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Well as before nothing much to report. Went away and stupidly got extremely burnt on the first full day in qld lol.... even though I have red hair I tan and don't come up red for a few hours so I got caught up in enjoying my time on the beach in the sun.. until later! Took about 2-3 days to go away completely. Oops. Got a bit of a tan on my face though which helped to camouflage my blackheads a little bit. No new major pimples, haven't really had a lot of break outs. Broke out a bit on my arms and neck where my pores obviously got a little blocked from the sunscreen, really tiny ones on my neck though. All gone now. Didn't stay on course with my tablets while I was away, just wasn't in the same routine mindset as back home, forgot so easily.
Have to go back to my derm soon though, have one repeat left and have to get that filled in the next day or so. Can't wait until I can stop going there - its so expensive and I get such a small amount back! With not working at the moment its not helping... oh well. I just want the scars on my cheek to go away, I think they look ok but then ill see myself under fluorescent light (which is horrible anyway I know) and I realise they are still hanging around. It will be 4 months on the 28th. Will it ever end!!!
Hi Eliselouise!
I am currently on my second course of accutane, and I can so relate to the sweat-induced acne thing - but if you make sure to wash your face or take a shower STRAIGHT after your workout, that should really help. It does for me anyways. I used to work out almost every day, but due to joint pain I've reduced that to a few exercises a day and daily walks; a lot of fresh air really seems to help my skin as well!
I too hate that the pills are so expensive. It feels so stupid to pay a lot of money for something that makes you feel so horrible.. But seeing as I've been trough this before, the day you wake up with clear skin, you WILL feel like it was all worth it (praying that this time around the results will last!!!).
Hi Eliselouise!
I am currently on my second course of accutane, and I can so relate to the sweat-induced acne thing - but if you make sure to wash your face or take a shower STRAIGHT after your workout, that should really help. It does for me anyways. I used to work out almost every day, but due to joint pain I've reduced that to a few exercises a day and daily walks; a lot of fresh air really seems to help my skin as well!
I too hate that the pills are so expensive. It feels so stupid to pay a lot of money for something that makes you feel so horrible.. But seeing as I've been trough this before, the day you wake up with clear skin, you WILL feel like it was all worth it (praying that this time around the results will last!!!).
Hi GreatDane,
thanks so much for your response! Funnily enough I was having a shower straight away but it just didn't seem to agree with me. Although now that Christmas has occurred I think I will definitely be back in the gym... How long after your first course did your acne come back?
Not sure how my skin is going, I mean I have some small tiny breakouts but no clue if that is from all the crap I have eaten over the past couple of months, or whether breaking from the tablet cycle in the past month or so has really affected my skin, and quickly. Had a week or so (maybe more, can't remember) where I was taking maybe one tablet a day. Ran out of my prescription and would just forget to take it with dinner then I would clean my teeth and couldn't be bothered to go eat something and then clean my teeth again etc etc etc. Was quite slack. So not sure what has brought it all on. Just a few small ones here and there but all the same, its just reached month 4, surely it should all be GOING not COMING. God maybe I'm destined for acne forever !!!!
I know how you feel - not seeing the results you are hoping for, really is so disappointing.
I'm currently on my second month and already feeling super impatient.
After my first course i was basically clear for about 5-6 months and then things slowly started to get worse. So this time I'm doing a low dose course of 20 mg/day but I'm considering increasing that to 30 mg/day because I want to get this over with!
But I too sometimes feel that I might be destined to have bad skin forever, especially since having to start accutane again. But on the other hand, I HAVE to believe that it can be cured. And as horrible as accutane might be, at least just 'doing something' about my skin, gives me a sense of hope.
I agree - I guess I feel a little more "calm" about my skin because I am doing something about it rather than just using different face wash after face wash and seeing no results. I'm on 40 per day and I am thankful I haven't had any of the disastrous side effects one hears about, however I wonder if things would have progressed any quicker on a higher dose! Anyway... only time will tell.
I remember reading someone's experience and they said their blackheads were kind of like 'popping out'. Mine are not, nothing much is happening with them at all, but the little tiny pimples I am getting (that do go away very quickly and nothing can be squeezed out of them - some just look like small red dots rather than a full blown pimple) are all in the black head zone. So i'm wondering if its the blackheads "coming out" so to speak, and not my skin breaking out from all the bad food and alcohol over xmas. Ah who knows. I just wish the blackheads/open pores would start to go away. Because if my skin remains like this for the rest of my life... well I'm going to continue to feel self conscious and I will really wonder what the point was of going through all this !!!
During my first course my blackheads never popped out and they haven't this time either. The texture of my skin did change though: During most of the course it was kind of rough and my pores seemed enlarged, but in the end and after ending the treatment my skin texture was amazing! That is until the acne came back of course..
