whatthekell

hey I just wanted to share that I also have crappy health insurance that did not cover a dime of my Accutane course.  I also pay for my lab work. Check to see if your derm can adjust some of the tests they do in the lab. Mine offered to take some off if it was too much. My derm office is also not "in network" with my insurance, which means I paid for my appts out of pocket as well! and here's the biggest one, my Accutane cost me $558/month for my first 2 months, $758/month for 3 months, $558 for my 6th. that adds up to about $4,000 just for the pills alone!  =( it sucks but it was so worth it! it gave me a life I have never had. I am now just completely terrified that it will come back and I will do anything to keep my skin clear! I got a credit card that has 0% interest for 14 months. so that way I pay about $200/month instead 

I use tretionin cream... I do find it works the same , no matter if I use moisturizer or not. My dermatologist recommended starting the retin a right away. Its best to stay ahead of the acne rather than letting it start up again and then trying to battle it again. Those are words from my derm. So I just followed her recommendation.

thanks for the advice! i didn't want to wait a month to start anyway, seems too risky! i still get a few around my period so who knows what will happen.

My skin has been pretty clear for the most part. I'm using %0.025 Retin-A gel and CeraVe face wash and moisturizer. 

thanks for the reply! my derm just gave me a ton of samples of Aczone and Atralin. I believe these are both Retin-A's. He told me not to use them for a month.  So do I moisturize after? 

I use witch hazel after washing my face. I use witch hazel morning and night. Followed by pea size drop of retin a mixed with my cerave moisturizer every other day. Only at night.

thanks for the reply! I have witch hazel in my cabinet =P  i also just got a ton of samples of Aczone and Atralin. What do you use for a Retin-A? Do you find it works just as well when you mix it in with your moisturizer?

yea my skin used to be like that too! I am still anal about people touching my skin.  my blog is on here.  wonder why it's not working? =/ i will check it out and let you know!

wow that is weird. i went to my profile and clicked blog and got the error. then i clicked "my topics" and only one of my entries was there. so i personally went in to manage my blogs and they're all there.  let me try to past the link and see if that works for you.

http://www.acne.org/...tthekells-blog/

that worked for me,  click the second page first cause that's the beginning. you definitely don't have to read it all, there's a lot =P 

lol maybe a few years ago they still prescribed BP?  i'm sure they still do but i think if they know you've tried it already they switch to something else. 

your skin must be pretty un-sensitive to use AHA!  i can't because it burns me. too bad though because it is some good stuff!  yea i hated the drying effects of topicals. the regimen made my skin drier than it ever was in my life. it was horrible. i wouldn't leave the house besides work usually because of the flaking. i couldn't eat without my skin peeling around my mouth.  i had to exfoliate with baking soda, do yogurt masks, you name it. 

i just started my 6th month on accutane. i actually have a blog if you wanna check it out =P   side effects are tolerable. my nose bleeds every time i blow it usually, my eyes are dry, lips are dry but Carmex takes care of it. my back is the only one that bugs me, it hurts a lot but it's not unbearable. i get a rash on my arms but moisturizing helps and so does hydrocortisone. maybe you should get back to a derm and see if they have something new to offer you? if your acne is hormonal you could try spiro. i am wondering if mine is hormonal cause i normally break out around my period. never knew before accutane cause i would just break out daily. so maybe.