Acne.org Products
Here are pictures as promised. I love how my i phone flatters everything. There is not one inch of smooth skin on my face and everything seems so red. It hurts to touch my face. My derm said that the up side of my acne is that most of it is surface level pimples with few cysts. I feel as if from this morning to tonight, a lot of my under the skin pimples have come to the surface. I break out in multiple pimples everyday so I am not sure if i'm going to be able to distinguish my regular acne from the IB.
The products i picked up include:
eye drops that lubricate and diminish redness (a generic brand)
cetaphil cream for my face and body (though my doc says that on this low dose i may not get all that dry)
aquaphor for lips.
I already have steroid cream for my eczema just in case and Aveeno body lotion. Trying to stay positive and not let the results or lack there of discourage me.
http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/Sasch83/library/Accutane%202014%20journey?sort=3&page=1
U don't look bad at all... I don't understand why you're so upset over it...
From one acne sufferer to the next, you should know that acne affects everyone differently. As i stated, most of my acne is surface bumps but there are over 30-40 of them and i break out everyday. I am 31 years old and i work with parents and children all day. It's embarrasing and my face hurts when i touch it. You can't compare one person acne to another.
FYI, My first round of accutane was for moderate cystic acne - i've not had a reoccurence like that but my acne has the potential to reach those levels if not treated.
Just curious, have you ever considered the fact that your acne isn't acne at all, but is something else like an infection, irritation, or rosacea?
I have but then again BP worked as did accutane. I spoke to my derm about this and she's positive it is acne.
Day 3
3 days in and so far i haven't dropped dead. Woot! Woot! My skin/lips still feel the same so I haven't been feeling excessively dry and my derm said that at 20mg, it may not happen to the extreme that it has in the past. No itching or eczema flares yet either. I am breaking out more though and i know it's the accutane as i have pimples under my eyebrows (who the heck breaks out there?!?). My acne also seems so much more red and inflamed. I feel that my under the surface bumps are coming up quickly too. I have a feeling this process is going to be long and drawn out at such a low dose. The one side effect i have had though is a spacy feeling like i'm on la la land. Anyone else experience that?
Hey there! I'm also 32 and have been dealing with it since I was 15. I'm on my 3rd round of Accutane. This time I'm going to stay on it a little longer. Hopefully that will give me results that lost longer than a year! I tried Spiro and it helped for a little while, but then I it all just got worse and I had cystic acne worse than I've had it in years. I want to have my hormones tested as well. I'd be curious if your gyn tells you that anything in particular is out of balance. Good luck!
Hey there! I'm also 32 and have been dealing with it since I was 15. I'm on my 3rd round of Accutane. This time I'm going to stay on it a little longer. Hopefully that will give me results that lost longer than a year! I tried Spiro and it helped for a little while, but then I it all just got worse and I had cystic acne worse than I've had it in years. I want to have my hormones tested as well. I'd be curious if your gyn tells you that anything in particular is out of balance. Good luck!
Thank you, i'll be following you along as i have used accutane a few times too. My last course i never stopped breaking out but my face was so much better than it is today. Are you documenting your journey with pictures? How far along are you and what is your dosage?
Hey! The last time I cleared up pretty well and stayed that way for a year, but then the dreaded OILINESS came back and little by little the acne started to take over again. I was taking 30 twice a day, then 40, now 60 twice a day. How many months were you on it before? I think that the legnth of treatment must make a difference and I'm hoping to stay on it longer this time.
Day 5
Put up some pictures - not thrilled with the quality.....grrrrrrr. I have a cluster of white heads happening on my left side from lower cheek down to my mouth and chin. Things were there before but everything seems to be coming to the surface. Also, myleft cheek is getting a few inflamed pimples that were just flesh colored pimples before. The sucky part is that they are red and the redness spreads far beyond the pimples themselves. The hairline by my ears seems to also have hard pimples that hurt to the touch. Right side mouth/chin area is better than left but not by much. That entire early is dry and flaky so I may start mixing the cetaphil with my current moisturizer. My right cheeks have 1-2 inflamed pimples and a ton of clogs which will probably get inflamed very soon. Forehead has teeny pimples so not going to mention it.
Side Effects:
Lips are dryer
Skin around mouth dryer
hands feel dryer (was dry to begin with)
Itching but since i get red bumps where it itches, i think it may be mosquitos.
