inndem

That's messed up I'm sorry.

> Severe dry hair & hair loss - well over 70% and continuing. No regrowth 18 mnths later
> dry mouth, nose & skin

Some women experience balding just like men, well, except that it usually affects their whole heads, not just the top. And chances are high that if this didn't start on Accutane, that it's not a side effect of the drug. I would recommend taking zinc and taurine (e.g. inneov) for this. Ketoconazole shampoo (e.g. nizoral) every 3 days can help, too. Be sure to use conditioner whenever you get the chance. You should also be able to get some kind of lotion specially formulated for the scalp. Ask for something like that at your local drugstore. Also, try to eat lots of sunflower seeds. They're really good for your skin and hair. Obviously, be sure to drink lots of water, too (but NOT tea or coffee).

> sleep disturbance

Have you tried melatonin, moving your bed, and going to sleep earlier?

I guess I figured if things really started going sideways I could always just stop taking it. And the blood tests would help me keep tabs on my health. I know that Accutane is the only thing that can truly give me my life back. And I was really miserable until quite recently. My acne was all I could think about when I was out in public. I couldn't meet new people. Didn't want to see any of my friends. Felt gross... all the time. And due to the nature of my acne, my derm said it was pretty much my only choice unless I was willing to be on antibiotics *and* use topicals on my face, scalp, ears, back and chest at the same time.

A lot depends on the pharmacy. If you're in the States, Costco has really cheap Accutane. If and when you get a prescription, just call all of the pharmacies in the area and ask them how much it would cost. Don't forget about places like Target and Walmart It also depends on your weight, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 a month to $500 a month.

I find that applying some distilled water to my face after a shower makes my skin look ten times better. You can use a spray bottle or cotton pads. Don't exfoliate on Accutane. It messes with the way your skin heals. Another thing you can do right now is find a good moisturizer that makes your skin look good. There are lots of moisturizers out there, but they will all make your skin look different. Some will be more soothing than others. Some will make your skin look more oily. Some will make any redness you might have go away and some will make it worse. You just have to try a couple different brands and see what works best for you. The Cetaphil brand products are a good place to start. Personally, I like La Roche-Posay Lipikar Lotion AP (you can use it on your whole body including the face).

If you're going to be out in the sun, just put sunscreen on the parts of your body that are or will be uncovered. If you plan on staying home all day, you don't really need sunscreen You probably won't notice any major changes just yet, though, my skin didn't start getting all sensitive until the 4th day.