Acne.org Products
Ok I just went through all 46 pages of this. First off and this is coming from a guy who lives in NY, you are gorgeous, with or without acne. Second I'm jealous of your clear skin now. If doxycycline and finacea doesn't work for me, I'm going to ask for accutane. What was the worst side effect you dealt with? Again, congrats on having amazing skin again pretty girl
Wow thanks for reading all of these Accutane ramblings! 
And aw, thank you so much! I really appreciate a compliment like that. Acne pretty much killed my self-esteem, though, especially after my last mini-course of Accutane cleared me up for about a year.
If nothing works for you, I highly recommend Accutane, haha. I'm not going to lie, it is rough to go through (it has been for me anyway), but once the clearing finally starts, that's when you realize that it is all worth it. For me, the worst side effect would be the dry nose (which didn't get bad until month 4). I also dealt with some annoying eczema on my hands, but that was only in the beginning of my course. I honestly haven't had many bad side effects! It's been somewhat of a smooth ride. The hardest thing for me to deal with was the IB, which seemed to last 3 months. I wasn't expecting an IB that long, I thought it would last a month or so. But I'm so glad I got through it!!
Thank you!! 
Hey, everyone! Miss you guys. My vacation has been going well. I will give a full update when I get home this weekend. I've been trying my best to keep up with the logs on my phone. Not easy, haha.
I know I'm friends with some of you on Facebook, but if any of you have instagram & want to add me on there, do it (Message me for my name!) I've become quite the Instagraming freak lately.
Hey, everyone! Miss you guys. My vacation has been going well. I will give a full update when I get home this weekend. I've been trying my best to keep up with the logs on my phone. Not easy, haha.
I know I'm friends with some of you on Facebook, but if any of you have instagram & want to add me on there, do it (Message me for my name!) I've become quite the Instagraming freak lately.
Miss you too Katie! Come back already!! hahaha I kid I kid. Glad you are having a good time. Has the weather been good for you? I'd hate to have a beach week and have it rain the whole time or something like that! The logs haven't really been that active. You coping well with the sun and the tane? I was out at the pool last week and ran out of sunscreen. I got my whole body but my stomach, and let me tell you I burnt like it was going out of style. My stomach at this point is seriously blistering. It hurts and looks nasty. I won't be in a swim suit until this crap is gone. Killing me not to be out on the boat or something. Its like 105 here today though, I won't go outside unless its from air conditioning to air conditioning.
I kinda love instagram too 🙂
Day 117
I'm baaackk! 
My vacation was great. I really enjoyed myself. I even spent three days in the sun in my bathing suit wearing SPF 55 and I DID NOT BURN. Pretty awesome. Thank god for SPF. I did get kinda burnt on my scalp where my hair was parted. Woops, forgot about that, hahaha. But other than that...things were good. My face was doing great for most of my vacation. I actually had no problem walking around without makeup a few days/nights.
However, in the middle of my trip down there I got this weird bump (that I assumed was from the sun) on the right side of my nose, on the front of my nostril. I guess it's gotten smaller by now, but it is still somewhat there. It's not very red, it's barely noticeable. It really hurt when the first few days before I noticed I actually had a bump there.
Then I got a new jawline zit, that went away pretty damn fast. I also broke out on the right side of my chin with a small little zit that has since went down to a red mark. No big deal. THEN on Thursday/Friday I had noticed this little white thing popping out on my chin. It looked to be a small whitehead, but when I tried to pop it, nothing happened. I picked it out of frustration a few times since, and it has crusted into this nasty scab. It looks nothing like the whiteheads that I used to get, and it is relatively small. But there is a nice pink mark there now. It actually really hurts...it's sore and if I touch it, ouch! I'm leaving whatever this is alone.
I wasn't sure if that stubborn "zit" is actually milia. I did notice some white bumpies under the skin last week before vacation. They were only visible when my skin was stretched. I still have two of those bump, right underneath my lips. I'm not sure if they're going to come out and do what this thing is doing? I'm just going to go along with thinking this thing is a zit...because I can't handle the thought of having any more of these things erupt and ruin the flow of how things are going.
Then, I have the most stubborn jawline zit (I've had in for months now) that WILL NOT GO AWAY. I feel like this thing will be on my face until I die.
The rest of my face has a good amount of PIH and dry spots from picking. I know that they will fade in time, so I'm not too worried about them.
So, month FIVE (what was originally supposed to be my final month) is approaching very quickly. I have my blood test this Saturday and pick my pills up next Monday. That means I have one more week of month four. I'm kind of scared with these random zits still coming out of the wood works. My face is nowhere near as bad as it was when I started. But since my dermatologist has left the option to do six months, I may discuss doing another month just to knock this shit out of me for good. I just can't imagine going through all of this for nothing...only to relapse down the road.
Miss you too Katie! Come back already!! hahaha I kid I kid. Glad you are having a good time. Has the weather been good for you? I'd hate to have a beach week and have it rain the whole time or something like that! The logs haven't really been that active. You coping well with the sun and the tane? I was out at the pool last week and ran out of sunscreen. I got my whole body but my stomach, and let me tell you I burnt like it was going out of style. My stomach at this point is seriously blistering. It hurts and looks nasty. I won't be in a swim suit until this crap is gone. Killing me not to be out on the boat or something. Its like 105 here today though, I won't go outside unless its from air conditioning to air conditioning.