Feeling tired
moth sores
My mood has been surprisingly decent in-spite of my acne. I don't cry over it now a days but i do hate looking at myself and i avoid certain social situations. If i had the option of being a recluse for the next few months, i would probably do that but i can't. Having acne, no matter the severity is as much a mental thing as it is a physical thing.
Good Luck to everyone else going through the struggle
Anyone who says the IB is avoidable on a low dose has no clue. My smaller bumps have inflamed and man do they hurt. My entire face feels like rocky road. I also have a large red pimple on my right inner cheek that will definitely leave a mark. My face itches and just looks plain irritated. So frustrated with acne and this process.
I mixed cetaphil moisturizing cream with my neutrogenia to see if it would help with dryness around mouth - nope. If anything , it made everything more red. I don't think my skin will ever get back to a sense of normalacy.
BTW, for anyone just starting , there are some great you tube videos of other people going through the process. This girl is simply amazing:
Hi sash good luck on the course. I'm almost finished mine now and still breaking out.
Curious does your derm think you can get remission even though its your fourth course. Are u going to be staying on 20mg?
Your lesions are small at least and you don't seem to have any scarring from the pics so that's a good thing. Sadly I'm scarred so even if I do ever cure my acne my face is still fucked.
Stay with it I wish u all the best
Hi sash good luck on the course. I'm almost finished mine now and still breaking out.
Curious does your derm think you can get remission even though its your fourth course. Are u going to be staying on 20mg?
Your lesions are small at least and you don't seem to have any scarring from the pics so that's a good thing. Sadly I'm scarred so even if I do ever cure my acne my face is still fucked.
Stay with it I wish u all the best
Hi JJ. To be honest with you, i am already having a rough go of accutane in terms of the dryness so i may not make it long term. Hoping that is not the case but we'll' see. My derm is not looking that far ahead and neither am I. From my previous course, my expectations are low but doing nothing for my acne is not an option. The most bothersome thing for me right now is the worsening condition of the skin around my mouth area ( like a ring of redness and dryness). I've had 2 derms tell me its not perioral dermatitis so i guess that means that BP destroyed that part of my face and it may never get back to its natural color and suppleness, especially since i continue to break out there. I am so discouraged at this point. Scarring as not been an issue for me but red marks are. I have one from 2011 that never went away. I am greatful that most of acne is surface stuff but accutane has also brought up some deeper stuff which sucks. At 20 mg the horror that is my IB could go on for months and months. I think my derm will decide if she wants to increase the dosage after this month so we'll see.
Are your breakouts less at least. How many are you getting and what type? Pictures- before and after? I know the frustration so you are not alone. What's your next step?
Thanks for the encouragement
I wouldn't even call that acne. I realise you've had this criticism before but, I would kill to have skin like that. Most people I see on a daily basis have skin like yours.
I know the effects of acne are psychological, but only so because we compare ourselves to others. Comparing you to others... You have great skin.
Your dermatologist must be crazy.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. My acne (and yes, its acne) is numerous smaller red bumps versus a few huge bumps. It's not severe acne and i never said it was nor am i going to justify my treatment choices.
Good Luck on your treatment....we're all here to support each other no matter the severity of our acne.
Day 7 One Week Down.
Side Effects:
redness and dryness around mouth is ridiculous - it's tight and sometimes has a burning sensation at times (wondering if its dermatitis)
Flushing/red face/warm skin on face (could be related to dryness)
The Itchies (not too often - still convinced it ay be mosquito bites)
More acne/redder and more irritated looking acne/skin (or maybe the acne that has been visible below the surface is coming up)
moodiness/more emotional
dry and itchy scalp.
One week in and I am already itching to be off this stuff. Acne wise, more acne that has been visible below the surface has come up. I broke out in a few spots on my cheeks, one mega inflamed and puss filled on on my right inner cheek (it doesn't bother me that much). What i hate the most is the cluster of small red bumps that make my skin more red and irritated looking. Not much more to say. At this point, my concern is the redness around my mouth that my derm says is not perioral dermatitis. I really hope it is not permanent because that and acne would suck. I had to start using cetaphil moisturizing cream on it and of course its not helping. I bought some vitamin E and fish oil so i will start that soon as they are supposed to help with dry skin.
