I've been asking this all over but did you pick or pop at all? Looks like your skin is coming along great and while my face has improved a little I am having a lot of trouble with my back/chest which is really bad so I constantly have cysts. I know I'm not supposed to pick/pop but what exactly is your process because obviously it works! I'm almost 2.5 months in at 80mg

Haha okay. Don't pick or pop whatever you do!!! What I've noticed that the accutane MAYBE caused my blood to thin out? I don't know, I bleed a lot (or bled a lot) whenever I popped them. It eventually got to the point where they began to pop on their own (as you can see they were massive and to the surface). But I also got worse during the first 2-3 months. I began at 40 milligrams for two months and then once I raised my dose it got so much better. However, what a lot of doctors won't specify on is whether or not you take your dose divided or together, I do mine on a divided schedule (spaced about 10-12 hours apart) because if I've done my research right, isotretinoin has a half life of 12 hours, so it's a sure fire way to keep it in your system at all hours of the day give or take a couple at the most.

Another thing is that I don't reccommend washing broken out areas every day, at the most, every other day. Sure you can rinse and what not but with soap? It'll kill your skin... I think I was my face at the most once a week and that's with water... I don't moisturize because I don't feel the need to anymore.

Be patient and if you are not already, I seriously recommend splitting your doses because once I did that I noticed SO much improvement! But trust me they'll start popping on their own and there will be times where you wake up with whatever running down your face from them! It's a gross process... As far as my back and my chest, my back got bad and my shoulders? HORRID.... But after about the end of this third month it's finally cleared up...

Yeah I have been thinking about how and when I take my dosage of 80mg. Each pill is 40mg so usually I take that in the morning when I wake up after breakfast because taking it with a meal is vital. But sometimes I will take the second pill anywhere from 4-7 depending upon when I eat dinner. Would you suggest taking it later so it's always in my system like you said? Also I completely agree with the washing. My skin gets irritated if I do too much sometimes and usually often I don't wash at all because it does make it worse. But I just got this new st ives shea butter/oatmeal body wash and it feels really nice and moisturizing which is what I need. I get some painful cysts on my back and I know the pain isn't muscle or joint related its just skin tightness/dryness/cystic so it's bad. But I know to stay patient. just looking for the most efficient way to take the pills and not prolong results by picking/popping so I will do my best not to even touch my skin because I have heard that my whole life just never really could do it haha

Another accutane miracle!

And taking it with a meal with oils is good too because since it's synthetic vitamin A and it's fat soluble, you may have a better chance of your body metabolizing it, but that's just my theory! And as far as taking the dosage, try a ten to twelve hour split between the two, just to make sure it remains in your system at all times... That is a good body wash, be sure that the fragrance in it doesn't do anything though, it doesn't for me and I don't go out of my way to buy fragrance free lotions and washes, but just keep an eye out. Also another side effect I experienced... I have psoriasis and it sucks, I have a topical steroid that works wonders but some times that isn't even enough, and besides that, it stings like crazy because mine gets raw so quickly (it takes about 4 hours from that first itch to it spreading about 3 inches). I used this aveeno oatmeal bath for the longest time and my God does that do numbers for it! So try that out as well. Nothing medicated by any means. But no be patient as ever, and remember that there is a reason the dermatologist has prescribed it for months at a time. It works! Just take care of yourself, do your research, it's serious stuff, but as far as avoiding side effects and increasing a success rate for yourself (and everyone else), it takes patience and care. Especially if you're like myself without any insurance? I'm not spending over 4 grand for nothing.

your skin looks good am happy for you!!

wow you look amazing! do you have any blackheads left or are you totally clear?

and side effects?

I've been having pain in my heels which is weird, it hurts when I walk, but today I woke up with zero pain. it comes and goes.

Congratulations!

Yeah I'm lucky that so far I haven't had any SERIOUS side effects just the usual dry skin and chapped lips (just got some aquafor!). But yeah as far as picking/popping I am trying my best despite the extreme discomfort, I just need to trust the process and stop! The shea/oatmeal body wash is amazing even for someone like me with really bad body acne and large bumps so hopefully once I smoothen out it will feel even better. I just not get back pains only after sleeping and I wake up with some lower back pain but it goes away instantly after I get up and walk around. I've started looking into palmers cocoa butter and I think I'm going to get it because of great reviews and value, I kinda like the smell. Just looking for a more complete lotion but I am starting to feel better and look up, so thank you for all the advice.

@Ruweyda- Thank you so much!

