Acne.org Products
Yup, that seems to be the double-edged sword with prescription topical retinoids (I have not tried any OTC products with retinols . . . ). They really do work, I think, if your goal is to minimize or help reverse sun damage. While I have bad skin, I have not yet started to wrinkle. This is partly due to years of slavish use of retinoids and sunscreen, partly to genetics, as all the gals on my father's side of the family look about 10 years younger than they are. However, we all have, surprise surprise, acne. The skin gods giveth and the skin gods taketh away.
So totally true.
Its almost 3 months since I stopped accutane, and I thought I'd check in. All in all, I am still clear and very happy. I did get one large pimple on my cheek during my last period (one of the cloggers I talked about in my earlier post). It came to a head in about 2 days and popped on its own. It's mostly healed now.
A lot of stressful things are happening in my life right now, so I am glad acne is something I dont have to worry about currently. Every side effect I experienced during accutane has resolved itself (my skin is not dry, but I wouldn't say its awfully oily either, living in a very humid area makes it difficult for me to tell what is normal or abnormal). I have noticed a slight increase in the sensitivity of my skin - it seems to flush and get red a little more easily. It doesn't really bother me all that much however.
My hair is no longer dry, but it still doesn't get oily quite as fast as it used to.
No bowel problems. No eye problems. I took follow up labs with my very paranoid primary care physician, and my labs are completely normal. My triglycerides are lower than the normal range, actually - and my LDL is back to normal. My HDL is very elevated (it always has been, I have that weird Mediterranean gene that makes my 'good' cholesterol about 30 points higher than the highest point in the average range) which my PCP is just delighted about (High HDL is very protective against heart disease).
Currently, my regimen is incredibly simple, just cetaphil and moisturizer.
Good luck to everyone!
Glad to hear all is well! Going smoothly over here too.
And since you asked . . . (and I think your sciency brain will appreciate it), my thesis is on biological complexity as a metaphor for the way disciplines grow and change over time.
My proposal was accepted and I have my advisory panel put together, so I am starting research now. SO NICE to be able to think about what my brain WANTS to think about.
Sorry about the stress! Hope you get some time to relax and enjoy yourself soon.
Glad to hear all is well! Going smoothly over here too.
And since you asked . . . (and I think your sciency brain will appreciate it), my thesis is on biological complexity as a metaphor for the way disciplines grow and change over time.
My proposal was accepted and I have my advisory panel put together, so I am starting research now. SO NICE to be able to think about what my brain WANTS to think about.
Sorry about the stress! Hope you get some time to relax and enjoy yourself soon.
Kim, you and I may be conducting similar research! I recently made a career shift, and am focusing on the influence of medical care team relationships and sensemaking on patient outcomes from a complexity science perspective. I bet our research overlaps quite a bit!
Also - My skin is still doing very well. No new cloggers, no new cysts or nodules, not even a wayward pimple. It has been over 2 months (closer to 3 months) since I took my last dose of isotretinoin, and my skin seems quite calm.
All in all
Pros of taking the medication:
The longest sustained clarity I have seen in 2 -4 years.
Cons:
Hair is still a bit dry (but getting better)
Skin flushes very easily and randomly. It is annoying only when someone I don't particularly care for thinks they've angered or embarrassed me. Otherwise, my boyfriend thinks it's adorable, and I barely notice it unless I happen to be looking in the mirror right when it happens because it returns to normal pretty quickly.
On 9/16/2014 at 2:36 AM, megtree said:On 8/29/2014 at 11:15 AM, Kim28 said:Glad to hear all is well! Going smoothly over here too.
And since you asked . . . (and I think your sciency brain will appreciate it), my thesis is on biological complexity as a metaphor for the way disciplines grow and change over time.
My proposal was accepted and I have my advisory panel put together, so I am starting research now. SO NICE to be able to think about what my brain WANTS to think about.
Sorry about the stress! Hope you get some time to relax and enjoy yourself soon.
Kim, you and I may be conducting similar research! I recently made a career shift, and am focusing on the influence of medical care team relationships and sensemaking on patient outcomes from a complexity science perspective. I bet our research overlaps quite a bit!
Also - My skin is still doing very well. No new cloggers, no new cysts or nodules, not even a wayward pimple. It has been over 2 months (closer to 3 months) since I took my last dose of isotretinoin, and my skin seems quite calm.
All in all
Pros of taking the medication:
The longest sustained clarity I have seen in 2 -4 years.
Cons:
Hair is still a bit dry (but getting better)
Skin flushes very easily and randomly. It is annoying only when someone I don't particularly care for thinks they've angered or embarrassed me. Otherwise, my boyfriend thinks it's adorable, and I barely notice it unless I happen to be looking in the mirror right when it happens because it returns to normal pretty quickly.
