25 replies to this topic

[Quiescence]

Hi Guys

I just stopped back by this board and was so upset to see so many distraught topic titles.

I just want to let you know that there is hope, I understand exactly how you feel, it is AWFUL to have such bad skin...it affects everything you think and do.

This was me back in November 2011



And this is me today




My course ended in April 2012, and since then the pigmentation has pretty much gone

This was my log - please do read it if you are thinking all hope is lost or are scared of taking the plunge and going for accutane. I am here to help if you have any questions.

http://www.acne.org/...306982-my-face/

Good luck everyone and keep going, please please don't give up, there is hope!!

[Lilly75]

Wow Those are great results! Congrats on clear skin

Great reminder to everyone to hang in there and still have hope. It can be easy to fall in to negative thinking patterns when dealing with acne but I think it's a good idea for everyone to try and think at least a little more positive. It improves how you feel and improves your outlook on everything.

[sonrisafingida]

wonderful *-*

[Quiescence]

ps - please ignore the vivid blue under eyes... this was first thing this morning sans make up ;p x x

[===]

Gives me hope! I'm currently on day 73, and reading through your log, it appears as though you had very similar skin at around the same time... largely just widespread pigmentation, especially on the cheeks, and the occasional lesions. That's good! Out of curiosity, is there anything you did during/after your treatment to deal with pigmentation? I noticed that towards the end of your log you mentioned your derm prescribing you some Retin-A, do you think it was a help?

[Quiescence]

Gives me hope! I'm currently on day 73, and reading through your log, it appears as though you had very similar skin at around the same time... largely just widespread pigmentation, especially on the cheeks, and the occasional lesions. That's good! Out of curiosity, is there anything you did during/after your treatment to deal with pigmentation? I noticed that towards the end of your log you mentioned your derm prescribing you some Retin-A, do you think it was a help?

Hi there,

Well done on your course so far, keep going!

I actually never used the Retin-A... I finished the accutane course right before going to Vietnam and was worried the cream would make my skin super super sensitive to the sun... and then as things were going well when I got back I never felt the need to use it!

I haven't used anything at all apart from moisturiser, I was going to but a) I'm lazy and b) I was too scared to use new products on my skin incase something upset the balance and the spots returned! There is nothing better than time... but as you can see I've only been off it 5 months or so and my pigmentation has nearly all gone!

x x x

[kaydon]

WOW your skin looks amazing now! Congrats!!!

[Quiescence]

WOW your skin looks amazing now! Congrats!!!

thanks x x

[PicklesMcGee11]

Wow thatnk you SO much for posting this!! It's hard to find people on here who have completed accutane. I am getting ready to start month 4 and I can't wait for it to be over. But seeing results like that makes me think I really need to just stick it out. How long were you on for? I'm going to check out your log but in case it's not posted in there... did you have a lot of side-effects and if so, have they all gone away? How long did it take for them to go away? Thanks again. Your face looks beyond amazing!!

[ledzep]

This is hugely inspiring, good post

[Quiescence]

Wow thatnk you SO much for posting this!! It's hard to find people on here who have completed accutane. I am getting ready to start month 4 and I can't wait for it to be over. But seeing results like that makes me think I really need to just stick it out. How long were you on for? I'm going to check out your log but in case it's not posted in there... did you have a lot of side-effects and if so, have they all gone away? How long did it take for them to go away? Thanks again. Your face looks beyond amazing!!

I was on it for about 4.5 months I think... I only just reached my minimum cumulative dose, I wanted to carry on to reach the max dose but I went over to Vietnam and was worried about remembering the drugs and the sun and stuff. But luckily it worked out fine anyway!

I was really lucky with my side effects, got a bit of the usual dry skin around nose and lips etc but nothing awful at all... feel like a bit of an accutane cheat!! Good luck with your course how far through to your minimum dose are you? x x

[andrewbleah]

Great results !!
What you mean pretty much gonee :S , I'm only in like my mouth 2 of accutane since I re-started but I'm pretty much clear, exept for a few pimpels and a small nodule , but my face is like covered in red marks , and if you still have little red mark from april I wonder how much will it take for mine to go away: (

[Quiescence]

It does take a wee while but you'll get there... lovely clear skin is ahead! x

[Quiescence]

Just thought I'd stop by and see how you are all doing? If anyone who is thinking of going on accutane has any questions feel free to ask me x x

[Sasch83]

So happy for you. At what point did you stop breaking out. I am about to go into my fourth month of a five months course and i am still breaking out in small bumps


Congrats again!

[Quiescence]

Hi there!

 

If you look at the charts on my log you can see it was about day 100 i stopped breaking out, so about 3/4 months really... but I probably still had bumps, the pigmentation took a hell of a lot longer!

 

http://www.acne.org/...my-face/page-10

 

have a look, I have lots of charts and pictures showing my progress!!

 

Best of luck!! x x

[blabla05]

You give me hope. I will sleep much easier tonight

You give me hope. I will sleep much easier tonight

[Quiescence]

OH MY GOSH I'M ONE YEAR CLEAR TODAY!!!!!!!!!!

 

I can't believe it.. I really can't... when you take a look at my original photos, I really thought I was going to be scarred for life. I just want all you lovely people to know that there is hope.

 

I have had literally just one... ONE.... spot in 365 days, and that was the teensiest blemish I wouldn't have even counted it as a spot back in the acne days (when I used to keep a chart!!)... it is crazy. Perhaps one day when my hormones decide they are fed up again this will return but for now... I am overjoyed.

 

Please if anyone needs anyone to talk to, advice, or anything feel free to send me a message or take a look at my accutane log/diary (link below). I KNOW how hard this can be.

 

keep going guys, please remember you are all beautiful x x x x

[blabla05]

how come you did not scar? mine acne is clearing but i have heaps of hyperpigmentations and some scars:( also were you on birthcontrol? what happened when u stopp birth control?

[Quiescence]

how come you did not scar? mine acne is clearing but i have heaps of hyperpigmentations and some scars:( also were you on birthcontrol? what happened when u stopp birth control?

 

I did get massive amounts of hyperpigmentation, some of it faintly visible on my cheeks now a year later, but it does fade... time is the best thing for that!

 

I'm very lucky I have no pitting scars... I'm not sure why this is... I don't think I did anything different to anyone else, trying not to pick /pop too much, and making sure I used moisturiser every day (cetaphil was my fave)

 

I stopped yasmin on day 19 of accutane, I knew it was making my spots even worse (see pics!!) so I decided to stop using any hormonal birth control at all.... and I still don't...

 

x x