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Good Morning -
I wanted to introduce myself - I am Kyle - 27 years old - I figured I would post on this forum because I decided it would be best to share my experience, strength, and hope - I have read lots on this forum - been a taker from others on here - this is my way of giving back I guess... I am sharing my story, and my treatment on accutane (which has started 7 days ago) - 60MG a day (I weigh 170LBS)
I have strugged recently in the past few years with Acne - I had it bad for about a year all of a sudden - cystic acne - and lots of small bumps in my facial hair and neck - acne in weird places - on my chest, and back, and even my scalp - I let it run its course for a while - got fed up and went to the dermatologist (wanted to put me on accutane - but I decided it was not worth it because of all the bad wrap I had heard about it (side effects, pictures I had seen on the internet, etc). My dermatologist put me on all of the antiobiotics - doxy, meno, tetra, bactrim). During this time I was on topicals (benzol peroxide/clindomycin, retnoid creams, etc). I took her suggestions for face washes, moisturizers -
This worked a bit - helped for sure - but I knew that my life was beginning to be controlled by fear of missing a day of applying my topicals, and I knew the this was not a permanent fix - and my skin began to get used to the topicals and they eventually stopped working -
I had my androgen levels tested by the doctor (testosterone, estrogen, etc) and they came back normal - I saw several endocrinologists in frustration - looking for a fix - everything had come back normal - I didn't know what to do -
At the time my insurance did not cover accutane, I tried laser hair removal on my neck (which REALLY helped) - but I was not satisfied - still struggled with back acne, chest, scalp, and on my face -
My new insurance this year covers accutane (in this case I am taking a form of isotretinoin called "Absoriba" - my dermatologist says it I am able to take it without a high fat diet (which accutane requires to metabolize into your system successfully).
I went into my dermatologist and said I was ready to start the treatment - she gave me a few papers to sign - took my blood - and off I went.
I am currently on Day 7 of Isotretinoin (Absorbica) 60MG daily - my derm requested I stop using EVERYTHING (topicals, no benzol peroxide, no salicylic acid, etc). Just a gentle face wash and moisturizer -
Before starting I did TONS of research on isotretinoin - read pretty much BAD reviews - I am prepared for the worst.
But I also know that what I read on the internet isn't always true - which is why I wanted to share my honest experience - so I will try to post as often as I can - probably not everyday because not much is changing on a daily basis - maybe every week to update on the thread.
Thus far - my skin has not been better these past 7 days - clear - my back is clearing, chest is clear - everything is dry, but to be expected (my back is kind of scaley, along with my forearms). My lips are somewhat chapped, and my nostrils are chapped to (but I apply Aquaphor on a q-tip and swirl it in my nostrils before I go to bed, which helps).
My back is a bit achey at times (almost like flu feeling body ache, but nothing I can't deal with).
Starting this treatment is a leap of faith - a lot of fear involved - but I am glad I am doing it now that I am walking thru the fear on a daily basis knowing there is a positive end result.
As I said above, I will try to keep everyone updated as my progress moves along.
Anyway..thanks for listening
Hey man, keep the updates coming. I'm about to start accutane, pending my bloodwork that I'm taking Monday. If you read my other posts you'll see what I've been dealing with. Anyway, I've read a lot of success stories on here, and I'm at a point where nothing (antibiotics, topicals, antifungals, etc.) has worked. I'm set to go on a 5 month course, so will see how it goes - I'm kind of scared, but reading your post is helping me out. Thanks
Morning All,
Here I am - Day 11 or 12 - Things are OK, not as great as when I last wrote, I actually was sick for the past 3 days, had a cold or the flu - my face today has some blemishes on it - partly because of me because when I see a red spot pop up, I fiddle with it, and it makes it red and inflamed - definitely not easy to keep my hands off it (which my dermatologist asked me to swear I would). I still have hope today - because I know there is an end all to this, I haven't had a real bad initial breakout, if anything - nothing worse than in my normal days without the isotretinoin - The weird thing for me is I am getting them on the front of my neck where I shave, which is a very sensitive area -
Anyway, just wanted to check in - let anyone know who is reading this how things are going-
I will check back soon -
Over and out -
Kyle
Good Morning - Checking in . . .
This seems to be day 13 on accutane - Things are better than they were yesterday - There were a few spots on my neck a couple of days ago and one yesterday that I decided to squeeze - wasn't anything really worth squeezing in the first place- learned the hard way that was not a good idea - If I touch anything - my spot turns into a super red and inflamed spot - and the skin bruises really easily, and I am also noticing it heals very slowly- normally, it the redness would have subsided 50% more over night - I am noticing my skin feels very thin - especially on my neck - and super sensitive -
I just need to keep my hands off it - but easier said than done - going to have to be a 'one day at a time' sort of concept for me...
My dermatologist called yesterday checking on me because I came down with the flu over the weekend and I called and reported it to them- guess the derm saw the nurses notes and was concerned - asked if I was feeling better. I told her I was - I am back to 80% - could have been my body getting used to the isotretinoin - or could have been me just being sick (but I haven't been sick in 3 years - which was weird).
Today I feel a bit embarrassed at work because of these red spots - the inflammation, etc- when I get like this it is hard for me to keep eye contact with someone, or carry on conversations with anyone because I am sort of ashamed - but nothing I can do except say the serenity prayer - this is something I cannot change - and I need to focus on the things I can change - and that is flourishing in the work place for the day...
Anyway, that is all - thought I'd share my thoughts and feelings this morning towards all this...
Morning All -
Today is day 14 of isotretinoin -
Checking in -
My face has gotten worse - not horribly worse - but seems to get worse everyday - I don't have any huge cysts or anything, but I am getting spots that are popping up in weird places- a few on the back of my neck, the side, and a couple new ones on my jaw line - which I don't normally get -
I have to keep my fingers off of them - if I barley touch them, they turn bright red, and I am so sorry I did -
I am feeling down about my treatment this morning - but I know this is a means to a better end- Having acne is embarrasing and I am tired of it - I feel ashamed today -
I am noticing my mouth is dry, lips aren't horribly dry- but dry, and my face dry - not peeling or flaking dry - probably because I moisturize when I am supposed to - 2x daily.
I just need to work on examining in the mirror - it seems to be the death of me - I have read from others experiences that they pop up and go away - but I just find that so hard to believe, that if I leave them alone, they just go away -
As I said in an earlier post - skin takes a lot longer to heal I am noticing, and is very fragile and thin -
I will keep at it - just for another day, and worry about tomorrow ... tomorrow. Have a nice day all