That's wonderful to hear! And I'm sure you, as with many long-time acne-sufferers, would gladly accept a bit of color over a bit of lumps! I'm so glad things are working out for you and you have a wonderful Accutane success story to tell
Here's my log (in progress). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
[Edited link out]
On 9/16/2014 at 7:01 PM, DawgDaze64 said:I'm so happy to hear you are doing well and that your skin remains clear! Woo hoo!
Regarding hair, did you happen to notice any increased shedding and/or thinning while on Accutane? And, if so, did it stop?
Hi! I am sorry it took me so long to get back to you - yes - I did notice a *slight* uptick in shedding. I would say that it was more due to my hair being breakage prone than actual true "thinning". My hair is very thin to begin with, but I did not notice any unusual thinning at my roots. I am happy to say, that after 3 months of accutane, my hair is even healthier than it was before I started. That probably has nothing to do with the accutane itself, more that I've treated it with kid gloves for the past 9 months.
Now - *drum roll pleeeaaaaaseeee*
It's been over 3 months since I took my last isotretinoin dose. I am 99.999% clear. There is still one very stubborn tiny macrocomodone on my right cheekbone (not inflammed or anything). But other then that, it's "NOTHING BUT CLEAR SKYYYYYYYS". No cysts (haven't had one in two months), no pimples (haven't had one in 3 or 4 months), no blackheads (I can't remember the last time I had one of those), and no whiteheads. I DO have a few milia, which my derm said is probably just damage leftover from all of that inflammation before accutane. I like to think of them as little tiny cyst gravestones.
He prescribed me ziana (.05 tretinoin and clyndamycin) to clear up the milia and prevent future breakouts. At first I was terrified to start a retinoid again because of the possibility of an IB, but my fear of doing nothing eventually one me over and my skin is even better (something I hadn't thought possible!) My pores are smaller, tone is balanced, and the milia are disappearing. I can even hear the little macrocomedone on my cheek gasping for it's last fighting breath! For once in my life, a topical solution actually *gasp* WORKS.
Accutane was an amazing decision. My skin only got better after I stopped. I am glad that my dermatologist recommended a maintenance solution as it also makes me feel a little less anxiety about the future (although that will probably never go away). He recommended microneedling for the leftover PIH (that, unfortunately, is going nowhere anytime soon), but I think I am just going to leave my skin alone for awhile, because GOSH DARN IT I earned it.
I don't have any pictures at the moment but when I remember I will happily post some.
A run down of leftover long-term side-effects:
None. Zero. Zilch. My lips returned to normal within a few days of stopping the isotretinoin. My eyes are fine, my joints are fine. No rashes or eczema, no cold sores or weird bowel stuff. No depression or fatigue (no more than would be expected with normal life anyway).
You know what's a beautiful thing? A beautiful thing is waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror and saying "meh...I don't feel like makeup today". I don't mean that as bragging or to rub anything in anyone's face, but to those of you going through the accutane circus and wondering if it's worth it? It is. At least, it can be. Good luck to all of you!
As I promised, here are pictures of my cheeks I took this morning (I am almost 4 months post accutane). You can see some milia and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but other than that I am clear. I am wearing NO makeup in this picture, and my moisturizer is untinted.
As I promised, here are pictures of my cheeks I took this morning (I am almost 4 months post accutane). You can see some milia and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but other than that I am clear. I am wearing NO makeup in this picture, and my moisturizer is untinted.
Hi meg
Looking great thanks for the update. Please continue to update if you can, gives me hope!
I am about to come off a 15 month low dose accutane course and go onto tretinoin for maintenance. Hope it works as well as it is for you - I never got 100% clear on tane.
Did you have an IB on the tretinoin or did it just get better from the start? How long have you been on it for now? Will you eventually have to phase out the antibiotic?
Hope all continues to go well for you 
As I promised, here are pictures of my cheeks I took this morning (I am almost 4 months post accutane). You can see some milia and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but other than that I am clear. I am wearing NO makeup in this picture, and my moisturizer is untinted.
Hi meg
Looking great thanks for the update. Please continue to update if you can, gives me hope!
I am about to come off a 15 month low dose accutane course and go onto tretinoin for maintenance. Hope it works as well as it is for you - I never got 100% clear on tane.
Did you have an IB on the tretinoin or did it just get better from the start? How long have you been on it for now? Will you eventually have to phase out the antibiotic?
Hope all continues to go well for you
I did not have an IB on tretinoin (at least, not anything that I noticed, maybe a little oilyness?), but it should be noted that Ziana contains a very low dose of tretinoin. I would talk to your doctor about ziana (if it's covered in your insurance), I think the combo of low tretinoin and clindamycin might help mitigate the dreaded retinoid IB. In terms of weaning off the topical clindamycin, that is certainly a good question. I am not sure, but I'll talk to my derm about it at our next appointment and report back here In terms of not getting all the way clear on 'tane, I was not all the way clear when I finished either, in fact I did not reach 100% clarity (well, how I would define it) until well into my second month off accutane.
