I am 30 years old and I am in the same boat as you, leading with acne since i was 15. Had 2 courses of accutane (roaccutane where I live) so far. The first one when I was like 19. Then, another with 23.

I am pretty much clear now, except for my remaining oily skin and blackheads on nose along with big pores, that it seems not to disappear even after exfoliate, or taking sauna. They (blackheads on nose) always get back.

I am pretty tired and I decided to go into a low dose roaccutane. I have to decide however if I will take one per week, or 2. And regulate the doses.

Don't you think 5mg is a little bit useless? I was thinking 40mg per week.

Hi

 

I've been really really suffering from Acne since almost over 15 years now (I'm soon 28). It really destroyed my self esteem and I've been 3 times on a "regular" accutane treatment. The second one cleared me for 5 years when I was 18, the third one didn't help. When I was really at my lowpoint at 25 and still with really bad acne, I went to my favorite dermatologist and he had the great idea to put me on low dose accutane. I've been on it for 2 years now (I'm m and about 150 pounds), take 5mg daily and almost 100% clear, no oily skin etc. The only side effects are sometimes a tiny bit flaky skin and dry lips but that's it.

 

He wanted to try stopping it but by reducing the dosage slowly. However when I started taking it just every second day I noticed immediately a change. Not huge pimples or anything, but my skin got really oily again and one or two pimples a day. So now I'm on it again, 5 mg daily without really an end in sight. However I have m blood checked all 3 months and no problems at all.

 

I really thought a long time where I'm going with this treatment. I really want to be 100% healthy and with my job (pilot) I actually shouldn't take accutane (at least a regular treatment, no idea about the low one), however I really cannot enjoy m life at all if my acne comes back. I'm suffering anyway from low self esteem due my acne past, so I cannot really lose taking these 5mgs. It only would be worse not taking it.

 

So I'm wondering if anybody else is doing this treatment? Maybe somebody has done this for even a longer time than I have? What is your experience? I still hope I'll grow out of it one day...but I still look quite too young for my age anyway so I guess my body is maybe a bit delayed with acne...

sorry about the late response. no not at all, 5mg is great for me. almost no side side effects (just a tiny little bit dry skin especially after shaving) but other than that, I'm clear with no worries

im due to start on a low dose myself on september 26 and am nervous as to what to expect. I have a ton of blocked pores in my chin area that have not responded to anything in two years and Im desperate to change this..Im afraid of getting a red face with accutane even at this low of a dose. Also did you have an initial breakout with this dose?

I'm due to see a dermatologist next week for my crazily oily skin. I want him to prescribe low dose roaccutane for me and I was thinking of 5mg or 10mg per day. If he doesn't help me I will look to buy from an internet pharmacy (I know, I know). I will start off with 5mg a day. I'm 38 fwiw.

Please keep us updated on how you are doing.

Flyer,

Exactly how oily was your skin to begin with?

No absolutely nothing, no breakout and almost no side effects except that I have to use moisturizer after shaving and sometimes also on other days. besides that really nothing. And now I've been on it for 2.5 years.

My skin was not extremely oily but quite oily, the nose still is but nothing else. Strangely I still get very very little body acne but almost none in my face.

Hi I have literally just started this regime of 5mg accutane daily. I'm only on my second day. I rarely get spots but have horrible oily skin and do suffer from blackheads. I have a couple of questions. How many times a day did you wash your face to avoid too dry skin? Also how long did it take for the accutane to shrink pores and stop oil production. Thanks

Hi I have literally just started this regime of 5mg accutane daily. I'm only on my second day. I rarely get spots but have horrible oily skin and do suffer from blackheads. I have a couple of questions. How many times a day did you wash your face to avoid too dry skin? Also how long did it take for the accutane to shrink pores and stop oil production. Thanks

Hi

I have been on (probably) the lowest dose of isotretnoin ...as low as 5mg/dayand I hadbeen on it for a month or two initially a year ago when my derm prescribed it for my hormonal acne .

It worked fine for me .I was on it for 3 months after which I stopped taking it..So I never really had (severe hormonal) acne after that ,only sometimes a spot or two.

To maintain my skin the same wayI kept taking 5mg every other day and stopped again.

And then after a few weeks went to 5mg twiceaweek , and skip the next week entirely to combat the dryness somehow this method of dosing does work for me.

Hi guys,

I have been prescribed a low dose treatment of accutane by my dermatologist; a single 20mg tablet every two days (I guess equivalent to 5mg a day, and works out to 3 to 4 tablets per week). After three months or so I'm to start stepping down the dosage even with a view to stopping it eventually. This is a quarter of the dosage I used to take when I was younger - my acne isn't as bad these days but still bad enough, with painful cysts that nothing else will treat.

I want to be excited at the idea of knocking this condition over once and for all, I just can't help but feel frightened by the horror stories that exist for the drug - I have to remind myself these stories are dosage related, and shouldn't happen at the dosage I've been prescribed.

I've read about some men claiming ED/libido issues, but I can't help but suspect that such issues are due to having acne in the first place - it's not in the official accutane literature. That said I'd be interested to know if anyone has used ED drugs like viagra while on accutane.

I am not a big drinker but I hope I can still have the occasional drink without doing damage.

If anyone in a similar situation has any positive stories to share I'd be happy to hear about them, thanks