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The dry patch, rash-looking thing is spreading to cover maybe 1/2 of the back of my hands. I'm developing the same type of rash on various parts of body as well. The Aquaphor Healing Ointment is not working so I need to try something more powerful. Am I not drinking enough water? How much am I supposed to drink a day?
It's eczema, it's a common side effect. I've been using aquaphor in combo with aveeno's daily moisturizer and it's pretty much non existent. It's important to keep moisturizing those spots all throughout the day rather than just day and night, that's what's helped me
btw, I've shelled out $250 for creme de la mer and it's nothing special! Felt like an ordinary moisturizer that was way overpriced. I'd advise maybe SK-II products, or La Prairie for luxury brands
Thanks for the advice!
I have a little eczema on my stomach from taking claravis & my derm presribed Vanos for it; it has worked beautifully. I am also much better about moisturizing thoroughly everywhere. I focused so much on my face & hands that I must have slacked on my stomach, so I got that eczema patch.
Pill 50.
Silly me, I was so bored I wished for something to happen, good or bad, because of the stagnate progress and now I'm paying for it. Got 2 new cysts a few days ago, one on my cheek and the other near my left eyebrow. The cyst I was zapping before went away but these two are not responding very well, partly due to my delay in zapping it while it's still budding. I don't mind the eye-sore but I just hate it when it hurts. I do not like pain one bit.
Good news. The bald patches on my eyebrows, as a result from when I had zits growing there, are finally growing back. My skin is very smooth and the texture has improved slowly. The clear areas of my face still remains clear, mainly my nose, forehead, chin and apple of my cheeks. My breakout areas are confined to my cheeks, the area where you normally apply blush. The Eucerin lotion is helping my eczema and making my skin super soft. I'm again the aquaphor healing ointment because it never absorbs into your skin but just kind of hangs out there on top leaving you feeling sticky and icky.
Derm in one week.
Pill 50.
Silly me, I was so bored I wished for something to happen, good or bad, because of the stagnate progress and now I'm paying for it. Got 2 new cysts a few days ago, one on my cheek and the other near my left eyebrow. The cyst I was zapping before went away but these two are not responding very well, partly due to my delay in zapping it while it's still budding. I don't mind the eye-sore but I just hate it when it hurts. I do not like pain one bit.
Good news. The bald patches on my eyebrows, as a result from when I had zits growing there, are finally growing back. My skin is very smooth and the texture has improved slowly. The clear areas of my face still remains clear, mainly my nose, forehead, chin and apple of my cheeks. My breakout areas are confined to my cheeks, the area where you normally apply blush. The Eucerin lotion is helping my eczema and making my skin super soft. I'm again the aquaphor healing ointment because it never absorbs into your skin but just kind of hangs out there on top leaving you feeling sticky and icky.
Derm in one week.
I've been waiting for some changes as well. I'm currently on day 42 and it seems like nothing is really happening! I'd say that I'm definitely better on average than when I started accutane, but I still get pimples every other day or so. Plus, I still have all of these little bumps under the skin (caused by clogged pores).
Pill 52.
Cysts barely hurt anymore. No new cysts. Over the past 19 days I only got 3 zits so very good progress on average. With acne no longer on my mind, I find myself with a lot more free time which I have spent doing a lot of online shopping, mostly makeup and clothes. Badd but also good. I'm much happier now and much livelier.
Did my nails today. =)
Oh!!! Did you do the newspaper effect?? I saw that on youtube and I have been dying to try it!!
I think it would look even cooler with a foreign language newspaper like Japanese or chinese or a combo of all of those! Thats what I am going to try
Yupppp! I was thinking the exact same thing about using foreign newspapers! There are always a bunch of free ones at the Asian supermarkets.
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of not letting it dry completely before applying the newspaper so it came out a little bumpy. Btw I used OPI's Let Them Eat Rice Cake and I think it's the perfect color, somewhere between a book paper creme and newspaper grey.
Awesome nail job! I'm so happy that your skin is behaving
I'm in shopping mode myself lately; 'tis the season
You should share your purchases! Part of the fun of buying stuff is showing it off. =)
Pill 55.
Had two tiny cysts developing last night so I zapped one and left the other alone as part of an experiment to see if my zapper really does anything. Woke up this morning to find the one I zapped the night before is almost gone and the other just got bigger. Yes, zapping most definitely helps.
I started off using the Zeno zapper but that limits you to only 40 zaps before you have to repurchase so my bf found me a cheap chinese knockoff on ebay that works just as well without any limitations.
