What is your dosage? 
This is my 6th week now. You can expect initial breakout to start around week 2 and it usually lasts 2-3 weeks. (Eventhough it is completely individual on how severe it'll get, but it can also happen that you won't have an IB at all) 
After a month you most definitely won't have clear skin, but for me my redness has reduced so much and my pores became invisible. I am still breaking out (less and less) and I expect for my skin to get pretty much clear around month 3 or 4. (I have mild to moderate acne)
and I don't think you need to worry about hair loss  Your skin and hair will probably get extremely dry and your hair won't get oily at all (which is kind of a plus) I use Uriage products which are amazing for dryness and redness.

thanks for the reply Kathi, I am definitely experiencing the initial breakout (currently day 11), my dose is 20mg which I am worried about because I rang up to have my four week follow up appointment to get my next prescription and I assumed I would be going up to the 40 dose but the receptionist told me I didnt need an appointment just to come in for a pregnancy test and they would give me my next prescription. I do have mild - moderate acne but I dont want to stay on 20 as I need to be finishing this up in 6 months max! what dose are you on? My current side effects are very dry eyes ( as I knew would happen) and dry lips (although not unbearably dry yet, no cracking or bad peeling) and very mild head aches and sore wrists (I am an avid gym goes). How are your side effects?

On 08/12/2016 at 10:39 AM, Kathi said:

What is your dosage? 
This is my 6th week now. You can expect initial breakout to start around week 2 and it usually lasts 2-3 weeks. (Eventhough it is completely individual on how severe it'll get, but it can also happen that you won't have an IB at all) 
After a month you most definitely won't have clear skin, but for me my redness has reduced so much and my pores became invisible. I am still breaking out (less and less) and I expect for my skin to get pretty much clear around month 3 or 4. (I have mild to moderate acne)
and I don't think you need to worry about hair loss  Your skin and hair will probably get extremely dry and your hair won't get oily at all (which is kind of a plus) I use Uriage products which are amazing for dryness and redness.

My dosage was 10mg the first month, and last week (so week 6) my derm increased my dosage to 20mg. She told me i'll be on Roaccutane for 6 to 8 months. 
I've luckily had a couple of headaches only in the first 2 weeks. I've felt nauseohs 2-3 times and that's pretty much it. Of course I've got pretty dry skin now and it's peeling of the whole time and it's driving me crazy  also I've noticed that my eyes have gotten really dry and they burn sometimes. What is your skin care rountine now that you're on Roaccutane?

I find the celluvisc eye drops 0.5% (not the 1% that is way too strong) and lacrilube ointment at night really helps with the dry eyes if you are looking for something to help Kathi. I moved my skincare to the cetaphil cleanser and moisturising lotion, I dont really like the cleanser, it feels really nice and not stingy but it doesnt take off my makeup that well and I have to wash 2-3 times to get off all my foundation which sucks. The moisturising lotion does feel very heavy because my skin is not overly dry yet but I think it will get dry and then it will be good. What are you using? wow 10mg! I thought 20 was the lowest! I am nervous to move up to 40 but I just wantto make sure I dont have to go on a second dose and that I clear up quickly  so stressful, and for me time is going so slow - only on day 12 - feels like it should be month 2 by now!

On 07/12/2016 at 5:28 PM, jmani2016 said:

