I hate those ones on the side of the mouth.

Overall, things sound better, though, no?

Yesterday was my birthday and I got proposed to! Nice to not be thinking about acne at the time, lol. It was a long time coming, we have lived together for ten years already and have a five year old son. Still nice to finally hear it.

Now to hope I can schedule a quick wedding in case the ol' acne comes back when my course is over in a month or so. Funny how whether it is active or not, it's still always there.

Looking forward to your next update. I have a good feeling about this new dose!

Day 216 Saturday 31st May

Still breaking out. I gotta say my patience and optimism is wearing extremely thin. I'm now into month 8 so if I don't stop breaking out very soon, I'm afraid it simply isn't going to happen.

At present I have around 2 healing inflamed pustules on both sides of my jawline. The pustule on my chin is still flattening out and is very red. The spot that was on the left corner of my mouth died in a couple of days and I have just got another one on the right hand side of my mouth which is one of the ouchy ones. I'm getting tiny non- inflamed spots on both of my cheeks and forehead still.

I am sorry that this has not been the most predictable ride. I've been there last year when my course of accutane never helped my acne the way i expected it to. A year later and I am back to square one. Whats your reasoning for not doing a full course? Keep positive as sometimes it takes being off the medicine for a while to see more progress. Also, while accutane manipulates the structure of your pores and oil production, those are not the only factors in acne. Have you looked at diet changes and such?

Hopefully you'll find relief soon

I hate those ones on the side of the mouth.

Overall, things sound better, though, no?

Yesterday was my birthday and I got proposed to! Nice to not be thinking about acne at the time, lol. It was a long time coming, we have lived together for ten years already and have a five year old son. Still nice to finally hear it.

Now to hope I can schedule a quick wedding in case the ol' acne comes back when my course is over in a month or so. Funny how whether it is active or not, it's still always there.

Looking forward to your next update. I have a good feeling about this new dose!

Hi Kim,

Late reply to this, apologies. I broke my arm and have been avoiding typing as it's a real pain. Congrats on your engagement, that's great! How long have you got left on your course and how is it going?

I think my skin is better but I am still breaking out! I am now at day 232. I'm getting flattish red lumps on my jawline and occasional small pimples around my mouth. Also still getting small papules, comedones and whiteheads on my cheeks and foreheads.

I have another derm appointment next week which will mark almost 8 months on tane. I'm feeling pretty terrified about it to be honest. I'm hoping I can just stay on this dose and then taper down to a maintenance dose if/when I get clear. I'm not sure if my derm will prescribe me a maintenance dose and I'm also worried that if i'm still breaking out a touch on just over 20mg/day I'm worried a lower maintenance dose won't curb breakouts.

Anyhow, thanks again for the message/support over my journey.

I am sorry that this has not been the most predictable ride. I've been there last year when my course of accutane never helped my acne the way i expected it to. A year later and I am back to square one. Whats your reasoning for not doing a full course? Keep positive as sometimes it takes being off the medicine for a while to see more progress. Also, while accutane manipulates the structure of your pores and oil production, those are not the only factors in acne. Have you looked at diet changes and such?

Hopefully you'll find relief soon

hi sasch

Thanks for the message/support. I have tried some diet things like paleo/low gi but haven't noticed a change. I hope you find something that works, I'm male but spiro seems pretty good. Not sure what else to try if this fails. I have very little resolve left after more than 18 years of this disease.

Day 238

Almost 8 months down now. Skin has been doing pretty well, but then bang today I woke up with a new, medium sized inflamed spot on my right jawline. Other than that I have no real inflammatory actives to speak of. Still getting non-inflammatory and some tiny papules on my forehead and cheeks. I have a derm review this week.

Sounds promising.

Slow and steady wins the race!

I am in the last few days of my course now. I'm going to miss the security of taking it every day. Here's hoping we both make it through the next little while with some great successes.

Into month 9 now. Had my derm review, I've been bumped up slightly to 30mg/day for the next few months. I'm breaking out a little bit again which I find confusing. A couple of small inflamed ones under my lip on the left hand side. A small pustule on my right cheek. A small inflamed spot near my left cheekbone up high. And quite a number of closed comedones on my cheeks and jawline.

Meh, it looks like I might need to face the reality that Accutane is not going to completely control my acne. Which sucks because my acne has a propensity to scar so it would be lovely not to get any. But life is unkind, one would think 18 years of acne would be enough to suffer, but no we continue to break out. I might have to look at a maintenance dose plus topical. Dunno, although my current treatment is doing a good job, it's not quite cutting it. Options are limited, sigh.

