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Hey everyone!
I just read how you guys were discussing your progress, so i decided to jump in and join you!
I am 19 as well and I have been suffering from acne since I am like 13 years old :/
After various kinds of medicine (which never really worked out for me) my acne returned badly last september....
So yeah, Last week I decided to go to a dermatologist to hopefully end my acne forever.
He also prescribed me isotretinoin, of which I had my first two pills today.
I am supposed to take 40 mg each day from now on, for another 4 to 6 months according to my dermatologist.
The acne I currently have in my face isnt that bad at all... If it weren't for my shoulders and back, i wouldnt have taken this step at all. But unfortunately my back is filled with pimples, so I will have to go through with it...
I just hope the side-effects wont kill me 
Ive been reading experience logs all day, mostly scaring myself for the side effects :/ Luckily there are also some "before/after" pics here, which definitely encourage me to go through with this...
I wish all you guys the best of luck for these coming from what i have read "dry and partly bloody" months, hope the results are worth it!
See you soon!
Days 21-25: My skin has finally gone the dry I expected. I flake, look as pale as anything, no moisturiser can help me and it is glorious. My pores are tighter, so I couldn't initially squeeze the blackheads out, however using a pore strip after a really nice hot shower made me look a lot better. It was disgusting, but satisfying in a morbid kind of way (@Lalaland, definitely consider this if you think your skin can handle the adhesive, just don't look at the strip after you've used it). My bottom lip has a really bloody groove down it where it has split and failed to heal. Overall though, my acne looks a lot better.
@Patrick: Thanks man!
@Skelerox: The suffering is definitely worth what it does to your self-image. I've seen a couple of friends come out of the course with better-than-normal-people's skin. Good luck!
@Smallguy: How's it going?
Day 4: It's still the status quo really. Quite oily apart from lips, which split at the side at the gym today.
Do you go to the gym often? I go almost every day and play soccer almost every day, so I have to wash good every day also. I know that some people don't wash as much while they're on accutane to minimize the drying but I don't think that will be at all possible for me. I am hoping this won't make my drying out too horrible.
Do you go to the gym often? I go almost every day and play soccer almost every day, so I have to wash good every day also. I know that some people don't wash as much while they're on accutane to minimize the drying but I don't think that will be at all possible for me. I am hoping this won't make my drying out too horrible.
Yeah, you'll have absolutely no problems with the gym whatsoever while on it. Some people complain of lower back pain and I suppose I can feel it a little more after squats or deadlifts but I don't think you'll have any problems at all with football. In terms of how often I go, I like to weight-lift three days a week, run on a forth and go fencing on a fifth.
I've heard the washing thing too, but not showering just sounds plain awful. Although, be careful about shampooing every day. I've not particularly mentioned it on my blog but your scalp will flake along with your skin and so it might be better to leave it for a few days. It's also impossible to get greasy hair, which is great.
Morning all!
@Rassendyll - nice to hear that your acne is clearing up!
I'm on dose 18 today. Skin dryness on face comes and goes. Sometimes it's bad, then it's not so bad. I've found that exfoliating twice a week is helping. Oil production has been reduced too. My acne is clearing up on my face quite nicely now after my initial breakout around 7 days ago. It made a real mess of my chin though. Face looks quite red which I can't do anything about, although I'm not too bothered about that. I even managed to have a close shave yesterday which is the first time in a long time! That also really helped hydrate my skin and get rid of some of the dryness. I never really had that many blackheads around my face but I did have a few around my nose, which seem to have all popped up this week and I've managed to get them out.
I've had a pretty bad flair up on my shoulders and back which is annoying. Hopefully that will clear up soon.
Lips are still ok but I really have been absolutely blathering them in Vaseline which really is helping. I can however feel the dryness underneath. If I leave them for more than an hour then I can feel the dryness setting in, any more than 2 hours and they'll crack - so I'm applying the balm every 40 minutes or so. Also still drinking 2 litres of water per day which helps.
