Yay, you made a log! I hope spiro will work for you! I know waiting can be tough. Right now I'm waiting to start my next month of birth control pills so I can switch to belara (a pill with an anti-androgen like spiro, but not quite the same). It's just two weeks away, but it feels like an eternity! And then there's the whole "hormones take so damn long to regulate" thing. If you don't see success on spiro within the first few months don't lose hope. It took me over 6 months to clear on spiro, but when I cleared I CLEARED. It was like I was on accutane without the yucky flushed face and dry lips. Be patient and I will try to be too

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to an OBGYN for my yearly. What hormones should i have them test for? Good luck with BCP. Keep me posted

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to an OBGYN for my yearly. What hormones should i have them test for? Good luck with BCP. Keep me posted

Let's see. In the past my doctors have always checked my thyroid hormones, testosterone, DHEA, DHEA-S, and prolactin. I think FSH, LH, SGBH, progesterone, and estrogen are good too, but I do not have those checked regularly. Acutally, I'm not sure if I've ever had my progesterone and estrogen checked, but I should! Also ask if they can check your basic vitamins and minerals too like B vitamins, Vitamin D, and iron.

Thanks hun. She ran some hormone tests so in a few weeks i should be getting the results. The visit was terrible and quite painful - won't be using them again. She also wanted to put me on BCP and i was like, 'not in this lifetime.'

Man it is hard finding a cleanser and moisturizer recommendation! Everything has so much crap in them and natural is not that much better. What cleansers and moisturizers are everyone using on tane?

I feel as if i have the most resiliant acne out there. Its been 16 years dealing with it and my last course of accutane helped but not as much as i hoped- definitely no WOW factor. Wondering if it is even worth going another round. My mouth, lips and chin is a ring of acne that never heals -seriously. It's red, hard and many of them have pus there. My cheeks are also breaking out. I could probably deal with it better if that mouth area wasn't so irritated looking and dry - holy hell. It's a different shade than the rest of my skin-boo hoo! That whole area feels like one big rash.

I finally switched my cleanser to CERAVE hydrating and while it felt better on my skin, i think I can thank it for the added closed comedones and flared acne bumps. I have over 20 pimples on my face right now so not a happy camper. I see my derm on Sept 11th and go for my blood test Sept 9th

I've hit a new acne low. To have to deal with puss filled pimples, small red pimples, big assed pimples and dryness all at the same time is just too much for me - and this is BEFORE i have even begun an acne regimen! Life is so unfair at times. I just want to eat, sit in front of my tv and not leave my house.....ever. The concentration of acne is around my lips, sides of mouth and chin. People without acne will never understand what we go through....ever. Waking up and dreading the reflection in the mirror, feeling your stomach drop when you get 4 new zits daily when the fifteen others you have have not begun to heal. Having to deal with 'traveling' eyes of others. I go back to work in 2 weeks and my co workers will not recognize me as my acne was quite mild before i left. I'm 32 and this honestly sucks. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated.

How did your hormonal tests turn out? Any results yet??

How did your hormonal tests turn out? Any results yet??

My derm said everything was normal so I had my OBGYN run some tests. Will call for the results next week.

So i went to my regular derm today and she confirmed i don't have PD - thank the Lord. She popped the tops off of my whiteheads and sprayed with liquid nitrogen - face is an unholy hot mess. I asked her to see the results of my blood test.

I am concerned. I have been prediabetic for quite a while and my BG had finally went back in normal range 85. The results for this recent tests showed impaired BG at 105. I have been juicing beets and carrots since that first test so i shouldn't be suprised but thats a big jump. Also, something was funky with my HDL and LDL though triglycerides were good. Needless to say, i may need to go back to my paleo way of eating as my prediabetes is definitely a family trait and accutane can make it worse.

Not sure how much of these punches i can take before i give up for good.

I'm sorry leelowe! Related completely with your 8/18 entry, its so tough sometimes. Cyber hugs, friend!

I'm sorry leelowe! Related completely with your 8/18 entry, its so tough sometimes. Cyber hugs, friend!

Thanks Mandy, it's been rough. It's appreciated.

I was really on the fence about doing another course of accutane, especially since my last course did not produce results but my acne is now worse than ever and the 'do nothing' approach is not working for me at all. I go for my 2nd round of blood work on Tuesday and I see my derm on Thursday. If all goes well, I may be popping my first pill before next weekend is out.

On a side note, I feel like such a failure because:

I couldn't hold out for 2 months with TCM

I let my acne bother me to the point of hiding away and thinking of seriously negative thoughts

I've done everything to get healthy and it hasn't made an ounce of difference

At times, I think to myself that i'd rather not exist than exist with my acne

I'm not confident enough to not let my skin dictate my life

I'm just so tired of living this life in a fish bowl

I was really on the fence about doing another course of accutane, especially since my last course did not produce results but my acne is now worse than ever and the 'do nothing' approach is not working for me at all. I go for my 2nd round of blood work on Tuesday and I see my derm on Thursday. If all goes well, I may be popping my first pill before next weekend is out.