Into month 9 now. Had my derm review, I've been bumped up slightly to 30mg/day for the next few months. I'm breaking out a little bit again which I find confusing. A couple of small inflamed ones under my lip on the left hand side. A small pustule on my right cheek. A small inflamed spot near my left cheekbone up high. And quite a number of closed comedones on my cheeks and jawline.

Meh, it looks like I might need to face the reality that Accutane is not going to completely control my acne. Which sucks because my acne has a propensity to scar so it would be lovely not to get any. But life is unkind, one would think 18 years of acne would be enough to suffer, but no we continue to break out. I might have to look at a maintenance dose plus topical. Dunno, although my current treatment is doing a good job, it's not quite cutting it. Options are limited, sigh.

Have you thought about going on a regular course and try maintaining with topicals after? I also did 3 courses and i found that topicals worked much better after my last course. I was pretty clear from using the Regimen but developed eczema so I had to stop. I don't hink accutane is a cure for the majority of people, it just buys us time.

Good Luck JJ

I wish you had some progress pics. I'm getting on the low dose soon and I can't help but wonder if you're exaggerating that things are that bad at month 9 or if a low dose is really not working.....

Into month 9 now. Had my derm review, I've been bumped up slightly to 30mg/day for the next few months. I'm breaking out a little bit again which I find confusing. A couple of small inflamed ones under my lip on the left hand side. A small pustule on my right cheek. A small inflamed spot near my left cheekbone up high. And quite a number of closed comedones on my cheeks and jawline.

Meh, it looks like I might need to face the reality that Accutane is not going to completely control my acne. Which sucks because my acne has a propensity to scar so it would be lovely not to get any. But life is unkind, one would think 18 years of acne would be enough to suffer, but no we continue to break out. I might have to look at a maintenance dose plus topical. Dunno, although my current treatment is doing a good job, it's not quite cutting it. Options are limited, sigh.

Hi leelowe

I'm not sure about doing a regular course, I'm not sure if it would work better than a low dose course. The research I did seemed to indicate that it worked as well as traditional higher dose courses but as yet I am still breaking out, whereas on my 2 traditional courses I stopped. I did relapse shortly afterwards both times though. Thanks for the well wishes.

 

Into month 9 now. Had my derm review, I've been bumped up slightly to 30mg/day for the next few months. I'm breaking out a little bit again which I find confusing. A couple of small inflamed ones under my lip on the left hand side. A small pustule on my right cheek. A small inflamed spot near my left cheekbone up high. And quite a number of closed comedones on my cheeks and jawline.

Meh, it looks like I might need to face the reality that Accutane is not going to completely control my acne. Which sucks because my acne has a propensity to scar so it would be lovely not to get any. But life is unkind, one would think 18 years of acne would be enough to suffer, but no we continue to break out. I might have to look at a maintenance dose plus topical. Dunno, although my current treatment is doing a good job, it's not quite cutting it. Options are limited, sigh.

Have you thought about going on a regular course and try maintaining with topicals after? I also did 3 courses and i found that topicals worked much better after my last course. I was pretty clear from using the Regimen but developed eczema so I had to stop. I don't hink accutane is a cure for the majority of people, it just buys us time.

Good Luck JJ

Hi getmetheresults. I wouldn't say it isn't working as such. I only posted that one picture, but it's off a phone and you can't see it well at all. To try and explain it as accurately as I can, the reason I am disenchanted is that I haven't completely stopped breaking out. I didn't have much active acne at the start of my course (it was already well controlled). I have always only had a few actives , it's just every time they heal up new ones spring up. I can't get completely clear and stay that way. I was almost completely clear at the start of my course, I just haven't seemed to progress to totally clear and staying that way and it's frustrating because it's been more than 8 months. I'm sure you'll have great results from low dose and I wish you the best of luck.

 

I wish you had some progress pics. I'm getting on the low dose soon and I can't help but wonder if you're exaggerating that things are that bad at month 9 or if a low dose is really not working.....

Into month 9 now. Had my derm review, I've been bumped up slightly to 30mg/day for the next few months. I'm breaking out a little bit again which I find confusing. A couple of small inflamed ones under my lip on the left hand side. A small pustule on my right cheek. A small inflamed spot near my left cheekbone up high. And quite a number of closed comedones on my cheeks and jawline.