I've developed some strange muscle pain, though. A little in my lower back (which is normal) but also down my right side. It's almost like I've pulled my muscle exercising. The strange thing is that it only occurs at around 4am every morning when I'm sleeping. I turn over and it goes for a while. Then when I get up for work and start to move around - it goes completely and does not come back at all during the day. It only happens while I'm sleeping at around 4am! Crazy! Anyone else having a reoccurring muscle pain like that?
Overall I'm fairly pleased with how this is going. I think everyone responds differently to this and your initial problems will occur where your acne is at it's worst. For me, it's on my back and shoulders which is where the biggest flair up has been. My face has calmed down now (knock on wood), although I'm fully braced for another facial flair up. This treatment and acne as you know is extremely unpredictable. I just think of what things will be like in another 4 months which is what keeps me happy.
Got my next derm appointment next week which is where I'll go up to 60mg per day. I dare say that the most problematic of side effects will start then...
Morning all!
@Rassendyll - nice to hear that your acne is clearing up!
I'm on dose 18 today. Skin dryness on face comes and goes. Sometimes it's bad, then it's not so bad. I've found that exfoliating twice a week is helping. Oil production has been reduced too. My acne is clearing up on my face quite nicely now after my initial breakout around 7 days ago. It made a real mess of my chin though. Face looks quite red which I can't do anything about, although I'm not too bothered about that. I even managed to have a close shave yesterday which is the first time in a long time! That also really helped hydrate my skin and get rid of some of the dryness. I never really had that many blackheads around my face but I did have a few around my nose, which seem to have all popped up this week and I've managed to get them out.
I've had a pretty bad flair up on my shoulders and back which is annoying. Hopefully that will clear up soon.
Lips are still ok but I really have been absolutely blathering them in Vaseline which really is helping. I can however feel the dryness underneath. If I leave them for more than an hour then I can feel the dryness setting in, any more than 2 hours and they'll crack - so I'm applying the balm every 40 minutes or so. Also still drinking 2 litres of water per day which helps.
I've developed some strange muscle pain, though. A little in my lower back (which is normal) but also down my right side. It's almost like I've pulled my muscle exercising. The strange thing is that it only occurs at around 4am every morning when I'm sleeping. I turn over and it goes for a while. Then when I get up for work and start to move around - it goes completely and does not come back at all during the day. It only happens while I'm sleeping at around 4am! Crazy! Anyone else having a reoccurring muscle pain like that?
Overall I'm fairly pleased with how this is going. I think everyone responds differently to this and your initial problems will occur where your acne is at it's worst. For me, it's on my back and shoulders which is where the biggest flair up has been. My face has calmed down now (knock on wood), although I'm fully braced for another facial flair up. This treatment and acne as you know is extremely unpredictable. I just think of what things will be like in another 4 months which is what keeps me happy.
Got my next derm appointment next week which is where I'll go up to 60mg per day. I dare say that the most problematic of side effects will start then...
80mg tends to have the most side effects. The dry and bleeding lips would seriously bug me--how could I eat, then?
That reminds me: I forgot to ask a derm whether applying ammonium lactate then Vaseline would be better than just plain ol' Aquaphor. 12% ammonium lactate is better than ~5% glycerin. Does anyone else know this?
Huzzah for the close shave! 
Days 26-28:
It now hurts to apply moisturiser to my lips, they're definitely getting worse and are attracting worried looks from people. My face is covered in white dead skin and I look disgusting. Blackheads are going and and I no longer come out in whiteheads. It's just the inflamed red bits that have yet to go, but I think that'll only happen when I go up in dosage.
My skin is going from pale to an angry red. Not so much from the acne, but just from all the irritation of dead skin/ gale force winds/ cold.
This isn't a good day.
Days 26-28:
It now hurts to apply moisturiser to my lips, they're definitely getting worse and are attracting worried looks from people. My face is covered in white dead skin and I look disgusting. Blackheads are going and and I no longer come out in whiteheads. It's just the inflamed red bits that have yet to go, but I think that'll only happen when I go up in dosage.
My skin is going from pale to an angry red. Not so much from the acne, but just from all the irritation of dead skin/ gale force winds/ cold.
This isn't a good day.