Skin feels so smooth in the shower, like I'm washing it with butter and milk but it's just water. =P
Winter has finally hit California and my skin is paying for it. Thinking about purchasing some jojoba oil to help with the dryness since I've heard many good things about. Does it help with redness and quickens the healing time too? I've gone through so many forums that all the info just kind of jumbles together.
100% pure Seabuckthorn oil is supposed to help heal acne faster but it's pretty expensive. 16.95 for 10ml! That's barely .34 oz compared to the 8oz of jojoba oil that only costs 15 buckaroos. Well I wouldn't mind the price if I know that it really works.
*makeup tip of the day
for acne prone skin
When curling your eyelashes, place a square of toilet paper or tissue on your cheek to keep the pointy part of the eyelash curler from touching your skin.
A few years back, I got these two huge cysts on the center of both of my cheeks and that was the only place I broke out. My bf, who likes watching me put on makeup, noticed one day that it was probably due to my eyelash curler touching that area.
* not my photo
See where the eyelash curler is pressing against the cheek? That's where I would always break out, right in the center. Makes sense that it would be the culprit. I have very acne prone skin so even if I just touch my face with a non-sterilized finger, I will most definitely get a zit the next day. I can't even imagine how unsanitary my eyelash curler must be, from pressing it against my skin everyday to just hanging out there in my makeup box. Sure, I can clean it with rubbing alcohol but it's just easier to use a tissue. Been using it for 3 years now and it's working out fine for me.
This trick isn't going to cure acne but it's 1 or 2 less zits to worry about and every little bit helps!
I've never used jojoba oil, but I did read a good post on it that Dan wrote on the site ( http://www.acne.org/jojoba-oil.php ). Just another product I've been really iffy about trying, lol. I do have a friend who swears by it (she is also very very acne prone) and always uses it immediately after she finishes cleansing (aka wet face). She told me that if you use it with dry skin, it can actually dry out the skin even more. I'll try it out if you do! 
Shannon S, I'll let you know when I do!
I developed another small pimple during the course of the day and now the right side of my face looks like this
I was doing so good up until now. I really wanted to show my derm how much better my skin has gotten...
Here are some reasons why I think I'm breaking out this week:
almost period time
haven't been taking my vitamins everyday
not taking accutane at the same time everyday
not enough sleep
stress
or it's just the roller coaster ride that is accutane
My skin is bloody dry!!!!! It's obviously so dry that it's started to crack because it stings when I applied on moisturizer for the night. Same thing happened to the rash on my hands when I applied lotion. Burns!
It's hard to be happy on days like this. But I know things will get better... just not today.
Got my Cure Aqua Gel in the mail yesterday and tried it last night. That stuff is awesome! Thanks for recommending it If you haven't used that stuff on your lips, you need to try it. Mine are so soft and smooth (so is the rest of my face for that matter). Have you tried the Cure face cream? A small tube of it came with my gel, but I haven't tried it yet.
Got my Cure Aqua Gel in the mail yesterday and tried it last night. That stuff is awesome! Thanks for recommending it
Oh!! They have a cream as well?? Temptiiiing! Cure Aqua Gel is amazing though right?!
Got my Cure Aqua Gel in the mail yesterday and tried it last night. That stuff is awesome! Thanks for recommending it
Glad you like it! No, I have not tried the face cream yet. Let me know if you do try it.
Pill 59.
Bad news...I'm being knocked down to 40mg from 80mg because my triglycerides were super high, think mid 400's. My derm said I'll still be making progress but I'm totally bummed because it obviously won't make as much of an impact as 80mg.
My goal this month is to lower my triglycerides so I can be raised back up to 80mg.
Here's the plan:
eat more fruit/ veggies
exercise everyday
stop eating french fries and fatty foods
avoid sweets
choose water instead of coke
cut down on carbs
My acne scars look more red than usual today due to my being out all day long. No new zits but the gigantic zit I got an injection in 2 months ago is kind of coming back. It swelled down but never fully went away, just sort of stayed under the skin, but now it's starting to surface a bit, although it doesn't hurt at all.
I'm just going to keep myself busy until my skin is clear.
I also had this cyst, actually, it was more like a whole bunch of tiny cysts that just evolved into one gigantic mountain on my chin jawline that lasted and lasted before I was put on accutane. A month before being put on, my doc suggested injecting it. I'd never had an injection before so I was very nervous of the outcome. Today, more than three months later, it's still there. It's not active though, more like a big bump filled with scar tissue that persists. I don't ever want an injection again! Lol
Pill 64.