I kinda love instagram too
I am back, Betsy! 
The weather was amazing. Very hot, but since I was at the beach it didn't seem to matter. I kept going back into the ocean whenever it felt too hot. I made sure to cover every inch of my body in sunscreen down there. We went to the beach every day except for Thursday & Friday. Three days in a row and no sunburn! I did however get some color, which is awesome. I was a very happy Katie down there, haha. I read about your sunburn. Ugh, man. There is nothing worse than sunburn while on Accutane, it is so painful. I hope it's healing and that you feel better now.
Hi Katie! Welcome back, I'm glad you had a good vacation. My family and I went to the beach yesterday just for the day - we're about an hour away so it's not too bad of a trek. Everybody seemed to have the day off so I declared it family beach day. It was hot but very beautiful and we had a great day. Nothing like the ocean and the sand in your toes to help you relax! It was the first time I've been out in a a bathing suit all summer so I was pretty nervous about getting burned. I loaded up on spf 50 and only sat in the sun for about an hour and then spent the rest of the time under the umbrella. I didn't do too bad. I'm a little crispy but not really burned. My tummy got the worst of it since it sees the sun the least but again it's not too bad - I don't think I'll peel or anything. If we go again I'll spend more time under the umbrella but it just felt sooooooo good to be sitting down by the ocean soaking up the sunshine.
My skin's been doing pretty good until just a few days ago. I haven't really broken out with anything new in about 6 weeks but I have been battling old underskin bumps that are to the left of my chin. There was really only one that was noticeable but really there is about a cluster of four in the same area. They'ver all been slowly getting smaller and now all of a sudden the area has flared up - it's swollen a little and it hurts like a godd old fashioned cyst - ugh!! I am hoping it's just that the bumps are finaly coming to the surface, my derm initially said they were taking so long to go away because they were so deep down. I go this Thursday so I will definitely be asking her wtf??
I wonder too if your new little whitehead type bump is millia or just a clogged pore finally coming to the surface. I had a cyst like bump on my cheek a while back that finally came to the surface but by the time it got there it was this tiny hard white bump and I ended up picking it off ( I just couldn't stand it anymore) and it made a little red mark but has now completely gone away (yay!!). Hopefully that is what will happen to yours.
I can't wait to hear what your derm has to say next week. I love hearing what everyone's derms say because it makes me feel like I have multiple doctors giving me advice.
Day 117
I'm baaackk!
My vacation was great. I really enjoyed myself. I even spent three days in the sun in my bathing suit wearing SPF 55 and I DID NOT BURN. Pretty awesome. Thank god for SPF. I did get kinda burnt on my scalp where my hair was parted. Woops, forgot about that, hahaha. But other than that...things were good. My face was doing great for most of my vacation. I actually had no problem walking around without makeup a few days/nights.
However, in the middle of my trip down there I got this weird bump (that I assumed was from the sun) on the right side of my nose, on the front of my nostril. I guess it's gotten smaller by now, but it is still somewhat there. It's not very red, it's barely noticeable. It really hurt when the first few days before I noticed I actually had a bump there.
Then I got a new jawline zit, that went away pretty damn fast. I also broke out on the right side of my chin with a small little zit that has since went down to a red mark. No big deal. THEN on Thursday/Friday I had noticed this little white thing popping out on my chin. It looked to be a small whitehead, but when I tried to pop it, nothing happened. I picked it out of frustration a few times since, and it has crusted into this nasty scab. It looks nothing like the whiteheads that I used to get, and it is relatively small. But there is a nice pink mark there now. It actually really hurts...it's sore and if I touch it, ouch! I'm leaving whatever this is alone.
I wasn't sure if that stubborn "zit" is actually milia. I did notice some white bumpies under the skin last week before vacation. They were only visible when my skin was stretched. I still have two of those bump, right underneath my lips. I'm not sure if they're going to come out and do what this thing is doing? I'm just going to go along with thinking this thing is a zit...because I can't handle the thought of having any more of these things erupt and ruin the flow of how things are going.
Then, I have the most stubborn jawline zit (I've had in for months now) that WILL NOT GO AWAY. I feel like this thing will be on my face until I die.
The rest of my face has a good amount of PIH and dry spots from picking. I know that they will fade in time, so I'm not too worried about them.
So, month FIVE (what was originally supposed to be my final month) is approaching very quickly. I have my blood test this Saturday and pick my pills up next Monday. That means I have one more week of month four. I'm kind of scared with these random zits still coming out of the wood works. My face is nowhere near as bad as it was when I started. But since my dermatologist has left the option to do six months, I may discuss doing another month just to knock this shit out of me for good. I just can't imagine going through all of this for nothing...only to relapse down the road.
Miss you too Katie! Come back already!! hahaha I kid I kid. Glad you are having a good time. Has the weather been good for you? I'd hate to have a beach week and have it rain the whole time or something like that! The logs haven't really been that active. You coping well with the sun and the tane? I was out at the pool last week and ran out of sunscreen. I got my whole body but my stomach, and let me tell you I burnt like it was going out of style. My stomach at this point is seriously blistering. It hurts and looks nasty. I won't be in a swim suit until this crap is gone. Killing me not to be out on the boat or something. Its like 105 here today though, I won't go outside unless its from air conditioning to air conditioning.
