Hi everyone!

About Me: I am a 24 year old female who's been battling moderate acne since I was 11. I break out mainly around my cheeks and chest area excessively. I can't wear many shirts because my chest is hugely scattered with acne and red marks. I've largely attributed my acne to stress because I notice it tends to worsen when I don't get proper sleep or get depressed. However, I have had clear skin when I was studying abroad for a year in Europe, so I know clear skin is possible without drugs - if I maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Nonetheless the dermatologist recommended me for a 6-month course of Accutane. I'll be honest. I'm terrified of the side effects which is why I want to be in a supportive community of others going through the same circumstances. I'll be logging my updates and perhaps including some photos (but to be honest, I am a bit photo shy).

My Regiment: I'll be starting off with 30 mg of Claravis for a month, then transitioning to 60 mg for the next 5 months. The 30 mg was recommended by my derm b/c he notices patients that start off with high dosages tend to have their cholesterol levels skyrocket. But with a 30 mg, their cholesterol levels are largely stable.

I've also been recommended to take Claravis with two heaping tablespoons of peanut butter (apparently the generic brands need fat to help the pills absorb better). What kind of fatty foods do you recommend incorporating without totally being unhealthy? I'm looking at meat, avocados, nuts, etc. I want to make sure I am consuming enough fats for this medicine to be even effective, but not too much that I am jeopardizing my own health.

I'm also getting married this summer, so I would love love to have clear skin for my wedding or just to truly feel beautiful without makeup with my fiance. He understands my skin ailments and loves me no matter how I look, but I would still love to feel beautiful and comfortable in my own skin in his presence. It's hard when your fiance tells you you are beautiful, but you cannot possibly believe it yourself because of all the acne damaging your skin. I also haven't told him I am going on Accutane because I don't want him to worry about the side effects and discourage me from the treatment. He's very big on natural, holistic treatments for skincare - which I've tried unsuccessfully.

How Accutane Feels: I'm currently on Day 3 of my Accutane treatment, which I officially started on February 7, 2014. Currently, my skin has gotten drier (not too bad though), my eyes are VERY dry and sometimes painful (definitely bad) which is why I'm opting for glasses and not contacts during the treatment, and I also had 1 bout of IBD today (ugh). I have a history of IBD though, so it's not new, but I read that there is a possible alleged correlation between IBD and Accutane. I pray it won't be a huge issue!

I'll also be moving from Texas to NYC for work this week, so I'll be in the process of switching dermatologists and pharmacies on iPledge soon. Does anyone have experience with this? Are there usually difficulties? I don't want a problem to occur and have to abandon my Accutane regiment after being committed to it.

Sincerely,

TexanGirl