@Catlover2012- You know what? I used to have the biggest black heads- I would run my finger down my nose and it would literally feel like coarse sand paper... After about a month, they just fell out one day, in little cones, I woke up and I ran my hand down my nose and they were all there I wish I would have taken a picture! I am 100% clear and I haven't been since I was about 10 years old, even doxycycline was the best thing until accutane and that didn't even get me looking like this! As far as side effects however, I am of course very dry- lips, hands, cuticles, feet, and my psoriasis is just miserable as ever, but I was born with it and I think accutane just intesified it... My face has sunken in A LOT since I've started and I don't complain, but it was just something that happened- I think it kind of aged me. As far as joint pain- I was a gymnast and I got several injuries from doing that and since accutane, I just feel a little bit of discomfort, but nothing unbearable. My lower back used to hurt but either it's better or I've just gotten used to it... Keep and eye on it, and I don't reccommend taking tylenol for any pain since I've researched that messes with your liver ON TOP of the medication. Just ice them and sit down when you get the chance. I used to be an avid runner and just for precautionary purposes, I no longer run, I just hit up the elliptical at the gym Email me with more questions I'm sure side effect wise I think I've experienced the major ones (based on the studies).

@mtallia- Aquaphor is WONDERFUL! I used to use it on my face in the winter time and I just kind of spaced it this time around haha. No just don't do it, you'll scar so bad, I have a little dent (I'll take a close up of it when I can) from when I popped a massive zit haha. For sure trust the process, like I said, they prescribed you the medication dosage and duration based on what they thought would be best for you, and in the end, it's all about what is in your system for relapse so you stay acne-free. Also I don't know if you use this but use a pouf with your body wash because the skin on your body isn't nearly as sensitive as it is on your skin, sure I don't reccommend waxing or anything like that, but seriously scrub it like crazy haha. Also taking epsom salts and a bath (with that Aveeno) and then using extra virgin olive oil for moisturizing (now that it is summer and a lighter moisturizer can be used), your skin will not only clear up more, but it will glow. Olive oil does wonders. The palmer's brand is excellent too, especially for scarring and hyper/hypo pigmentation. They use cocoa butter, so you can even go to vaseline's Total Moisture in a brown bottle and that stuff is my all time favorite. Yeah you'll get used to the back pain, I was like that during month two and then the half of the third month and it was almost like it went away; stretching it out is really good for it but don't push it! Just whatever you do, unless you are severely dry, don't put anything on your face unless it is an spf for during the day, and KEEP YOURSELF COVERED! It's summer time, hot as he//, and I still mob around in a hoodie and jeans because I'll fry in minutes I swear. But keep to it, it's a good investment, and trust me I wouldn't swear up and down by it if I weren't paying about $600+ a month for it. I was skeptical about it, but then I saw what it did? Previous dermatology appointments, laser work, plastic surgery, peels, and everything else- it added up to a lot, so think of it as not having to go to the doctor at least for a very long time.

And as far as the gauntness, that picture has a lot of natural lighting but when I talk I look like a skeleton which could be from coffee and cigarettes (breakfast of champions!!!!) Also, tobacco (unlike what you're doctor will tell you), does not effect the accutane course, I won't reccommend it, but it doesn't do anything with accutane, the pills are not passed through your lungs hahaha.

It's crazy ever since I started commenting on this blog I have begun to see a big improvement on my face and overall feel. I tried spacing out the dosage last night to about 9pm instead of my usual dinner at 4-7 and I I can feel it working better its odd. But yeah I'm still looking for that great lotion to use daily so I'm not so dry and I will try tha vaseline cocoa butter because I heard palmers clogs pores. Thanks for all the help hopefully once I'm really clear and past these bad breakouts I can focus on my scars/hyperpigmentation and that will be a much easier process. I'm lucky my parents and derm know I will have to do some laser and I've looked into it and it seems like this new laser skin resurfacing works wonders for people with scarring worse than me. I will keep you updated though, I'm excited because I think I'm finally starting to feel/see noticeable results everyday.

I use to dip a lot and I stopped about a month through this treatment and I think it has had an impact but who knows if that's true haha. I just want my body to start clearing because that's where I have it horrendously!

It is strange, I was on once a day and it was almost like spiking your levels and I think that's why people lose hair honestly, I shed anyways, but I shed even more on the first two months because it was there, and then it wasn't until my next dose, and then my body kind of freaked out but as far as that goes my hair breaks a lot since it's dryer and I just use that morroccan oil and wash my hair seriously like once a month hahahaha it's disgusting but at least it isn't greasy anymore! As far as scars and hyperpigmentation, I seriously reccommend fraxel or Co2 laser treatment. I've had laser done, it doesn't feel the best and you are RED for about two weeks afterward, but the thing that really got me is that I didn't wait until I was clear. It works... And for up keep, go to an esthetician and do a microdermabrasion and a chemical peel directly afterward. You'll look jacked up for a minute but then it flakes off and it's mad the results! It could have made a difference since it's oral and I feel like a lot of the time since your saliva absorbs so much it may have made a difference either way. But no keep it up for sure! and just keep yourself moisturized. I wish I knew how this stuff worked internally instead of what it does, but all that matters is that it works. Yeah keep me up dated, I love before and after photos... mine clearly were pretty hideous because my back looked like that and my chest and the rest of my face, and then now I'm like JESUS it's incredible haha. But no keep me updated for real!

