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Ah! I have no idea why my pictures are upside-down in the above post...buuut.....meh. I'm sure you all get "the picture"! *giggle/snort*
They made me laugh. Especially that last one. The eyes are amazing.
Haha! Yes- I was alittle worried about those bumps, needless to say!
Day 18 (or dose 18) - my forehead didn't break out (thank Jeeves) - those strange bumps have gone away. I have broken out on my back: 1 big mother trucker nodule that is already healing, and I just noticed a cyst / nodule on my scalp! That is honestly the first one I have ever gotten one in that area - maybe it's the extra hair oilyness? I'll keep an eye on it. My face is still the clearest it's been in about 2 years. However, the nodules on my back and scalp and the weird bumpiness on my forehead are all pointing to that Dreaded 3rd week IB (eep! I'm in my 3rd week!). I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be too awful.
Side effects: my lips are falling off. This is not an exaggeration- they are literally peeling off in little lip-skin sheets like a molting snake. Aquafor is helping with the pain and redness and keeping them from cracking, but the peeling just won't stop! My eyes are not as dry anymore, as long as I lubricate with drops in the moring and before I go to bed, that seems sufficient. My skin also seems less dry, but very easily irritated/ damaged. I keep accidentally scratching my hands or bumping my knuckles on things (my depth perception is....how do you say...? Lacking) and now the back of my hands look like I supplement my income with cage fighting. No major headaches. I have noticed some transient back pain and joint achyness but nothing severe.
Happy Sunday everyone!
Wanted to update my post-
Dose 19 -
First nodule on my face since I started accutane, right on time! I noticed it this morning and it has already come to a head (which means...dadadada...an even bigger head tomorrow!). Strangely, it is not painful. Usually, anything on my face that will sprout a head doesn't do so until it has screamed in painful agony on my face for 2 or 3 days. However, I am seriously afraid of scarring on isotretinoin so I am treating it with baby kid gloves made from the laughter tears of tiny baby lamb-angels . For anyone on Iso right now that has already experienced their IB (or is experiencing it), what, if anything, did you do to minimize potential scarring? I have given up on preventing PIH, but I would like to avoid more scarring as much as humanly possible.
Ugh as much as it sucks, I have decided to just leave everything completely alone, like even those lovely whiteheads that stick out like....well a gross whitehead! ha! I truly think that will help prevent scarring. I'm super grateful I haven't had much of an IB but have definitely had my share of breakouts over the last week or so. I just made a really strong effort to stop touching my face. I would love to hear some other thoughts though, because we all already know not to pick at and pop zits on Accutane (at least not if we can help it) so any other response will be better than mine, that is just what I have found to truly help eliminate scarring, I've got enough of that as it is!
Argh, yeah- the head. Came off when I was washing (like, I touched it and it fell off, I didn't even really "was" it!) and now I'm stuck with a vague red lump...is it a cyst? Is it a nodule? Will Ricardo profess his love to Julia? Find out in "All my Pimples".
I'm on Absorica too, starting month 5 in two days. Try exfoliating your lips once a day or every other day preferably. Exfoliate them gently by scrubbing them with a wash cloth or towel or with a toothbrush while they're still wet. If your lips get really bad to the point that they crack open in the corners or blister, start using cortizone cream a few times a day for a day or two, it helps tremendously.
Also, when I either popped my IB acne or just had bigger acne marks, I would put neosporin on them to help them heal faster and to help minimize scarring. It worked pretty well. I would try to use it during the day when I didn't have to see anyone important and I would always use it at night by putting on the neosporin and covering the bad pimps with a bandaid.
Let me know if you need any more tips/advice. I've been on a fairly high dose for my weight since month 2 so I'm quite experienced with all kinds of side effects.
I'm on Absorica too, starting month 5 in two days. Try exfoliating your lips once a day or every other day preferably. Exfoliate them gently by scrubbing them with a wash cloth or towel or with a toothbrush while they're still wet. If your lips get really bad to the point that they crack open in the corners or blister, start using cortizone cream a few times a day for a day or two, it helps tremendously.
Also, when I either popped my IB acne or just had bigger acne marks, I would put neosporin on them to help them heal faster and to help minimize scarring. It worked pretty well. I would try to use it during the day when I didn't have to see anyone important and I would always use it at night by putting on the neosporin and covering the bad pimps with a bandaid.
