Hi, this is my first post on here, although I've been reading for a while. I've recently started taking Accutane and I'm worried. So far the side effects are going as expected: dry lips, drier skin, and thankfully nothing else yet... except my acne has got much, much worse. I understand there is a "it gets worse before it starts getting better" element to taking the medication, but I wasn't expecting what's happened.
I started my 60mg Accutane course a week ago today, and for the first 5 days noticed no difference. However, yesterday morning, I woke up with at least 50 visible whiteheads around my chin, and today the number is probably closer to 100. My chin is just a big white, lumpy mess. To put that in perspective, on average when not taking any medication, I maybe wake up with around 5-10 whiteheads all over my face, including neck, nose and forehead, but I've had an absolute infestation of them on my chin since I started Accutane.
Basically, if it's possible to measure it this way, I'd say Accutane has made my acne at least 10x worse. And even worse than that, it has all congregated in one place.
A few questions:
- Is this something I should be worried about? In all the Accutane journals/diaries I've read, I've never heard of anything like this
- How long can I expect it to be this much worse than normal?
- Should I speak to my dermatologist about it?
It may sound stupid, but I wouldn't mind such an outbreak if it was spread all over, because that would be more manageable to deal with. I feel that with such a large number in one place, it's just impossible not to look horrible. If I leave them, it looks disgusting. If I try to get rid of them, the skin goes all red and sore and I'm worried about permanent damage to it. I dread having to go to work tomorrow looking like I've got some sort of nasty infection on my chin. Advice please?
Thanks for the input, but I held off on contacting my dermatologist, and appear to have made the right choice (for now).
The whiteheads are now down to a managable number (still more than usual), and my chin is now pretty red and sore, but moisturizer seems to be helping.
Lips are getting worse now, though. Fun times, only 15 more weeks to go...
Haha you must have not read my blog/post. On day Month 1, Day 8, 30mg, my face started getting clusters of whitehead. Over the next NINE FREAKIN DAYS it exploded into what looks like a billion pustules all around my nose and mouth! It's the initial breakout. I think since accutane is carried by the blood, an allergic reaction would cause infections all over your body, not just the chin area. Hang in there. I used my vacation hours to take the week off, hopefully you can do the same.
Haha you must have not read my blog/post. On day Month 1, Day 8, 30mg, my face started getting clusters of whitehead. Over the next NINE FREAKIN DAYS it exploded into what looks like a billion pustules all around my nose and mouth! It's the initial breakout. I think since accutane is carried by the blood, an allergic reaction would cause infections all over your body, not just the chin area. Hang in there. I used my vacation hours to take the week off, hopefully you can do the same.
No I didn't see your blog, will check it out. 9 days? Ouch that's not good. Mine was really, really bad for 2 days, but has been okay for the last 2. My chin is still really red and dry from the initial outbreak, but the cluster of whiteheads has mostly disappeared.
I have noticed the acne now getting worse all over my face, although nothing too drastic. I hope I won't be getting my "wish" of such an outbreak being spread all over rather than in one place, haha.