There is, to me, an obviously correct answer here, you're just trying to rationalize your minor alcoholism... if you think your Accutane course is inhibiting your drinking and not the other way around, there's a problem, eh? I get that you have a social life and drinking is a big part of it, but you may want to re-evaluate your perspective if you're considering cutting a medication short just so you can feel better about drinking regularly. I'm not trying to sound preachy, just frank.

You guys are absolutely right. It's nice to hear another perspective outside of my little bubble I live in at college. It's amazing how much your surroundings can influence your logic and ways of thinking. Even not on accutane, the lifestyle I'm surrounded by is unacceptable. I suppose my peer group just justifies it because we're all at a top university and all getting very good grades, but that doesn't make excessive drinking and drug use okay. When reading it, it does seem completely idiotic to cut my course short so I can get drunk for 4 weekends? Yeah pretty dumb lol. Starting this weekend I'm done getting shitfaced. I also started playing hockey again so that will keep me busy as well so that should help. Tonight will be my test run. I'm going out to the bars with friends and I'm limiting myself to 2 drinks.

Another thing I've been thinking is all this substance abuse could also be contributing to some of my depression and anxiety.... I do feel a bit "unfulfilled" with life and maybe stepping back from drinking could allow me to branch out and find something better than partying that brings me real happiness.... That's been on my mind quite a bit lately as well.

I just got my bloodwork done and he results were very good again. I was very concerned due to the drinking. I'm definately not going to drink like I have the past few weeks for the future.

So this was my first weekend of toning down the drinking, and I must say it went well. I didn't drink a lot any night. I did drink thursday, friday, and saturday, but I didn't get drunk just casually drank. It actually felt good to not be hungover or feeling like shit lol. I have my appointment with the new derm at school on tuesday. I'm looking forward to hearing his viewpoints as compared to my derm on dosage and drinking....

hows the back doing?

Your be done in no time ! Finish the course then you can get back to your party ways after ! Your thank yourself

Day 120

So I;m officially 4 months in. I went to my new derm and he was really good. He agreed on 6 months, but said he saw good results anywhere from 120-150 mg/kg courses. My 6 months will put me at 144mg/kg which we both agreed on. My skin looks great ad its even starting to dry a little more which is good because I still am a little oily in my T-zone. My whole back and face remain clear.

I didn't have much school work this week so I did go out drinking, but only moderately. I just casually drank beers as opposed to getting shitfaced. I have very busy week and then I will be out of town doing philanthropic work this weekend so my drinking will be very limited this week which is good. I spoke with my new derm about drinking and he said he doesn't see it as a preblem as long as it was to a minumum. He said a lot of his patients are college students at my school and they all drink with no prolems... just don't go on any benders or anything.

I feel a lot better since I've reduced my drinking and plan to keep it to a minumum until im done with my course in November.

any pics?

My face was actually almost clear when starting a few months back becasue I had been on minocycline, so I didn't really take pictures. I'm gonna try to take some to show what my face looks like now. There's not much to see to be honest... just clear face and some redness around my chin.

So I had a miserable time today trying to switch providers on iplegde... Apparently you need to do a questionaire every month before getting your prescription and use a username and password on the ipledge website??? I had never done this before so I had to fight with both my old office and my new one. Finally, I just called the 800 number on my ipledge card and got a password and switched providers, but damn.

Do all of you know your username and password and fill out questions before getting your presripction? I've always just gone to the derm, got my prescription after he checks my bloodwork, and then taken my card with me when I pick the prescription. My new office blamed my old office, and my old office blamed my pharmacist for not having the questions online previously lol. What do yall think?

Day 140ish

I'm doing well. Nothing to report. Clear as ever and keeping my drinking under control.

Happy for you !