I kinda love instagram too
I am back, Betsy!
Welcome back Katie!! I am glad you enjoyed your vacation! I saw some of the photos it looked like it was a good time! Beers and the beach and sun! Does it get any better than that? I don't think so! Hot weather is always tolerable as long as there is a body of water next to me lol. Awesome with the no sunburn 🙂 I was doing a good job at the no sun burn myself until I ran out at the water park! Damn spray on SPF you never really know how much is in the bottle. I went and got new stuff anyways because the spray on stuff is so sticky and gross. I will be out on the lake all morning and afternoon tomorrow so we will see if it works well. My sunburn from a week ago is gone now but it is peeling and gross at this point. At least it doesn't hurt anymore. Thats all I really care about.
These damn zits that keep popping up out of nowhere! I am so sick of them. I have 2 on my right cheek that are on thier way out and now I have one on my left side of my chin that started out a small little whitehead and now has turned into a big old crusty red angry hurting zit. I am really starting to hate whiteheads more and more a day. They never stay just a whitehead do they? This one on my chin though, if I yawn the scab breaks open and bleeds everywhere for a long time. Gross.
My dermatologist said to me that she planned on keeping me on the medication for one full month after I have been clear. Like she wants me clear for a whole month plus another month of medication. She keeps telling me that I have completed 3 months when really I have completed 4 months. She is always a month behind my count. Who knows. Anyways I think that it is smart if you do another month if you can. If you are still getting new spots here and there knock that shit out with another month of pills 🙂
Hi Katie! Welcome back, I'm glad you had a good vacation. My family and I went to the beach yesterday just for the day - we're about an hour away so it's not too bad of a trek. Everybody seemed to have the day off so I declared it family beach day. It was hot but very beautiful and we had a great day. Nothing like the ocean and the sand in your toes to help you relax! It was the first time I've been out in a a bathing suit all summer so I was pretty nervous about getting burned. I loaded up on spf 50 and only sat in the sun for about an hour and then spent the rest of the time under the umbrella. I didn't do too bad. I'm a little crispy but not really burned. My tummy got the worst of it since it sees the sun the least but again it's not too bad - I don't think I'll peel or anything. If we go again I'll spend more time under the umbrella but it just felt sooooooo good to be sitting down by the ocean soaking up the sunshine.
My skin's been doing pretty good until just a few days ago. I haven't really broken out with anything new in about 6 weeks but I have been battling old underskin bumps that are to the left of my chin. There was really only one that was noticeable but really there is about a cluster of four in the same area. They'ver all been slowly getting smaller and now all of a sudden the area has flared up - it's swollen a little and it hurts like a godd old fashioned cyst - ugh!! I am hoping it's just that the bumps are finaly coming to the surface, my derm initially said they were taking so long to go away because they were so deep down. I go this Thursday so I will definitely be asking her wtf??
I wonder too if your new little whitehead type bump is millia or just a clogged pore finally coming to the surface. I had a cyst like bump on my cheek a while back that finally came to the surface but by the time it got there it was this tiny hard white bump and I ended up picking it off ( I just couldn't stand it anymore) and it made a little red mark but has now completely gone away (yay!!). Hopefully that is what will happen to yours.
I can't wait to hear what your derm has to say next week. I love hearing what everyone's derms say because it makes me feel like I have multiple doctors giving me advice.
Hey Stacey!! That's awesome that you and your family had the chance to get away and go to the beach for the day. It's so relaxing to just stick your toes in the sand and feel the refreshing ocean water. My mind was definitely at ease the whole vacation! 🙂
Geeze - sorry to hear that you're still dealing with the under the skin bumps coming to the surface. I actually don't see my derm until the middle of next month, so I'm bummed that I can't show her this random sucker on my chin. I definitely am with ya on the "wtf" factor. Everything was going so great and I saw so much clearing. I feel like I'm being over-dramatic about this one pimple, too, because things were soooo much worse than this before. But it's like COME ON I'm supposed to have one month left...I need this to actually work! I've picked this sucker twice already, and it just scabs all over again. It was throbbing today. I definitely don't miss that feeling. 🙁 But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is healing fast.
Welcome back Katie!! I am glad you enjoyed your vacation! I saw some of the photos it looked like it was a good time! Beers and the beach and sun! Does it get any better than that? I don't think so! Hot weather is always tolerable as long as there is a body of water next to me lol. Awesome with the no sunburn
I was doing a good job at the no sun burn myself until I ran out at the water park! Damn spray on SPF you never really know how much is in the bottle. I went and got new stuff anyways because the spray on stuff is so sticky and gross. I will be out on the lake all morning and afternoon tomorrow so we will see if it works well. My sunburn from a week ago is gone now but it is peeling and gross at this point. At least it doesn't hurt anymore. Thats all I really care about.
These damn zits that keep popping up out of nowhere! I am so sick of them. I have 2 on my right cheek that are on thier way out and now I have one on my left side of my chin that started out a small little whitehead and now has turned into a big old crusty red angry hurting zit. I am really starting to hate whiteheads more and more a day. They never stay just a whitehead do they? This one on my chin though, if I yawn the scab breaks open and bleeds everywhere for a long time. Gross.