Meh, it looks like I might need to face the reality that Accutane is not going to completely control my acne. Which sucks because my acne has a propensity to scar so it would be lovely not to get any. But life is unkind, one would think 18 years of acne would be enough to suffer, but no we continue to break out. I might have to look at a maintenance dose plus topical. Dunno, although my current treatment is doing a good job, it's not quite cutting it. Options are limited, sigh.

The small pustule on my right cheek came and went as did the one on my left cheekbone. The inflamed spots under my lip died but the clogged pores that spored them remain. I'm guessing it might inflame again. In the last few days I've had a couple of small papules pop up next to the right side of my mouth. Could be from dryness, they only lasted a couple of days and they've died. I've potentially got another springing up on either corner of my mouth. It's sore there and I can feel them brewing. I've also got a tiny pinprick papule/comedone right at the top of my forehead.

In summary, still getting zits but they are pretty small, not too inflamed and aren't hanging around too long fortunately. Haven't had a big inflamed spot for over 3 weeks. My forehead and cheeks continue to have plenty of closed comedones, tiny papules (some slightly inflamed). Accutane doesn't seem to budge these at all. They don't get bigger and inflame or get pushed out, they just sit there.

I've now been on tane for just over 8 and a half months.

First 8 weeks @ 60mg/week = 480mg

Next 13 weeks @ 100mg/week = 1300mg

Next 6 weeks at 20mg/day = 840mg

Next 2 weeks at 170mg/week = 340mg

Next 5 weeks at 180mg = 900mg

100 mg till Friday 27th June = 100mg

From Friday 27th June 30mg/day alternating 40/20 starting with 40 = 580mg (including 40mg taken today, Tuesday 15th July)

Total = 4540mg, Weight approx. 75kg = 60.5mg/kg

Hi Kim

Thanks for the pic. You look great. I don't really want to post a recognisable pic on here, but if you want to see what I look like I can PM you or give you my facebook privately.

I've just been getting really small tiny papules and pustules the last few days or so. About 4 on my chin and 1 above my lip which is weird because I haven't had anything on my chin for about 8 weeks. Maybe 30mg/day is pushing stuff out. They're tiny and barely noticeable but it is inflammatory acne.

I don't post pics either. Just been waiting for you to check your log and deleted it.

Happy to share in a PM if you want a pic of me that lasts forever . . . ha ha ha ha!

Sorry to hear about the inflammatory crap. Hopefully the Accutane is pushing out the last of it.

1 month out of my course and still doing well. Still pretty worried as this acne I recently had was like a whole new breed of pain - so maybe the Accutane will not keep it away as well this time? Hoping that's just my paranoia speaking.

Into month 10 now. I haven't had a medium sized zit for over 2 weeks now or a largish one for over 5 weeks. I'm getting a couple of new zits most days ATM but they are typically small or tiny, not very inflamed and are healing quickly. Small enough that even I may not notice them unless I look closely. Some of them pop up and die within a day or 2. I think Accutane might be pushing stuff out, not sure though.

I'll be on 30mg/day for the next 8 weeks at least till my next derm appointment. Have now taken 4920mg total. At my weight of 75kg (approx. haven't weighed myself during course) that's 65.5mg/kg.

Well after being pretty content with my skin for the last month or so, I have had a nasty reality check today. Just shaved for the first time in 6 days revealing my jawline is badly broken out the right side is okay and only has 2 or 3 zits. The left side however had around 10 inflammatory papules and pustules. Most aren't too big but there are a couple of quite large ones too.

This is the worst my skin gas been for a few months and I had hoped I was past getting this number of zits at one time. My diet has been shocking lately and I've been having too much caffeine. For some reason not shaving for a few days always reveals zits when I do shave. I have been pretty carefree about my skin lately, not worrying about my diet and neglecting to shave.

Need to get this back on track, will take at least a week or two for this breakout to heal up. Hoping for a better few days skin wise as this latest development sucks. I had been feeling great, this is hopefully just a blip.

Well darn. Hopefully it's just from upping your dose recently. Hoping for a happy update soon. Hang in there pal!

Hey thanks Kim. That outbreak has all pretty much healed up now. Nearly 10 months down now. I'm still getting active breakouts on my jawline and around my mouth. Most days I have at least 1 new zit. They are not too big though, don't seem to have much gunk in them and seem to heal pretty quick. Got about 2 actives on my right jawline, 3 on my left. Now taken 5600mg of Accutane which for 75kg is around 75mg/kg. As I am still getting actives, I am going to request to go past 12 months and also look at trying for a cumulative dose of 120-150mg/kg.

