Day 62

My mum just doesn't understand me. I know that's like the most stereotypical thing that all teenagers say but it's so true at the moment. Yesterday I came home from school early because my back was aching so much and I felt like I hadn't slept for 3 weeks... but I've slept loads. Everything just felt so weak and tired.

Anyway, she just looked at me and asked me "is all this really worth it?". She has obviously never had acne.

I know that feeling. Even as a 25 year old man!

I just started my course 2 days ago at the same doseage as you and have been keeping up with how you're coping. Just hang in there and I'm sure at the end of it all you'll be delighted you did.

 

Day 62

My mum just doesn't understand me. I know that's like the most stereotypical thing that all teenagers say but it's so true at the moment. Yesterday I came home from school early because my back was aching so much and I felt like I hadn't slept for 3 weeks... but I've slept loads. Everything just felt so weak and tired.

Anyway, she just looked at me and asked me "is all this really worth it?". She has obviously never had acne.

I know that feeling. Even as a 25 year old man!

I just started my course 2 days ago at the same doseage as you and have been keeping up with how you're coping. Just hang in there and I'm sure at the end of it all you'll be delighted you did.

Haha!

Day 69

Things are looking up I've been much less achy this past week and my eczema is almost gone so I've stopped using steroid cream and I'm now just moisturising like mad.

My skin's getting better! Only 2 spots on my cheeks and the PIH is fading amazingly quickly. I almost feel happy about the way my cheeks look!! My chin's still not great but it's almost as if I can feel it healing more and more every day. Feeling good

Thank you for convincing me to keep going with this guys. If you're in the early days of your course then the best advice I can give you is to not think about all the horrible side effects that you have and the awful state of your IB, just visualise that clear skin you'll have in a few months. It will happen, I promise.

I'm not quite clear yet, but I think this is the start of something good.

Day 71

Yesterday I spent 30 in Boots on moisturiser, lip balm and eye drops...

Just a really quick message from me. Glad things are looking up. I haven't had a single spot for ages now, my scarring is fading on my back is minimal and not noticeable and I am going out tonight with friends with flawless skin and actually having my back on show haven't had my back on show for 6 years. I feel amazing and you will soon too

 

Just a really quick message from me. Glad things are looking up. I haven't had a single spot for ages now, my scarring is fading on my back is minimal and not noticeable and I am going out tonight with friends with flawless skin and actually having my back on show haven't had my back on show for 6 years. I feel amazing and you will soon too

Thank you! So pleased to hear from you, glad it all worked out for you, enjoy it, you deserve it

Day 84

I write this from my holiday in sunny Spain. I'm doing it from my phone so please excuse any typos.

Before I left for Spain, I had a hospital appointment. When I told the nurse I was going to be spending 3 weeks in Madrid, she suggested I stop taking the medication until I return home. It may sound silly, but I just didn't want to stop. With my skin finally showing improvements, I want to keep going. Therefore, I haven't stopped taking it but we didn't increase my dosage as originally planned so I'm still on 40mg.

The instruction booklet says that Roaccutane shouldn't be stored above 25 degrees celsius. I knew that it would be hotter than that here so I asked the nurse if maybe I should keep them in the fridge. She said no, just in the coolest place you can find (eg a cupboard). Hope this helps anyone else jetting off any where I was surprised I hadn't seen other people mention this

concern.

So, it's hot here. I'm surviving by reapplying factor 50 suncream every few hours, wearing a enormous hat and staying in the shade when possible. So far, no sunburn!! Whooo!!

I've had a rash down both my arms for the past few days. It's no where near as bad as the eczema I used to have but it's a tad itchy. I think it's because I've become a little complacent with moisturising since I've been on holiday, and I doubt the heat's helped. I'm not too worried though

My skin continues to improve, only 3 or 4 active spots on my face now Although the red marks in my chin are still quite prominent, I'm feeling goooood, I hope to post pictures once I'm home.

I've been here one week now, already used a full bottle of eye drops, they do NOT like this heat... but I do so I'm going to enjoy it

¡Hasta luego amigos!

Day 88

Skin continues to improve, I'm so pleased.