Are you trying to apply a physical sunscreen, or is that too much? You might want to have a humidifier around, too.
Days 29-32: Despite looking okay a few days ago, I think I'm having a not-very-initial-at-all-breakout. I thought I'd escaped it! My face is coming out in spots: not any nasty cystic ones, but blotchy inflammatory ones. They're appearing all over my legs too. I'm trying to convince myself that it's just my skin purging all the gunk, but it's pretty dreadful.
I've been solving the lip situation by putting moisturiser on it, and then using lip balm to sort of stick it down.
Hello all. hope you're well well.
@Michelle Reece - Yeah, I reckon 80mg is where it'll be fun & games. Regarding my lips, during the day I've been using this stuff VERY liberally every 40 minutes and it's working a treat: [Removed]
On an evening when I'm going to sleep, I use this because it has a thicker consistency and stays on the lips all night. Again - I apply very liberally: http://boots.scene7.com/is/image/Boots/10005069?wid=280&hei=343&op_sharpen=1
@Rassendyll - just hang in there mate. They say that the worst sides are in the first month or so of the treatment. I thought I'd managed to escape the initial breakout too, but I was wrong. It made quite a mess of my chin & cheeks and also my shoulders. However, it's clearing up very quickly now. Once this stuff starts to work, it REALLY starts to work. Just think of what you'll be like in another 3-4 months time. It'll be worth it.
So it's day/dosage 23 for me. This is what's happened so far:
Day 1/Month 1: 40mg daily - felt quite ill/sweaty.
Day 3 & 4 - migraines. Bad-ass ones. Sort of like the aftermath of taking a heavy hit to the head.
Day 7 to 9 - headaches gradually go face looked as if it was clearing up, dry lips & skin kicking in, but...
Day 10 - 14 - I was wrong. Initial breakout kicked in. I developed painful, red, localised spots around my chin, cheeks, shoulders (VERY PAINFUL THERE). Facial redness set in. Skin tone becomes uneven & scars more noticeable.
Day 14 to 19 - Strange muscle aches develop. Breakout calms down on face & shoulders but the area's where my breakout was bad on my chin has left lots of dry skin patches, which is gradually getting better. Oil production (finally) reduces particularly around my T-zone. Redness slowly fades. Skin is dry. I use grade 2 E45 creme which when applied just takes the dryness away and you'd never even tell I have dry skin. I managed to have a close shave which I have not been able to do since I was 25 (3 years ago) so that's kind of a good thing for me, although I hate baby smooth skin and prefer a small stubble - just wanted to see what my skin was like under my stubble and dry skin, to which I was VERY pleased overall. Lips gradually get dry but I use a lot of lip balm & vaseline which helps. If I go over 45 mins without applying it then I feel them drying up rapidly. Pore purge kicks in. Blackheads that I didn't even know I had rear their ugly head around my nose.
Just to add - I was using topical Isotretinion for 10+ years and that stuff really dried my skin out and made it look red. The oral version (so far) is not as radical in terms of dryness so I can deal with it at the moment. Let's see what it's like when the dosage goes up.
Day 19 to 23 - Skin on face is looking the best it's looked in quite a few years. Tone is more even, dryness comes & goes. Breakout on shoulders & back is clearing quite quickly. Muscle pain when I sleep is still there. Mood is very good! Had some down time around week 2 but that was due to my skin looking terrible. Redness is reducing still.
Went for my first blood tests yesterday and have my next derm appointment in 2 days which is when I up my dosage to 60mg per day. I dare say that there'll be nothing much to report until around mid next week when the higher dosage kicks in so I'll probably update with you then, that is unless something else changes.
So, hang in there everyone. This stuff DOES work. I can see it already. Got to take the rough with the smooth to combat what we have. I'll happily take a few months of the rough for potentially a lifetime of the smooth. Hopefully you all have a family as supporting as mine that'll help you out though this period and if so then it'll be over before you know it. Right now, I'm staying optimistic.
Much love.x
Glad to hear it's going well for you man! Hope my acne goes the same way soon
Days 33-4: Red all over face. Can't open mouth properly due to scabbing. Was given some Cetreben today by the doctor and it sort of helps in that it makes all the dead stuff soft. I may still have to find a way to exfoliate and get rid of all the flakes hough. Bloods tomorrow!