Filming has started and I'm working 10-12 hour days and waking up at 5am everyday. All that and no new zits! Fantastic. Also a good thing there's a lot of manual labor involved. Must lower triglycerides!
Cerave PM has helped my skin retain its moisture and now I'm using jojoba oil as a makeup remover. I've been putting neosporin on my healing pimples and I think it's helping. It's definitely flattened them and sped up the healing process. Or maybe it's just accutane. I don't know, don't care, and will keep using neosporin since it's not breaking me out.
Can't believe it's only been 64 days. Seems longer. Here's to an amazing month 3.
Beauty tip of the day
for oily skin
Need to blot your oily face and you don't have any powder or blotting paper? Use toilet seat covers in public restrooms or napkins from Starbucks to blot your face.
I also had this cyst, actually, it was more like a whole bunch of tiny cysts that just evolved into one gigantic mountain on my chin jawline that lasted and lasted before I was put on accutane. A month before being put on, my doc suggested injecting it. I'd never had an injection before so I was very nervous of the outcome. Today, more than three months later, it's still there. It's not active though, more like a big bump filled with scar tissue that persists. I don't ever want an injection again! Lol
Jojoba oil works pretty well as a makeup remover? I have some, so I'll have to give that a try next time I have a dry skin day. I also really like the CeraVe PM moisturizer. I alternate between that one and Clinique's Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer for combo to dry skin. Both work really well, but the Clinique one has antioxidants while the CeraVe does not.
I'm so glad your skin is behaving despite your long work days! Yay!
Fav makeup item of the week: Lancome Artliner in Brown (I'm too pale for black)
This eyeliner is the best liquid one I've tried so far. It goes on in one smooth swipe over the lash line for the thin line look and can easily build to a precise, thick line if you want that look (I do often because I like more drama in my eye makeup - big black lashes and eyeliner are a must!)
Jojoba oil takes off everything in a few swipes, even eye makeup. Nice to have a makeup remover that combats dryness. I've been using it for 3 days now and it hasn't broken me out.
Thanks for the tip. I need something that can dry super fine lines. I love dramatic eyes too; eyeliner and fake lashes are a must for me.
I'm really lucky in the lash department because mine are pretty long. People ask me if they're real on days when I go heavy on the mascara 
I think you'll love that eyeliner! The Hourglass one is supposed to be really good for super thin lines, but I haven't tried it yet.
I am so loving that Cure Aqua Gel! I use it on my lips every other day and my face 2x a week. I am so glad I bought ! My husband even tried it.
Day 66.
Face and lips are less dry. I barely have any back pain anymore. Maybe it was a good idea to go back to 40mg. The side effects from 80mg were killing me. Other than that I am just waiting to see a dramatic difference in my skin. For the past month it has more or less looked the same. Still getting a zit here and there, although nothing too big. It would be really nice to have perfectly smooth skin but for now the skin I've got is adequate. =P
Here's a photo of me with some mac powder and eye makeup. You can see the 5 bumps on my right cheek from the healing zits (Neosporin has really helped diminished these suckers) with a bit of scarring. The other cheek is clear but there's still scarring going on. Oh well, I'll worry about that later
Favorite makeup item at the moment : Chanel Illusion D'ombre eyeshadows
Jesoli, thank you for your kind words. Haven't heard a compliment in a long time. =) Hope it's all uphill from here. If you want to see my skin without makeup then just message me your email.
Day 67.
Some nuggets from clogged pores fell out today. Skin is not dry at all so I only have to moisturize at night. Barely have to wear aquaphor. I'm at a good place right now. Sure I still have some zits left, lots of scarring and indentations, and my pores are gigantic, but I'm very happy nonetheless. I still remember how disgusting my face used to be and it's so nice to see how far I've come.
Day 69.
Neosporin is helping to flatten the zits out.
Everything is looking a bit better today. Wore some Dr Jart bb cream 25++ PA today because I had some samples lying around. Flawless finish but a bit oily so I patted on some powder. My face looked really good. Must get some bb cream.
I tried the Dr. Jart BB Cream (both kinds) last spring. I would have liked the 25++ one except that my skin was pretty oily back then so it was too moisturizing; the other Dr. Jart BB Cream is even more moisturizing and sheer, but has a high SPF (I think it's meant for "mature" skin anyway). Did you put the MAC powder over the BB Cream?