Let me know if you need any more tips/advice. I've been on a fairly high dose for my weight since month 2 so I'm quite experienced with all kinds of side effects.
I will try the neosporin idea tonight! On the exfoliation idea, I do try to exfoliate VERY gently with a soft paper towel and cetaphil every night before bed, but if I do anything harsher than that (i.e., a wash cloth) it starts to really hurt and sting. Since I haven't had any serious problems with swelling or cracking, I am ok with the peeling for now. It doesn't look awesome, but it doesn't hurt too bad.
When you used a bandaid - were you worried that sticky part would stick to your skin and irritate it? I wonder if I could just apply the neosporin alone and just try not to sleep on that side.
Thanks for the offer on the tips - actually, I do have one question, but I'll take it off the air and PM you 
I've used cheap bandaids that aren't too sticky and so far my skin hasn't ripped off. I also apply a decent amount of heavier moisturizer and I think that also helps prevent my skin from ripping off with the bandaids. I did accidentally rip some of my skin off with some medical tape at one point while on accutane, and that wasn't fun or attractive so it definitely can happen with sticker bandaids or medical tape.
If your lips sting after trying to exfoliate them, try putting some cortizone cream on them, let it dry for a minute, the follow up with aquaphor. Cortizone followed by aquaphor is a god send for bad accutane lips.
These tips are great! Thank you girls for sharing them. I efoliated my lips very gently last night, and the results were remarkable, really. They hadn't been cracking and bleeding, but the peeling skin at the outside edges of my lips was yucky. I did put aquafor on right afterward, and that took away what little sting there was.
I'm still searching for a moisturizer that doesn't sting my skin. I have tried Cerave, a couple of Aveeno things, and a Curel (sp) one. Sometimes one stings, and then next time it doesn't. Seems it is all about the skin.
Hey Megtree
The question to pop or not to pop the pimple crosses my mind several times a day. Mine are pretty huge and gross ones that come to head full of puss. Ive been on Isotretinoin 30mg for a little over 2 weeks now and still get a few nasty one.
So I experimented.
2 puss filled pimples on the right side of my cheek.
Popped 1 and let the other one dry out.
My observation - The one I let dry out has now turned into a nodule. Does not hurt but is Hard to touch. Like if I gently pinch it feel like a lump beneath my skin. Left a dark patch lets say 5 shades darker than me skin.
As for the one I popped. Its was very sore one day. I generally tend to sleep on my sides ( trying forever to sleep on my back, but its not working out for me) so i decided to pop it. Took a hot shower. It came to head , sanitized my hand and Kaboom it exploded. First puss followed by blood. (sorry for the explicit details) Its worse my i have mellowed it down a notch for squeamish users.
I left a piece of paper towel on the zit to stop the bleeding. Washed the area one the blood stopped oozing out and that was it.
The next morning the swelling in the area reduced and the pimple scabbed and fell of the next day. 3 shades darker than my skin and no nodule or lump.
So im not saying ill pop all the pimples that show up but sometime it feel it better than letting it dry out cause those nodules take forever to heal. I have got a sucker laying on my face for the last 2 months. Wish now that I popped it when I have come to a head. As far as long term scarring goes , I have no idea which one will heal better. I also heard for people getting pitted scar when picking acne, never happened to me but i hope being on accutane does not change that.
Hey Megtree
The question to pop or not to pop the pimple crosses my mind several times a day. Mine are pretty huge and gross ones that come to head full of puss. Ive been on Isotretinoin 30mg for a little over 2 weeks now and still get a few nasty one.
So I experimented.
2 puss filled pimples on the right side of my cheek.
Popped 1 and let the other one dry out.
My observation - The one I let dry out has now turned into a nodule. Does not hurt but is Hard to touch. Like if I gently pinch it feel like a lump beneath my skin. Left a dark patch lets say 5 shades darker than me skin.
As for the one I popped. Its was very sore one day. I generally tend to sleep on my sides ( trying forever to sleep on my back, but its not working out for me) so i decided to pop it. Took a hot shower. It came to head , sanitized my hand and Kaboom it exploded. First puss followed by blood. (sorry for the explicit details) Its worse my i have mellowed it down a notch for squeamish users.
I left a piece of paper towel on the zit to stop the bleeding. Washed the area one the blood stopped oozing out and that was it.