My dermatologist said to me that she planned on keeping me on the medication for one full month after I have been clear. Like she wants me clear for a whole month plus another month of medication. She keeps telling me that I have completed 3 months when really I have completed 4 months. She is always a month behind my count. Who knows. Anyways I think that it is smart if you do another month if you can. If you are still getting new spots here and there knock that shit out with another month of pills
It was definitely a good time. Vacations are so refreshing. 🙂
I would have probably had a panic attack if I ran out of SPF while I was in the sun. I did run out of the SPF55 (I had it for like 3 years though) and I started using my SPF30, which didn't do as good of a job, but it definitely helped.
New zits at this point in the game are really awful. I don't mind the ones that pop up, and go away real fast but this one that I am dealing with on my chin has been a real mood killer. I just ran my fingers along the two bumps under my lips and it feels like one of them is surfacing. I have no idea what these things are. I took a picture of one of them on my phone. It looked just like a whitehead...except it would not pop and felt hard. They're either clogged pores, or "milia whiteheads". Either way, I'm pretty damn bummed. Looks like I may be aiming for 6 months on the 'tane after all. Which I don't mind, honestly. I just want this to actually work for me and to end the course feeling great about my skin. I almost forgot what it was like to have a big scabby pimple on my chin, too. Blah, haha.
Hey everyone! Sorry I've been away, super busy! AHHH!
My skin is doing pretty good. I'm still breaking out, but as of now I only have 2 actives "Knock on computer screen*.
I had a question though..
I am on Yaz, and have been taking it for 6 days ( had my cycle before) and I have been the moodiest, most tired, hungry, bleh in the world. When I was off of it I felt fine!
I can't get a hold of my dermatologist, so I wanted to know if I could switch back to my Loestin 24 tonight, or should I wait til Sunday, and not take the Yaz at all.
This may be the Accutane, who knows, but ever since going on Yaz my breakouts have been BIG and under the skin and I've never had those in 3 years, and right away when I'm back on Yaz I started breaking out, not huge, but enough to be annoyed. When I was on my cycl for 6 days, no breakouts.
Should I switch tonight, and just start taking my Loestrin pills? Or should I get my cycle again (not take the pills) and then start?
I refuse to take another Yaz pill! Grr!
On a good note, my forehead and right cheek feel sooo smooth. I have healers on the right. My left cheek is okay, I had a big one that's healing, but I have a whitehead that's right next to it. Grr.
Someone please answer this for me, I'm posting it on everyone's log! Hahah
I'll be back to give a longer update and to catch up, I'm just feeling crabby ;(
Welcome back, Katie!!! I'm glad you got to experience a really relaxing vay-cay.
I can't believe you're getting so close to being done!!!! It sounds like your big breakouts have really subsided then, right? And it's just little stuff popping up here and there? I cannot pick parts of my skin because of that soreness you talked about. Things just get really tender and sore and awful, so I literally don't touch the stuff unless I'm doing my skincare routine. I'm convinced things heal faster without picking.
Have you noticed any of your pores looking "permanently" enlarged? Especially in the areas where you had bad breakouts? Some of my pores are just soooo wide and open looking. It's distressing and I hope they're not some sort of scars. 
Also happy you get an optional 6th month. I don't have the option of going beyond 4 months since I will be at my cumulative dose and I'm moving. Basically, things have to continue to stay clear until then or else...screwed.
Hey everyone! Sorry I've been away, super busy! AHHH!
My skin is doing pretty good. I'm still breaking out, but as of now I only have 2 actives "Knock on computer screen*.
I had a question though..
I am on Yaz, and have been taking it for 6 days ( had my cycle before) and I have been the moodiest, most tired, hungry, bleh in the world. When I was off of it I felt fine!
I can't get a hold of my dermatologist, so I wanted to know if I could switch back to my Loestin 24 tonight, or should I wait til Sunday, and not take the Yaz at all.
This may be the Accutane, who knows, but ever since going on Yaz my breakouts have been BIG and under the skin and I've never had those in 3 years, and right away when I'm back on Yaz I started breaking out, not huge, but enough to be annoyed. When I was on my cycl for 6 days, no breakouts.
Should I switch tonight, and just start taking my Loestrin pills? Or should I get my cycle again (not take the pills) and then start?
I refuse to take another Yaz pill! Grr!
On a good note, my forehead and right cheek feel sooo smooth. I have healers on the right. My left cheek is okay, I had a big one that's healing, but I have a whitehead that's right next to it. Grr.
Someone please answer this for me, I'm posting it on everyone's log! Hahah
I'll be back to give a longer update and to catch up, I'm just feeling crabby ;(
Hey Taylor! Missed ya!
I have two actives too! Damn buggers. Go away!
Birth control always confused me, but if I were you I would definitely go right to taking the Loestrin24. If you stop taking the Yaz now you may start spotting, and that's never fun! (I used to take Seasonique, where you only get your period once every 3 months, then I started forgetting to take them and I would always spot.) I don't think you'll have any problems switching, but maybe try calling your derm office or your OB-Gyn to ask them their advice??
Yaaay for healers. The big honker on my chin has started healing, too. I can't wait til we're both officially clear.
Feel better, girlie! 