LOL. Yeah my face (and back) is a lot more soft, I give accutane that! Only time will tell with the pores though.
Back to being a little itchy over my body which is so frustrating, really hoped I had left that behind !!!
Today is roughly day 129 or something, so I thought I would put up some pics. They are so small because I took them on my phone which is super annoying so I'm sorry about that!!!
Basically the sides of my face show scarring from that horrible breakout I had (the last set of pics I put up) and some are starting to come back on my neck. My pores are freaking massive which makes me so upset. And the one of my face shows the random tiny pimples I'm getting in the blackhead area and the one on my chin. I have a horrible sun spot (the brown mark under my eye), can't even remember if I got it before accutane or not. Really hope I can do something about it once accutane is done. The light makes it hard to see but I have so many blackheads/open pores. I just wonder if I will ever not be able to wear make up.
It's just frustrating to look at these pics because while I guess I can see my skin has improved, I'm just into month 5 so the breakouts are pissing me off as I had semi clear skin for a while. Just feel like I'm regressing!!! And the scarring... really hope that fades. I know I can't expect anything overnight but still.... makes me feel quite average looking at these pics!
EliseLouise, your skin looks so good!! Don't think your scarring look bad at all!
I have much worse hyper pigmentation that I would also like to get rid of at some point, and after my last course my term did offer me laser treatment to take care of scarring - maybe your term has a similar treatment?
My body was really itchy too, but a mild body lotion that I mixed with some pure argan oil fixed that 
Thanks my dear! I suppose we all think our own skin looks worse than it is however the pics being so small doesn't help show what it really looks like!!! The pores are the main thing - I could deal with a couple of pimples here and there but the pores/blackheads.. my god, does my head in. One of the main reasons I wear make up!
Hmm yes I will have to check it out - I thought you had to wait like 6 months before starting any skin treatments because the skin was so sensitive? Maybe I read something wrong. Was having lunch today and the sun moved and went across my back for not long at all and I got burnt. Cannot wait until my skin goes back to not being so sensitive (I hope!). Wish my face wasn't so red compared to my body, I look ridiculous.
I wish we could fast forward the next couple of months!!!! So impatient
Im starting to get that famous flushed accutane face too, especially after applying moisturizer i look like a tomato. Which is a bit weird, since my skin isn't actually dry.. Hm..
About the laser treatment: I think you are right about having to wait a while before getting further skin treatment. Think my term said something like 5 months.. But I never got to that point after my first course because the acne came back before that.
But really really hoping I can stay clear after this round so I can also get rid of the discolouration - feel like my face almost looks dirty (besides pimpled).
Yep, everyone's face is slightly redder after a hot shower or after applying moisturizer (probably from the face massage which stimulates the blood).
It's OK! Redness can be covered, it could have been worse (having bumps).
PDL lasers are perfect for discoloration, broken capillaries and other pigmentation problems, but any laser must be performed at least 6 months after Accutane. Depending on where you live, 1 PDL session can be quite expensive. In NY ice found it to be $500, but the results are fantastic. Redness can go away on its own and it may take up to 6 months... So will be there really a need for you to get any laser treatments done 6months after Accutane? Most likely no.
Thank you ToThe MoonAndBack for the compliment
Yes I am hoping I am one of the lucky ones whose face continues to improve after I finish my course rather than the dreaded acne coming back. Whilst my journey on accutane hasn't been completely hideous, I would prefer not to have to do it all over again
Going to my derm on thursday for another 2 month supply and blood test. After the new supply it will equate to about 6.5 months worth of tablets. Wondering if ill have to take more or if that will be it... who knows with my derm, I'm in and out in about 5 minutes lol.
I know what you mean GreatDane about your skin looking dirty - I used to get microdermabrasion when I was younger to try clean out my pores - always looked dirty. Hate it!
Ok so I saw my derm the other day and he was originally going to write me a prescription for another 2 months and then we were going to assess how much longer and at what dose. However I'm starting a new job on Monday so I'm pretty much not going to really want to have a day off for at least 2-3 months so I have another 3 months which I will start in 8 days. When that 3 months is done I will have been on it for a total of a week and a half short of 8 months (got a bit forgetful/lazy with my tablets). Sounds funny considering I hyped on about how scared I was to be on it and all the side effects I was having and how crap it made my skin at some point - I'm kind of scared to come off it incase my acne comes back!!! Ha who would have thought that
Your skin looks amazing! I am on the same dose as you - but only just started 3rd month, I can't wait to get to the end of this.
At what point do you think you saw the biggest improvement? My Derm told me about half way through is when we will see results (which should be month 4). Its nice to hear your experience being a fellow Australian! It seems our Derms seem to take a very different approach.
Your skin looks amazing! I am on the same dose as you - but only just started 3rd month, I can't wait to get to the end of this.