The next morning the swelling in the area reduced and the pimple scabbed and fell of the next day. 3 shades darker than my skin and no nodule or lump.
So im not saying ill pop all the pimples that show up but sometime it feel it better than letting it dry out cause those nodules take forever to heal. I have got a sucker laying on my face for the last 2 months. Wish now that I popped it when I have come to a head. As far as long term scarring goes , I have no idea which one will heal better. I also heard for people getting pitted scar when picking acne, never happened to me but i hope being on accutane does not change that.
Thank you! Although I haven't had too many difficulties with scarring, I know isotretinoin makes it much more likely to scar because it increases healing time. I do like your experiment though! In the past I usually take it on a case-by-case basis. Luckily, the large-ish blemishes Ive been getting (I have 2 now) are not as painful as they normally are, so I am not as tempted to mess with them.
Day 22 -
Wanted to update my log with new activity:
I think the IB is starting. Wah. WAH WAH WAH! wah.
So...I woke up yesterday, and I had a new (ish) cyst forming on my cheek. I say newish because I've been playing wack-a-mole with that guy for what feels like half a year (along with most of the cysts/nodules on my face) and it looks like he is making his appearance, very rudely I might add. Today, I have a nodule on my left cheek and 2 more cysts forming on my right. My face is twinging and itching in different spots every hour or so. These little twinges feel EXACTLY like what a new cyst feels like when it's gettingready to come through the door screaming "IM HEEEEEEEEERE DARLING!!!!". I also have some stuff brewing on my chin, and my skin just seems altogether more....unhappy. I just watched Pacific Rim (a horrible movie) but I think it serves as an amazing metaphor for the relationship between cystic acne and accutane. Gigantic building sized alien sea monsters (cysts and nodules) are relentlessly destroying humanity city by city (my face). The only way to stop these monsters is to unleash EQUALLY destructive and gigantic gun/sword wielding NUCLEAR KILLER ROBOTS (accutane) to fight these relentless alien sea monsters ONE BY ONE AS SLOWLY AS POSSIBLE. Sigh. Acne is just so. much. fun.
I am not in the best of moods..but I am still more optimistic than I ever was before I started. I have my derm appointment next week. I am really nervous for some reason!
Side effects: No new ones. My face skin is drying out more, and my hair is much less oily. I have been experiencing occasional joint pain, but it's only bothersome in the mornings when I am more stiff. My lips are still really dry but they are not getting worse, which is fine by me. Nothing else for now... I am just keeping my fingers crossed that this outbreak will resolve as quickly as it is appearing.
I love your analogy from the movie. I haven't seen it (I get nightmares very easily), but what you described is perfect.
I am on day 24 or 25, and so far I haven't had an IB, but I keep expecting the acnepocalypse any day now. Really hope these new things will clear up Quickly for you!
I have had almost the exact same situation with nieces and nephews when they hit your chin or cheek and your eyes water in horrific pain (ugh it hurts just thinking about it) I've also had some of the classic, "What are all those red dots on your face aunt Em?" Ego hit for sure, kids are super honest, which is what I adore about them!
That hits the ego, doesn't it??? Last time I saw my nephew he casually mentioned "You have ouchies all over, Auntie"... I froze and tried to pretend he didn't say it. We were hanging out alone at the time watching a movie so I was glad I was spared the embarassment in front of the rest of the family. I hope I'm clear next time I see them all.
Day 23 - wanted to update my log every day I got new actives so I can eventually chart them and keep track of my progress more accurately:
More painful cysts! On the left, I have 1 nodule (popped yesteday, healing today) 1 un-inflammed cyst (been taking a breather at the pain party on that side of my face for about 1 1/2 months now) and 1 new one that is SUPER ouchy. On the right side, I have 5, count em' FIVE cysts (no head in sight for these bad boys). 3 popped up yesterday to say hello, another popped up today, and 1 is in its healing stage. I probably have another 4 or 5 forming a line in the back waiting to get in...can't wait for that.
This sounds awful, but I am looking back on my 1st day picture and thinking..."Hmm...that wasn't so bad...". Engaging Super Sad Face: 
(((((((((
Le sigh. I suppose date-night with the boyfriend is going to have to be post-poned. STUPID STUPID ACNE GAAAAAAH!