Welcome back, Katie!!! I'm glad you got to experience a really relaxing vay-cay.
I can't believe you're getting so close to being done!!!! It sounds like your big breakouts have really subsided then, right? And it's just little stuff popping up here and there? I cannot pick parts of my skin because of that soreness you talked about. Things just get really tender and sore and awful, so I literally don't touch the stuff unless I'm doing my skincare routine. I'm convinced things heal faster without picking.
Have you noticed any of your pores looking "permanently" enlarged? Especially in the areas where you had bad breakouts? Some of my pores are just soooo wide and open looking. It's distressing and I hope they're not some sort of scars.
Also happy you get an optional 6th month. I don't have the option of going beyond 4 months since I will be at my cumulative dose and I'm moving. Basically, things have to continue to stay clear until then or else...screwed.
Thanks, Gina! Missed all you guys and chatting!
My big breakouts have DEFINITELY subsided. My face in comparison to March/April is so much better. I'm waiting for a good moment to take a photo of the condition that my face is in. I have high hopes for my results with this drug. I've only been getting small little zits, the one that was bothering me that surfaced last week was pretty big (but much smaller than he ones during my IB!) and scabby today. Ick. My picking habit always gets the best of me. I need my fingers chopped off.
My pores definitely look enlarged. I sure hope that it's not permanent. I noticed all around my mouth, the pores are just huge. Ugh.
I really thought that my derm wouldn't want to do a 6th month, but she's really awesome and is leaving that option open. I'm relieved. I feel like one more month would really put the final kick to this stubborn acne! I really hope that things stay clear for you. You really deserve that!!
Day 119
It's been an annoying couple of days since I came back from vacation. Everything appeared to be fine with my toe that I had surgery on for the ingrown toe-nail, and then I noticed pain and pus. I also noticed that my other big toe was bothering me on the outer side, and it felt like yet ANOTHER ingrown! I made an appointment for today after work. My toe by this point was kind of purple looking and had orange-ish pus on the healing part. I was lightheaded all day, and seeing this made me feel so much worse. The nice lady there asked me if I was okay, and I was almost in tears. She gave me a sugar pill. The doctor saw me and said that I had a mild infection. He cleaned the toe, and then put some stuff on it and said that it would look silver for a few weeks. Then he bandaged that toe up. He wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic -- Cephalexin. Then the other toe...he told me it was slightly ingrown and that I didn't need to be numbed. I was nervous that it would hurt, and I didn't look the whole time. I'm like a baby when it comes to this stuff, seriously, hahaha. It wasn't painful, though. So now I have two big toes with bandages, WOOT WOOT.
So I'm thinking that Accutane screws up wound-healing. I asked the doctor if maybe Accutane had anything to do with it, but he didn't think so. But how much does a foot doc really know about 'tane, ya know? He said that part of my scab didn't come off, and that was why it became infected. Strange.
Also, I'm sure Accutane doesn't help these ingrown toenails. Two in one month? Yikes.
So now I'm somewhat in pain. Walking like an idiot. Not wanting to go to work tomorrow, and contemplating taking the day off.
My yucky chin pimple continues to scab again, and again. I washed my face last night with a washcloth, and it came right off because it was softened. Scab is back today. I don't miss having patches of these kinds of zits all over my chin area. I really want this thing to just heal already. The one remaining jawline zit is chillin' like usual. I don't know when that will change.
That's all for today. I haven't had much time to relax since I got home from work, I'm about to crash! I'll try and catch up tomorrow if I can't tonight!
Oh no. Supper crappy. I'm so so sorry you're having to deal with a toe infection. Or as I like to call these things: an infucktion.
Are you going to ask your derm if the antibiotic you're taking will have any interactions?
Gah...you should take the day off. That is my professional opinion!
Day 119
It's been an annoying couple of days since I came back from vacation. Everything appeared to be fine with my toe that I had surgery on for the ingrown toe-nail, and then I noticed pain and pus. I also noticed that my other big toe was bothering me on the outer side, and it felt like yet ANOTHER ingrown! I made an appointment for today after work. My toe by this point was kind of purple looking and had orange-ish pus on the healing part. I was lightheaded all day, and seeing this made me feel so much worse. The nice lady there asked me if I was okay, and I was almost in tears. She gave me a sugar pill. The doctor saw me and said that I had a mild infection. He cleaned the toe, and then put some stuff on it and said that it would look silver for a few weeks. Then he bandaged that toe up. He wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic -- Cephalexin. Then the other toe...he told me it was slightly ingrown and that I didn't need to be numbed. I was nervous that it would hurt, and I didn't look the whole time. I'm like a baby when it comes to this stuff, seriously, hahaha. It wasn't painful, though. So now I have two big toes with bandages, WOOT WOOT.
So I'm thinking that Accutane screws up wound-healing. I asked the doctor if maybe Accutane had anything to do with it, but he didn't think so. But how much does a foot doc really know about 'tane, ya know? He said that part of my scab didn't come off, and that was why it became infected. Strange.
Also, I'm sure Accutane doesn't help these ingrown toenails. Two in one month? Yikes.
So now I'm somewhat in pain. Walking like an idiot. Not wanting to go to work tomorrow, and contemplating taking the day off.