On 3/4/2014 at 1:57 PM, smallguy86 said:Hello all. hope you're well well.
@Michelle Reece - Yeah, I reckon 80mg is where it'll be fun & games. Regarding my lips, during the day I've been using this stuff VERY liberally every 40 minutes and it's working a treat: [Removed]
On an evening when I'm going to sleep, I use this because it has a thicker consistency and stays on the lips all night. Again - I apply very liberally: http://boots.scene7.com/is/image/Boots/10005069?wid=280&hei=343&op_sharpen=1
@Rassendyll - just hang in there mate. They say that the worst sides are in the first month or so of the treatment. I thought I'd managed to escape the initial breakout too, but I was wrong. It made quite a mess of my chin & cheeks and also my shoulders. However, it's clearing up very quickly now. Once this stuff starts to work, it REALLY starts to work. Just think of what you'll be like in another 3-4 months time. It'll be worth it.
So it's day/dosage 23 for me. This is what's happened so far:
Day 1/Month 1: 40mg daily - felt quite ill/sweaty.
Day 3 & 4 - migraines. Bad-ass ones. Sort of like the aftermath of taking a heavy hit to the head.
Day 7 to 9 - headaches gradually go face looked as if it was clearing up, dry lips & skin kicking in, but...
Day 10 - 14 - I was wrong. Initial breakout kicked in. I developed painful, red, localised spots around my chin, cheeks, shoulders (VERY PAINFUL THERE). Facial redness set in. Skin tone becomes uneven & scars more noticeable.
Day 14 to 19 - Strange muscle aches develop. Breakout calms down on face & shoulders but the area's where my breakout was bad on my chin has left lots of dry skin patches, which is gradually getting better. Oil production (finally) reduces particularly around my T-zone. Redness slowly fades. Skin is dry. I use grade 2 E45 creme which when applied just takes the dryness away and you'd never even tell I have dry skin. I managed to have a close shave which I have not been able to do since I was 25 (3 years ago) so that's kind of a good thing for me, although I hate baby smooth skin and prefer a small stubble - just wanted to see what my skin was like under my stubble and dry skin, to which I was VERY pleased overall. Lips gradually get dry but I use a lot of lip balm & vaseline which helps. If I go over 45 mins without applying it then I feel them drying up rapidly. Pore purge kicks in. Blackheads that I didn't even know I had rear their ugly head around my nose.
Just to add - I was using topical Isotretinion for 10+ years and that stuff really dried my skin out and made it look red. The oral version (so far) is not as radical in terms of dryness so I can deal with it at the moment. Let's see what it's like when the dosage goes up.
Day 19 to 23 - Skin on face is looking the best it's looked in quite a few years. Tone is more even, dryness comes & goes. Breakout on shoulders & back is clearing quite quickly. Muscle pain when I sleep is still there. Mood is very good! Had some down time around week 2 but that was due to my skin looking terrible. Redness is reducing still.
Went for my first blood tests yesterday and have my next derm appointment in 2 days which is when I up my dosage to 60mg per day. I dare say that there'll be nothing much to report until around mid next week when the higher dosage kicks in so I'll probably update with you then, that is unless something else changes.
So, hang in there everyone. This stuff DOES work. I can see it already. Got to take the rough with the smooth to combat what we have. I'll happily take a few months of the rough for potentially a lifetime of the smooth. Hopefully you all have a family as supporting as mine that'll help you out though this period and if so then it'll be over before you know it. Right now, I'm staying optimistic.
Much love.x
[Removed]
On 3/5/2014 at 2:40 AM, Rassendyll said:Glad to hear it's going well for you man! Hope my acne goes the same way soon
Days 33-4: Red all over face. Can't open mouth properly due to scabbing. Was given some Cetreben today by the doctor and it sort of helps in that it makes all the dead stuff soft. I may still have to find a way to exfoliate and get rid of all the flakes hough. Bloods tomorrow!
Oh geez. You guys getting any really dry hands?
