8 replies to this topic

[acnelove]

heres a pic from earlier today, all the marks on my cheek are scars
my chin has one large active cyst and the rest there is mostly scarring
i have mixed up my past regimens and i dont know where to start

[jennyband]

i had acne just like yours. i used to pick at my face a lot as well. i took accutane after trying many natural and homeopathic remedies. the pill and accutane cleared me up. once i stopped the pill my acne came back a bit so i am three weeks off finishing a second accutane course. it ain't no hay ride.

accutane does work, but it has a lot of side affects and its a very emotional journey for some people. if your only looking at topical solutions see a dermatologist. Although if i were you i would take accutane to prevent damaging your skin and scaring it.

good luck

JB

[acnelove]

I have avoided accutane like the plague but your post has made me reconsider
do you have a more detailed post already on here about your experience with it?
us girls with acne have it rough! my acne was no big deal until i started loestrin 24 fe, now i'm working on fixing the damage
what birth control do you take? i'm on mononessa and it seems to be working okay for my acne, better than loestrin did for sure
it sucks that birth control results vary so much case to case, i've heard postive and negative acne reviews for each one!
i'm giving mononessa another 4 months and if these cystic breakouts haven't stopped its on to the next one...
thanks for your input!

[jennyband]

hey you can check out my log from my first course of accutane, the link it below in my signature.

And i take Yaz for birth control.

[acnelove]

thanks!

why did you stop taking the pill? would you recommend tapering off bc before starting accutane?

[jennyband]

No you have to take bc pill while your on accutane, in the States especially because of iPledge. i stopped taking the pill for 6 months becuase my doctor thought it miht have been causing my migraines (it wasn't) and it messed around with my hormones a bit and i didn't get my period that whole time. i went back on the pill and the first day i got my period after 6 months i broke out on one side of my face. the dermatologist recommended i go back on accutane. and here i am 5 months later.

it does work, but its a bitch of a time.

i don't regret doing it though.

about the healthy eating thing, its super important. what you put into your body will come out in your skin, after all its your biggest organ.

JB

[acnelove]

oh man, its midnight here but i wish i could call my dermatologist right now to schedule an accutane consult
if my skin was clear i guess i could just take bc pills forever to keep it that way (jk but seriously)
i'm sorry about your acne troubles, don't i know its the pits
i was reading your old posts and loved what you said about acne summer camp, so true
i hope you don't mind me asking but are you prone to depression? i am currently taking lexapro and the warnings about accutane and people who are prone to depression are huge things for me to consider

[jennyband]

Actually funny you should ask but i do , and i took Lexapro about 6 years ago. i also did a year and a half on Effexor for depression and anxiety, i work as a Psych now though and don't take any medications for it instead i use exercise (running is a saviour for depression) and behavioural exercises (forcing yourself to face social anxiety) to battle it. Accutane can make you feel depressed and anxious. Acne can make you feel depressed and anxious. for me after doing one course and getting 100% clear i know the benefits outweigh the risks (for me). having clear skin again is like getting your life back.

you should be careful, however i know for me it was generally ok, i had some really bad days and weeks where i didn't leave the house, you just have to know that it eventually passes, your skin gets better, and then your depression gets better. this website is really helpful in those dark times.

JB

Edited by jennyband, 06 August 2012 - 10:19 PM.

[acnelove]

Actually funny you should ask but i do , and i took Lexapro about 6 years ago. i also did a year and a half on Effexor for depression and anxiety, i work as a Psych now though and don't take any medications for it instead i use exercise (running is a saviour for depression) and behavioural exercises (forcing yourself to face social anxiety) to battle it. Accutane can make you feel depressed and anxious. Acne can make you feel depressed and anxious. for me after doing one course and getting 100% clear i know the benefits outweigh the risks (for me). having clear skin again is like getting your life back.

you should be careful, however i know for me it was generally ok, i had some really bad days and weeks where i didn't leave the house, you just have to know that it eventually passes, your skin gets better, and then your depression gets better. this website is really helpful in those dark times.

JB

oh wow, thats amazing you work as a psych! i just started seeing one this year and its helped me so much. now i feel comfortable mentioning to you that i also take 10mg of adderall daily, do you have any experience with adderall and accutane combined?

i'm sorry to hear you suffer from depression too, i suppose i could be described as dysthymic. I have post-situational social anxiety (is that a real term because I think i just made it up?) I get along with people okay and I love being around them, but afterwards I freak out over something I may have said or what little things they did really meant.

i cant imagine what having clear skin would do for my life! i had a horrifying beach trip last weekend with a crew of clear skinned friends, i felt so exposed and gross because of my acne that i pretended to be sick and left early. it would be great to not to have to live behind these spots all the time.

is taking accutane painful? i try to run regularly already, i love the rush it gives to my face and feeling my pulse in my skin. not to mention the help it can give you for staying focused. how often would you recommend running a week? any other running tips i should know?

you're the best btw