My yucky chin pimple continues to scab again, and again. I washed my face last night with a washcloth, and it came right off because it was softened. Scab is back today. I don't miss having patches of these kinds of zits all over my chin area. I really want this thing to just heal already. The one remaining jawline zit is chillin' like usual. I don't know when that will change.
That's all for today. I haven't had much time to relax since I got home from work, I'm about to crash! I'll try and catch up tomorrow if I can't tonight!
Hey Katie! Sounds like a annoying past couple of days for sure! I have had your EXACT situation with the ingrown toenails. I mean like even the infected toe and getting the other one removed without numbing. Scariest thing ever. Those things hurt so bad to get removed so it is natural to be scared when you aren't numbed. Your not a baby about it. That shit hurts 🙂 Good news is you caught it before it got really bad right? Good thing you went it and got a antibiotic. I've been on Cephalexin before, probably for a ingrown toenail infection. I've also had my toe look silver after getting it treated with something. It lasts a couple of weeks, but if you are still soaking for feet for the toe then I think it will come off quicker. I've been there and feel for you. I'd take the day off and collect yourself and go back into work tomorrow. Thats what I would do any who..
Did you know I also have a yucky chin pimple that scabs again and again? Ugh it is so frustrating isn't it? I was thinking the same thing about not missing getting those spots all over the face. It really sucks once you are used to clearish skin. Hope you are feeling better today!
Glad to hear you had a nice vacation, Katie! But that sucks about the toe infection! Hopefully the antibiotic helps and it clears up quickly!
You and Betsy are too funny with your twin-ness! 
I have one of those zits on my cheek that just scabs and scabs over and over again. It's so frustrating! Hope those damn things heal up for all of us soon!
Hey everyone, I'm sorry I've been so MIA. I've been trying to focus on everything but my skin right now, just because I used to be so over-obsessive, and once I'd be on these logs every day, it started happening again, so I decided to take a break, BUT I missed you all too much, you guys are my support and what makes me feel great!
I'll do an update
So today is day 98! I'm a week into month four woohoo!
I've gotten so much drier in the past couple days, my skin is actually flaking dead skin in chunks, ewwie. Since stopping my birth control and starting Loestrin 24, which was 3 days ago, and I hadn't taken a Yaz the night before, so 4 nights, I haven't gotten a new breakout. I think my breakouts may have been connected with Yaz, either way, I've been waking up at a normal time again, and am slowly starting to feel like myself. That's another reason I wasn't on here. I didn't have then energy to do anything. I almost cried over anything that was going on and would sleep 14 hours a day.. I just was not myself. Betsy helped me out on Facebook! Sorry I didn't reply Betsy, I figured I'd get on here and let you know how I am instead
I also called my OBGYN who prescribes my birth control, and as Betsy said, she told me to switch right over and there should be no problems. Anywho.. my skin! My forehead has been clear for a month . My cheeks are doing better. I had some big breakouts happen a week ago, and they're all healing. The scabs have gotten much lighter and smaller, the only real noticeable one is on my right cheek. The area around my mouth is healing too. I have one active that's drying up and that's it. I can't wait until all these scabs go away! Betsy is so right, the healing process is NUTS. It takes FOREVER! I am one who doesn't have any patience either. If things continue as they are, where everything is just healing, these months will be nice. I still have about 10-12 weeks left on this stuff, holy shit, but hey, I feel better knowing I'm not ending my journey in a week.
Anywho! I am pretty content with my skin, it's just filled with scabs that I can't wait for to go away! Now that I feel like myself I will be on here more to support you all
!
Hey Taylor! So glad you're feeling like yourself again. Sorry to hear about the rough patch though.
I completely agree about the healing process. Some zits have gone away in a day, but then others want to stick around forever. It's ridiculous! I guess we just have to remember they'll all be gone one day!
Thanks Rachel! And it's okay! I figured out the problem and fixed it
That's good! Glad you were able to fix it! You seem to be having a rough time with birth control since it wasn't too long ago that you switched from the generic Yaz, right?
I'm doing great! 🙂
Day 119
It's been an annoying couple of days since I came back from vacation. Everything appeared to be fine with my toe that I had surgery on for the ingrown toe-nail, and then I noticed pain and pus. I also noticed that my other big toe was bothering me on the outer side, and it felt like yet ANOTHER ingrown! I made an appointment for today after work. My toe by this point was kind of purple looking and had orange-ish pus on the healing part. I was lightheaded all day, and seeing this made me feel so much worse. The nice lady there asked me if I was okay, and I was almost in tears. She gave me a sugar pill. The doctor saw me and said that I had a mild infection. He cleaned the toe, and then put some stuff on it and said that it would look silver for a few weeks. Then he bandaged that toe up. He wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic -- Cephalexin. Then the other toe...he told me it was slightly ingrown and that I didn't need to be numbed. I was nervous that it would hurt, and I didn't look the whole time. I'm like a baby when it comes to this stuff, seriously, hahaha. It wasn't painful, though. So now I have two big toes with bandages, WOOT WOOT.
So I'm thinking that Accutane screws up wound-healing. I asked the doctor if maybe Accutane had anything to do with it, but he didn't think so. But how much does a foot doc really know about 'tane, ya know? He said that part of my scab didn't come off, and that was why it became infected. Strange.
Also, I'm sure Accutane doesn't help these ingrown toenails. Two in one month? Yikes.
