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How did you know that it's not hormonal? For example I break out right before my period, so I'ts 100% hormonal. And how long have u been on Spiro or BCP's?
I've had my hormone levels tested and they've always come back normal. Plus birth control and spironolactone never helped me.
Wow, you're looking great! You're not even a month in with Accutane and your face is already looking real bright, clear, and glow-y! Happy for you, congratulations!
Thank you! 
My skin wasn't too bad to start with, but because I get nodular acne that scars and I'm prone to really bad, sporadic breakouts (there's a gross picture on the first page somewhere), the derm thought Accutane was my best option. 
I am glad that u found your solution, but how long have u been on hormonal treatment? It takes time to work, maybe you were not patient enough?
I appreciate your concern, but hormonal treatments just did not work for me, and I gave them plenty of time to work. 
When I saw your pictures earlier and what you wrote, I read the word 'angle' as 'Accutane'. So I was thinking, 'What? Accutane's made your eyes bigger? That's mental!'
We said said from the start didn't we that a low dose would be your best option, even if it takes a little while longer; keeps the side effects from going crazy but still gives the results. Looks like it's going to plan. Still a long way to go but the beauty of doing something like this is that there is a plan in place with an end point so you're always getting closer and closer to the day that this stops for good.
Hard not to be envious right now actually because my face has decided to go crazy this weekend, just in time for my Mum's 50th birthday party. Feeling rather gross and I really would rather just keep myself to myself right now. Looks like the honeymoon period on Doxy is over...
Sorry you have to go through that, Paul. 
But see it in a positive light - if Doxy doesn't work for you, it's one step closer to 'Tane because there just won't be other options to try. Your doctor will cave. I understand wanting to be by yourself. That's how I feel most of the time, but unrelated to my skin. Wish the world would just go away, eh!
Haha, I think Accutane has actually made my lips bigger, not my eyes. 
Probably because I'm constantly putting stuff on them and they're swollen.
How did you know that it's not hormonal? For example I break out right before my period, so I'ts 100% hormonal. And how long have u been on Spiro or BCP's?
I've had my hormone levels tested and they've always come back normal. Plus birth control and spironolactone never helped me.
I'd like to have mine done so I can know...the problem is, is the cysts I get seem to develop for a month as a small bump but only get inflammed and HUGE when I'm on my period. That's why I don't know whats really causing my acne because I get afew pimples before/during my period that are big and painful, but the rest of the time i have smaller ones that are just there....all of them time. >.< and I am 21 so I think I should be able to get on it, next time if I don't start crying like a baby....but I told her how I pick my skin and mirror check and probably shouldn't have but I was just overwhelmed with anxiety of waiting so long for the appointment.
come to think of it, my acnes probably mainly from the fact that my skin is oily like...5 minutes after I wash it...I have never met anyone with as oily skin as mine other than seeing peoples pictures online...think i'm just contantly producing to much oil and so the acne just keeps coming.
How did you know that it's not hormonal? For example I break out right before my period, so I'ts 100% hormonal. And how long have u been on Spiro or BCP's?
I've had my hormone levels tested and they've always come back normal. Plus birth control and spironolactone never helped me.
I'd like to have mine done so I can know...the problem is, is the cysts I get seem to develop for a month as a small bump but only get inflammed and HUGE when I'm on my period. That's why I don't know whats really causing my acne because I get afew pimples before/during my period that are big and painful, but the rest of the time i have smaller ones that are just there....all of them time. >.< and I am 21 so I think I should be able to get on it, next time if I don't start crying like a baby....but I told her how I pick my skin and mirror check and probably shouldn't have but I was just overwhelmed with anxiety of waiting so long for the appointment.
come to think of it, my acnes probably mainly from the fact that my skin is oily like...5 minutes after I wash it...I have never met anyone with as oily skin as mine other than seeing peoples pictures online...think i'm just contantly producing to much oil and so the acne just keeps coming.
Mine was like an oil slick, too. I'm actually kind of thrown that I don't have to blot my face every ten minutes now. It's weird, because I feel like my skin is oily, but I look at it and it's actually dry.
I think your dermatologist is being ridiculous if she thinks that because you're emotional over your skin and it's overwhelming, you shouldn't be put on Accutane. 
I think it's a good indicator that your acne isn't hormonal if you take spiro or BCP for an extended period of time and it does nothing for you. Like I mentioned, I broke out all over regardless of whether I had my period or not. I can't handle birth control, it makes me crazy and sad and angry and my boyfriend just about ran out of places to hide from me. Not difficult to find a 6'2" blonde cowering away from you, either.
If your acne is not hormonal,Elle, then what type of acne do you gave? Is it related to your diet or liver or something else?