At what point do you think you saw the biggest improvement? My Derm told me about half way through is when we will see results (which should be month 4). Its nice to hear your experience being a fellow Australian! It seems our Derms seem to take a very different approach.
Thank you for saying that however as I said, the pics don't show what it looks like really "up close". Might crack out the digital camera and see if the pics end up bigger haha. But thanks, I feel like I am slowly getting there and then bamn, little break outs again. My own fault.. I'm going through some weird stage where I'm really feeling a desire to have a drink or two not every night, but maybe like 2 or 3 times a week? And been eating pretty crappy lately. Have a majorrrrr sweet tooth. Chocolate and cupcakes seems to be what I'm craving at the moment. And no, I'm not pregnant LOL. Just really not in control of my eating which is so terrible. It's like any willpower for my skin to be good has gone out the window. Or I am in some fantasy land where I think accutane will fix my skin despite eating whatever I want. I need a reality check lol.
Hmm probably in the 4th month is where I saw it looking half decent, I'm at about 4.5 now. So probably the past month has shown improvements... although it's really hard to say. It is actually so scary for me to think that nearly 5 months of my life has passed, 'relatively' quickly. Sorry I wasn't much help - maybe I should look back over what I was posting around month 4! But I would say month 4-5 (well soon to be 5) has seen it stabilise a lot more for me (besides the really tiny dot like pimples here and there).
I looked at your posts- are you still using all those different products in your routine? Have you found that using so many products with so many different ingredients has hindered your progress at all by irritating your face or anything? My derm said to just use really simple and sensitive stuff as the accutane is pretty harsh. But you know yourself better than me 
I use a Neutrogena naturals face wash once only to take off my make up (no chemicals etc) then I wash with Cetaphil. As Cetaphil face wash on its own is so crap at taking off make up lol. I use the same make up as you though - if you read my posts you would know since going on accutane I can no longer apply with a brush and I still can't use Cetaphil moisturiser under my make up! Using a primer is a must for me. Although I agree - so much less oil is amazing to keep my make up on all day!!!! I just want the ability to not have to wear make up.... damn pores/blackheads.
Keep me posted on your progress - I love conversing with other people and sharing experiences!
Well well well how quickly things change... I asked my mum to get my prescription filled for me hmmm about 2 weeks ago or just under? She didn't know I used the generic brand (Oratane) and instead got me the name brand (Roaccutane). I was a little annoyed but it wasn't too much more expensive so I started taking it. Omg my skin! Probably a week ago I got this rash looking thing beneath my right nostril and out a bit. All these bumps. I had no idea if they were pimples or a rash. Then that kind of area started to get really dry and peeling no matter how much moisteriser I put on. Then I started breaking out. At first I thought it was just because of the crap I had eaten. Started to get pimples on my cheek, one on my forehead, then they started to pop up on my neck (I have about 5 or 6). But now I'm thinking I'm having a reaction to the non-generic brand because I'm still peeling in that area and now the other side of my nose/lip has begun to peel. And just today my chin started to peel. If it was just food related I wouldn't be dry and peeling - it's not like I just relocated to Iceland or anything. It's ridiculous because its meant to be the same medication but out of the blue I'm peeling and breaking out as if I've just started and these are the side effects we all experienced in the initial break out phase. I wouldn't mind too much if I wasn't working because I would just ride it out but I'm putting on make up 5 days a week (or more) and it's becoming very difficult as I'm dry and flaking off no matter how much moisteriser I use at night or how much primer I use in the morning. GRRRR. Think mum is going to take it back and say I'm having a reaction. Not sure if they will change it, if not I'll just get my next month filled. I graduate uni in April - I would like my skin back to normal... I don't know if I'm crazy thinking I'm having a reaction or something, but I just hit 5 months on the 28th, my skin should be getting better not worse...
Not to mention I think I cut the corner of my lip or SOMETHING, I really have no idea as I don't think it was a pimple, and now I have this scabby thing there that isn't healing because it either cracks because I talk/eat etc, or I kind of pick it off as it just looks so gross. Granted it could look A LOT worse, and I've been told it's not a cold sore (never had one before so I wouldn't know, touch wood), but it makes me soo self conscious as its right by my mouth and by the end of the day its gone heaps scabby and gross looking. ARGHHHHHH WHYYYYYY. I was going so well. Now I just look like shit. lol
I actually never told my derm I have been taking the generic brand.... god help me if I finish my course and it comes straight back...
Hey EliseLouise,
I just wanted to say thank you!
I read your comment ages ago and it got me thinking maybe I was hindering my own progress using all that stuff so I took a big deep breath and bought Cetaphil and went for it. I was terrified that my skin would break out of get worse, or fall off, but it didn't. And still hasn't. Changing also coincided with my Derm reducing my antibiotics, but so far the inflammation has actually reduced and my skin is looking so much calmer. So thank you, thank you, thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and onto something much gentler and better for my skin!