Glad to hear it's going well for you man! Hope my acne goes the same way soon
Days 33-4: Red all over face. Can't open mouth properly due to scabbing. Was given some Cetreben today by the doctor and it sort of helps in that it makes all the dead stuff soft. I may still have to find a way to exfoliate and get rid of all the flakes hough. Bloods tomorrow!
So far it is mate, thanks! But to be honest my facial acne wasn't terrible as I'm 28 and my hormones are (sort of) more balanced now. It was more annoying for me as it was unpredictable acne and my shiny oily face was becoming embarrassing too, which is one of the reasons (as well as problematic acne) I'm on this. I'd wash & exfoliate in the morning and within 3 hours my face was just covered in oil. Which has now stopped (yay!). My shoulders and back were the area's that needed the most attention really. I'm expecting everything to flair up again soon though and I won't be surprised if it does. But, so far, it's now starting to clear. Yours 100% definitely will clear man. If it's doing this with my mild (yet still active) resilient & persistent facial acne after 24 days then I think it'll take a little bit longer for it to work on more aggressive hormonal acne - but it WILL work.
Is your skin still producing a lot of oil at day 33? If so then it sounds like your hormones are in overdrive man.
My girlfriend gave me some of this for exfoliating: 
It's really helping too so I'd recommend it. Do it twice to twice to three times per week then very gently dry (almost patting your face) and moisturise with this immediately after to lock in the moisture: http://www.superdrug.com/e45/e45-nourish-and-restore-body-lotion-250ml/invt/369656
Apply the E45 daily, and liberally in the most driest of areas after you wash. You can barley notice my dry skin when I do that.
@Michelle - Yes, I was getting dry hands which also started to look a little like eczema but that E45 creme has cleared it up when I apply it daily & after I've washed my hands etc.
Let me know how you get on with the above exfoliating/moisturising creme guys!x
sounds like your hormones are in overdrive man.
Story of my life.
Day 35: I slept with my face absolutely covered in Cetraben. Woke up dry still, I'll try exfoliate with some of that stuff you were on about Smallguy and see if it'll take off all those flakes, thanks! Had my bloods today and I have 12 more sets of pills left, will see if my dosage changes. Hopefully it can go up!
Days 36-7: For now, I can exfoliate to get rid of all the flakes, then cleanse to get rid of all the oils I've scrubbed out of the skin and then rub a heap a moisturiser in for five minutes. It appears to be working.
I feel a little happier about my skin, the redness is further going down. Also I went to the Ally Pally which was good.
Days 36-7: For now, I can exfoliate to get rid of all the flakes, then cleanse to get rid of all the oils I've scrubbed out of the skin and then rub a heap a moisturiser in for five minutes. It appears to be working.
I feel a little happier about my skin, the redness is further going down. Also I went to the Ally Pally which was good.
When will be your next dose increase?
What's Ally Pally? Alexandera Palace?
@Rassendyll: Yeah! There you go mate. Nice one! Glad that's worked out for you. I knew it would. Just remember to only exfoliate twice a week, maybe 3 at the VERY most. Your skin is thin and fragile while on this stuff and over exfoliation can do more harem than good. But I'm pleased that it's helped you.
I had my 3rd derm appointment 2 days ago. Overall he (and myself) was pleased. He said that I should be done in another 4 months. He also said that I'd managed to stay on top of the dryness very well and to keep doing what I'm doing.
So, today my dosage has gone up to 60mg per day. Just had my first 60mg with a bowl of porridge, a banana and a protein shake.
He's said the side effects are going to increase but not too dramatically. He said that I shouldn't get another flair up (yet not to be surprised if I do get one) but I will get the occasional few spots here and there (which I'm not bothered about) and that the dryness/muscle aches will increase by around 20%.
Will update on side effects in around a week. So far they've been very tolerable for me.
Have a good weekend everyone.x
@Rassendyll: Yeah! There you go mate. Nice one! Glad that's worked out for you. I knew it would. Just remember to only exfoliate twice a week, maybe 3 at the VERY most. Your skin is thin and fragile while on this stuff and over exfoliation can do more harem than good. But I'm pleased that it's helped you.