Excessive oil I suppose. I've tried elimination diets. Accutane seems to be working for me because it decreases oil production... my skin was extremely greasy before but as the oil disappears, the acne goes, too. I had some success on vitamin B5 for the same reason but I had to take a lot of it and it was incredibly expensive and possibly detrimental to my health.
A big portion of the frustration with acne is finding something that you're willing to stick with, and it has to work for you. If it's working for her, then all she has to do now is wait things out and take care of herself, no need to jump ship and invest in a different regimen.
Excessive oil production could be caused by hormonal imbalance, especially in women. Do you get whiteheads tht turn to cysts, or just pustules? And how many times do you wash your face, do you follow Dan's regimen?
Long story short... other stuff didn't work, Accutane is working, I will keep taking Accutane, but again, thanks for the concern. 
A big portion of the frustration with acne is finding something that you're willing to stick with, and it has to work for you. If it's working for her, then all she has to do now is wait things out and take care of herself, no need to jump ship and invest in a different regimen.
Thank you Tim. ^-^
Day 21
I feel pretty good about things.
I had to go for a run early yesterday before the sun set, although it was 5:30PM and I'm sure the UV rating wasn't exactly extreme I still pretty much drenched myself in sunscreen beforehand, thankfully I am not burned. Anyway! I've got a terribly unflattering photo here, just to mark my progress. My skin isn't bright red as the photo suggests.
I'm sitting on my bed in front of the window, and it's giving off a red cast where the sunlight is coming through. I am wearing powder, but it's translucent and it doesn't hide any redness. I just put it on this morning to mattify my moisturizer, otherwise I feel very shiny and underdone.
This angle makes me look like my eyes are huge and my mouth is tiny.
Also here's one from last night - my cat wanted snuggles. I know... dressing gowns, there's nothin' sexier.
wow it certainly does seem to be working for you, and how quickly!
Id say you made the right decision, youre responding ideally and ultimately you know how you feel about your body and what works for you. Youre not wrong to trust your own judgement.
^Pic is quite cute you look like a woodland nymph
A
Day 21
I feel pretty good about things.
This angle makes me look like my eyes are huge and my mouth is tiny.
Also here's one from last night - my cat wanted snuggles. I know... dressing gowns, there's nothin' sexier.
wow it certainly does seem to be working for you, and how quickly!
Id say you made the right decision, youre responding ideally and ultimately you know how you feel about your body and what works for you. Youre not wrong to trust your own judgement.
^Pic is quite cute you look like a woodland nymph
A
Aww thank you Amara! 
I think it was the right decision too.
Yes I'm a woodland nymph, friends with all the forest creatures... see the forest creature above... ;P
Hmm I don't think he'd last very long three feet from the house actually...
Day 24
My skin is pretty much completely dry... doesn't really develop oil at all now, which is good aside from the discomfort and scaliness. I'm bothered by the fact that I can now see all of my scarring. My cheeks look like orange peels. So many small indents. I'm hoping some day these smooth over. I didn't realize the extent of it until some of the actual acne cleared up. I guess you can't really get out of it Scott-free, huh...
Oh well.
I have a huge nodule on my right cheek that's pretty deep and stands out like a sore thumb. It's been lingering there for ages, I wish it would frick off already, because not even makeup hides the redness of this sucker. Yet another scar to add to my orange peely face.
I'm down two tubes of Carmex. I was just thinking today that I think the agony of going through iPledge for women is probably balanced out a bit by the fact that guys on Accutane likely have to deal with having shiny, glossy lips. I have yet to find a lip treatment that doesn't add shine aside from Blistex lip ointment, and that goes on white and takes ages to soak in, not really something you can continually apply. Sorry guys.
This really nice owner of the korean bbq place near my house shared this simple saying with me after I got really bad stiff neck; "Tomorrow is tomorrow, and today is today." Your scars will improve in time, and right now you're finally overcoming acne! That's something to celebrate, and once you're doing with your course, you could look into scar treatments like fraxel or dermarolling. Almost a full month in now!
Wow, your skin looks really good! It looks like you don't even have red marks or anything.. Good luck further on
Thank you! I definitely do have red marks. :yes: But I don't think my camera actually picks them up too well.
So when you're clear you won't be coming round here much anymore huh :'(
Perhaps I will.
Dang your face looks good.
Thank you!
This really nice owner of the korean bbq place near my house shared this simple saying with me after I got really bad stiff neck; "Tomorrow is tomorrow, and today is today."
You're definitely right, Tim. I know I should be patient. I think maybe I'm noticing them more because my skin is drier and less plump or something.
You know, the various imperfections on my face are much more noticeable when my face is dry, or when it's in it's sludgefest oil mode
I'm shocking for actually seeking out the exact angle that my scars are most visible... generally, I don't actually stand that way, I face people directly when I speak to them. So I think half of my paranoia is unfounded, but there'll always be something I'm unsatisfied with!