DAY 165

Hey everyone. Not much news here. I have been getting the occasional clogged pore on my chin which is kind of unsettling but after I scrape it off gently, the inflamation s gone by the end of the day. My nose is SOOOO dry. I seriously am getting like giant bricks of boogers up there (sorry, gross!). My skin though isn't really all that dry which is weird. I'm definitly a lot drier than i was but my chin is still kind of oily by the end of the day. My new derm said that it doesn't matter, but I'm sure my derm back home will disagree when i see him next week. My derm up at college said after this month (month 6) i was done but my derm from home wants me to do another month at my current dose. After this month, I will be at around 147 mg/kg. I know this is right near the 150 mark, but I've seen people do WAY higher doses. I'm thinking I may do another month because my side affects are minimal and im still getting the occasional clogged pore. Another month will put me at around 175 mg/kg i believe so I think I'm just gonna do it. What do ya'll think? I just really wana give myslef the best chance for permanent remission.

Also, random but does anyone know of any good shave creams? I think the one I'm using may be casuing the clogged pores. I'm using neutrogena shave cream for sensitive skin.

10 days post accutane

So after a 6 month course, I reached about 150 mg/kg (my weight fluctuates but that was about the average). I went to my derm for my final appointment and talked to him about the little clogged pores I was getting on my chin. Keep in mind these are very, very mild. LIke hardly noticeable. He said it was folliculitis from shaving. I have had folliculitis in the past so this was not surprsing. To combat this, he prescribed me Veltin which is tretinoin and clindamycin in one topical. I've used both in the past but not in one topical. I started it about 2 days after stopping accutane with surprsingly little irritation. I only use it on my chin, nose, and forehead because that's the only place I get acne. We both agreed on using a retinoid for 6 months post acccutane anyway, but he said the addition of the clindamycin in veltin would decrease folliculitis. He himself actually uses it so that was reassuring.

So far, I had one little clogged pore that had been there through my whole course that the veltin brought to the surface, but other than that I have had no new spots post accutane. My lips are WAY better already. My one concern is my oil is already coming back on my chin. It's weird because the oil is still gone on my forehead and nose, except for the chin. My chin never really got dry on accutane, but it did get to what I would call "normal". Now it's back to getting oily (I'd say about 25% of pre tane) but this is scaring the shit out of me because im only 10 days off. If it stayed like it is now I'd be thrilled, but I only see it getting worse as I get longer and longer off accutane. If the acne stays away, I can live with it, but the oil was what me and my derm believed the culprit was before tane so it coming back is frightening.

Do you guys think it could be the tretinoin or the clindamycin in the veltin that is ramping the oil back up? I'm just nervous. What do ya'll think?

Right now I am just washing 2X per day and moisturizing plus the veltin at night.

2 Weeks post tane

So not much to report. Since starting the new topical, haven't had a lick of folliculitis. My skin is a bit flaky in the morning, but nothing moisturizer can't handle. It has also gotten very cold where I am so this could be contributing. OIl has remained the same this week. Defintiely more than on accutane, but nothing near where it was. I'm also finding I'm less fatigued, and not sleeping as much. I never thought tat was a real side affect, but I'm thinking it was. I was sleeping 9+ hours a day while on tane, and lately I've been getting about 7-8 and feel great. That will be nice for finals next week.

were you able to sleep without waking up during tane?

were you able to sleep without waking up during tane?

Hey,

I'm sorry I've been pretty inactive on here since finshing tane. I ad no problems sleeping. I had hardly any side affects at all and im about 4 months post tane I thnk? But yeah it was an awesome experience for me. Message me if you have any questions. I was quite meticulous during my course with products and keeping track of everything so I'll do my best to answer any of your questions

10ish Months Post Accutane I think??

So I haven't been on in forever and I figured I'd update this old log. I finshed up accutane last January or December I think. Can't remember exactly. But anyways, everything is going great! I am completely clear and still using Veltin Topical. I still get occasional tiny clogged pores but they're gone within 24 hours. I have noticed no long-term side affect (I had very few side effects during my course). I graduated college and work now 12 hours a day (yay Finance! lol) and am super stressed and still no breakouts. This has been so nice being able to focus without worrying about my skin getting crazy. I still use the same regimen post accutane plus the Veltin topical (reinoid and clindamycin) and its been smooth sailing. Accutane has been such a positive experience for me and I am so thankful.

If anyone has any questions please message me!!! I'm going to be more diligent about keeping in touch with everyhting.