I had my 3rd derm appointment 2 days ago. Overall he (and myself) was pleased. He said that I should be done in another 4 months. He also said that I'd managed to stay on top of the dryness very well and to keep doing what I'm doing.
So, today my dosage has gone up to 60mg per day. Just had my first 60mg with a bowl of porridge, a banana and a protein shake.
He's said the side effects are going to increase but not too dramatically. He said that I shouldn't get another flair up (yet not to be surprised if I do get one) but I will get the occasional few spots here and there (which I'm not bothered about) and that the dryness/muscle aches will increase by around 20%.
Will update on side effects in around a week. So far they've been very tolerable for me.
Have a good weekend everyone.x
Be sure to relax so you don't worsen any muscle pain.
@Rassendyll: Yeah! There you go mate. Nice one! Glad that's worked out for you. I knew it would. Just remember to only exfoliate twice a week, maybe 3 at the VERY most. Your skin is thin and fragile while on this stuff and over exfoliation can do more harem than good. But I'm pleased that it's helped you.
I had my 3rd derm appointment 2 days ago. Overall he (and myself) was pleased. He said that I should be done in another 4 months. He also said that I'd managed to stay on top of the dryness very well and to keep doing what I'm doing.
So, today my dosage has gone up to 60mg per day. Just had my first 60mg with a bowl of porridge, a banana and a protein shake.
He's said the side effects are going to increase but not too dramatically. He said that I shouldn't get another flair up (yet not to be surprised if I do get one) but I will get the occasional few spots here and there (which I'm not bothered about) and that the dryness/muscle aches will increase by around 20%.
Will update on side effects in around a week. So far they've been very tolerable for me.
Have a good weekend everyone.x
Be sure to relax so you don't worsen any muscle pain.
Haha, thanks. Will try my best! Fortunately my line of work isn't the most physically demanding. Managed to have a little sleep in this morning too which was nice.
@Rassendyll: Yeah! There you go mate. Nice one! Glad that's worked out for you. I knew it would. Just remember to only exfoliate twice a week, maybe 3 at the VERY most. Your skin is thin and fragile while on this stuff and over exfoliation can do more harem than good. But I'm pleased that it's helped you.
I had my 3rd derm appointment 2 days ago. Overall he (and myself) was pleased. He said that I should be done in another 4 months. He also said that I'd managed to stay on top of the dryness very well and to keep doing what I'm doing.
So, today my dosage has gone up to 60mg per day. Just had my first 60mg with a bowl of porridge, a banana and a protein shake.
He's said the side effects are going to increase but not too dramatically. He said that I shouldn't get another flair up (yet not to be surprised if I do get one) but I will get the occasional few spots here and there (which I'm not bothered about) and that the dryness/muscle aches will increase by around 20%.
Will update on side effects in around a week. So far they've been very tolerable for me.
Have a good weekend everyone.x
Be sure to relax so you don't worsen any muscle pain.
Haha, thanks. Will try my best! Fortunately my line of work isn't the most physically demanding. Managed to have a little sleep in this morning too which was nice.
Do you sleep on your back? It'll help with your head/jaw tenderness and knees.
Just to update: 5 days into 60mg daily of my second month and I've started to produce a little more oil around my nose again after being oil free for 2 weeks, which has led to a couple of new spots forming. Strange how this has happened after my dosage going up?! Also had another flair up on my right shoulder. Very sore! Going down now though. Had a couple of headaches days 1 to 3 of 60mg which have subsided now. Got one small spot coming up on the underneath right hand side of my chin.
That's about it for now. Still feel ok though. Dry skin is minimal and dry lips are too. Been sticking to the exfoliate twice a week, plenty of moisturising/lip balm and its still working.
Not enjoying the pink/red face though!
Days 38-42: I've got a fairly hefty spot, but it's fading really quickly. My hospital has forgotten to book me a second consultation for my next lot of pills, so I had a shout at them today and hope I'll manage to get seen before my pills run out in 5 days time. I am no longer very dry at all, so I think my body might have become used to the stuff.