Awww, Meg, I'm so sorry it is such rough going for you. Hopefully things will start to clear up for you, and you'll start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel very soon. Did your derm say anything about when you should start to see improvement?
I'd love to have a date-night in tonight. Even a chick flick would be okay, along with a simple dinner, and cuddles. <sigh> My sweetie is away for the time being, so that will have to wait.
Hi Jess-
Yeah, it's tough- but I have hope things will get better soon. The doctor said I would start clearing up in month 3 and I should be completely clear by month four. He'll keep me on for two months after that, bing Bada boom the pain party gets raided and everyone finally leaves.
As for date night, it happened...ish. We had Indian food and enjoyed cuddles between us, so that took my mind off of my face. I hope your sweetie comes home safely and very soon!
Hello!
I feel your pain. I am also developing a cyst on my cheek that I knew was coming for a while. It is month three for me, though, and I would say that things are indeed starting to clear up quite a bit. I still have a couple little things on the right side of my chin, but most of my 'breakout' areas are doing quite well.
BUT early on in my course I noticed a little plug RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of my cheek, and have been fearing its inflammation every day since. It just waited and waited until now when I FINALLY feel like I am making some progress to start hurting.
Alas. Maybe this will be the last great zit, as I don't see much else under the surface anymore.
Month 4 - I will get to you and you will be awesome!
Can't wait until we are all there.
I hear ya on the IB. I was right there about a month ago! I'll keep my fingers crossed that it'll last the requisite week or so, everything will heal, and then you'll start clearing up to pre-acne levels of clarity.
Thank you LLV! I don't think I can handle more than a week or so of this, it really hurts! How long did yours last? I'm more scared of scarring than anything else, to be honest, these little monsters are really inflamed and painful!
Log-
Day- 25?-
A couple more little pustules have popped up (well, little in comparison to the giants that I've been dealing with the last couple of days) and even these hurt! It is like each cyst/ nodule that usually pop up throughout the month are becoming inflamed at the same time. It hurts so much to wash my face I can hardly stand to do it right now. At the moment I have 5 active and very painful cysts on my right cheek. 2 have a head on them, 2 look like they are going to get a head, and one got its head chopped off in my sleep. On the same side I have 4 inactive cysts that I'm expecting will become inflamed soon. On the left, I have 1 active cyst, 1 healing, and 1 inactive that will probably become active soon. I am STRONGLY fighting the urge to pick the active ones that have developed big white heads, but it may be a losing battle because the pressure hurts so incredibly much. I have my derm appointment tomorrow morning- I'm anxious to see what he says.
Meg - my IB was definitely at it's worst around day 25. It seemed to me that things slowly started turning around very shortly after that. I could hardly leave the house between about day 15 to 30. By day 30 I noticed it was slowing down, and by day 45 I was seeing some improvement even. Don't worry! This is supposed to be the worst part, and on a positive note, it does make everything else seem not so bad. Oy!
Good Luck with your appointment Meg! I hope he can recommend something to help with the pain, and encourage the IB to finally wear itself out.
Thanks Jess! He actually gave me cortisone shots for the larger cysts, which has helped somewhat (he felt the risk of scarring far outweighed the risk of atrophy at this point, and I was inclined to agree). The shots helped a little bit, but boy these suckers are STUBBORN!
Meg - my IB was definitely at it's worst around day 25. It seemed to me that things slowly started turning around very shortly after that. I could hardly leave the house between about day 15 to 30. By day 30 I noticed it was slowing down, and by day 45 I was seeing some improvement even. Don't worry! This is supposed to be the worst part, and on a positive note, it does make everything else seem not so bad. Oy!
Oh, thank you so much for the encouragement Kim. I was about to say that you have no idea how comforting your comment was, but I stopped myself because of course you do! I know you are probably right, and I don't want to to dwell on the IB too much because I know it will get better...but I cant help but whine a little bit: why can't I EVER be in that minority of people that acne stuff actually works for without making me go through a trial by fire?!? WHYYYYYY?!?!?
Log -
Day 26, 27 -
Day 26-
I had my doctor's appointment today. As soon as he walked into the office he took one look at me and said "yeah...it's definitely worse than when you started...". I just nodded and smiled, but I felt like screaming "NO SH** SHERLOCK! WHAT OTHER GENIUS SUPPOSITIONS WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE SINCE YOU WERE PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN FREAKING OBVIOUS?!?!". He was planning on upping my dosage, but ultimately decided against it as he was concerned it would make my flare-up worse. He said that flare-ups do happen and that it's just luck of the draw most of the time. I guess he didn't like being supportive and comforting though, because he followed it up with "but it doesn't happen to people as often as you would think". Great. Can I EVER just ONCE be in THAT wonderfully lucky group of people?!?