As I promised, here are pictures of my cheeks I took this morning (I am almost 4 months post accutane). You can see some milia and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but other than that I am clear. I am wearing NO makeup in this picture, and my moisturizer is untinted.
Hi meg
Looking great thanks for the update. Please continue to update if you can, gives me hope!
I am about to come off a 15 month low dose accutane course and go onto tretinoin for maintenance. Hope it works as well as it is for you - I never got 100% clear on tane.
Did you have an IB on the tretinoin or did it just get better from the start? How long have you been on it for now? Will you eventually have to phase out the antibiotic?
Hope all continues to go well for you
I did not have an IB on tretinoin (at least, not anything that I noticed, maybe a little oilyness?), but it should be noted that Ziana contains a very low dose of tretinoin. I would talk to your doctor about ziana (if it's covered in your insurance), I think the combo of low tretinoin and clindamycin might help mitigate the dreaded retinoid IB. In terms of weaning off the topical clindamycin, that is certainly a good question. I am not sure, but I'll talk to my derm about it at our next appointment and report back here In terms of not getting all the way clear on 'tane, I was not all the way clear when I finished either, in fact I did not reach 100% clarity (well, how I would define it) until well into my second month off accutane.
Thanks for the reply. I've already got my tretinoin cream, so I might just get a prescription filled for clindamycin and use that in the morning. Hope your good results continue
Hello - just thought I would check in again. It's now been another month post- iso since ending my course in July. And *drum roll please*....I am still clear! That puts me at just over 6 months post-accutane. My skin is back to normal in terms of dryness/ moisture (and to my chagrin, I've had to go back to washing my hair more than once a week...). I continue to use ziana nightly, and I have had very little to almost no activity. Every once in a while (mainly around that time of the month) I will have a tiny (itty bitty tiny, about the size of a pin-head) blemish pop up around my nose. These spots are so small that I hesitate to mention them at all (I wouldn't have even noticed them a year ago), and they disappear in one or two days. There are days I honestly forget to put on makeup, and when I do, a dab of concealer under my eyes and around my nose is all I need. One year ago, it took me 20 minutes to layer on enough makeup to feel comfortable walking around outside. I am still surprised at how smooth my skin is when I happen to touch it (which I try not to do!), this time last year my temples were rough and bumpy with macrocomedones, now a couple of milium is all that remains. This drug is amazing.
I went to my dermatologist before the holidays for my 6 month follow up, and he exclaimed "WOW! It honestly looks you never even had acne"! Like most dermatologist, he does not usually dispense in frivolous compliments. He said I was doing extremely well, and while there is always the risk it will come back, my results are very promising.
Just a summary - I was on 40mg for 2 months, and 60 mg for the last 4. My weight hovers around 57kg. I reached a total cumulative dose of of 9600. This put my dose a little high - about 168mg/kg. I did experience a pretty uncomfortable IB around my 35th day, which did not resolve itself for about 2 weeks. I experienced another one when my dose increased at the beginning of my third month. While my breakouts slowed considerably around the middle of my fourth month, they did not stop completely until about 2 months post-accutane, when I had my "under the skin" blemish on my forehead. The side effects were never easy to deal with, dry skin, eyes and lips were very hard, especially during winter. My lips were horrendously dry at the end of my course, but they returned to normal after about one week of stopping.
That being said, I have not experienced any ill effects. My joints are fine (though I could probably use more exercise...), my bowels have remained completely normal for me as well. The flushing I complained about a few months ago has largely subsided, I don't really have issues with that. Even my PIH has improved tremendously, but I have some brownish discoloration left over. I do have some scarring which is apparent in certain light, mainly small ice-pick scars evenly distributed around my lower cheeks (where I had the most severe cystic activity). Although they are not sever, I may still address it in the future. For now, however, I am fine with giving my skin the opportunity to rest.
Hello, hello!
As promised, I am checking in with my updates. It has now been approximately 8 months since I have stopped taking accutane! I can't believe it has already been so long. Since about a month after my course ended, I have had almost no breakouts. I say "almost" because occasionally, especially around my period, I will get a couple of tiny little blemishes that I would never have even noticed existed 2 years ago because I would be too busy worrying about the honking puss filled nodules covering my cheeks. That being said, I wanted to be fully transparent, so yes - I still occasionally get tiny little baby blemishes. As I said, they are barely noticeable even without makeup (which I forget to wear occasionally, who would even think that could happen?), and typically go away without intervention within 1 or 2 days. Except for some lingering skin dryness (especially when I don't moisturize after showering), I have experienced no long term side effects.