I've also developed some quite bad angular chellitis on one side of my mouth. Tried just using extra moisturiser or lip balm but it's not helping. Do I need something like a cortisone cream? Any suggestions. Thanks.

Feeling pretty shit and defeated today. Got a big, deep Zit near my right sideburns. It hasn't got all inflamed yet but it's big and I can't see it healing without getting inflamed.

Almost 10 months on tane. Still not at the point of no breakouts

10 months of taking accutane today. I've been breaking out the last few days with small inflammatory stuff on the lower half of my face.

It's pretty much been the same story throughout my whole course. My acne has stayed pretty mild and controlled but I've never gotten to the point of not breaking out and staying that way.

Got me pretty down an depressed if I'm honest. I really thought after 10 months I would have ceased the breakouts. I guess either the daily dose has been too low or the cumulative dose not enough. So frustrating particularly as I see other people's logs who stopped breaking out even on low doses after a couple of months.

I've now taken 5840 mg in total which for my weight is approx 78mg/kg.

Send any prayers, good luck, karma etc. my way, I need it.

Sorry to hear this, JJ. Sending my best thoughts your way.

You will get through this. It will not be forever.

JJ,

Hi. I'm 30 years old and have also dealt with acne for a solid 18 years. Concerning Accutane, in my early 20s, I required a lengthy course of Accutane. I kept breaking out in months 5 through 9, but I was on a higher dose of the drug. My dermatologist maxed out at 80mg a day, and yes, there were major side effects toward the end of the year. I ended up taking Accutane for about 13 months I was about 96% clear, and then I had a month off and some light acne returned which necessitated another 4 month course at 80mg. I basically took moderate-to-high-dose Accutane for 1.5 years. I eventually cleared completely, and stayed clear for about 8 years. The month of my 30th birthday, my acne returned like it's 1999.

I'm doing topical Adapelene 0.3%, Bactrim, and low dose Accutane now. Good luck with yours, if I were to give any advice, don't lose all hope. My skin continued to clear even after stopping Accutane due to insanely out of range lab work. You might, however, want to consider getting the opinion of another dermatologist. You have a lot of time, money, and emotion tied up into your current treatment regimen. Hope things continue or begin to improve for you.

Wow Jj,

I was thinking of doing a low dose of Accutane as well at first, because I was scared of the medicine, but with time I got used to the idea of being on the regular dose so I didn't even discuss the low dose treatment with my accutane dermatologist.

Do you have links of blogs of other people on the low dose? Probably their acne was very mild to begin with which is why they may have cleared.

Hi,

Thanks for the info and the support. Can I ask what dose of Accutane you are on? Are you taking a course or is it a continuous maintenance dose? I got another derm appointment in 2 weeks.

JJ,

Hi. I'm 30 years old and have also dealt with acne for a solid 18 years. Concerning Accutane, in my early 20s, I required a lengthy course of Accutane. I kept breaking out in months 5 through 9, but I was on a higher dose of the drug. My dermatologist maxed out at 80mg a day, and yes, there were major side effects toward the end of the year. I ended up taking Accutane for about 13 months I was about 96% clear, and then I had a month off and some light acne returned which necessitated another 4 month course at 80mg. I basically took moderate-to-high-dose Accutane for 1.5 years. I eventually cleared completely, and stayed clear for about 8 years. The month of my 30th birthday, my acne returned like it's 1999.

I'm doing topical Adapelene 0.3%, Bactrim, and low dose Accutane now. Good luck with yours, if I were to give any advice, don't lose all hope. My skin continued to clear even after stopping Accutane due to insanely out of range lab work. You might, however, want to consider getting the opinion of another dermatologist. You have a lot of time, money, and emotion tied up into your current treatment regimen. Hope things continue or begin to improve for you.

Hi GetMeTheResults

This is a good thread for low dose Accutane.

Wow Jj,

I was thinking of doing a low dose of Accutane as well at first, because I was scared of the medicine, but with time I got used to the idea of being on the regular dose so I didn't even discuss the low dose treatment with my accutane dermatologist.
Do you have links of blogs of other people on the low dose? Probably their acne was very mild to begin with which is why they may have cleared.