A small fact sheet:
-Female, Caucasian, 24 1/2
-Diagnosed with Hashimoto Thyroiditis in 2010
I used to have really clear skin. I have sailed through puberty with as few as two-three pimples a month, usually right before or right after I was on the rag. In mid-2014, started getting semi-regular, semi-large breakouts; mostly on my cheeks OR forehead, usually not all at once. I had a particularly large breakout right before a wedding in the closest family, so I saw a general practicioner. She prescribed me topical clindamycin, which somewhat helped.
The condition resumed somewhat around mid-late 2015. I used tea tree oil and herbal salves topically, store-bought ''anti-acne'' washes and what else; have also been to two sessions of mandelic acid peel. Nothing worked. (I tried not to and actually did not pop, though.)
An example of a forehead breakout before November 2016 when I started any, as I would call it, constructive acne treatment.
Day 6 on Lymecycline + Epiduo. Epiduo gave me burns and irritations every other night. I cried, but I hoped for the best. That red welt on my chin is an Epiduo burn, too.
A month on lyme+epiduo passes not only with no improvement, but a flareup. My derm gives up the regimen and we discuss Iso for the first time at a followup appointment.
An intermediate pic: right after I got off lyme+epiduo and just before Iso.
I did blood work and it came back good, so later I got prescriptions right away (there are no particular pregnancy prevention programs related to Iso where I live; I'm neither sexually active nor desire any sexual activity either way), and took my very first pill on New Year's 2017. I weigh 121 kg; daily dose 30mg.
Day 15. The initial Iso breakout hit me like a train; good thing I was warned about it or else I'd give up right away. It took another two weeks to heal up just a bit. Throughout the first eight or so weeks, I suffered TERRIBLE back pains, but no other serious side effects at sight.
Day 58. I'm finally healing. On Day 59, I have a first Iso check-up and get my daily dose upped to 40mg.
Day 70. By then, most of these blotches are only slightly elevated, some already have smooth skin over them.
Day 76. My forehead and my scalp become not greasy anymore.
Day 93. I broke out a tad. The problem are blotches that appear on otherwise smooth skin, when I'm stressed, tired or cold.
Day 114. I got a radical haircut! No pimples at sight, but I'm still getting blotchy at times.
.
Day 125 is another checkup. Still on 40mg; started Essentiale to improve slightly elevated liver work.
Day 127.No major changes except for an, um, slip-up on my cheek.
I completely missed a period in April, I still need to find out whether or not could it be due to Iso. Also; by then, I'm PARCHED. Not dry, PARCHED. My back is itchy and I get nosebleeds on a regular basis. Moisturizing nasal spray comes into use, also, more lotion. Blotches.
Day 154, or this very day. I've already started putting SPF 50 on my face, a long time ago now. I blotched up a couple hours prior to that selfie, but it subsided.
I have another checkup on June 13. My biggest worry are the blotches; I have no acne scars as such but my cheeks cover up in pale-red mottles in circumstances previously mentioned (stress, fatigue, cold weather). I got my first period since March on May 24, My insurance obgyn appointment won't be until July 12, so naturally I'm going to discuss it with my derm first.
My care products:
*Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
*Neutrogena Intense Repair lotion
*Nivea SPF 50+ body lotion
*A-Derma Protect SPF 50+ (considering a switch, the scent is a bit... too intense.)
*A-Derma Compensating Cream (IT'S A MIRACLE PLEASE BUY IT IF YOU CAN)
*Unflavoured Carmex or Bobbi Brown lip balm (it's long lasting and smells nice)
*Garnier Hand Repair cream
*Nasal spray
I'm going to update this after the checkup, I guess.
Day 156.
A fineexample of the blotches I have talked about before. All of these have smooth and not bumpy skin over them. Except this bad boy at 3 o'clock from the lip corner which is ALL-NEW AND FRESH. I've seen in in the morning and really hoped it's not going to turn into this. I'm furious. It's like, what am I doing wrong?
Day 161.
I eventually switched my facial sunscreen to Avene and I'm pretty pleased by it. It has a nice, gentle scent, is not irritating (A-Derma would irritate me at times and this is another reason why I decided to ditch it); but it does leave a slight whitish halo even though it promises to leave none at all, and is pretty tough to wash off with Cetaphil alone. I'm experimenting with L'Oreal micellar water with good results so far.
Blood test results are in! CBC is flawless, total cholesterol is acceptable; after two months on Essentiale my AST dropped from 51 to 30, and ALT from 58 to 45, and I'm really glad about it.
Checkup day! I have reached the half of my cumulative dose and the derm is absolutely pleased by my progress. I have to be patient about the blotches, though: they are in fact areas of damage of the deeper layers of the skin, and they need time to reconstruct and heal. The involvement of Iso in the Missing April Period-gate was ruled out, so this one is left for the obgyn.