Yesterday, a five year old girl told me I was beautiful, and do you know what, for that moment I forgot about my skin, and I really did feel it. It's amazing how much of a difference one kind comment can make to your self confidence

Day 101!

I can't begin to explain how amazing I feel so I thought I'd show you instead.

Drum roll please...

Why are my photos upside down?!! Sorry about these guys, but I hope you can see my awesome skin anyway

I'd forgotten that feeling of a soft smooth cheek You can't really see the extent of my scarring in these photos but I've been left with quite damaged skin. However, for today I can forget about that and just enjoy the skin I have now. It's almost unbelievable when I look at how my skin used to look. I can't believe it's all happened so incredibly quickly. I know I have been very lucky, even though that's not how it felt for the first couple of months!

congrats! You look great!

Your skin looks amazing!! Enjoy every bit of it!

Thanks so much guys!

That does look really good, it's like night and day!

WOW! You're skin looks amazing!! I just finished my first month but i have not seen any results yet. I hope my skin looks like yours by month 3!

Wow ur pics have encouraged me to continue with my isotretinoin I'm currently on week 3 and breaking out like crazy .

Your skin looks so so great

Wow ur pics have encouraged me to continue with my isotretinoin I'm currently on week 3 and breaking out like crazy .

 

Your skin looks so so great

Thank you In those early days it felt like my skin would never clear, but it did and your's will too, just try try try to stay positive

Day 110

Skin is pretty much clear! There are only a few tiny bumps on my chin but that's about it

Yesterday was my first bad day in a while. My lower back hurts.... a lot. It hurts when I stand up/sit or bend down. I feel like an old lady It's bearable though, 100% worth it for my skin.

For you guys out there needing a little motivation in those early days of accutane, I heard a nice little quote, "You can't make a rainbow without a little rain"

Hey Accutane buddy! It's been a while!
Great to see everything's going well with u!

Just a bit update to u if u r interested, haha!
I am doing great here! Skin really cleared up. I literally don't even know what's benzoyl peroxide anymore, haha!!! It's awesome!

I just got bumped up to 80 mg a day for this month, lost track of the months already... but I think I started at the same time as u

I got a bit break out on my cheeks when I started to take 80mg initially, but nothing seriously, just a bump or two.
My skin isn't crazily dry though, my lips aren't crazily chopped like people always experience, I just slather on vaseline before I go to bed, and then the next day I don't even have to wear any lipstick while out. ( Although if I forget to put vaseline on at night then my lips would 100% be super dry the next day)

I use Ivory soap to wash my face with hot water at night, scrub my nose with the scrubby thing that I got if it feels rough to touch. And I don't use any moisturizer on my skin. In the morning I don't wash, just wake up and head to sch like a mindless zombie, haha!

I think it's different for each person on how our skin react, I personally only experienced the super dry effect during the few two months and then my skin just balance itself out but still slightly on the dry side. No bone/ankle/back pain at all too. Except I did get fatigue more easily during the first month.

Hope things will continue to get better for u!
I probably won't log on here much from now on, seriously for the past few months, I have been touching my face and sleeping on my side occasionally, yet I am still doing fine!

And I can picture you being completely recover at the end of the course already! Hang in there!

Hey Accutane buddy! It's been a while!

Great to see everything's going well with u!

 

Just a bit update to u if u r interested, haha!

I am doing great here! Skin really cleared up. I literally don't even know what's benzoyl peroxide anymore, haha!!! It's awesome!

I just got bumped up to 80 mg a day for this month, lost track of the months already... but I think I started at the same time as u

I got a bit break out on my cheeks when I started to take 80mg initially, but nothing seriously, just a bump or two.

My skin isn't crazily dry though, my lips aren't crazily chopped like people always experience, I just slather on vaseline before I go to bed, and then the next day I don't even have to wear any lipstick while out. ( Although if I forget to put vaseline on at night then my lips would 100% be super dry the next day)

I use Ivory soap to wash my face with hot water at night, scrub my nose with the scrubby thing that I got if it feels rough to touch. And I don't use any moisturizer on my skin. In the morning I don't wash, just wake up and head to sch like a mindless zombie, haha!