I have maintained a skin care regimen: I use Ziana every other night after washing my face.
Other then that, I simply wash off my makeup with cetaphil and apply moisturizer morning and evening. I still have some post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation that I cover with concealer, but it is slowly fading. I have had PIH for what feels like my entire life, so I am really not worried about it.
Good luck to everyone out there! I have attached some pictures of my skin now. You can see a picture of my skin from day 1 on the first post of this topic, If you want to compare then and now.
Wow, it's a Site Watch party in here!!
Meg, all I can say is....O-M-G! Your skin looks fantastic!!! Great results!!!!
I'm so happy the treatment worked!!! xx
Thank you!
Thank you for being so blunt and honest. I'm just starting my journey. I'm so glad to see you had great results. Gives me hope!
Of course! Good luck on your course. Remember to have patience, take your medicine with a high-fat meal, and keep chap stick on you at all times!
Holy Crap Meg your skin looks BEAUTIFULLLLLLL!
That is AWESOME and gives me hope as I just finished 4mnths and am getting small breakouts every 3-4 days
I also have red acne scars places I dont remember breaking out as well as a few small pok marks or indentions again in places that were not typically acne prone
Its getting a smidge discouraging..but i know Ive made progress
My question is, should I have more freedom now and will i have more freedom after tane as far as skincare and makeup
pre-tane my skin hated everything (any moisturizer/most makeup)
So Im still fearful what I am currently using it causing continued breakouts and im feraful after tane because of products it will also cause me to break out after tane
I wanted to do a 6mnth course but because of eye trouble couldnt go higher than 60mg
My dr wanted me on 80mg (mild but very very persitant acne)
so now she wants me ot add a 7th mnth
Im torn..even at 60mg ill hit my cum dose after 6 mnths but i fear if i dont listen and skip that 7th mnth it will come back
Im getting tired of being on tane and time is going by sooooo sloooooow
thanks, kim
Holy Crap Meg your skin looks BEAUTIFULLLLLLL!
That is AWESOME and gives me hope as I just finished 4mnths and am getting small breakouts every 3-4 days
I also have red acne scars places I dont remember breaking out as well as a few small pok marks or indentions again in places that were not typically acne prone
Its getting a smidge discouraging..but i know Ive made progress
My question is, should I have more freedom now and will i have more freedom after tane as far as skincare and makeup
pre-tane my skin hated everything (any moisturizer/most makeup)
So Im still fearful what I am currently using it causing continued breakouts and im feraful after tane because of products it will also cause me to break out after tane
I wanted to do a 6mnth course but because of eye trouble couldnt go higher than 60mg
My dr wanted me on 80mg (mild but very very persitant acne)
so now she wants me ot add a 7th mnth
Im torn..even at 60mg ill hit my cum dose after 6 mnths but i fear if i dont listen and skip that 7th mnth it will come back
Im getting tired of being on tane and time is going by sooooo sloooooow
thanks, kim
Hi Kim! I just went back and looked over my log, and it looks like I was still breaking out up to my last months on Tane and after, so don't be discouraged! My dermatologist recommended I avoid any kind of active ingredients on my skin (except for the Ziana) at least 6 months following my course ending. I have found that my skin is a bit more sensitive to products (before it didn't really matter what product I used - I broke out anyway). An odd occurance, as the weather has been warming up here I wanted to switch to a tinted moisturizer. I used aveeno tinted moisturizer in the past just fine, didn't worsen my skin or anything. This time however, my skin DID NOT like it. The same day I used it, I broke out in an itchy rash along my cheekbones and my chin. Of course, the moisturizer was the only think I had changed, so I stopped using it and went back to my old routine and the rash went away completely in about 24 hours.
I still use the moisturizer I used while on accutane (CeravePM and Vichy capital soleil sun cream in the AM). I would say you might not want to change it up too much post-accutane at least for awhile, and definitely skin-patch makeup to see how you react.
Thanks Meg
The ziana from what I read about is a low dose tret
Pre tane i used retin-a cream .05 for 10yrs nightly..with no peeling etc my skin was TOUGH
I already feel like i will need to use something after tane to prevent breakouts and clogs..btu we shall see
Did u find a makeup that works for you now?
Right now im using Darphin moisturizer...i use literally maybe a 1/2 pea for my entire face and have some tightness but no peeling
I also use a small small pea sixe of the Darphin CC cream during the day
Thats about it
still so scared or products
Kim
The concealer I have been using and will continue to use forever and ever because it never breaks me out, it has perfect coverage, and it's neither too oily nor too drying is Sofia Kashnik Hidden Agenda Concealer. I use it to cover my blemishes and PIH, and it blends very well so I only wear foundation for very special occasions. When I do, I wear Lancome's teint miracle. It's kind of expensive but a little goes a long way.