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Few questions regarding my treatment...
1) I have mild acne but am beginning Zenatane on 80 mg (40/40 day/night). I am 5'10, 126 pounds, and a very healthy eater/runner. Should I expect a rough beginning? Seems like a high dosage.
2) Initial Breakout: Derm said it wasn't too common. Could a lot of it be people thinking that they're having an IB when they're actually having a normal one? And would it be bad if I continued my use of .025 Retin-A while beginning treatment to help minimize an IB?
3) Is Zenatane any different than the other brand names? Do they come with slightly different experiences/side effects? I know they're all isotretinoin, but still...
4) I will have been off doxycycline for a week when I begin, is this long enough?
5) I get exposed to sunlight often, is this an issue?
Any other info is appreciated!! Thanks!!
I had a very rough start at 80mg. 3 days in and lasted through the first week. Was not I.B. My skin begame super red and irritated and pealed like crazy. Looked like a chemical burn. Normally doctors ease you into the dose. If you do have a reaction in the beginning it should subside quickly. It is a high dose but it will be better if you can handle it. You will have less chance of relapse when you are done.
I think a lot of people get I.B because they have to stop thier other products they were using before the coarse. Besides my skin pealing like crazy I did not break out anymore. I would stop the Retin A. Your skin is going to become crazy dry and irritable, plus your skin will already start pealing due to the accutane you won't need the Retin A.
Only the inactive ingrediants change in the generics, Isotretinoin is strictly regulated so generics are held to the same quality standards. Should not be anymore or less effective.
You should be fine with the doxycycline.
Make sure to wear sunblock and a hat if possible. You become much more sensative to the sun. Depending on your skin type it could be anywhere from a small change to a major change in how sensitive you become. Make sure to keep your face from getting sunburnt at all costs.
I'm on 80mg/day as well. I'm the same height as you, but I weigh 165 pounds, so I think I was dosed according to my weight, not severity of my acne (which is only moderate). The first three days I was clear, but then had a breakout that lasted a week. I was on doxycycline, but then was switched to minocycline (100mg/day) and began my accutane treatment the very same day. I know they say you're not supposed to take anything in the tetracycline family along with isotretinoin, but I was very anxious because of my breakout, so i continued to take one mino per day, and now I'm relatively clear (I'm only on day 19).
Oh,and concerning you using the topical tretinoin, I wouldn't recommend it. i have a VERY high tolerance to 0.1% (like it literally does nothing anymore since I've been using it for almost 3 years), but by the end of week one, it was burning my face so bad, I had to rinse it off. make sure to always wear sunscreen when going outside, as you will be much more sensitive to sunlight.