On a side note, I feel like such a failure because:

I couldn't hold out for 2 months with TCM

I let my acne bother me to the point of hiding away and thinking of seriously negative thoughts

I've done everything to get healthy and it hasn't made an ounce of difference

At times, I think to myself that i'd rather not exist than exist with my acne

I'm not confident enough to not let my skin dictate my life

I'm just so tired of living this life in a fish bowl

You can take accutane that quickly after doing your blood work? My doctor said I would have to wait a month 🙁

I took the first set of blood work last month.

Feeling so depressed right now. Acne is so inflamed, red and bumpy. Skin is tight and dry as if i were already on treatment- oily at the same time. Feel like i am beating a dead horse with a stick

Hey there,

I think you should see someone who can help you through those rough times, like a psychologist or a social worker, because accutane makes you more depressed and I have the feeling that you are not in a very good place right now.

Other than that, try to fix things... It's ok if they don't look perfect, but keep trying to make yourself feel more in control.

Also, you will notice that if you smile at people and you are friendly they will respond in a likely manner and not judge you at all the way you judge yourself. We all do it on this forum from time to time, but you shouldn't let this thing affect your life and social interactions. We aren't perfect, give yourself a break, you'll get at least a little better eventually, but you have to love yourself.

Get better at the things you are doing now and go out and do something you have always wanted to, but never could (no matter how long it takes). Try to raise your self-esteem in ways that don't depend on your physical appearance. Take care of your health and that includes your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Write in a journal about your feelings and later on write down how you can solve these issues. I know you have tried a lot of natural remedies and diets that haven't worked, so don't obsess over it. I think now it's time for you to focus on your emotions and peace of mind.

I hope that helps!!!

Hey there,

I think you should see someone who can help you through those rough times, like a psychologist or a social worker, because accutane makes you more depressed and I have the feeling that you are not in a very good place right now.

Other than that, try to fix things... It's ok if they don't look perfect, but keep trying to make yourself feel more in control.

Also, you will notice that if you smile at people and you are friendly they will respond in a likely manner and not judge you at all the way you judge yourself. We all do it on this forum from time to time, but you shouldn't let this thing affect your life and social interactions. We aren't perfect, give yourself a break, you'll get at least a little better eventually, but you have to love yourself.

Get better at the things you are doing now and go out and do something you have always wanted to, but never could (no matter how long it takes). Try to raise your self-esteem in ways that don't depend on your physical appearance. Take care of your health and that includes your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Write in a journal about your feelings and later on write down how you can solve these issues. I know you have tried a lot of natural remedies and diets that haven't worked, so don't obsess over it. I think now it's time for you to focus on your emotions and peace of mind.

I hope that helps!!!

Thank You for your kind words- they mean a lot. I have been diagnosed with depression but my acne by far is the biggest trigger. I have seen a social worker in the past but not keen to doing it again. I try my best to go about my day but I am so self conscious of my acne and i know that people notice, especially those that remember me without much of it. I know I am insecure and i just don't know how to change it. At 31 and being in the working world, not wearing makeup, it's rough. I do take care of myself spiritually but I am hard on myself emotionally to the point of exhaustion and insomnia. It's a vicious cycle that I don't know how to change. How do you deal? Has wearing makeup helped you to 'face' the world?

Yep, there's nothing wrong to make things work until they start working for you.

If accutane clears me up to the point that I feel comfortable, I'll stop wearing makeup.

We're actually lucky we are girls and have that option. There are a lot of guys out there who just have to deal with it!

Acne my friend, you are a total douche. You make everything that much harder......grrrrrr

So my second round of blood work cleared - everything back in normal range so i got my prescription for 20 mg of absorica. My derm needs to fill in her portion of I pledge, i need to answer my questions and we're on the road....again. I relayed to her all my fears about making things worse and she listened to me. I don't know what this first month will hold but i have no other options.

Hi Sascha,

Just started spiro on Monday..Hopefully in a few months we both will have big smiles on our faces!!

Good luck and stay strong! xox

Hi Sascha,

Just started spiro on Monday..Hopefully in a few months we both will have big smiles on our faces!!

Good luck and stay strong! xox

Hopefully hun. We're both stronger than we give ourselves credit for.

Day 1

Took my first 20 mg pill and waiting for the other shoe to fall. I hate this feeling. My face is starting out a big inflamed mess. I will probably post pics tomorrow so you all can see what i'm working with. Not expecting much besides side effects and more acne. Praying that things work because i have no where else to turn.

Everything will be better, you have to have faith.

Don't stress yourself with the crazy diets and such- they added a lot of stress to my life.

Everything will be better, you have to have faith.

Don't stress yourself with the crazy diets and such- they added a lot of stress to my life.

Trying to be strong in Christ. I am pre-diabetic so i definitely have to keep eating as healthy as i can which means i must limit my carbs. Trying to take it one day at a time though hun - it's not easy but my support system here and IRL is AMAZING.