Yeah I've heard there are some home chemical peels people used on this site and had good results. I know I want/need laser and that will be costly, it's already $485 for accutane! I will for sure get some kind of laser and I'm sure my derm will know which one I need and I'm lucky he's understanding and didn't hesitate to put me on the highest dosage which I needed. But yeah once I'm off this I plan on doing some home chemical peels so I don't have to pay ridiculous derm prices for a simple peel because the laser/scar treatment will cost enough haha. My goal is to get past this start clearing up more after, so I hear and then do some tanning to minimize scars on my chest/back that will eventually fade with time. But thanks for the encouragement it has helped a lot and I like connecting with people going through the same thing, makes me feel better that I'm not the only one who has/had it bad. I will for sure keep you updated man, I just hope I can get it prolonged to like 6 or 7 months. I know bloodwork ultimately can determine that but do you think a derm would be hesitant at 80mg? I want to stay on this dose for a while haha but my derm told me when prescribing it that some of his patients he keeps on at a low dosage like once a week even for months after so maybe that could be the answer for me?

@Ruweyda- Thank you so much!

@Catlover2012- You know what? I used to have the biggest black heads- I would run my finger down my nose and it would literally feel like coarse sand paper... After about a month, they just fell out one day, in little cones, I woke up and I ran my hand down my nose and they were all there I wish I would have taken a picture! I am 100% clear and I haven't been since I was about 10 years old, even doxycycline was the best thing until accutane and that didn't even get me looking like this! As far as side effects however, I am of course very dry- lips, hands, cuticles, feet, and my psoriasis is just miserable as ever, but I was born with it and I think accutane just intesified it... My face has sunken in A LOT since I've started and I don't complain, but it was just something that happened- I think it kind of aged me. As far as joint pain- I was a gymnast and I got several injuries from doing that and since accutane, I just feel a little bit of discomfort, but nothing unbearable. My lower back used to hurt but either it's better or I've just gotten used to it... Keep and eye on it, and I don't reccommend taking tylenol for any pain since I've researched that messes with your liver ON TOP of the medication. Just ice them and sit down when you get the chance. I used to be an avid runner and just for precautionary purposes, I no longer run, I just hit up the elliptical at the gym Email me with more questions I'm sure side effect wise I think I've experienced the major ones (based on the studies).

@mtallia- Aquaphor is WONDERFUL! I used to use it on my face in the winter time and I just kind of spaced it this time around haha. No just don't do it, you'll scar so bad, I have a little dent (I'll take a close up of it when I can) from when I popped a massive zit haha. For sure trust the process, like I said, they prescribed you the medication dosage and duration based on what they thought would be best for you, and in the end, it's all about what is in your system for relapse so you stay acne-free. Also I don't know if you use this but use a pouf with your body wash because the skin on your body isn't nearly as sensitive as it is on your skin, sure I don't reccommend waxing or anything like that, but seriously scrub it like crazy haha. Also taking epsom salts and a bath (with that Aveeno) and then using extra virgin olive oil for moisturizing (now that it is summer and a lighter moisturizer can be used), your skin will not only clear up more, but it will glow. Olive oil does wonders. The palmer's brand is excellent too, especially for scarring and hyper/hypo pigmentation. They use cocoa butter, so you can even go to vaseline's Total Moisture in a brown bottle and that stuff is my all time favorite. Yeah you'll get used to the back pain, I was like that during month two and then the half of the third month and it was almost like it went away; stretching it out is really good for it but don't push it! Just whatever you do, unless you are severely dry, don't put anything on your face unless it is an spf for during the day, and KEEP YOURSELF COVERED! It's summer time, hot as he//, and I still mob around in a hoodie and jeans because I'll fry in minutes I swear. But keep to it, it's a good investment, and trust me I wouldn't swear up and down by it if I weren't paying about $600+ a month for it. I was skeptical about it, but then I saw what it did? Previous dermatology appointments, laser work, plastic surgery, peels, and everything else- it added up to a lot, so think of it as not having to go to the doctor at least for a very long time.

Thank you @klowder11. Today I'm in a pickle, I don;t know if I should continue with the accutane, in the past few days the pain in my heels has been so bad that I can walk only the necessary, I can't exercise or go for walks anymore.

How long did the pain in your back last? I've had it for about a month now, but it's been getting worse, I can't even bend over anymore, it makes the pain even worse.

I didn't take the medication last night and I probably won't take it today, I'm hoping my symptoms get better, I also have some muscle pains in my arms too. I will see my doctor next week and I'll see what she says.

Hey sorry it has taken so long... How is your course doing? my back pain increased throughout the months... in the past week it's gone to my collar bones and my sternum (which I half split from an injury a while ago so it's probably from that).

hi thaks for replying, I stopped the accutane 3 weeks ago and the pains are not getting better, I'm totally freaked out, ..my doctor told me it was ok to continue on a lower dose and I listened to her,...

I just want to get back to normal and not end up with bad side effects. 2 of my friends took it and they never had the back and the heels pains. if your pain is bad just trust your gut feeling.