So now I'm somewhat in pain. Walking like an idiot. Not wanting to go to work tomorrow, and contemplating taking the day off.
My yucky chin pimple continues to scab again, and again. I washed my face last night with a washcloth, and it came right off because it was softened. Scab is back today. I don't miss having patches of these kinds of zits all over my chin area. I really want this thing to just heal already. The one remaining jawline zit is chillin' like usual. I don't know when that will change.
That's all for today. I haven't had much time to relax since I got home from work, I'm about to crash! I'll try and catch up tomorrow if I can't tonight!
Sorry you've been having a rough time lately! I hope you start healing more quickly and that stubborn chin bump gets gone for good! Hang in there!
Hey everyone, I'm sorry I've been so MIA. I've been trying to focus on everything but my skin right now, just because I used to be so over-obsessive, and once I'd be on these logs every day, it started happening again, so I decided to take a break, BUT I missed you all too much, you guys are my support and what makes me feel great!
I'll do an update
So today is day 98! I'm a week into month four woohoo!
I've gotten so much drier in the past couple days, my skin is actually flaking dead skin in chunks, ewwie. Since stopping my birth control and starting Loestrin 24, which was 3 days ago, and I hadn't taken a Yaz the night before, so 4 nights, I haven't gotten a new breakout. I think my breakouts may have been connected with Yaz, either way, I've been waking up at a normal time again, and am slowly starting to feel like myself. That's another reason I wasn't on here. I didn't have then energy to do anything. I almost cried over anything that was going on and would sleep 14 hours a day.. I just was not myself. Betsy helped me out on Facebook! Sorry I didn't reply Betsy, I figured I'd get on here and let you know how I am instead
Anywho! I am pretty content with my skin, it's just filled with scabs that I can't wait for to go away! Now that I feel like myself I will be on here more to support you all
One reason I hate hate having to take birth control! It just adds another factor into the mix that could prevent clearing our skin for good! I am on Loestrin 21 but I have no clue if it's any of the reason for my breakouts. I may opt for a non-hormonal IUD. Glad you got off that Yaz though and that you're feeling better
I know what you mean about spending so much time on these boards! I don't want my skin/accutane to be the ruling factor in my life, but it's so helpful to read these supportive posts! 🙂
Day 120
So I did make today a sick day. No work for this girl! Thank god I didn't. I slept until noon, and then woke up and took a bath. My monthly friend paid me a visit today and holy crap...the cramps that came with it. I felt absolutely awful. My toes are fine. The one that was infected looks a little icky...I hope that it actually heals now.
I almost passed out after my bath. I didn't eat before, so maybe that was why. I had to quick lay on my bed because everything was becoming so blurry, and I felt like I did last time I passed out. Good news is I'm all better now! After some food, and relaxation I feel much better. Thank god I stayed home today.
Also, I forgot to mention yesterday that I have a zit on my back. I just so happened to run my hands along my back yesterday, and felt it. It wasn't a big one or anything, just a random zit. I'm definitely hoping that I can do another month on Accutane right now.
Oh no. Supper crappy.
I'm so so sorry you're having to deal with a toe infection. Or as I like to call these things: an infucktion.
Are you going to ask your derm if the antibiotic you're taking will have any interactions?
Gah...you should take the day off. That is my professional opinion!
Haha, and infucktion! You're hilarious. But really...it was an infucktion.
I kind of don't want to tell my derm. 🙁 She told me before I went on Accutane that if I were to go on any antibiotics I would have to go off Accutane while I was on the antibitoics...and I know others have taken certain antibiotics while on Accutane, so I'm going to just hope that things will be okay. I know that the cycline group of Antibiotics while on Accutane is a no-no though.
I did take the day off. I definitely needed it!! 🙂
Hey Katie! Sounds like a annoying past couple of days for sure! I have had your EXACT situation with the ingrown toenails. I mean like even the infected toe and getting the other one removed without numbing. Scariest thing ever. Those things hurt so bad to get removed so it is natural to be scared when you aren't numbed. Your not a baby about it. That shit hurts
Did you know I also have a yucky chin pimple that scabs again and again? Ugh it is so frustrating isn't it? I was thinking the same thing about not missing getting those spots all over the face. It really sucks once you are used to clearish skin. Hope you are feeling better today!
Hey hey, Betsy! We are seriously somehow twins with all of our medical related issues, haha. Geeez. Strangely enough, the toe that didn't need to be numbed didn't hurt. It wasn't a bad ingrown, it was only slightly ingrown, thank god. The infected toe however, ugh. I wanted to cry with that one. The doc put stuff on it and it stung. He told me not to soak it in a basin anymore with epsom salts and to just use peroxide once a day. I really don't want to have another ingrown again...but something tells me I will. 🙁
I'm so glad I went before it got bad! I knew something just wasn't right. These things are scary. I'm hoping the antibiotic helps...I think that the doctor should have prescribed one to begin with!
And I did end up taking the day off. I had to with how I was feeling, but thankfully I'm feeling better.
These scabby pimples are THE WORST EVER. This one finally has went down a little bit after the scab came off again, but I'm honestly just waiting for it to scab all over again. Yuck. The good news though, is that everything has improved so much except for the few buggers that remain! 🙂
Glad to hear you had a nice vacation, Katie! But that sucks about the toe infection!
