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Hello everybody!
So happy to have found this forum, I think I'd be totally clueless without it. As the title suggests, I'm a 23 year old female from Brisbane, Australia and I've just started Roaccutane for the first time. I'm currently on day three. I weigh 50kg (110lbs) and I'm on 40mg per day, probably for a period of 6 months. A bit about my acne history, I would describe my acne as mild, but persistent. My acne started when I was around 12-13 and as a teen, it was probably moderate. I've never gotten cysts, but I remember my face being red and angry all throughout highschool. I was so embarassed by it, I used to pack on the makeup (which of course made people feel the need to comment on how much makeup I wore haha). My doctors would tell me it's because I'm a teen and it would go away on it's own. Obviously over the years I have tried every topical treatment there is in addition to about 3 different antibiotics. While I would get some results from these, they never lasted and they never gave me complete clarity.
Nowadays, at 23, I generally have hundreds of tiny bumps all over my face at any one time, but they never actually come to the surface or appear red. I do however get about 10 large whiteheads or nodules per month. I have PCOS, so my skin issues are more than likely hormonal and unlikely to go away by themselves at this point. I can general control my face acne quite well with BP, but since high school my acne has started to appear on my chest and back. Obviously it's extremely impractical to apply BP all over my body so my derm finally agreed to roaccutane. To be honest I'm not sure I would have even gotten the prescription if not for the fact that I'm a nurse and often see my derm around our hospital.
Anyways, I would love to document my journey here from time to time. I will be honest, I'm pretty afraid. Even six months of mild side effects seems like quite a terrifying prospect. I have been lathering on moisturiser and lip balm trying to prevent dryness. I dread to think of the more severe side effects, however, I know they are unlikely. But I am driven by the idea of clear skin, and all the testimonials I have read here. These are my experiences thus far:-
Day 1 & 2 - No major side effects, small amount of blood on tissue when blowing nose on both days.
Day 3 - Woke up with burning skin around eyes (can anyone suggest a nice gentle eye cream?), nose and chin. Lips beginning to become dry. Was initially unsure if I was imagining it (haha) but by the end of the day it was very obviously there. Wearing makeup is uncomfortable. Will probably just stop. Scalp feels a little itchy...probably just need to wash my hair lol.
Anyways, congratulations if you made it this far, sorry for the novel. Will try to keep you guys in the loop.
Rhiannon 
Okay so I think today is day 11 or something.
About day 5 I was getting all excited because my face was heading towards being completely clear looking. Well, of course, I got excited prematurely. My face has broken out like crazy. I've got like 10 active whiteheads on my face at the moment and 3 cysts on my back that are so so sore. I've been spot treating with BP for the ones on my back (I know I shouldn't, but they hurt like crazy and I need them to piss off ASAP haha), doesn't seem to be doing much in terms of irritation, which is good. I'm trying SO HARD not to pick at the ones I do have, but it's almost impossible. Sometimes they just pop themselves from the hot water in the shower. Not sure what I can do about that. Of course, my lips are as dry as anything, they're uncomfortable constantly and peeling. But they're not painful, so I can't complain too much. Other than that no blood noses and no joint pain as yet. I've noticed a little lower back pain, but I've had that for about a year now. It does seem like it's more often but at the same time I could be just thinking about it too much. I think after the month is done my derm plans to switch me up to 60mg for the remainder of my course. Not exactly looking forward to that but can't wait to see my results.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading.
Rhiannon : )
Hi Rhiannon!
I am also on day 12! I am now on 30 mg/day and I will be upped to 60 mg/day when my first month is done. I weigh 58 kg. I have not really experienced any bad side effect for the the moment. My lips feel dry but they are not cracking yet. My nose skin is pretty dry and the black heads are being pushed out (it sounds disgusting, but it is more like flaking skin). My scalp was very itchy, but since I washed my hair with Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care, it feels better.
I will be following your progress! I think we will have very similar courses!
I hope everything goes well for you!