He then proceeded to fill my face up with about 5 or 6 of the most painful cortisone shots I have ever experienced. On an after-thought, he noted my cholesterol had gone up a little bit, but he didn't seem very concerned. I always feel like crap after I go to the dermatologist. I cant help but feel like something is broken when it comes to my skin. I do know I need to shake that feeling, it's a dark thought-road to travel down, and awful-izing isn't going to help me. Disappointment just really, really sucks, and I feel like it's a constant companion in my life as an acne - sufferer. 
Day 27 - nothing very new to report, I have 2 more cysts popping up next to 2 already established cysts, making for a very, very ugly day. They just hurt SO much! I could almost handle the ugliness if it wasn't for the deep itchy pain that just means it's only going to get worse. Blah.
I believe the pain party in my face has brought in a DJ to drop the bass, and now they're all drunk-dancing to dub step. At least someone is having fun....BRRrrrRRRRrrrBOWOWOWOOWOWOOWOW.
The new official count is:
Left: 1 healing stage /active, 1 dormant in the "about to pop up" stage/inactive
Right: 2 popping up, 5 just hanging out, all active
Forehead: clear, except one little stubborn tiny papule that never seems to go away.
Chin: 1 little pustule that came to a head, popped, and is now just chillin', enjoying being a red mark.
Now ladies and gentleman, it's that time we all love and love to hate, SIDE EFFECTS REPORT TIME!!
Skin:
My face is a desert, the oiliness of before is gone completely. My nose has started to dry out, and my nostrils are flaking up very badly. This is making me look like I have some very unsavory habits. I feel like saying "That white stuff under my nose is skin, not cocaine" every time someone glances at my nose. My forehead is also dry and flaky. It really accentuates all the beautiful fine lines on my face and gives me that wonderfully desirable "older than her years" look that is so in-vogue these days. :\ I think I need to find a new night-time moisturizer. Any suggestions? My day time one is still working fine - but I wake up with super dry skin.
I have also developed a small exczema patch/rash on the back of my right hand. It doesn't itch and doesn't seem to be spreading, so I am leaving it alone for now. I may get some cortisone tonight just in case.
Hair: An absolute disaster (not that it was great before). It is very dry and frizzy. On the other hand, I can now go about 5 days without washing my hair - so that is nice in terms of time-management. I may start washing with shampoo and conditioner only once a week and using just conditioner every other day instead. Question to anyone reading: I really need to fix my roots, but I am scared the bleach in the toner will aggravate my dry scalp. Has anyone had any issues with this?
Stomach/ bowels: No noticeable issues. Drinking water seems to keep everything regular, and I definitely notice when I don't drink enough. No notable problems with reflux.
Joints: a little bit of pain here and there, especially in the morning. Nothing debilitating.
Mood: Pretty down. I think it has absolutely nothing to do with the Iso and everything to do with the flare-up. Hopefully I will feel better as it starts to heal.
Hang in there, Meg!
I can SOOO relate to your last post. I remember going to my one month derm appt, and the look on her face. She said something like "well, we're far from calling this a failure". I know she meant "it's early, so don't worry", but what I heard was "holy shit you look bad, this might totally fail". Then she proceeded to ask me if I wanted some topical antibiotics for "all the pustules". So lovely. The couple days before the appt had actually been not too bad, but she managed to crush my hope in ten seconds flat. I cried A LOT. Then I went home and discovered a new big cyst on my cheek. It was a super day.
I'm at day 74 now, and it has been a bit of a roller coaster, but I can say for sure now that things are better. I read your actives list (I think all Accutaners have these!), and it reminded me a lot of mine thus far. I keep a short one on my computer because my log is so wordy it can be hard to see progress. I make a note to myself every ten days and it has gone like this: Day 10: 8, Day 20: 11, Day 30: 8, Day 40: 5, Day 50: 3, Day 60: 2, Day 70:1. Ta da. So close to zero I can TASTE IT! And it is yum. See you here soon.