I think it's different for each person on how our skin react, I personally only experienced the super dry effect during the few two months and then my skin just balance itself out but still slightly on the dry side. No bone/ankle/back pain at all too. Except I did get fatigue more easily during the first month.

Hope things will continue to get better for u!

I probably won't log on here much from now on, seriously for the past few months, I have been touching my face and sleeping on my side occasionally, yet I am still doing fine!

And I can picture you being completely recover at the end of the course already! Hang in there!

Hi Accutane buddy!!

Thanks for the update, so pleased to hear that you're loving this as much as I am! I'm so happy for both of us!

Day 114 (almost 4 months!)

I had a hospital appointment yesterday. My blood test results were all perfect

My cumulative dosage is now above the minimum amount for my weight so the doctor even suggested stopping yesterday. However, since I'm coping pretty well we decided to keep going for a little longer so there's less chance of the acne returning.

Anyway, my I'm now taking 50mg per day and have been given my final prescription!

Only 6 weeks to go! By then I'll have reached my maximum cumulative dosage

Skin 99% clear, I have around 2 tiny tiny spots on my face and one on my back. Life is gooooood

Hello! I've just read through your log and would like to say congratulations on battling through the tough times, and achieving such great results.

I'm two weeks into my treatment now, at 20mg. I'll be starting 40mg tomorrow, and I'm a little worried about the initial breakout but I'm sure I'll survive. Just a question...Did you experience any chest pains at all? My chest/rib area is quite "tight" and uncomfortable at times, and I'm worried about this worsening when I increase to 40mg. Also, I noticed that you've mentioned using baby oil...did you mix this with your moisturiser? I'm thinking of buying Jojoba oil, but the organic stuff is so expensive and I'm a poor student!

Hello! I've just read through your log and would like to say congratulations on battling through the tough times, and achieving such great results.

I'm two weeks into my treatment now, at 20mg. I'll be starting 40mg tomorrow, and I'm a little worried about the initial breakout but I'm sure I'll survive. Just a question...Did you experience any chest pains at all? My chest/rib area is quite "tight" and uncomfortable at times, and I'm worried about this worsening when I increase to 40mg. Also, I noticed that you've mentioned using baby oil...did you mix this with your moisturiser? I'm thinking of buying Jojoba oil, but the organic stuff is so expensive and I'm a poor student!

Hi! Thanks

Even if you do break out horrifically, I can promise you it will all be worth it in the end

I haven't experienced any chest pains at all, that sounds quite strange. I would suggest starting a new thread about it to find out if anyone else has experienced this because it's something I haven't really heard of. If not, I'd definitely mention this to your doctor

I have been bathing (literally!) in baby oil. In those early days of eczema, I realised that having showers was drying my skin out even more so I have been only having baths for the past 4 months. Now I apply a layer of baby oil to my skin once I'm in the bath to prevent it from drying out. On the bottle it suggests applying it to wet skin once you're out the bath but I've found that to leave my skin a bit greasy and slimy so I do it when I'm in there. It leaves your skin really soft but I haven't been using it on my face just because it's oily.

I looked in to Jojoba oil too but quickly decided that was a big no! Baby oil is quite affordable, plus I figured that if it's designed for babies skin then it must be super gentle.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment

Day 128

So I've been on 50mg for almost 3 weeks now and I got one new (big ish) spot after increasing my dose but that was it.

Now the only side effects bothering me are the dry lips, the dry eyes and the backache but other than that I've sort of become used to this dry way of living

However I do know that once I stop taking Roaccutane, I'll relish the feel of no longer having a tiny panic attack every time I think I've lost my lip balm!

These past few months, I think I've eaten more lip balm than food...

 

Hello! I've just read through your log and would like to say congratulations on battling through the tough times, and achieving such great results.

I'm two weeks into my treatment now, at 20mg. I'll be starting 40mg tomorrow, and I'm a little worried about the initial breakout but I'm sure I'll survive. Just a question...Did you experience any chest pains at all? My chest/rib area is quite "tight" and uncomfortable at times, and I'm worried about this worsening when I increase to 40mg. Also, I noticed that you've mentioned using baby oil...did you mix this with your moisturiser? I'm thinking of buying Jojoba oil, but the organic stuff is so expensive and I'm a poor student!