Hi Guys,
I have just started Roaccutane (isotretinoin) and today is day 6. I wouldnt usually post anything online but I have been reading forums like this for years trying to find answers or a cure for my bad skin so I figured maybe me writing here might help someone else in my situation. I have suffered from my skin for about 3 years (started age 22, I am now 25), never a spot when I was a teenager but then it my early twenties I started to break out. If I could go back now to how my skin was when I started looking to fix it I would probably give myself a slap. When I look back at pictures I maybe had a total of 6 tiny spots and maybe if I had left well enough alone they would have cleared themselves. Anyway I went on Dianette (contraceptive pill) to help my skin and all that did was make me pile on a TON of weight. So I stopped the pill and went to my Dermatologist who prescribed me minocin (antibiotic) and Differin cream. This worked perfectly and within 2-3 months my skin was flawless, so I started taking the pills on and off and then my skin got bad again. Much worse than it had ever been. So I went back to the Derm and she put me on Trimethoprim (6tabs/day) and Differin Gel, I tried that on and off for about 3 months and it didnt really do anything so I stopped taking it again and went back to my Derm. She insisted I give it another shot (Trimethoprim) and take it properly for 6 months to see a difference. So I gave that a try and again my skin cleared up completely. So well in fact that my derm told me to come off it after 4 months. Aaaaand then the MOTHER of all breakouts hit! Within a week of coming off the tablets my skin exploded into millions of tiny sore spots and I have never had skin like it in my life. So I went back and Derm suggested Roaccutane but because I suffer from bad dry eyes I said I would give the contraceptive pill another go. Went on Microlite and my skin was ok. Definitely bearable but if you couldnt tell by now I dont like taking pills or medication so I stopped taking the pill in September 2016. Within a week of stopping my face exploded again, horrible big sore spots, the worse its ever ever been. I went for 2 medical facials at 125euro per go and bought 165euro worth of ZoMedical Skincare. The facials were microdermabrasion and Vitamin A peels. Firstly the skincare did NOTHING! Nothing what so ever and the facials made me break out even worse than I thought was possible at this point, AVOID Clear Skin Sandyford in Ireland at all costs. They just take your money and promise you professionalism and results and can provide neither but are happy to take all your money. Really terribe experience there. After wasting all that money it was the final straw, I bought Environ Accumax (125euro 1.5 month supply) and tried that for about 2 weeks ( I know not long enough to see any results) and then gave up completely. The dreaded Roaccutane was my final option and time was running out because  I am getting married in 8 months so hope to be off Roaccutane for about a month/two before the big day. So here I am, day 6,  I have had bearable headaches every day since I started, some new white head spots but nothing too bad (I am determined not to pick them - watch Katie Snooks youtube vids if you want to never have the urge to pick again - poor thing)  and day 5 & 6 very dry eyes ( for my dry eyes I am using Lacrilube at night and Celluvisc during the day). Would love any advice on what to expect in Month one from people currently on roaccutane, I seem to only find old threads lately. Terrified of side effects like hair loss and bad initial breakout but I know everyone is different with this. I would be in bits if I lost my hair before my wedding  

Hi 

How's this all going for you now? Is everything going in the direction you'd hoped for before your wedding? 

My dermotologist says my next step is Roaccutane. I've had bad skin since my young teens, tried most topical and antibiotics under the sun. Contraceptive pills as well. At 17 I went on Dianette and stayed on it until 22 and a bit years with incredible success. Still occasional spot but it was a god send and made me have confidence at Univeristy and Travelling. However my blood pressure rose and rose on it gradually (bought my own monitor), to the point where I was on High Blood pressure tablets in my last year of taking it at 22 and dianette at same time (convinced my GP it was up to me to take the the risk) but on 5mg and dianette my bp didnt drop so eventually they insisted i came off. Then within 2 months off dianette and still on bp tablets my blood pressure was so low it confirmed that dianette caused my hbp. As such GPs wont let me touch yasmin or dianette. Ive tried cilest, microgoyen (sp) and others to no avail. 

It's hard because contraceptives are basically a no go. The copper coil causes heavy periods with no control, more pain. The implant and other coil ive been told will 99% cause my skin to worse. Combined contraceptives will spike my BP and other  progestrogene only contraceptives will worsen my acne and lets be honest condom sucks. 

I'm now 24 and have a very patient boyfriend whilst I experiment with more acne treatments and stick to condoms. Currently on 0.1% differin, 3% Duac and Tetralysal capsules, have been since November. Ive seen improvement but no miracles and have been warned as soon as I stoped tetralysal it might come back. Still get some spots about 1 new one a day that last 3 days each, now mainly jawline, chin, below mouth and along cheekbone. 

I have polycystic ovaries hence Dianette being great and wear contact lenses hence putting off Roaccutane for so long. 

Im contemplating lose dose pill loestrin as I miss sex and quite frankly feel like its a losing battle 9 years in. 

best
alex