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My name is Kimberly and I have very, very oily skin.
Accutane
I had two courses of Accutane
1st course -- AUG'08 - JAN'09 (oil/acne came back 6 months later)
2nd course -- SEP'09 -JUN'10 (oil came back a month later, very mild acne came back a few months after)
and obviously, both times my skin was dried out completely. This was a really good feeling!
When I noticed the oil returning after my second course, I was pretty frustrated and angry. I knew that the oil would more than likely come back, since it did with the first course. But I hoped it wouldn't.
Honestly, I'd love to find a dermatologist who would prescribe Accutane for me. For my oily skin issues, though. I would LOVE to be on a long-term (indefinately), low dose (5-10mg daily) course of Accutane. Though, this is not realistic. I am also aware, if a derm were to do so, of the long-term side effects of Accutane.
What I've been doing to control oil
I got really discouraged with this returning of oil; I started taking 100mg (50mg 2x daily) of zinc. I felt that this helped a bit with my oily skin issues. I reduced it recently to 50mg daily.
I also make sure that I exercise 5-7 days out of the week. I feel that exercise helps to regulate horomones; helping oily skin issues.
Vitamin A
I now have started to take 25,000 IU's of Vitamin A daily in hopes that it might produce similar effects of Accutane.. I am currently on my third day. I will log my "progress" so that all of you interested/curious in Vitamin A may follow along. To be perfectly honest with all of you, I feel that I'm shooting around in the dark a bit here with this "treatment" of mine; I haven't done EXTENSIVE research, but I have definately looked into it before going out and buying the vitamins.
Brand/Dosage/Other info
Brand
I am taking Carlson Vitamin A - 25,000 IU Natural - Soft Gels, which I bought at the Vitamin Shoppe.
This is exactly what I'm taking:
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/brow....jsp?id=CL-1440
Dosage
25,000 IU (1 soft gel) daily
Please do keep in mind that I am NOT taking the recommended dosage as labeled on the bottle. I am taking more than the recommended amount, in order to hopefully achieve my desired results.
Details
Supplemental Facts: Serving size = 1 soft gel
Vitamin A (from fish liver oil) 25,000 IU - 500% daily value
Other Ingredients: Safflower oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Water
Directions: Adults take one soft gel three times weekly. Do not exceed recommended dosage. Do not take if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
This does not contain: Wheat, Corn, Yeast, Sugar, Preservative, Salt, Soy, Milk, or Gluten.
Natural source and color.
WARNING: The recommended daily serving of this product contains more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin A from retinol. Large amounts of Vitamin A from Retinol are known to cause birth defects.
It's not even been a day yet since I've posted this, and not even been a week since I've started taking Vitamin A.
I've decided I'm not going to do this.. I am worried for my health and safety when it comes to taking vitamins unsupervised this way.
I am still seeing another derm in November about Accutane.
I will update then, seeing if he will prescribe it for oily skin. More than likely, not. But we shall see.
It's good that you stopped. An average adult only needs 10.000 IU vitamin A a day, 25.000 would send you to the hospital if you don't have any severe illness that requires it.
hey Kimberly,
For oily skin, all i could mention is showering regularly, if you don't already. Use warm water, and try to keep the showers short.
I have very oily skin, it will be coming up to 13 years now that i have had this. I have been on something similar to accutane, and i may go back on it in the future, but for now i have to wait a while, for personal reasons.
Good sleep every night is essential, i have always found this to work to completely reduce the oil on my skin the next day, if not i will be tired and my body works overtime, so i can function throughout the day.
Just stay positive and look out for advice on the boards, like what works for others may work for yourself, such as a certain intake of foods etc. Otherwise i do know and understand what it feels like to have very oily skin day-in, day-out of your life.