You and Betsy are too funny with your twin-ness!
Thanks, Rachel! It does suck, I really thought that it was healing nicely, but then I got back from vacation and it started bugging me. 🙁
Seriously, me and Betsy have so much weird medical related issues in common. Kind of crazy!
I hate these damn scabby zits. I can't wait for the day when we can say that we're done with zits for good. I feel like we're almost there. 🙂
Hey everyone, I'm sorry I've been so MIA. I've been trying to focus on everything but my skin right now, just because I used to be so over-obsessive, and once I'd be on these logs every day, it started happening again, so I decided to take a break, BUT I missed you all too much, you guys are my support and what makes me feel great!
I'll do an update
So today is day 98! I'm a week into month four woohoo!
I've gotten so much drier in the past couple days, my skin is actually flaking dead skin in chunks, ewwie. Since stopping my birth control and starting Loestrin 24, which was 3 days ago, and I hadn't taken a Yaz the night before, so 4 nights, I haven't gotten a new breakout. I think my breakouts may have been connected with Yaz, either way, I've been waking up at a normal time again, and am slowly starting to feel like myself. That's another reason I wasn't on here. I didn't have then energy to do anything. I almost cried over anything that was going on and would sleep 14 hours a day.. I just was not myself. Betsy helped me out on Facebook! Sorry I didn't reply Betsy, I figured I'd get on here and let you know how I am instead
Anywho! I am pretty content with my skin, it's just filled with scabs that I can't wait for to go away! Now that I feel like myself I will be on here more to support you all
I completely understand about just needing a break from the logs and focusing so much on acne, Taylor. Glad you're feeling better now and that you've figured out your issue with the birth control. 🙂 The healing process on tane is a real annoyance. I really miss my normal-healing skin.
Sorry you've been having a rough time lately! I hope you start healing more quickly and that stubborn chin bump gets gone for good! Hang in there!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hi Katie and everybody! I feel like we're all in some weird transition right now even though we're on different days. Maybe this accutane ebbs and flows depending on the levels in your system. I'm on day 87 and up until last week I thought everything was going in a positive direction. I've been battling these old underskin bumps (old cysts turned to nodules??) hoping each day they would get smaller. There is a cluster of about four to the left of my chin almost on my jawline. Well at the end of last week one of them decided to become inflamed (what????) and even though it's separate bumps the swelling just made it look like one big angry cyst but it doesn't feel like a cyst, more like a nodule. And the area is becoming really dry. I'm trying not to peel it so I don't make it bleed but when I wash my face the dry skin comes off and the new skin is so red and tender. Arrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!! And I have some crazy old bump on the right side of my chin that's really small and has been there forever but won't go away and the skin above it keeps peeling making a nice red raw type mark. What the heck accutane, I thought you were supposed to make things better!!!!!! Tomorrow is my derm appointment and I'm both worried she'll up my dose and that she won't up my dose. I don't want to up my dose because I don't want to breakout and have my side effects get worse and I do want to up my dose to move things along a little quicker.
Katie I'm so sorry about the toe situation! It's bad enough dealing with all the accutane shit and then when you have some other sort of health issue it just makes it all worse. I pulled a muscle in my hip and normally I would just be concentrating on icing it and stretching it to get it better but I'm so preoccupied with my skin that I just blow off trying to heal my muscle because mentally I just can't deal with it. I hope the toes heal up quickly for you so you don't have to worry about them anymore. Definitely take time off work if you need to - everyone deserves time to take care of themselves!! I'm going to make homemade gingerbread tonight and have a piece with whipped cream while I watch So You Think You Can Dance (most awesome show ever) as my stress relief tonight so you should do something nice for yourself too!!! I'm telling you the kids on this show can DANCE!!
Hi Katie, my name is Lisa and i've been following your log and all the other girls logs for couple of months now. Yours is actually the first one i saw, and I've been hooked ever since! Back then I was deciding if I wanted to do accutane or not and after reading everyones logs, it really made my decision easier..i start August 9th , I can't wait! So i see you were prescribed cephalexen..that is actually the antibiotic I am taking for my acne now...and although it didnt stop my cysts coming, it truly has helped with the smaller stuff...it has been my favorite antibiotic i have used.. i dont see it much on acne org, but when i started it i went to reviews and it gets great reviews.. so maybe it will help for the stubborn lil buggers you have...Hope you feel better, and ty for the inspiration you've given!
Oh no, Stacey! That sounds like a difficult dilemma with the peeling and tenderness.
Have you thought about seeing what your dermatologist says about upping the dose, and then following their recommendations to keep as is or up it? Sometimes when I'm not sure and scared about these things, I pretty much just put my faith in the professional. She/he should know what they are doing. You might have more side effects, but you could have more clearing, and who knows if those increased side effects become more manageable after a month? For example, when my dose was increased from 40 to 60, I got some painful rashes, drier skin, and more fatigue, but then the rashes went away and the dry skin got better, almost as if my body adapted. It's just something to think about if you're super unsure of what to do...
HOMEMADE GINGERBREAD YUMMM!!!!!!!!!!
We're going out for organic grass-fed bacon burgers on gluten-free buns because we're so run down and tired. Yay for comfort food!