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+2 Years After Ending Accutane Treatment...

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(@clearly_dreaming)

Posted : 07/31/2014 10:16 am

I'm a 33 year old man; avg weight/height with no other significant medical problems. I'm on no special diet.

After finishing my 7 month Accutane treatment my skin has done this:

0-3 months after ending treatment (goldilocks period) - skin is clear and naturally oil-free.

3 months after ending treatment - skin began to get oily again and currently remains oily without washing it.

1 year after ending treatment - oily skin, but no outbreaks

1 year 6 months after ending treatment - minor breakouts on my scalp

1 year 9 months after ending treatment - minor breakouts on forehead

1 year 10 months after ending treatment - Doxycycline prescribed by dermatologist for 1 year. Doctor said doxy would be more successful now because my recent Accutane regiment significantly weakened the acne in my body. Doctor said I would get clear skin again only after 2-3 months of doxy treatment.

1 year 11 months after ending treatment Minor breakouts on forehead present, but receding.

2 years after ending treatment breakouts gone, but small reddish marks remain.

2 years 2 months after ending treatment (present day) Doxy treatment continues and skin remains 97%-100% clear.

Conclusion: As I feared, acne returned. However, it has been easily controlled with doxy. Sometimes, I forget to take my afternoon dose of doxy for about 3-4 consecutive days and then on day 5 I get 1-2 pimples. However, after 2-3 days of medication adherence resumes, my skin clears up. I suspect that I will be on doxy for the foreseeable future. However, doxy has been much more effective now, post-accutane regiment than it ever was pre-acctuane regiment. Accutane made it easier to control the acne. However, I do definitely miss the goldilocks period immediately proceding my Accutane regiment.

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MemberMember
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(@catmama)

Posted : 07/31/2014 10:40 am

Thanks for posting this! I'm on Month 3 right now but what happens when I go off it is always concerning, especially a few months or more down the road.

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MemberMember
35
(@mandycandy)

Posted : 07/31/2014 11:34 am

Is it constantly on your mind when you do get a breakout? My fear is that Im going to be completely clear but still have that constant fear it could all change again. Thanks for posting!!

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MemberMember
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(@clearly_dreaming)

Posted : 07/31/2014 11:47 am

Is it constantly on your mind when you do get a breakout? My fear is that Im going to be completely clear but still have that constant fear it could all change again. Thanks for posting!!

My skin has been mostly acne-free since I end my Accutane regiment. So, when I get a pimple it feels weird. I'm no longer used having a consistent break-out.

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