Hi! Thanks

Even if you do break out horrifically, I can promise you it will all be worth it in the end

I haven't experienced any chest pains at all, that sounds quite strange. I would suggest starting a new thread about it to find out if anyone else has experienced this because it's something I haven't really heard of. If not, I'd definitely mention this to your doctor

I have been bathing (literally!) in baby oil. In those early days of eczema, I realised that having showers was drying my skin out even more so I have been only having baths for the past 4 months. Now I apply a layer of baby oil to my skin once I'm in the bath to prevent it from drying out. On the bottle it suggests applying it to wet skin once you're out the bath but I've found that to leave my skin a bit greasy and slimy so I do it when I'm in there. It leaves your skin really soft but I haven't been using it on my face just because it's oily.

I looked in to Jojoba oil too but quickly decided that was a big no! Baby oil is quite affordable, plus I figured that if it's designed for babies skin then it must be super gentle.

Good luck with the rest of your treatment

Hello! Sorry, only just noticed your reply.

The chest pains were odd but they have completely faded now. I just have back ache and hip pain to replace it!

Ohh great tip. I've been using a drop of baby oil with my vaseline for my lips. It seems to help the flaking a lot. Jojoba oil costs a BOMB so I'm glad I never bought any of that. I've just been using E45 cream after my evening shower and it has kept the dry skin at bay and I haven't suffered with any eczema/rough patch issues at all! My face is getting a little bit flakey, though. Ah well, at least it's working its magic!

Haha, your comment about the lip balm made me chuckle. One thing I recommend is having more than one scattered around. I'm using vaseline at the moment, and I have about three tins in random places in my room. It really helps! I also have one in my bag. I would lose my mind if I only owned one.

Day 150

15 days left and counting! This is rough. I though it'd get easier towards the end but my life has reached a whole new level of dryness.

Oh well, the end is in sight and so is clear skin

I'll post photos on my final day

Wow, your skin looks amazing! Reading through your blog gave me more hope that my skin will eventually clear up as well! I really hope it happens as fast as yours. I just went through the IB and I really wanted to quite accutane since my skin was worse that it had ever been before, but I now I just have to be patient and wait for my skin to clear up. Also, did/do you ever wear makeup to cover up your acne? If yes, what kind/brand? I'm having a hard time finding a foundation to cover everything up and that is also suitable for dry skin.

Wow, your skin looks amazing! Reading through your blog gave me more hope that my skin will eventually clear up as well! I really hope it happens as fast as yours. I just went through the IB and I really wanted to quite accutane since my skin was worse that it had ever been before, but I now I just have to be patient and wait for my skin to clear up. Also, did/do you ever wear makeup to cover up your acne? If yes, what kind/brand? I'm having a hard time finding a foundation to cover everything up and that is also suitable for dry skin.

Thanks, I guarantee your skin will clear up beautifully.

I've found it difficult to wear makeup too. When my skin was at its worst it was too painful to wear makeup so I didn't. Before that I just wore concealer. Now the acne's gone I have tried a variety of different things to cover it up but with no success at all due to my crazily dry skin.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, if I were you I'd start a new thread to discuss this (or maybe look for a existing one) as I'm sure other people have had this issue too.

Good luck with everything

The Final Day!!- Day 164 (5 1/2 months)

Today after dinner I will take my final pills of Roaccutane.

5 and a half months, 4 tubes of moisturiser, 6 bottles of eye drops, a few tears and goodness knows how much lip balm later, this is the result...

16th May 2013 27th October 2013

Thank you for everyone who's helped me and encouraged me along the way. It still astounds me that this log has had over 5000 views today, that's pretty crazy. I don't think I could have done this without the support and help of people on this website. I'd really like to give this back so I'm happy if anyone wants to message me or ask questions about my treatment

If you're out there suffering with acne, my best advice to you is not to let it get to you. I know that sounds like the hardest thing in the world right now but one day, your skin will be clear and you'll regret putting your life on hold like I do now.

Live your life like you have nothing to be ashamed of because you really reaaaaally don't.

I feel like a different person, honestly, this has changed my life.

Thank you Roaccutane