On a side note, i have been receiving quite a few comments bashing my decision to be on accutane due to my acne not being severe and i thought i'd respond once and for all. I've tried everything to get rid of my acne including
diets
naturopaths
acccupuncture
chinese herbs
supplements
BP (which caused the redness/dryness) around my mouth)
retinoids
Birth Control
SA
over the counter stuff
water only
facials
natural remedies
I wouldn't choose to take this dangerous drug if i had other options. We are all here for support no matter the severity of our acne. Having dealt with this for 16 years and having it be cystic and moderate at one point, i know how bad it can get. It doesn't matter to me if you don't agree with it but please respect it.
Hmm, never thought of that. My body is pretty sensitive as it is so i don't think my derm would agree to that. When do you officially start? Would love to see a picture of your acne to see if we have similar stuff happening but i get that not everyone is comfortable with that. Good Luck to you! Glad the bc is not having too bad of side effects.
Holy mother of God- What a day of side effects
The itchy face, the dryness, the redness. I could scream. It started this afternoon, The area by my mouth was so dry and tight that i put moisurizer around it. It turned bright red and stayed that way. Got home, moisturized again. Still itchy. Washed my face with cerave hydrating cleanser and moisturized on wet skin- felt relief and then itchy again. Now sitting in front of my humidfier and itching not as bad. Now arm is itching so i had to take a benadryl. I remember the itchies early on in my last course and how i wanted to tear into my skin. My face is so dry and irritated looking and broken out its not even funny. Ordered some vitamin E and fish oil so hopefully they do something worthwhile. When did these side effect minimize for people?
Unless these side effects ease up, I don't see myself moving up in dosage at all. Some side effects i expect but others are really worrying me. I washed my hair today and the amount of hair that came out was a lot than i'm used to. I didn't have a lot of conditioner but i wasn't tugging too hard. My hair was also so dry and brittle with a ridiculous amount of split ends so i am going to a salon next week. I tried an avocado/honey/olive oil hair mask and if anything, it made my hair even dryer . Add to that the fact that my skin was peeling on my arms after my shower (too hot maybe) and the skin under my nails are peeling as well. I would be lying if i said i wasn't worried. Gonna give it a week and then i'll email my derm to see what she wants to do. I truly hope this is my body adapting. How long did it take for your body to get used to this medication? Also did anyone benefit from taking vitamin e, fish oil and/or biotin on tane?
Day 12
Side Effects:
dryness around mouth/chin has gotten worse - i'm convinced its either dermatitis or perioral dermatitis. Skin in general is dryer
Lips are peeling so bad and hurting
Itching occasionally and body rashes here and there
Feeling mellow
More acne that itches
Hair Shedding when i wash it.
Itchy Scalp
redder face
All in all, things suck. I broke out in 6 significant bumps in 2 days after things seemed calmer for a few days but the dryness/rashiness around my mouth didn't even allow me to enjoy it. My face looks horrible and irritated. I am considering stopping altogether but I want to reach out to my derm first. Praying for what my next step should be. It would be so much easier to go the holistic route if my derm could control my acne better while i work on my health. Will definitely post week 2 pictures soon.
Day 15
Got the most humongous conjoined pimple on my right chin - yikes ! It's red and raised too. I also have a few other whiteheads around my mouth and chin . Cheek pimples are still there but not raised. I emailed my derm about the irritation around mouth and she recommended 1% hydrocortizone cream - no thank you. I ordered some Shea Butter so we'll see. I am feeling some dryness overall on my face but the irritation on mouth and chin are the worst. My lips are also constantly chapped.
I am currently looking into other options besides accutane as I think my body doesn't like it. I am meeting a woman next week to get some more information about holistic options. My previous courses were never like this and I am miserable. Will update in a few days
Day 15
Got the most humongous conjoined pimple on my right chin - yikes ! It's red and raised too. I also have a few other whiteheads around my mouth and chin . Cheek pimples are still there but not raised. I emailed my derm about the irritation around mouth and she recommended 1% hydrocortizone cream - no thank you. I ordered some Shea Butter so we'll see. I am feeling some dryness overall on my face but the irritation on mouth and chin are the worst. My lips are also constantly chapped.
I am currently looking into other options besides accutane as I think my body doesn't like it. I am meeting a woman next week to get some more information about holistic options. My previous courses were never like this and I am miserable. Will update in a few days
Why not finally try spiro?