

Best of luck!