Accutane Diary - The Never Ending Saga

[Kittybella]

Ok, well I went to the derm. It has now been a month. Nothing much happened except the doc came in and asked me how I was doing, and then said he will put me on 20mg for 10 more days, and then I am going up to 40. I had my blood taken, and then the nurse removed my blackheads, and that was it.

My skin is definitely dry, but I am not using moisturizer yet, even tho I have some flakey skin, but I will prolly try that Estee Lauder tinted moisturizer Mari uses My lips are doing ok, I'm using this chapstick gloss thing with carmex over it at night, and the funny thing is, my lips look even better now then before the tane! I'm sure this will change tho. One thing I have definitely noticed is the redness is pretty much gone from my face! I was always reddish, but now my skin is pretty even toned, so this is good news! As far as side effects, well my eyes were dry for a few days but are better now, and I haven't had any aches yet that I can say are from the tane. I have noticed that I seem to crack alot tho...strange... My doc said I can still exercise, so this is good. I have not had any headaches either. I hope it stays this way, I was taken off 40mg years ago cuz of headaches, so let's hope this time I am ok!!

My cholesterol was only 131 (below average) at the start of accutane, so the doc doesn't seem to think I will have a problem with it in the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Turns out tho, I'm slightly anemic tho, and have to eat more iron. Oh well, can't have it all I guess!

So, this is all I have for an update! My acne was mild to begin with, but I am definitely not clear yet. Oh, and I still have my hair, and it seems ok so far also! I know it's only been a month, and a low dose, but it's possible it could remain this way right??? I will update again soon!

Until then, I really hope the best for all of us.

[Kelly]

Hi! I've been taking the higher dose for just over a week now and i think it may be starting to make an impact.My skin is drier for a start,and i'm having to use my moisturiser now.I started the week with my breakout subsiding a little and i thought the 50mg wwas just going to start improving my skin straight away but the last couple of days afew more spots have come up.My derm did tell me i may have an initial breakout when first starting the higher dose though.As long as i'm clear soon

[CultureCouture]

I am currently on my 3 month, 2 week mark of accutane and results have been satisfactory. I weigh about 120 lbs and take 80 mgs a day. This dose seems a bit high for my weight, but my side affects are actually very minimal. Besides the peeling lips and achy joints, I can still wear my contacts and have only had 2 minor nose bleeds, moisterizer is optional for the most part. I am a very active soccer player and sweat plays a large role in my skin problems, so yeah, I still get the occasional breakout, but they're subsiding slowly. And I'm sure that's also the reason why I get achy so often. I also take vit e, glucosamine (I have a bad ankle), calcimate, and zinc when I remember. I think Vit. e is most important.
Anyway, I just found out that a guy some of my friends play soccer with works for Roach. He calls it a miracle drug. So if anyone has any pressing questions I could ask him and he might have some better insight. I'm not sure exactly what he does for Roach, but it can;t be too far from accutane.

[Will]

CC, I'm almost doulbe your weight and am on the same dosage, your *does* seem awfull high.

Been 3 weeks, was flaking badly but went to Cetaphil moisurizer and now a lot better. Lips a litle dry, face kinda sunburned looking, a lot clearer though.
_________________
"...send picture of boat and motor"

[Kelly]

I've just noticed a couple of spots on my stomach now!What's going on??!My derm said that i may get some bumps on my arms but that they aren't acne so could this be the same on my stomach?

[lepermessiah]

i got some acne on my stomach during accutane.

[Kelly]

Hi!I'm not very happy at the moment I'm having a bad breakout and i'm hoping that it's just the initial breakout with starting the higher dose.As well as the breakout my skin is alot drier too so maybe it is starting to make a big impact,but i hope it's really improving in a couple of weeks.I just feel so bad I'm pi**ed off that i have been on roaccutane for over 4 months and my skin is like this!I've even wondered over these last couple of days if it has made my skin worse and i'm petrified if i've worsened it for good!But i'm just hanging on that this is just an initial thing.Roaccutane has changed where i get acne because whereas i always got it worse on my chin and none on my cheeks or the sides of my face;now i get them mostly on the sides of my face and a couple on my chin.The other week my chin was even completely clear for afew days.
But is that all i get;going from one place to another,and which place is worse!!!
I had a kind of scolding,chapped like little rash next to my mouth the other day and now it's all flaking which i think is to do with roaccutane;and i have rashes on my arms and legs.
I do feel down at the moment because i just want this to work;and i feel really disgusting.I hate the way i look.And i really hope this breakout is just temporary and because i've increased my dosage.Please,let my skin clear now

[lilnat]

Ok so ive officially joined the never accutane saga! Started today!
Im so glad some of you others, like mamakitty, kelly, and inphint are on too, dont feel so alone this second time!
Kelly, thats what i was like the first time i was on it! I didnt really see an improvement til like the 5th month and then i was taken off it! God help me this 2nd time!

lilnat

[Mari]

Good luck babynat. Hope you get rid of this plague permanently this second time around.


Mari

[lilnat]

Thanks Mari
I hope so too! Fingers crossed!!

lilnat

[Guest]

lilnat-

how long were you off of accutane before you started up again?

[OneShinyface]

I moved and hadn't hooked up my 'puter yet and didn't have the old board on my work laptop. Thank goodness for google, because I still haven't hooked up my 'puter and was able to find you and save the site on my laptop.

I'm on my 21st week of Accutane and is it brutal!!!! The body aches made my recent move a nightmare. I had to hit the Aleve bottle constantly just to unpack. It was around that time that the hair thinning started. I had VERY thick hair, but not anymore. I have to wear it in a ponytail so that the thinness doesn't show. Since the start of my treatment, I've taken B-complex and Biotin and I'm using Nioxin hair products. None of it seems to be helping. I don't wash my hair often and when I do, it's such a traumatic experience.

My derm assures me that it'll stop once I finish my course next month, but how will I get through until then? My face looks fabulous, but my hair has taken a hit.

I am wrong for wanting clear skin and a thick, full head of hair? I know other people deal with much worse, but I can't help but whine right now.

Has anyone else experienced majorly thinning hair?

Shinyface

[Mari]

Shinyface!!!!!!!!! So glad you found us!!! I was missing you really. Hope it all went well with the moving.

I finished the course here. I had too the thining hair thing, well it was just very brittle but now im off accutane is going back to normal I will keep with the Nizoral shampoo.

Welcome to my new board and check out this week, it will grow big the place

Mari

[4sey]

embarked on the first of many future accutane pills today. it is nice to know i'm in the same boat with others, especially since you're just starting lilnat! feel like i'm finally on a route to clear skin, though june seems a long way off. at least we accutaners have the good luck to be ready for summer (that is, if you're in the northern hemisphere!) lots of luck, hope, and good health to all those currently on accutane!
-emma.

p.s. ok, i've been trying to abstain from asking this, but my curiosity is getting the better of me. for those england natives out there--anyone live close to the place of "watership down"? the land in the movie is so, so beautiful. heard about the television series--was it good? anyway....back to the acne.

[lilnat]

Hey

Guest, my acne returned after my first course after about 2 months or so, but really i was never 100% clear. I only really started to notice results as i got taken off it. So here i am again! 5th day!

lilnat