I am still struggling with the Estee Lauder Double Wear - it just doesn't sit as well on non oily skin I have decided. I am thinking about changing to Futurist or Resilience. I might hit up the counter this weekend and get some samples and see what works.
I am so sorry to hear that you have had a reaction. This little adventure can have some really sh!tty days/weeks/months - I hope everything is getting better now. I don't know whether it could help but I have used Bepathen (yes, the nappy rash cream) on some of my dry spots and it helps a lot. Not so great during the day as makeup sits horribly over it, but at night its great and it has helped reduce scarring too, or at least I think it has.
Hey EliseLouise,
I just wanted to say thank you!
I read your comment ages ago and it got me thinking maybe I was hindering my own progress using all that stuff so I took a big deep breath and bought Cetaphil and went for it. I was terrified that my skin would break out of get worse, or fall off, but it didn't. And still hasn't. Changing also coincided with my Derm reducing my antibiotics, but so far the inflammation has actually reduced and my skin is looking so much calmer. So thank you, thank you, thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and onto something much gentler and better for my skin!
I am still struggling with the Estee Lauder Double Wear - it just doesn't sit as well on non oily skin I have decided. I am thinking about changing to Futurist or Resilience. I might hit up the counter this weekend and get some samples and see what works.
I am so sorry to hear that you have had a reaction. This little adventure can have some really sh!tty days/weeks/months - I hope everything is getting better now. I don't know whether it could help but I have used Bepathen (yes, the nappy rash cream) on some of my dry spots and it helps a lot. Not so great during the day as makeup sits horribly over it, but at night its great and it has helped reduce scarring too, or at least I think it has.
Oh I am so happy for you!!!! That is so great!!! I also began thinking after I read your comment about the make up - I have my days where I put on the other moisteriser and my primer and it just sits weird... kind of accentuates my pores even though other parts of my face are fine. I put Estee Lauder compact powder over my whole face so that kind of disguises it but still, very annoying. Let me know how you go with your make up samples, I might be looking for a new one. Don't know if I ever will though, I have used the double wear since I was about 16 years old. Old habits die hard! My face is clearing up but then just slightly breaking out a bit at the moment - cycle related maybe. Arghhh, I need to eat better I think. Silly me.
Well my skin definitely looks shit. I had this one on my cheek pop up out of nowhere overnight and it kind of looked like it had a head on it so i tried to squeeze it but nothing happened so I left it (didn't attack it like i used to ha ha) and then the next day i was washing my face and the scab/head (not a white head though - it was so weird) came off and started bleeding heaps and every time I would wipe the blood away I would see the white head sitting in the pimple and then would be covered by blood and the cycle would continue. Ive never had that happen before where it was bleeding (as if I squeezed it) but the white head hadn't come out/off yet. So i eventually got it out and I have this huge red mark on my cheek with like a small hole (where the white head came out of I think) and make up doesn't cover it and it looks really bad. Then around my mouth/nose is breaking out again. I'm really starting to get a bit discouraged as I'm a few days off the 6 month mark. Like really discouraged...
Hi eliselouise
Sorry to hear that you are breaking out again - I know how discouraging that feels.. My skin has had its ups and downs as well; one day I think it has really improved and then a few days later it looks like crap.
Im currently on month four and hasn't really seen any positive change in a while. Think we just have to hang in there!
Sending some positive vibes your way
Hi eliselouise
Sorry to hear that you are breaking out again - I know how discouraging that feels.. My skin has had its ups and downs as well; one day I think it has really improved and then a few days later it looks like crap.
Im currently on month four and hasn't really seen any positive change in a while. Think we just have to hang in there!
Sending some positive vibes your way
Hey GreatDane,
Man it sucks. I just wonder how much longer I'm meant to be hanging in here for *wail* ... I swear accutane isn't even working for me... Throwing myself a pity party here. Thank you for the vibes!!! <3
Same here
wondered about products im using?
i started mnth 4 and am still breaking out and my skin looks little red bumpy and irritated
*sigh*
kim
Hey Kim,
what products are you using? Yeah thats what mine looked like around my nose - not exactly pimples with heads but small bumps. Slowly going away but like wtf, what is that crap. Hang in there! If I'm anything to go by, unfortunately an interesting road ahead...
Hey
was using a gentle cleanser and clinique essence (like toner) and light serum
a few days ago I caved and picked up cetaphil lotion (ive always been leary of cetaphil or cerave)
BUT i figured i would go even more bare bones..so Im sticking with my gentle cleanser and trying out the cetaphil lotion...no other skincare products
u?
my skin is red, dry, bumpy and I get these odd tiny tiny red bumps (not breakouts) that come and go quickly
not where i thought i would be after 3 mnths+ down
kim